Christine Church, Author

Freaky Felines Posts

2011-10-07T01:31:00.001-04:00

Check out my latest Examiner series for October... Freaky Felines, including felines with two faces, four ears and much more! You will love it!!

To Catch a Killer

2011-09-30T23:35:00.000-04:00

I had fun today trying to catch a feral cat! Her name is Matri (short for Matriarch) and she has lived in the back room of my basement for 2 years. She is a beautiful cat; long tortie coat and big green eyes. But I don't get to enjoy her much.

She came to me as a feral foster 2 years ago. Someone needed to take care of her. She hates other cats and is scared to death of people. At the time she made a funny wheezy sound so I took her to the vet. Turned out she had nodules on her vocal cords. They were removed and she has lived in my house, staying mostly hidden, ever since.

Only within the past 6 months or so has she started to eat near the other cats and allow me near her (though not touch her).

But then the fleas came...

I had to catch her to flea-treat her, but when I was able to corner and grab her, she flipped a wicket, so to speak and got away!

After that she stopped coming out. I didn't see her much after that... just a glance if I happened to come into the back room when she was eating or drinking.

But then, about a week ago, I noticed that I had not seen her in a few days... nor had I heard her (she is usually quite vocal as her hearing is a bit dim and she talks a lot, esp when another cat comes near her).

In the back room of the basement, there is a lot of stuff. Nothing dangerous mind you, but since my "apartment" is in the front part of the basement, the back area is for all my bins of clothes and stuff, plus my "kitchen." Add the laundry room to that, furnace and oil tank as well. Lots of places for a cat to hide.

Tonight, I saw her as she hid behind the oil tank... and I could see how thin she looked, even under all that fur. She hadn't been coming out to eat much apparently (she usually eats at night when no one is around so it's hard to notice with any consistency whether or not she eats her dry food). I fed her wet food and she ate some, but then hid again.

I knew it was time...I HAD to catch her!

Long story short... I managed to trap her under the oil tank with blankets, got my hand on the back of her neck, scruffed her and pulled her out slowly. Phew!

Once I had her in my possession, I could feel how thin she is and I brushed her and flea-combed her. She is loaded with scabs and fleas. The only cat in the house not treated, she has been feeding the fleas!

Now I can get her treated, get her to the vet for treatment, etc. She will have to stay in a cage for a bit while I get her healthy again, but that's ok... this way I can take care of her without her hiding where I can't get her. The funny thing is, once I have her, she loves to pet!!

Courtesy at the Vet

2010-08-17T12:43:00.000-04:00

Too many people think a waiting room is a place for chaosIt's not unusual, when I take a cat or kitten to the veterinarian, to find several barking dogs pulling on their leashes, someone with a frightened cat in their lap or kids running around petting all the animals. You rarely find such chaos in the waiting room at human doctor offices (except the occasional run-amok child).
So, why, when people bring pets into the waiting room of a veterinarian's office, do they not initialize the same common sense and courtesy of restraint? Here are a few of the problems common in veterinarian waiting rooms and solutions to think about:
First and foremost, cats should ALWAYS be kept in a carrier. I know what you're thinking, "But my cat is calm and won't go anywhere." Maybe that's true, but it's always better to err on the side of caution. Cats get frightened in unfamiliar areas, and when dogs are barking and kids are running around, your normally calm cat might just decide to get away and escape it all. Kennel Cab type carriers are no longer expensive; a cat sized one can run only about $10-$15. You can also purchase a cardboard carrier that is sufficient for most cats, and is less than $10. I have seen people with their cats on leashes (PLEASE use a cat harness and not a collar), and this is okay but can still lead to fear and scratches or bites. Cats feel more secure in a carrier, so do your pet and yourself a favor and use a carrier for your cat. Vets all have horror stories of cats lost forever that got loose from their owner's arms.

Keep dogs on a good solid leash. Leather leashes are best because if you have a dog that pulls, your hands won't get torn up by the nylon. Keep your dog under control at all times.

Don't pet other people's pets without permission. And certainly don't let your child approach a strange animal. Ask first!

Pay attention to your own pet. Yes, as animal lovers we all want to meet new pets, give them a pat and talk to their owners, and that's all well and good to a degree.But don't forget your own pet. He/she is probably stressed out by the visit and needs you to pay attention.

Keep the really little ones (human) at home if you can. Small children can be hard to control and if you are trying to control a pet, take care of business with the vet, and understand everything, it can be daunting on all. Get a babysitter.

If the waiting room is packed and you have a dog with you, stay outside and have someone let the receptionist know you are there. Dogs can become aggressive when packed together. Don't chance trying to get your dog through the crowd and possibly getting bit.

Most of all, use common sense and be courteous.

Oldest cat

2010-02-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

Cat lovers hope and dream that their precious felines will live long healthy lives. But Charlie, Scotland's oldest cat, has brought that hope to a whole new level. Last year, Cat Professional, Ltd in conjunction with Royal Canin and Pets at Home, held a contest to find the longest lived cat in the country of Scotland. Most of the cat entries received boasted cats in their early 20's, average around 21. But Charlie beat them all at the ripe old age of 28!

Catprofessional.com contest coordinators state: "The idea for the competition came about as feline specialist and CEO of Cat Professional ltd, Dr Sarah Caney wished to find a model for her upcoming book 'Caring for a geriatric cat'. The book with be the latest addition to the already globally successful range of Cat Professional books. For a full list of the books and to find out more about Charlie and the runners up go to www.catprofessional.com"

*For more on helping your cat live a long and healthy life, visit http://christinechurch.net

And Then There was One!

2010-01-16T19:33:00.000-05:00

Scientists have spent a lot of money and time proving what true-blue animal lovers already know... That all mammals feel emotionally. They dream, they hurt, they feel sadness, loneliness, anger and grief.

My cat Sammy, passed away the day after Christmas this past year (2009). I am fairly convinced he died from loneliness and grief. He was 15 years old and had come to me as a foster kitten, having been born in a shelter. At that time, I had a neutered male Tuxedo cat named Pounce who was quite an unusual fellow. Pounce loved to lay with the young foster kittens and let them "nurse" on him (they literally suckled his belly fur while he bathed each of them, just as a mother cat would). Sammy thought Pounce was his mother, and the two bonded very closely. Sammy's brother Shadow also bonded to Pounce as a mother figure, all the kittens did, but none so much as Sammy.

Out of the foster kittens, I kept Sammy and Shadow. The three of them were inseparable. They were my three Muskateers, my triangle boys! We owned many cats, but those were the special trio. They spent the most time together, bathing one another, playing and sleeping together.

On August 29, 2006, Pounce became ill. He was rushed to the vet, but never came home again. He passed away Aug. 30th from FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). It had for some reason hit his brain and he was gone in less than 24 hours. Nothing could prevent it, nothing could have saved him!

Sammy cried for him each night, searching the house almost continuously and waiting for him in that special spot where the two of them always slept. He ate poorly for days after and seemed down; lethargic. Slowly, he and his brother drew even closer, taking comfort in each other after the loss of their "mother."

However, in June of 2008, tragedy struck once again in Sammy's life. Shadow developed terminal cancer and passed away only a week after diagnosis. Sammy found himself alone for the first time in his life. The other cats that had lived in the house had all passed away through the years, no other cats were brought in, and Sammy was now a single cat. Everything in his life had changed, his feline friends were gone, and though he still had me and sought me out more than ever, I could tell he just wasn't the same. He cried a lot and searched the house. He didn't eat the same and he slept more. Sammy was feeling not only the change, but grief as well.

I tried to bring in other cats, but he wanted no part of it. He had been raised with his surrogate "mother," Pounce and his sibling, Shadow. He was not a cat that took well to any others. He also was not a "people" cat; he liked me and only me. But during the day when I was at work, he was alone. And very slowly, he started to "age." Where before he was always the perpetual kitten, age seemed to find him quickly once he lost his feline family. He hung on well for over a year, staying close to me, always with me no matter where I went in the house, no matter what I did. I did all I could, giving him extra attention and treats. I made sure he had regular blood tests and check ups to be sure everything was okay physically. Yet, still, he started to lose weight. His blood tests were normal. Nothing really "stood out" as a danger sign to the vet. He shouldn't have been going downhill as he did.

