I received this email today and thought I’d share it with all other Aussie cat lovers out there.

The Australian love affair with cats

This Australia Day, we’re looking at a national phenomena; our love affair with cats. We have more pets per capita than any where else in the world and 26% of homes have a cat. How did we develop such a strong attraction to cats?

It all started with a man called Matthew Flinders. The first man to circumnavigate our great southern land, he went everywhere with a cat called Trim. They even went to jail together! [The French locked them up during the Napoleonic Wars.] To see more click here

Early settlers were keen to bring as much of England to their new home Australia as possible. Along with oak trees and rabbits, cats were an important part of this connection with the mother country.

Since then, cats have increasingly become important members of Australian families. While dogs provide us with unconditional love, cats offer something else. They will love you absolutely but they are also their own individual, with a character that can be quirky, funny and often very stubborn. At the end of the day, it’s their strength of character that wins the hearts and minds of even the toughest people. As one famous vet said, “Cats teach you to be humble and compassionate”.

So on this Australia Day, let’s raise our glasses to our cats: may they live long happy lives and continue to be a part of our families for many years to come.

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Jackson our Burmese cat has been scratching away lately thanks to some annoying and nasty fleas he’s picked up from the garden.

We’ve put some Revolution on the back of his neck which seems to have helped dramatically but I was glad to come accross this article which states that the common cat flea which plagues cats, dogs and people can be killed off by vaccuming.

So this Summer keep your house flea free by regularly vacuuming before the problem gets out of hand and you have to flea bomb the entire house which is not good for you or your pets. Also don’t forget to regularly check your pets for ticks!

Technorati Tags: fleas, pets, cats, dogs, vacuum

It’s getting hotter as Summer arrives and now you can cool your dog off with their very own doggie ice cream!

Japanese ice cream maker Akagi Nyugyo has created Wanko No Ice. According to this site it’s prepared from a special sugar free recipe and it’s said to taste like an icey yogurt but contains little lactose so it’s better suited to canine stomachs.

The US also has it’s own version of ice cream for dogs called Frosty Paws. Maybe some ingenious Australian ice cream maker will start up their own supply.

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Picture from the Wanko No Ice website

Summer is well and truly here and the days are now becoming noticably hotter and more humid.

Your dog and cat will also find the hot weather uncomfortable so here are some hints and tips courtesy of the Martha Stewart website to keep your pet happy during the hot Summer weather.

Dogs
- Dogs’ cooling systems are different from ours – they can cool off only through panting and sweating a little on the pads of their feet, and usually those pads are walking on hot concrete.
- Warning signs of overheating include excessive panting and glazed eyes; the dog also will not want to move if it is becoming overheated.
- If your dog is overheated, take it to a cool, shady area and give it cool water and spray it with cool water. If your dog is in really bad shape, take it to the vet right away.
- Dogs with flat faces have a harder time breathing and panting. Marc suggests putting ice cubes in a tube sock and loosely wrapping it around their necks.
- For a white-haired dog, use sun block on its nose and belly. Vaseline on pads helps reduce heat level.

General Tips
- Don’t leave pets at home with windows closed and no air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning, keep a frozen bottle of water on the floor.
- Watch your pets around large pools: Even if there are steps, don’t assume your dog knows to use them.
- Carry a bottle of water when you walk your dog.

For our cat Jackson we’ve set up an area on the couch under the fan for him to sleep. We also make sure his water bowl is always topped up and if he’s looking a bit hot and bothered i’ll bring his water bowl over for him to drink as he becomes quite lazy when it’s hot. We also shut the windows and doors and put the air conditioning on when we’re at home and when we lock up the house to go out we leave several fans on throughout the house to keep him cool.

It also goes without say that you should NEVER leave a pet in a car during Summer – even for a short time becuase it the midday Summer sun your car will become very hot and your pet could die.

Technorati Tags: pets, summer, cooling tips, dogs, cats, hot weather

I was watching Martha Stewart the other day and they were talking about holiday hazards for pets.

With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would share some of the tips with you.

Ornaments
Christmas tree decorations can shatter when they fall and your pet may step on or swallow the pieces. If your cat or dog swallows a shard, take the animal to the vet or mold cotton balls soaked in water into the shape of a pill and push it to the back of the pet’s throat to induce swallowing. Feed the pet high-fiber bread, and for the next three to four days keep a vigilant watch. If they’ve stepped on a shard remove the piece and bandage the cut area and take your pet to the vet.

Tinsel
Tinsel is very attractive to cats since they love shiny objects. If tinsel falls on the floor, or the cat reaches for it and swallows it, the animal will have difficulty breathing and may start gagging. If your pet swallows tinsel, feed it white bread soaked water or heavy cream to surround the foreign bodies, which should enable the animal to pass it in its stool. Of course, see a vet if you suspect a bigger problem.

Outlets and Wires
Pets may chew on electrical Christmas light wires and get shocked. Tape the cords to the floor with duct tape, or run them through PVC pipes. Make sure to unplug the Christmas lights on your way out, and for extra protection cover open outlets with a guard. 

Ribbons
If your dog is choking, do not induce vomiting. Just watch your pet for signs of distress and take him to a vet. It’s important not to induce vomiting because it would do more damage coming up then if it just comes out on its own.

Lollies
Colorful foil can cut the pet’s mouth or pose a choking hazard. Chocolate is bad for dogs. Keep lollies and sweets in dishes that are not accessible to your climbing cats. If your pet swallows any wrappings, try feeding your them white bread soaked in water, and hopefully they’ll pass it in their stool. It’s best to also call your vet. 

Christmas Tree
If you have a real tree then the chemicals in the tree water can pose a threat. If the tree stand looks like a pet’s water dish, cats and dogs will be attracted to it. No pet will die from drinking the water but they most likely will vomit. It’s better to be proactive rather than reactive. Keep a tree apron secure around the bottom of the tree so your pet cannot get to the water.

Candles
Open flames are an issue especially with jumping cats or flying birds. Keep an eye on your pets around open flames to ensure the candles don’t get knocked over.

For the full article by Marc Morrone  on the Martha Stewart website click here. 

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If you love your pet and have a bit of cash to splash then you can now have your four legged friend married off in style at London department store Harrods.

For AUD $9,000 their ‘Puppy Love Package’ includes bridal outfits, a wedding cake, champagne reception for 20 humans, a “just married” sign, marriage certificate and a luxury honeymoon at the Paw Seasons Dog Hotel.

Click to read about one doggy couple who tied the knot at Harrods.

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