Maintaining your cat's weight with healthy cat treats

After my cat, Kyra, started gaining weight my vet suggested I start looking

for healthy cat treats, which are great for cats that need to lose a few pounds.

The vet and I discussed Kyra’s eating habits, the food I fed, and her activity

levels. When the vet could find no medical reason for the weight gain, she

suggested that the high calorie treats I was feeding Kyra may be the culprit!

Cat treats can be used as an effective way to train or reward your cat, but

should be fed in moderation, and with an understanding of the ingredients

Like anything you feed your cat, you need to diligently read the labels! Many

cat treats on the market today are full of unhealthy fats and carbohydrates

that contribute to weight gain and overall poor health in many felines. A

healthy cat treat should have a high protein content, moderate fat content

and low fiber / carbohydrate counts. Using this information, you can compare

labels and find a lower calorie cat treat that has the right concentration of

fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

If you are trying to train or reward a cat and do not want to cut back on the positive reinforcement, try feeding the cat his or her normal food just a bit less per day. After speaking with your vet and reading your cat food labels, you should be able to come up with your cat’s daily recommended caloric intake. With this in mind, you can substitute treats for food calories, and not cause weight gain.

I am happy to report that by switching Krya to a lower calorie cat treat to lower and maintain her weight; I have not had to change the amount of treats she receives each day. Kyra is losing the extra weight she had gained & still enjoying her cat treats!

Relax at your next trip to the Vet: Can Scrubs really make a difference?

As many times as we have boxed up our kitties in their carriers and prepared them for that long trip to the Vet's Office it never seems to get any easier. I don't know who is more apprehensive, us or the shivering pets, some of them sick, entering an intimidating Veterinarian's office for the first time. On a recent trip to a new Vet in town, scheduled to get several of our rescue cats neutered, I couldn't believe my eyes as we were greeted by a warm and friendly office staff wearing fun custom made scrubs in beautiful pastel shades like pink and blue.

I am still not sure if it was us or the cats but the environment in this office made a huge difference in our experience that day. Taking a pet to the Doctor is already stressful so as a pet parent, you have to be as calm as possible so your pet won't become rattled and have to be medicated, restrained or worse.  The women in the office told me that they had their scrubs custom made to fit their new animal friendly office design by going to Blue Sky Scrubs, online at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/

I was actually so impressed that I am ordering some for myself! I just can't decide on the color!

The Best Care for all Pets

Even during these challenging economic times, most families I know consider their pet a part of the family and would never scrimp on their routine veterinary care, pet meds, nutritional food, exercise and of course the loads of love that they so richly deserve! I can tell you first hand that rescuing and caring for dozens of stray cats is not an easy or inexpensive venture but the alternative is not one that I am willing to consider. Most of the homeless and abandoned kittens and cats that I come across in my rescue efforts are still quite young and simply need basic pet care, a spay/neuter procedure and a little TLC to transform them into an adoptable angel. If I had one wish it would be that all animals would have a forever home with a family that cares for them and appreciates all the incredible qualities that pets seem to bring out in people.

That said, we all know that caring for even one pet can be quite a commitment, financially and physically, so I will share a few tips that I have learned over the years caring for my own pets as well as some of our rescue cats.

• First, find a local Veterinarian that you and your pets are comfortable with and trust so that this process is as painless and price-friendly as possible
• Second, find a reputable online site to purchase your pet meds so you can stock up in a flash. Especially if you are busy, with multiple critters, an online source is a real time and money saver! You can also pick up toys and treats at the same time saving on shipping costs
• Hopefully you have been able to find a healthy diet for your pet however, if you do have a problem you can report complaints about a pet food product electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or you can call your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators 
• Always Always Always make arrangements to spay or neuter your pet. There are Low Cost Programs now in most areas

The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment. The way we care for our animals is a big part of this incredibly special union.