Christmas day 2009 he seemed a bit perkier, eating a bit better than he had been, like he wanted me to be happy on this special day with my family. The next day he passed away at home, in my arms.

So, what really happened we will never know. Was it a physical malady that simply did not present itself in all the tests we had done? Or did his lonely heart simply give up? Perhaps he just needed to be with Pounce and Shadow again.

For more information on indoor cats, see my site, house cat.

Loss of a Loved One

2009-12-27T22:53:00.000-05:00

My cat Sammy passed away last night. He had been getting thinner for awhile and his kidey levels were only slightly above normal. He was 15. I had him on sub-q fluids daily (100cc) and injectible B complex (every 3 days). My vet had given him a small dose of dexamethasone five days ago because his breathing was ever so slightly hard (no fluids detected in lungs). He was very thin and seemed sore so I also had him on Cosequin and an appetite enhancer, as he was not eating well. I knew a week ago he was dying and wanted to keep him comfortable in the time he had left.

On Christmas day he seemed better, eating well and sleeping upstairs in the bay window. Yesterday morning he ate a bit and everything seemed as usual, other than his slow decline, which was expected. During the day I gave him his usual meds, but he refused to eat anything and I noticed his breathing was a bit harder than it had been. I tried syringe feeding him a little, which went well. Then I gave him his fluids and his pill. But, this time, instead of just relaxing out, he hid behind the sofa.

That made me nervous as his breathing looked a bit worse, so I tried to get him to come out. Instead he crawled behind the TV. I know he was trying to tell me to leave him alone, but I wanted him accessible in case he needed to go to the vet.

Every time I pulled him out I noticed his breathing got worse. I know he was stressed. So, I put him on my bed where he laid down, open mouth breathing. His gums were grey. I wanted to get him to the vet for oxygen but every time I moved him he got worse, so I left him alone. I knew he had only a few moments left.

After a bit he lifted his head, his breathing looked a bit better, so I went over and pet him. He tried to get up and looked like he wanted to head to the littler box, but he fell off the bed. I managed to catch him and he collapsed on the floor trying to breathe. I left him only to get my stethascope. He was gasping but there was nothing I could do. There is no feeling worse than watching a beloved pet die and knowing you can't do anything at all to help! I held his head in my hands, I listened to his heartbeat. But I had no way to get oxygen to him. And that's what he needed. The vet hospital was 10 minutes away... too far to do any good. He went limp in my hands but his heart still beat. He had passed out from lack of oxygen. After that he took only a few more gasps then went still. I listened with my stethascope, but there was no heartbeat. He was gone.

Now, I cannot even walk into my downstairs apartment without breaking down! I feel guilty, like I should have done more, like I should have done something earlier! The house is so empty without him. Moving on from such pain seems impossible. Losing a pet is losing a member of the family. And yesterday I lost a very dear family member! I will hold him in my heart forever.

Too terrible to watch!

2009-12-12T01:58:00.000-05:00

We hear about it all the time. We know it is there, but do we really ever think about it? I mean REALLY think about it? What I am talking about is horse slaughter. Though slaughter houses for horses are now banned in the United States, this does not mean it doesn't happen. Horses are sneaked over boarders to slaughterhouses in Canada and South America. So, even though the brutal practice has been banned from this country, as long as there is a "taste" for horse meat, there will be horse slaughter.

What REALLY happened to that pony your daughter outgrew, that you sent off to a that "nice" auction house and sold to that "nice" man who told you he wanted the pony for his own daughter? What happened to that pretty Thoroughbred race horse you watched on TV who didn't win the race? Or the ex-lesson horse who is no longer needed?

With the economy as it is, more people today are selling horses.

But, what most people don't realize, or don't want to think about, is the fact that many horses sent to auction are bought up by meat companies. Unless you know for an absolute fact that the person buying your horse, particularly from auction, is really who they say they are, that they really do have good intentions for your animal, you would be wise not to trust their word. Please, if you care, know who you are selling your horses and ponies to!

For those of us who adore horses, who understand horses, the thought of killing a healthy equine that has many years of life left is appalling. To us, it's no worse than murdering a healthy human being in cold blood. We know how intelligent these animals are... We know how sensitive they are... We know the pain they feel, the dreams they have... We've seen them play. We've seen them hurt. We have seen them upset and we have seen them happy. Horses have been trusting humans with their very lives for thousands of years. They follow us through the pasture, or come when we call. They walk beside us, un-led, after a ride in the arena. We are their herd leaders, and they are our friends.

And then there's the slaughter itself. If you don't think it's bad enough that these majestic, gorgeous, trusting companions are killed for meat is bad enough, watch the video below! These magnificent horses follow these men trustingly into the cold cement room. If only they knew what was to come, they would fight and kick for their lives! This video is extremely disturbing to watch! I wanted to scream... I did cry. I was absolutely horrified. But, how can we know what is really there if we don't pay attention? If even one horse is saved by the terrible truth embedded in this British video, then is it not worth it? The horse would certainly think so!

WARNING: Very graphic footage Below.

For more horse issues, please see my other articles

Soring and The Tennesee Walking Horse

Doomed to Be Pregnant

Thoroughbred Racing

Horse slaughter still exists

More About: horses · lesson program · safe horses · econimical · thoroughbred racing · horse racing · buying horse · horse owner · horse racing controversy · race horses · controversial horse · Horse slaughter · Cruelty to horses

Heimlich Manuever on cats

2009-12-11T23:01:00.000-05:00

The other day I was watching my elder cat eat some kitty treats I had just handed him. After having been ill and stopped eating only days before, I was thrilled his appetite was returning (it was determined he is in the beginning stages of kidney disease, so he is on a very special regime). He adored these treats, so much so that he gulped them down with barely a chew!

I started to worry that he might choke. Though he has really good teeth for a 15 year old cat, he ate one of the nibbles so quickly that he gagged for a split second, startling me. The first thing I thought was "I would have to do the Heimlich on him if he choked.

Fortunately, that did not happen. But I thought nonetheless, it would be good to write an article on doing the Heimlich on cats.

First, make sure your cat is really choking and not having difficulty breathing through some other ailment. If you are sure there is an object or piece of food stuck in your cat's throat (signs include panic, clawing at the mouth, trying to cough and difficulty breathing), gently open your cat's mouth if you can and look to see if you can spot the object. If so, carefully reach in a couple fingers to remove it.

WARNING: There are small bones at the back of a cat's tongue that can be mistaken for chicken bones. Be sure what you are seeing is indeed the foreign object. If this does not work, go ahead with Kitty Heimlich following these guidelines:

Grasp the cat around the waist so that the animal's rear is nearest to you, similar to a bear hug.
Place a fist (one hand over the other) just under the ribs.
Compress the abdomen several times (usually 3-5 times) with quick pushes.
Check the mouth to see if the foreign object has been removed.

If you are not successful and Kitty is in great distress, take him to the nearest veterinary hospital ASAP! Even if you do remove the object, get your cat to a vet for a check-up to be sure no damage was done by the foreign object or the compressions to the chest.

Caring for Your Aging Cat

2009-12-10T01:43:00.000-05:00

As your cat ages, certain psychological and physiological changes will occur. Cats over the age of 10 years should have yearly geriatric screenings, along with their inoculations.

As their bodies change, older cats may develop problems with their bowels that can cause constipation, diarrhea or incontinence. If any problems should occur, take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. Watch neutered male cats closely for signs of straining during urination, or having to "go" frequently yet not producing. This can be a sign of a bladder infection or, worse, crystals that form in the urethra and can cause a blockage. This can be deadly, so don't hesitate.

Hearing and eyesight may begin to fail in an older cat, so steps should be taken to ensure the cat's safety. Cats may lose their eyesight due to glaucoma or cataracts. Cats usually adjust quite well to blindness. There are precautions you must take, however. Sharp objects should be removed and access to high places should be secured or blocked off. Do not move things around; a blind cat will become familiar with the placement of things and may become confused if things are placed differently. Before touching or handling a blind cat, let your approach be known by speaking to the cat softly beforehand.

Older cats may also lose their hearing, and you may notice a lack of normal responses because of this. Be sure to announce your approach to a hearing-impaired cat by touching the cat gently or letting the cat see you coming.

Signs of Old Age

As with humans, a cats body goes through physiological changes as she ages. Here are some things to watch for:

cloudy eyes
diminished hearing
graying fur
less luxuriant coat
flabby or diminishing muscle structure
senility
stiffness
arthritis
decreased activity
increased drinking andurination

As their metabolism slows, older cats become more susceptible to disease and are less able to regulate their body temperature. Therefore, it's important to keep your geriatric cat warmer. Older cats tend to have metabolism changes that may lead the cat to eat more or less than before. Often older cats, although their appetite may not change, will lose weight. This is normal, but it is important to watch for signs of excessive weight loss, which can indicate a medical problem. Your older cat may become thin if she does not get enough protein in her diet.

Ever wonder how old your cat really is? The old adage one year of a cat's life equls seven of a human's is inaccurate. Below is a generalization chart that compares a cat's age to a human's.

Cat's Age Human's Age

6 months 10 years

8 months 13 years

1 year 15 years

2 years 24 years

4 years 32 years

6 years 40 years

8 years 48 years

10 years 56 years

12 years 64 years

14 years 72 years

16 years 80 years

18 years 88 years

20 years 96 years

21 years 100 years

Make Your eBay Store Look Professional

2009-12-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

If you have opened an eBay store recently, chances are your storefront is pretty bland. You probably wanted to get all set up and running as quickly as possible and start making sales. This is all well and good, but once you have some of your products in place and start to draw customers, you will want your store to have a more professional look and feel.

Think about it. When you go to any store, whether online or a brick and mortar store, you will develop a first impression. Often, this impression is invisible. In other words, you don't think about the color and design of the store, not unless it is something outlandish that catches your attention (which is not always a good business decision, as it can draw customers' eyes away from merchandise). You want your customers to focus on products while at the same time giving them an appropriate atmosphere in which to shop. This atmosphere will depend on your store, products and tastes.

The first thing to think about is color. Color creates certain moods. For instance, red is associated with anger or even sexual innuendo. Pink makes people think about girls and all things frilly. And so on and so forth. In the eBay store Casual Razzle Dazzle, for example, the owner chose muted browns to display a warm atmosphere. The store sells casual clothing as well as fancy jewelry, gifts and home products. Since a wide array of "feeling" is involved in the store ("from the casual to the dazzling"), focusing on a darker tone or a wilder tone would be inappropriate. Hence, the muted browns bring us somewhere in the middle, not distracting from the casual attire nor the fancier jewelry.

Once you have your color in place (you can set colors and templates by going into the "Manage My Store" page and choosing the link to Display Settings), it's time to think about design. If you can't afford to hire a professional designer, you can make some nice designs yourself using a Paint program such as Paint Shop Pro, a Photoshop-type design that is quite user-friendly, and can create beautiful multi-layered designs (such as the one on the Casual Razzle Dazzle home page). Your design doesn't have to be complex, but it should look professional. Search around at other stores, on eBay and off, that deal in similar products and look at their designs to get ideas. Don't copy them directly, but you can get a generalization and work from that. Not only your home page, but your individual product pages as well should have something promoting your brand (you might not yet have a brand in place, but as you grow your products and business, your brand is something you will want to think about). A graphic title is nice, as is some pictures of your products set to text and a short description of your business.

Get off his back already!

2009-12-02T00:58:00.000-05:00

A short backed horse can be hard to fit a saddle to
Photo by Christine Church

Recently, I have gone through a lot with my horse and his sore back. I read somewhere that there's a huge connection to sore backs, sore feet, and many other sore parts due to bad fitting saddles. Apparently, all the muscles are connected and move in correlation to one another in a sort-of circular pattern from front to back and around the top to front again. If any part of that "circle of muscles" is interrupted for any period of time, it can effect how the entire muscular structure works. This causes the horse to "compensate" in other areas, usually his back, hence eventually leading to a sore back.

I found all this so interesting that I decided--as I tend to do with new information--to research it until I couldn't learn anything new, then I came to my own conclusions. I researched and learned so much that I actually made my own custom-fit saddle pad for my horse to take pressure off the areas where it shouldn't be and put the weight only where it should be.

I could write an entire book on the subject, so I will try to summarize a bit here pertaining to some of the most important aspects of saddle fit and back pain that I learned as they pertain to my horse. You can tweak the information to fit your own horse or contact me if you have questions.

Okay, we know that all the muscles move in a sort-of circle and are connected, so it makes sense that if a saddle is pinching for any extended period of time (which can vary by horse, performance, discipline and saddle type) it will disrupt the flow and cause all kinds of problems (which can include lameness issues, believe it or not). A horse that holds his back very hollow, head up, not wanting to really move out, often does so because his back hurts, and most (not all) back pain problems are caused by poor saddle fit. This is just one example, but it's one of the things I noticed most about my horse. He simply doesn't like to bring his back up! He also has navicular changes (another area I have researched extensively), which can cause him to compensate for his sore feet, changing the rotation of muscles and leading to back problems.

Within the last 6 months to a year I have been putting all this together. The first thing I discovered was that the western saddle I had always thought fit my horse so well actually was pinching him in all the wrong places. So I sold it and went on a hunt for the "perfect" saddle. That's when I learned there's no such thing--unless you spend an obscene amount of money to have a saddle made to fit absolutely to your horse's shape and size (and even then, your horse will change shape as he ages and cause that expensive saddle to no longer be worth much). So, where does this lead us? Get a custom made saddle every few years? I don't know about you, but I can't even afford one custom-made saddle, let alone one every few years or so.

This leads us to saddle pads. You will hear the manufacturers of saddle pads (particularly orthopedic pads) say how their perfect (and usually very expensive) pads will solve all your horse's back fit issues. Then you will hear vets and others claim that no saddle pad can fix a saddle that doesn't fit. And then there's just about everything in between.

So, I took all this information and, much to my horse's chagrin, I started to experiment. I discovered where horses get sore the most and why. This varies from horse to horse, but in my horse's case he was most sore right behind the scapula (shoulder blades). He also had sore shoulders (hence the not wanting to "move out"). This was from the saddle sitting too low on his withers, pinching just behind the shoulder blades and resting on the top portion of his shoulders, Add that to the navicular problems and it's no wonder the only time he prefers to move under saddle is when I am trying to get on him!

I went on the hunt for the "perfect fit" western saddle, or as close as I could get, but as it turns out my horse is extremely hard to fit. He has a very short back, average size withers, but big shoulders and high shoulder blades. His right shoulder is much larger than his left (no horse is symmetrical), leaving a big dip behind his right shoulder. Eventually, I just bought a saddle with a relatively good fit then went on a mission to create a pad that would actually make the saddle fit!

Knowing what I know about my horse's back pain and past problems, plus the way a horse should move naturally, I deduced that I would have to make a pad that allowed the saddle to completely clear the shoulders. Something like how a dressage saddle sits--behind the scapula. Most western saddles are not made that way... except some of your higher end saddles, which can have a narrower area under the horn (the inner gullet) that should sit behind the horse's shoulder blades, keeping the front part of the skirt off the shoulders. I personally did not have the budget for even a used saddle like this, so I had to go for one that fit moderately well and had the right bar size (the bar sizes are a whole other subject I won't get into here).

If you look at the tree without the leather on a western saddle, and are able to set a plain tree on a horse's back, you can really tell if it sits correctly or not.

By running your hand under your saddle, you should be able to feel the tree in there and get an idea of where it sits on the horse. That's why it's a good idea, unless you KNOW a particular saddle type will fit, you should always try a saddle out before buying. I was stupid, I bought my saddle at an Equine Affaire, but it was in my price range, is a gorgeous saddle, and had the right size tree. It also had lots of silver, would look great on my horse and had a skirt short enough for his short back.

It fit my horse well enough except, like all saddles seem to do on him, it pinched a bit at the shoulder area, especially his larger right shoulder. Pads only made the saddle tighter on his shoulder. Remember that--saddle pads only serve to make a tight fit tighter. Then, add the weight of a person and you can hopefully see where I am getting at.

Orthopedic pads can work, but they vary so much and usually aren't made to fit your particular horse's back structure, so you are not always fixing the problem by buying an expensive pad. Expensive isn't always better! In western, pads are made to go up higher on the withers than an English saddle pad and if you have full thickness, you are adding padding over the shoulders again, thus impeding movement of that area to some degree.

A saddle (any saddle) should NOT sit on the horse's spine. I think most people are aware of this. The saddle should, however, sit ONLY atop the back on either side of the spine over the top of the ribcage, from BEHIND the scapula to the last rib; no more forward, no more backwards... even pressure along that space and nowhere else. Anything covering the shoulders or hips will block the flow of motion. All my saddle pads were made pretty typically; thick pads that covered the whole back and then some! They impeded the shoulder movement and even hit his hips. And they did nothing to fill the gap behind his scapula.

Specialty pads, though better, boast a certain amount of cushioning in the right places, but most I noticed can still interfere with the shoulder area as they are made to round forward, thus hitting part of the shoulder that rounds towards the back. So, I made my pad like a specialty pad but made to sit completely behind his shoulders and fill the gap, effectively lifting the saddle off his scapula completely, as well as keeping anything from hitting his hips. No part of the saddle touches anywhere; the pad touches the horse in the right places and at the right thickness, with the correct amount of soft vs. firm and the saddle sits on the pad. I also made sure it fits his withers just right on top to allow plenty of clearance from the gullet.

Pads can be made for English saddles as well. If you choose to make your own saddle pad, please make sure you know what you're doing or at least get someone else who is knowledgeable in this area to help you. You don't want to do more harm than good.

For horse pads, blankets and more, click here.

Pit Bulls attack horse in Ellington

2009-11-21T19:46:00.000-05:00

Pitt Bulls have a bad reputation
Photo via the Web

Last night, two Pit Bull dogs, who had escaped from their owner's house, came onto the farm where I board my horse. According to the owner of the farm, the dogs, at first seemed only to be wandering about as they walked into the main barns (where my horse, and 21 others were in their stalls for the night). They didn't bother the cats, who were asleep on my tack trunk by the open door. They didn't bother the horses or the people. However, as they made their way up to the older barns, where the stalls are not as secure as those in the new main barns, they chose--for whatever reason--to slip beneath the stall door of a three-year old Halflinger (Lizzie), who is being trained to do therapy for special needs people, and attacked!

The panicked horse managed to break the chain that held her door closed and she ran. The Pit Bulls were hot in pursuit, and took her down not once but twice. The whole ordeal was witnessed by a renter in a house on the property. Attention was called to the ruckus and the Pit Bulls were thwarted away from the frightened horse. The police, veterinarian, Animal Control and the dog's owner all arrived at the farm.

Apparently, the same dogs had been loose most of the day and had already attacked a calf at another neighboring farm. The calf needed stitches and will recover. Lizzie will also recover from her wounds. She needed stitches to her neck and was wounded on the face, throat, legs, side and crotch areas.

However, what about the mental state of this horse who is destined towards a life of aiding the disabled? A horse that does such work needs to be completely bomb-proof, needs to not be afraid. When I saw Lizzie today she seemed relaxed, munching grass in her paddock with her pal, Hopscotch. Thus far, all seems quiet with her, but what about down the road? Bad memories could pop into her head like a post traumatic war veteran. Yes, this can happen to animals as well, particularly an animal such as a horse that has a natural instinct towards fear and fleeing.

And what of the dogs? The owner was able to take them home and she stated she would fix the door where they had escaped, but the family is still fearful and vying for the euthanization of the animals. What if they get loose again and come back? The dogs now know the horses are there, they know there's easy prey on the farm. And why did they go after Lizzie in the first place when they had only been wandering about. She was in her stall, she was not running, nor did she pose a threat.

People state the best reason for the destruction of such animals as "what if next time they attack a child?" But is it not bad enough they attacked a calf and a horse? Yet, on the other side of the coin, do they deserve to die for doing what instinct told them to do? An opposing solution brought up was the removal of the dogs from their present owner, separation of them to remove the "pack instinct" (apparently the dogs are siblings) and relocation, apart, to different owners. Both dogs listened to their owner and went to her when she called them and are beloved pets. They did not attack a human ( by most law standards as well as many dog training views, a dog is not considered vicious or a threat for being aggressive to another dog or animal as this can be considered "natural" instinctual hunting behavior).

Many people still believe the old adage that once a dog "tastes blood," it will no longer be controllable and will never relinquish its need to attack and to kill, therefore moving up the ladder until it does inevitably attack a human. This is not necessarily true, at least not in its entirety. The thrill of the chase, the thrill of taking another animal down, is to a dog (particularly certain breeds with a higher predatory instinct) like a drug. They can become addicted to it, but this does not always mean they will eventually kill a human. Many dogs respect and see humans as their pack leaders, just as horses may see their owners as the herd leader. It also means that most dogs can be "broken" of this behavior, particularly if this is the first such incident. Humans domesticated the dog, humans put aggression back into certain breeds. Humans need to be responsible dog owners and be responsible for their dog's behavior.

Whatever happens in this case is yet to be seen. In the meantime, the dogs will probably be removed from their owner's care, either temporarily or permanently. The calf and Lizzie will both recover physically. But the repercussions and the memories of such an incident will not easily fade.

What people won't do...

2009-11-19T00:31:00.000-05:00

When wanting to hold onto a piece of their pet after the animal has passed away.

I know what it is to love a pet and I have a couple of my beloved cats' ashes in urns. But lately I have been seeing more and more "varied" ways to hang on to your precious Puss after death.

One such idea I have recently been privy to experience is the concept of placing your pet's ashes inside a pillow that you then place on your sofa or sleep on. When this idea is proposed to the public mixed reactions abound. Some think it's a wonderful way to preserve their pet's memory. Why wouldn't one want Fluffy's ashes crunched into a pillow for show and tell, decoration or guest seating? Others verbalize their feelings simply; "Ewww." And, of course there's every reaction in between. The pill-popping pillow makers claim to keep ashes secure inside the pillow within a pouch that zips into the innards. Oh, and just so you know, don't go looking for these cushiony resting places on eBay or anywhere else that might "bring down the value" of these allegedly high class urns. The makers of these pillows tell me that they just won't hear of it. So, if you are truly dead set on getting one for your passed pet, be sure you are willing to pay the price, and while you're at it, you can toss Fido into the limo for his Sunday drive.

Another after-death vessel, which somehow seems a little less creepy, is the cremation jewelry. We all know Angelina Jolie used to wear a vial of her previous husband's blood around her neck, well how about wearing a bit of Kitty around yours? The original concept of cremation jewelry was to preserve and "keep close to your heart" the ashes of deceased human loved ones. But, we all know pets are certainly part of the family, so pet cremation jewelry was a logical next step. Ranging in price from the completely affordable to the outrageously insane, pet cremation jewelry comes in a variety of metals, makes, models and designs. You can place a small portion of ol' Leo's ashes inside (a tail? A paw? The choice is yours) or you can put some hair or even dried memorial flowers inside (that way you can save all the ashes to place inside a seat cushion).

But why deal with cremation at all, when you can keep Puss or Fido right there with you, to look upon every day, as if nothing had ever happened...by freeze drying them?! Freeze dried pets are all the rage now, and claim to be much more realistic than taxidermy. And I don't even want to speculate on the price tag of a freeze dried Saint Bernard. But if you have the money to do it and don't mind that Kitty no longer purrs when you pet her and Rover no longer wags his tail or begs for cookies, then perhaps freeze drying is the way to go for you.

These are only a few of the ways humans hold onto their pets after death, a way to preserve a bit more than the memory and a few photographs or videos. And, of course the variety of traditional urns, from marble to wood to ceramic, is endless. So, whether you prefer the old fashioned bury in the ground or the newfangled freeze dry, there are so many choices, the only thing you should be upset about is the loss of your wonderful pet.

**Note: This article is deliberately written in a light tone and to be taken that way. The author realizes the seriousness of the loss of a pet and truly sympathizes with anyone who has suffered such heart ache.

Connecticut officials study swine flu in cats

2009-11-08T11:39:00.000-05:00

Spoil your cat
photo by Christine Church

Talk of the H1N1 or swine flu is buzzing around the country. Everywhere you look, you hear about it and its effects on humans, how to prevent the spread of it and how important it is to teach kids to be careful and wash their hands. But, now, even cats are hitting the swine flu news. The 13 year old cat in Iowa that contracted the disease from its humans is all over the news.

But, now people are wondering if a cat can pass this virus to other cats or even back to people. At the moment there's no evidence that a domestic animal can give the disease to humans. However, humans can most definitely give it to their pets. (And non-pet people say animals are diseased?!) The Iowa cat was the first case ever that a cat had even contracted swine flu, so prognosis on inter-species contamination is sketchy at this time.

To help prevent the the spread of this disease, whether to other human family members or pet family members, take the same precautions that are being advertised like wildfire across the news: wash hands regularly, use sanitizers and keep hands away from faces until they have been well cleaned. As an extra measure, for your pet's sake, don't pet Kitty or Rufus until you and your family have taken the same steps they would for each other. Proper sanitization is not just for humans anymore.

More Flu News

The flu is not new news in the animal world. Many species of animals can contract the flu and its various strains. The original canine influenza, first diagnosed in dogs in 2004, is a strain of flu that began in horses. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the equine virus has now adapted to spread from dog to dog.

And let's not forget the recent bird flu that caused panic in recent years. However, the bird flu seemed to be contained mainly to those working in very close proximity to birds, such as chicken keepers and factory farms. Or in countries with less strict protocols on disease prevention.

Any virus can mutate and spread, and proper hygiene should be observed whether there's a strain dancing its way around the current news or not.

As for the kitty in Iowa, after he had stopped eating and began showing signs of malaise and lethargy, his owners took hm to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. A sample taken from the cat proved to be a virus and further tests revealed a positive diagnosis of the swine flu virus strain. He was given fluids and put on a course of antibiotics and is now responding well to his treatments.

Human passes H1N1 virus to cat

2009-11-06T00:31:00.000-05:00

Even indoor cats can be subject to illnesses humans bring into the house.
photo by Christine Church

Often we hear non-cat people say that cats "carry disease" or are "dirty animals." Well, this time it's the humans who carried the disease--onto their cat! A 13 year old indoor cat in Iowa contracted the H1N1 (also known as swine flu) virus from its human housemates after two out of three of the humans in the house had become ill.

We keep our cats indoors to protect them from outside dangers, but few people realize they can carry certain "dangers" on themselves into the house, which then gets passed to the cat.

Watch your cat for signs of respiratory infection, which is generally the first symptom, but can also include lethargic behavior and lack of appetite. Particularly if someone in your household has had the flu or flu-like symptoms, bring your cat to your veterinarian for testing immediately if he/she starts to become ill.

According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), the Iowa cat "developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill. Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29 and the results were confirmed on November 2. This is the first report of a cat infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The cat is recovering from its illness. To date, there is no evidence that the cat passed the virus to any people."

Ferrets in Oregon and Nebraska have tested positive for the flu. One of four in Nebraska died from complications. Ferrets particularly, are very prone to human colds and flu.

Before petting your cat, be sure to wash your hands well with soap and water and use anti-bacterial gels when you come home, particularly if you have had contact with other people or animals. This will help protect yourself and the rest of your family as well.

Confessions of a newbie horse whisperer part II

2009-10-30T23:02:00.001-04:00

Horse whisperers can calm a crazy horse with their voice
photo by Christine Church

There's this horse at the barn named Dougie. They were having a bad time getting him on the trailer the other day. I didn't consciously do anything. I was leaving. But I didn't want to start my car and try to drive past them because they were parked right there in front and Dougie was giving them such a hard time.

Dougie would get his front feet on the ramp and stop dead, then fly backwards. I kept thinking of all these things I would do differently, but... hey, ya know. I didn't say anything. I saw Dougie fly backwards yet again as I was walking out of the barn.

Before that, I had only heard about it as everyone and his brother had been out there at one point or another watching and talking about it.

So, I just stood and watched, figuring I would leave when they got him on. But, what harm could it do to help just a little...without them even realizing I was actually helping. After all, we know how horse people are...they cannot admit someone may be good at something, perhaps better than them (see my first article, Confessions of a newbie horse whisperer).

Thus, the second Dougie put his front feet on the ramp, I stepped closer and gently said "Good boy, Dougie, it's ok... go ahead. Good boy" etc. Vooomp... he went right up! Coincidence? I think not! The barn owner came out and stated to the lady standing by as her husband hooked the horse in the trailer and stated, "Oh good you got him on," to which the woman replied, "Yeah, Chris said good boy and he went right on!"

The barn owner glanced at me. I shrugged and said, "sometimes we need a little positive encouragement." (which is true) It makes me feel good, like I have a rare gift, even if no one else sees it.

Home Health Exam

2009-10-27T22:12:00.000-04:00

An important part of caring for your indoor (or outdoor) cat is performing regular home health exams. These are not difficult to do and may help you to spot physiological changes you may otherwise have missed. These exams should be done during grooming sessions, and ideally started when your cat is young. (If you’ve acquired an older cat, please don’t skip the exam. It just may take a little time to accustom the cat to the handling.)

When beginning your exam, start by looking at your cat overall. Is her behavior normal? Is she standing and walking properly? Does the cat’s balance seem correct? Any noticeable changes should be immediately brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

For the physical exam, you may want to use food treats, and don’t forget the praise. Keep your cat calm throughout the exam. If at any time the cat begins to get agitated, it is best to stop and continue at another time when she is more relaxed. Negative associations will only make future exams more difficult, for you as well as the cat.

Start your exam with the cat’s eyes. They should be bright, clear and free of excessive discharge. A small amount of clear discharge may be normal, but thick, dark discharge may be the sign of a problem, such as a blocked tear duct or conjunctivitis, and should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

If your cat bumps into things or seems to have trouble deciphering distances, you will want your veterinarian to check her eyesight. When I acquired Teisha, I noticed her movements were slow and cautious. If an object was on the floor that had not been there previously, she would walk into or trip over it. Her pupils dilated normally, but a trip to the veterinarian indicated a retinal detachment that caused her blindness.

Check the lenses of your pet’s eyes. Do they seem normal? Cloudiness may be a sign of cataracts. Redness or discharge around the lids may mean conjunctivitis.

Next, look into the cat’s ears. They should be clean and pink, but not red or swollen. A foul odor is the sign of an ear infection. If the ears look dirty, or if the cat scratches at them continually, ear mites may be present.

Check in the cat’s mouth. Most cats resist this, and you will need to be easy and gentle. Place your hand over the cat’s head and, using your thumb and middle finger, press lightly on either side of the cat’s mouth until it is opened. The gums should be pink, not white, bluish or yellow.

Lifting one lip carefully, press on the gums. They should turn white
at your touch, then quickly return to their natural color. There should
be no foul odor from the mouth. This can mean an infection or even kidney or digestive problems. The teeth should be white, not yellow or brown.

Brushing your cat’s teeth using a pet toothpaste (ask your veterinarian) or a baking soda and water mixture is a good idea. Do not use any toothpaste made for humans, as they may make a cat ill.

It’s okay if your cat’s nose is dry, but there should be no excessive nasal discharge.

Now, feel your way down the cat’s body. Start at the neck and throat, feeling for any lumps or sore spots. Check for fat. If you can’t feel your pet’s ribs, it may be time for a diet. On the other hand, if the ribs are sticking out or are more prominent than normal, the cat is losing weight. This could be the indication of a serious health problem.

Next, gently pull up the skin on your cat’s neck. The skin should fall right back into place when released. If the skin remains, your pet may be dehydrated.

Looking through your cat’s coat, check for fleas or other parasites. Flea dirt resembles tiny specks of pepper and turns red when dampened.

Become familiar with your cat’s normal pulse rate. Check it for any changes whenever you do her health check. You can feel the pulse by gently pressing right behind the cat’s left front leg over the chest area. A normal heart rate should run between 110 to 240 beats per minute.

Respiration should be even and barely audible (unless, of course, the cat is purring). Open-mouth breathing, holding the head extended while breathing or excessive chest movement is abnormal and should be checked by a veterinarian.

Next, run your hand down the cat’s legs and paws, and feel for any abnormalities (such as swelling, pain, lumps or stiffness). Also, watch your cat when she walks. Being familiar with her normal gait will help you spot a problem, such as a limp, in advance.

Finally, look around your cat’s anal area for excessive redness or discharge. If she has tapeworms, they may be visible and resemble small bits of rice. However, it is still a good practice to have your cat’s stool checked for internal parasites whenever she visits the veterinarian.

Cats have anal sacs located on either side of the anus. Occasionally, anal sacs get impacted and may cause irritation. If your cat is scooting her hind end along the floor or licking excessively at her anal area, have a veterinarian check her for impaction.

The entire exam sounds like a lot of work, but once you and your cat become accustomed to the routine of a home health exam it should not take much time at all, and will benefit you both in the long run.

Bringing the Outdoors In

2009-10-21T22:27:00.000-04:00

I'm a happy barn cat!
photo by Christine Church

At the barn where I board my horse there are barn cats. Well, two young cats, each about 5-6 months of age and an adult cat that wandered down from another barn and decided to stay. I have several published books and numerous articles on the care of indoor cats, and every day I watch these barn cats, who are more like house cats in many ways, running down barn aisles, playing in the grass, eating grasshoppers and mice and tumbling around with one another having a grand time in the sun. Fortunately for these cats, the barn is a nice place with a heated viewing room and lounge chair, lots of saddle pads to sleep on, a 140 X 140 foot litter box (or one of any number of 12 ft X 12 ft stalls, whichever is closest at the time), people in and out all day long to love, pet, play with and feed them... and the road is too far away to be much of a concern.

Nonetheless, there are still dangers. Coyotes plague the wooded areas surrounding the farm, huge hawks circle overhead daily and cars drive in and out of the parking lot all the time. There are also horses everywhere, stepping down aisles with their hooved feet. Thus far, the young cats have steered clear of these dangers. But they exist. Yet, this is particular barn is one of the most ideal situations I have ever seen for an outdoor cat.

So, how do you keep your house cat indoors yet still provide all the wonders and freedom that these barns cats experience, without the dangers?

The answer is to bring the outdoors in, to replicate everything your cat would have if he were to head outside, only within a safe area, location, or confined space. This article is the first in a series of articles on doing just that, on bringing your cat indoors, on opening up the virtual window so to speak nd letting the sunshine in. For your cat's health, as well as for yourself.

Is it a Paint or a Pinto?

2009-10-07T02:17:00.001-04:00

I own a Paint/Pinto horse. This means he is double registered in two separate horse registries here in the USA. In order to be registered, a horse must have a certain type of pedigree going back a certain number of generations. In my horse's case, he is an American Paint whose biological mother (or dam) was a grey Quarter Horse and his father (or sire) was a bay overo Paint. This gave him the grey color gene with the overo Paint markings.

Since I have owned a Paint, I have continuously experienced a lapse in information on the color aspect of Paint vs. Pinto. Many people will see a horse with spots in its coat and automatically dub it a Paint. Very few people today use the term Pinto (maybe they associate it too much with the car of the same name, I don't know). In a nutshell, Paint is a breed, Pinto is a color. Unless the horse has the proper pedigree, one cannot be polically correct in calling this horse a Paint. A horse with a predominantly white coat splashed with darker spots or a dark coat splashed with some white is not necessarily a Paint, but can be called a Pinto (though unless registered with the PtHA (Pinto Horse Association of America) they are not "technically" a Pinto.

Just about any breed can have Pinto markings. Spotted horses are becoming more and more popular and a growing number of breeders of various types of horses are beginning to breed spots into their lines (Paint/Arab crosses are growing in numbers). I have seen Pinto Warmbloods, Arabs, Drafts and many others. Ironically, Thoroughbreds play a small part in the Paint line-up yet I have yet to see a spotted Thoroughbred.

But, no matter how many spots a horse might have, they are not necessarily Paints. A spotted Quarter Horse is a Paint, yet a Paint can also be solid color. A solid Paint is called a "breeding stock Paint" and usually is not allowed in regular Paint sanctioned shows, although this is changing.

My horse, Kobeejo, is registered in both the APHA (American Paint Horse Association) and the PtHA. Looking at him, many people don't realize he's a Paint because of his light coat. He is a flea-bitten grey (yes, that's the official name for the color) and white. His skin under the grey areas of his coat is black and the skin beneath his white spots is pink. When he is wet, his markings are very clear. I would be a rich person if I had a dollar each time someone was shocked at his markings when they see him for the first time coming out of the wash stall. The overo part of his coloration simply means he has mostly dark color with white areas that are basically limited to his sides and neck and face. It's ironic to call this white looking horse a "dark" color but if you could see his baby pictures, you'd be surprised. He was black and white.

So, the next time you see a horse with spotted markings, don't automatically call it a Paint. Ask the owner or someone who knows the horse's ancestry.

Soring and the Tennessee Walking Horse

2009-10-04T18:53:00.002-04:00

I had heard of a practice called "soring," but I never really knew fully what it meant, until a friend sent me a video on Facebook, which led me to finding another, and another and so on. So, I decided to research this and what I found is appalling.

In a nutshell, soring is any practice that causes a horse pain in order to achieve an extension of a natural gait. This practice seems to be most prevalent in the world of the Tennessee Walker. Terrible looking contraptions are placed on the horse's feet, chains are tied around their fetlocks, chemicals are used to burn the skin and cause pain; All of this in order to force the horse to lift its front legs higher in order to try and avoid the pain.

Personally, I couldn't imagine doing such a thing to an animal, for any reason, and I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to. But, as it turns out, just as I have mentioned in cases of horse racing where cruelties can abound, it's all about the money!

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the vast majority of exhibitors who convened at an Owingsville horse show grounds scattered like buckshot when officials arrived to inspect the animals for signs of cruelty and cite the trainers and owners for federal violations.

"One of the largest Walking horse shows in Kentucky virtually ground to a halt last week when U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors arrived, escorted by Kentucky State Police. "They're here to inspect horses and the folks that were here to show decided not to show. That's their prerogative," said Earl Rogers Jr., manager of the Owingsville Lions Club Horse Show and the president of the Kentucky Walking Horse Association.

Rogers said that USDA inspectors arrived Thursday for the last two days of the four-day show, in which 500 to 550 horses are typically shown. After the inspectors arrived, only 40 were shown. Hundreds of entrants turned their horse vans around and left."

Yes, there are many organizations now in place to help prevent soring and other unnatural methods of forcing horses into these exaggerated prances. Yet it still goes on, as I learned, because there's not enough resources to cover every one of the horse shows that exist and can possibly harbor people that practice these rituals. Some owners and handlers have been cited on cruelty cases more than once for soring their horses, and yet they continue to show.

Watch the back legs of some of the horses in the videos. These poor animals are far down on their hocks (in the back) as they try to relieve the pressure and pain from their front feet. It's almost painful just to watch. How anyone can put a ribbon to these animals is beyond me. Yes, these are gaited horses and their gaits can be quite extraordinary, but these video examples are extreme, severe and obvious to anyone who knows the natural movement of a horse.

On the other side of the coin, there are those kind souls who train their horses to achieve these gaits naturally and comfortably. If they can do it and still make the money, then what is it that drives these others to continue the cruelty? Most likely the answer is a short cut. It's easier to throw chemicals on the horse's legs and nail torture devices to its feet than it is to take the time (time is money after all) to train the horse to learn its natural rhythm and enhance it.

Please watch the video I have linked here and do your part on spreading the word that these practices need to stop!

The Cruelest Horse Show on Earth

Cruelty Behind Tennessee Walking Horses

Look! The water's stiff

2009-09-17T00:25:00.000-04:00

Whoa! The water's stiff!

I have to admit I don't know who took this picture or where it came from. It was in an email of cute animal photos that was forwarded to me. I also haven't a clue where it was taken. However, it was just too cute not to share and it also gave me a thought... Well, besides reminding me of the cartoon Bambii when Thumper the rabbit pounds the ice and states, "Look! The water's stiff!"

Looking closely at these horses (which I assume are wild), their coats are in pretty poor condition. In the wild, of course, this is to be expected. They don't exactly have grooms out there following them around with a curry comb and Andis clippers. But, this brings me to a point about our own domestic horses. I hear the care of horses being analogized with wild horses on a regular basis. "You groom that horse too much, his hair is going to fall out." "You shouldn't give him a bath too often, it will effect his coat oils." And so on and so forth.

Having a grey and white horse, I tend to like him looking good, and so he is regularly coiffeured. Remember, our domestic horses have very different lives and needs from those of wild horses.

This quote is from the Oregon State University web site: "In the wild, the horse is subject to many natural stresses, including extreme weather conditions and the frequent lack of water and food."

Horses in the wild have lifespans much shorter than those of our beloved pet horses. This is not only due to the lack of veterinary care, but the lack of caring by a loving, diligent owner who, yes, bathes his/her horse! Bathing a horse is not a bad thing. Contrary to popular belief, if you use a gentle enough shampoo, you essentially can bathe your horse daily without damage.

Fact: Brushing your equine friend daily will NOT cause him to become a hairless horse! Quite the opposite, a good grooming will aid in your horse's good health. Grooming stimulates the skin, removes dirt and can even aid in sore muscles. The attention you give your horse during grooming also helps the bonding process. Just remember to be gentle, be kind and make it positive.

For Horse Grooming Products, www.p-a-w-shoppes.com

Criminal Minds and ecological disasters

2009-09-10T23:17:00.002-04:00

I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds yesterday and Dr. Spencer Reid stated to a police chief, "Did you know that a domestic cat loose in a normal neighborhood is the equivalent of a small scale ecological disaster? They'll kill anything they can: Bugs, rodents, birds, other cats, small dogs if possible--anything."

Now, the fact that I find Dr. Spencer Reid a total hottie is irrelevant to the fact that I hang onto his every word in the TV show. After all, the actor who plays that character (Mathew Gray Gubler) didn't write those words, the writers of the show did. In any event, they gave me pause and made me think about the words.

A small ecological disaster.

The quote is both right and wrong. In my book, House Cat, How to Keep Your Indoor Cat Sane & Sound (Howell Book House) I discuss all the ways a cat allowed to roam free can be quite a nuisance to people, animals, etc. I never termed it "a small ecological disaster" but that's an interesting way of putting it. Cats are natural born hunters. In a neighborhood, a free roaming cat can cause a lot of trouble for neighbors. Do you want your cat destroying someone's garden? Or killing the birds you put out food for? As the quote stated, cats will kill things... but I have yet to find a domestic cat that will kill a small dog, even if possible. The only exception to this would be if the cat was fighting for its life and happen to win. Ditto with other cats, except male cats, particularly those unneutered, will fight and even kill other cats for territory and mates. A cat, if hungry enough, will eat insects, and of course cats will naturally attack rodents and birds.

Cat Blog

Arrowhead in Cat Skull

2009-09-05T10:24:00.004-04:00

I have said it before and I will say it again. I even wrote the book on it. Don't let your cats outside unsupervised!

Brownie found this out the hard way and I certainly hope his owner learned as well. Dillon Eads, 83, allowed his cat to roam free outdoors and then one day his orange and white tabby went missing for 3 days, only to finally arrive home -- with a 13" arrow through his skull.

This author practices archery as a hobby, and let me tell you either the person who did this missed as they attempted to kill this sweet kitty, or they pulled off a miracle shot by deliberately hitting Brownie's head, piercing the muscle, with no permanent damage. Unfortunately, I have a feeling the former is the case here. Brownie was more than likely the victim of a cruel human -- or a
very near-sighted hunter. Judging by the arrow, however, I would have to vote against any serious hunter, as the arrow lodged in the poor cat's head was not a typical hunting arrow.

"He's just a miracle cat," said Sarah Hayes, chief executive of the Monroe County Humane Association in Indiana where this event occurred. "He was just purring and rubbing up against people, even with the arrow in his head," Hayes said. "He's a loving, sweet, sweet cat." The humane association is offering a $1,450 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who hurt Brownie. The good-natured feline, which even loves dogs, is healing well and will be reunited with Eads next week, Hayes said.

photos courtesy of Monroe County Humane Assoc.

Article source: http://www.examiner.com/x-3078-Hartford-Cats-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Arrowheaded-cat

Neighborhood Uproar

2009-08-28T00:06:00.000-04:00

Fisher front print
found in blood on
my back porch
after a fisher broke
into my pigeons'
cage and killed them

As anyone who read my article Fisher cats kill will know, a fisher recently squeezed its way into my cage of pet fancy pigeons and killed them. After this happened, and after noticing many Missing Cat signs around my neighborhood, I decided to research this elusive animal, and what I discovered has more than one person in an uproar.

Fisher cats are weasel-like animals with a slender body, short legs and elongated bushy tail. They can squeeze themselves into fairly small spaces, basically anywhere their skull can fit. In 1988, as it turns out, the DEP Wildlife Division reintroduced the fisher cat to Connecticut after deforestation, logging and agriculture demands in the 19th century made this species virtually extinct in the state.

Now, however, it appears this freshly reintro-ed species is wreaking havoc in suburban neighborhoods around the state. According to the DEP website, fisher cat diets include "squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, carrion, fruits, mast (primarily beechnuts), porcupines, birds, and frogs." I don't see cats and small dogs on the list, but in the suburb they are certainly on the fisher's menu. The site also goes on to state, "In what is termed a "soft release," fishers were penned and fed at the release site for a couple of weeks prior to being released. Through radio-tracking and snow-tracking biologists found that the fishers remained in northwestern Connecticut, had high survival rates, and successfully reproduced. As a result of this project, a viable, self-sustaining population of this native mammal is now established in western Connecticut. Fishers are found throughout eastern Connecticut as a result of natural range expansion."

Ask anyone who has recently lost a beloved pet to one of these critters and they will tell you that this natural spread is not such a good thing. Particularly when they are now coming right up to people's houses and snatching anything they can get their teeth onto. And what will be next on their menu after cats and domestic pigeons?

Though statistics dictate a fisher would be unlikely to attack a human, what if an unknowing child happened upon one or was able to corner it? Yes, fishers are quite elusive, but these animals are vicious and nasty and children are curious. If you live near any wooded area, however small, please be careful. As I research these animals more, I am finding complaints of them geting closer and closer to houses becoming more common.

When a dog attacks other people's pets, what happens to the dog? So, why doesn't the DEP Wildlife Division take action, and responsibility for this dangerous creature they "reintroduced" to the state? Am I going to get reimbursement for my lost birds, or for the vet bills incurred when I had to have the lone survivor put down because her leg had been ripped off? I highly doubt it.

Also, the DEP claims; "Alert and secretive, the fisher is a rewarding sight to the wildlife observer. Finding and identifying fisher tracks can add interest to a winter hike or cross-country ski trip."

How about finding and identifying fisher tracks in blood on my back porch? That's a nightmare scene that will stick with me for a long time., and it was anything BUT rewarding.

Fisher cats kill - Keep pet cats indoors

2009-08-26T01:16:00.001-04:00

Fisher cats kill - Keep pet cats indoors

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Doomed to be pregnant

2009-08-23T00:49:00.001-04:00

Doomed to be pregnant

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Piano playing cat wows audience

2009-08-17T00:22:00.001-04:00

Her name is Nora and she plays the piano. This doesn't
sound so out of the ordinary, except that Nora is a cat! Yes, a cat. And she really does play piano. She's pretty good, too, considering she has paws rather than fingers.

The first time I heard about Nora I was quite skeptical. I
expected to see a video of a cat sitting beside a piano-playing human, while pawing aimlessly at some keys. Or at the very most, an overdubbed music track with a feline "pianist" tinkling away in a fashion that only made it appear the feline was playing.

Just as the Susan Doyle shocker that had jaws dropping all over the world, I think this cat will amaze and astonish. Ok, so she's no Mozart or Beethoven. But I defy you to find another cat that can hold a tune like Nora.

Now, apparently this puss was not born a musical virtuoso. It appears she had a natural inclination towards tickling the ol' ivories with her paws, and in turn her owners used that ability, trained her, and voila! you have a piano cat. The video (click the link to see it) is a great orchestral piece with a
video in the background of Nora playing her magic, seeming to blend in with the music. Though there's some video editing and splicing done in there, and once in awhile you can see the owner's hand flash a cue to Nora, still...quite amazing...as well as fun to watch and pleasant to listen to.

The Whole Truth

2009-08-11T18:57:00.008-04:00

Whenever anyone asks me how I got my first book published, and I relay to them the story, they are amazed. The truth of the matter is, it took me years of rejections, sending out, getting the same replies, trying different things, rewriting and more before I was miraculously accepted...

I am not telling you this to try and discourage you, but I have to be honest. If your heart is not in it and you don't plan to persevere, chances are you won't get very far. And the market is harder today than it was in 1997 when my first book was accepted.

Let me tell you what happened. I had written a book on the care of cats...indoor cats to be exact, and I was sending it out to agents and editors. I knew nothing about publishing a book and the proposal I was mailing out was lame to say the least; skimpy, with little information except a half a page about the book, some marketing ideas, my bio (which at the time was sparse) and a chapter by chapter outline. Back then there was really no such thing as e-mail queries. It was all done through "snail mail."

I had a few nibbles, one in the form of an agent who said if I made a few of her suggested changes she would "see" if she could find someone who might be interested. Apparently she mentioned it briefly when she was having lunch with an editor about another project. There was no enthusiasm there, so she sent me a letter saying "thanks but no thanks," as well as the usual response of "There are already too many cat care books on the market." (But mine was different, I thought for the umpteenth time, it was about the care of INDOOR cats, which at the time was very rare). She had been one of the last on my list that accepted such a book, so I put the manuscript away... for a time.

Several years later, I was speaking to a friend and asked her if her editor might like my book. She said it would be ok to use her name in sending it to her editor. And so off it went. Months went by and I heard nothing, so I contacted my friend. "She moved to another publishing house," my friend told me. Nice, I thought, just leave and never bother responding.

I contacted the editor via e-mail at her new house and she told me she had to pass on my book. "There are too many cat care books on the market," I was told. Ugh! So, I asked her if she thought the editor that had taken her old position might be interested. Her reply was a pretty definite no. Thus, I decided not to query this new editor.

The very next day I received a snail mail letter in the mail. It was in a familiar #10 envelope... a self addressed stamped envelope as is typical to send to an editor for a reply to your query. I opened it up, curious, as I didn't remember having anything out there at the time. You could have knocked me over with a feather! It was from the new editor that I had decided not to query. She had found my proposal in the previous editor's rejection pile and thought the market most definitely needed a book on indoor cats (out of 200 rejections, she chose two books to accept, mine and a pen pal of mine at the time, who wrote a book on stray cats).

A year later that book was published in hard cover, was a best seller in Great Britain and led me to many more books and publishing projects. And to top it off, the old editor came back in a different position to the publishing house and I got to meet her when I went down there to have lunch with "my" editor! She admitted she was wrong to reject my book.

So, the moral to the story is, you never know! Don't take rejection personally. Just because one or even ten editors and agents say no to your project doesn't mean it's not good. It means either they don't see the market potential (which is what happened in my case), they are swamped and your manuscript simply doesn't spark enough enthusiasm for them to take it on, or they simply have a different taste.

Remember, editors and agents are people too. As you won't like every novel you read, even if it's good writing, neither will they.

Dreams really can come true

2009-08-06T01:59:00.001-04:00

Dreams really can come true

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Thoroughbred Horse Racing Controversy

2009-08-05T00:39:00.001-04:00

They call it the Sport of Gentleman. But, many would say otherwise. Thoroughbred Horse Racing, as popular a sport as it is, is ripe with controversy. Is it cruel to make a horse run in such a manner or are they bred to do so? Are race horses run at too young an age, causing too much strain on not yet developed bones and tendons? Are race horse owners only in it for money and race horses only a means to pad their pockets? Are the tracks safe for horses to run on? Should fillies and colts be allowed to race against one another? (this one sparked great pains back in the 1970s when a match race was formed between the filly, Ruffian against colt Foolish Pleasure. Ruffian, who was in the lead, broke down and was later euthanized)

There is so much criticism of the sport, those against it would make one wonder how anyone could even think of doing it! But, is it as bad as all that? Let’s take a peek at some facts and statistics first. Horse racing began with prehistoric nomadic tribes of central Asia. It is an old sport, and only second in popularity to baseball. One on one horse racing has its roots way back near the 12^th century when knights returning from the Crusades brought back fast Arabians and eventually bred Arab stallions to English mares to produce horses with speed and stamina. In the 1700’s multiple horses racing against one another became popular, and race tracks sprang up all over England with each offering bigger and bigger purses to bring in the fastest horses. This is where racing became a professional sport. By the early 1800s the only horses that could be called "Thoroughbreds" and allowed to race were those descended from horses listed in the General Stud Book. Thoroughbreds are so inbred that the pedigree of every single animal can be traced back father-to-father to one of three stallions, called the "foundation sires." These stallions were the Byerley Turk, foaled c.1679; the Darley Arabian, foaled c.1700; and the Godolphin Arabian, foaled c.1724.

In any event, it is Thoroughbreds who now take the brunt of the racing world and sit at the center of racing controversy. Is this sport cruel and manipulative or is it fair and humane? The answer will depend on who you ask. Perhaps Barbaro’s owner will have an explanation as to why his colt broke down, and though that horse fought an amazing battle, in the end it was lost. More recently, Eight Belles broke both her front ankles when pulling up at the end of a race. She had to be euthanized right on the track. Those opposed to Thoroughbred racing will ask, if so many great and wonderful horses keep breaking legs, why then do people still continue to partake of this activity? The answer they say is greed and money. But what do those involved in the sport say? Do the owners of these great horses have a legit answer or do they simply walk away, not wanting to answer because there is not one?

It’s a lot to think about. I read one article not long ago on a veterinarian who is trying to prevent breakdowns by studying the horse’s heart before races. According to certain researchers the stress levels can vastly effect how the horse’s body responds to the constant day to day pounding of hoof on track. Others take into account the type of turf the horses need to run on and which turf horses are trained on as opposed to that which they race upon. Others claim it is simply a matter of starting them too darn young! Making a horse run such paces at such distances before bones have completely fused can have devastating effects.

Personally, I have only spent a marginal amount of time around Standardbreds (sulky/cart trotters and pacers). These horses don’t seem to have the same break down issues as Thoroughbreds. Perhaps because they never gallop? Because there is no weight on their back?

It is a lot to think about. I put the thought, the questions, out there. I would love to hear what you have to say as to an answer or two.

Article Controversy

2009-08-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

Recently, I read a comment to an article on a new kind of cat tree. The author of the article was simply informing indoor cat owners that this new brand of cat tree exists and is something indoor cats might truly enjoy. The quotes from the manufacturers in her article claim the tree is made of real wood for realistic climbing and scratching, silk leaves for realistic sound and feel and is built to satisfy many cat urges.

The commenter on the other hand states that she doesn't agree this cat tree would replace all aspects of the outdoors for a cat. As far as I can see the author didn't really claim that the trees replace all aspects of outdoor life indoors. The idea of having such a tree is more to prevent the cat from scratching up furniture, provide him/her with entertainment and exercise. As for the other "allures" of the outdoors, they can also be simulated indoors with many different methods and an indoor cat can have all the same stimulation (minus the dangers) of a cat that goes out. Too many people equate human needs of freedom to animals.

Yes, a certain amount and certain types of freedom are good, but a cat that is raised indoors in particular and is given the correct, and enough, of that which they require does not *need* to be out "chasing butterflies." Just as chasing toys can satisfy a cat's need for the hunt, so can scratching on a fake tree satisfy a cat's need to slough claws, stretch and mark territory (the three reasons cats scratch).

For more please visit House Cat.

Introduction and Hellos

2009-07-21T18:33:00.001-04:00

Follow Me on Twitter

Hi.
My name is Christine Church and I am a writer and an actress. I have mostly had cat care books published, but am working on a fantasy romance novel for an agent. You can follow me through Twitter, LinkedIn or any of my blogs. Links are provided on this page.

I also run a couple online stores on eBay in case you are interested in horse or cat products, gifts, jewelry and much more.

LINKS

WordPress Blog

Sex, Life & Being, a Blog about Life and sexual issues in the 21st century.

Twitter

FiledBy, my writer site. Keep up with my latest books

Pet T-Shirts and Gifts Site

Hartford Cats Examiner, Cat News

Hartford Horses Examiner, Horse News

PAWS, Horse Blog

Economical stall cleaning

2009-07-21T18:31:00.001-04:00

Economical stall cleaning

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New Cat Project in the Works

2009-06-29T21:32:00.000-04:00

I have a new project in the works that might be of some interest. I am working on a list, or more to the point, a booklet that is a list, of all the
behavior problems (and solutions) I have come across in all my years
working with cats and people. It's going to be available in e-book
format as well as paper form.

Anyone with a behavior problem they would like possibly added to the book, please email me at literate-feline@sbcglobal.net and if it's common enough I will add it, and the solution, to the book.

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