It’s Earth Day! Now, we have to be responsible because the Earth is the only place that has dogs and cats. Am I right? So how will you make Earth Day for pets a fun celebration? Shadow-Pup, Karma-Kat and I are encouraging everyone to do their part to help take care of this gorgeous planet we share.
Dogs have very different ideas how to celebrate Earth Day for Pets. Have a hot-diggidy-dog? Build him a sandbox for legal excavation. Or let him help while you garden.
Today, Shadow and I plan some gardening fun. And, I have a nifty new pet stroller so Karma-Kat will get to roll through the backyard to check out the sniffs. He’d like to become an adventure cat, so that’s a fun first paw-step.
I now receive an amazing amount of email “pitches” about every product you can imagine delighting your special cat and doggy buddy. While I simply don’t have time to write about them all, some stand out, so I wanted to share a few.
Earth Day for Dogs: Toys, Treats, and Fun
Squishy chewy puzzle toy!
I’ve loved the Planet Dog Orbee Tuff toys for years. These dog toys not only make dog tails wag with delight, they’re Earth Day friendly and use only recycled materials. Three of my dogs have played with the same Planet Dog toys–they last that long. I love this Snoop Treat puzzle toy–and it comes with free shipping from Chewy.
Be sure that your dog doesn’t over-do the exercise. The temps here in Texas get toasty. So for those extra hot days I plan to check out this new Petralyte Electrolyte beef flavored supplement for dogs. Think Gatorade but designed by veterinarians.
Shadow sez, “What about TREATS?” Have I got an Earth Day dog treat for y’all! Every hear of Jiminy Cricket? There’s now a dog treat company, called Jiminy’s, that uses an earth friendly protein source…crickets! Before you say “ew” and turn up your nose, remember the kinds of things your dog naturally munches. Heck, my cat loves crickets, too. The company has an entire line of cricket-protein dog treats, perfect for dogs with food sensitivities, and sustainable for the good of the earth. Learn more about Jiminy treats here.
Even indoor cats enjoy celebrating Earth Day, just be sure the celebration stays safe!
Earth Day for Cats: Toys, Treats, and Fun
Karma sez, “What about the Kat?” Yes, it can be a challenge for indoor-only cats to enjoy the great outdoors. Enriching your cat’s indoor environment goes a long way toward keeping your cat emotionally healthy, and physically fit. You can find a bunch of enrichment suggestions on this post — something as simple as cracking open a window can get kitty’s purr going! Or, offer some window-perching ops like this kitty shelf from K&H Pet Products (currently on sale at Chewy.
Give your cat a perch with a view for Earth Day.
Oh, and here’s another favorite for the cats in your life. I love the MAU brand because they use earth friendly materials cats love: sisal, real tree limbs, snuggly beds and cushions. And the luxury designs…oh meWOW! I’m saving up to get one of these for Karma-Kat.
My garden has started blooming, and my butterfly plants and hummingbird vines attract delightful creatures. I’m all for beneficial insects and critters but don’t particularly want them inside my house. I received information from Earthkind, a company that makes environmentally friendly and safe pest products. Always do your research before using such things. But I like the idea that Earthkind’s Stay Away repellents offer an earth first product. Learn more about them here.
Earth Day for People, Too!
Oh, and just an FYI, my husband and I got this nifty food composter several weeks ago (I was an early funder on their kickstarter). So we’re doing our part using Lomi, and feeding our garden better (while keeping the dog and cat table scraps to a minimum). Loving it so far. They’re now available on Amazon here.
What can you commit to do to celebrate Earth Day for pets? Can you squeeze in an extra 15 minutes outside with your dog tossing the ball, or bring some leaves and buggy fun indoors for your cat’s enrichment? Set up bird feeders for viewing pleasure? Share in the comments your plans to celebrate #earthday.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!
Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
Recently, a friend contacted me about her cat in heat. She wanted to know about a cat in heat behavior, how long are cats in heat, if cats in heat feel pain, and what to do to relieve the cat’s discomfort until spay surgery. Cats in heat signs include several distinctive behaviors common to feline estrus (the technical term). In fact, her newly adopted girl, although she looked too young, had already had kittens (they didn’t survive), and now loudly proclaimed Kitty’s determination to repeat the process.
I planned to refer my friend to one of my blogs—and instead realized I hadn’t specifically addressed cats in heat behavior, feline reproduction, and what to know about cat estrus. Yes, I write about this in my Complete Kitten Care and Cat Facts books in more detail, and now you get the kitty Cliff’s notes here.
Pets shed in both the spring and fall. Shadow-Pup leaves mini-drifts of fuzz I sweep up daily, all summer long. Karma-Kat’s URK-factor (hairballs) increases with pet shedding season. Yuck! The fur flies about the same time as allergy season begins. If you suffer from allergic reactions to your cat or dog, check out these pet allergy tips.
Dog Shedding Time!
Cat and dog shedding may be a big hairy deal—but it is normal. Magical-Dawg used to leave drifts of black fur everywhere. Although Shadow-Pup’s medium-coarse fur, and Karma-Kat’s short light fur isn’t nearly as noticeable, they also shed.
Year-round floating fur increases the challenge of keeping dry cleaned apparel in a Fido-free zone. You can’t stop pet shedding. Unless you’re a passionate pet lover who considers pet hair to be a condiment, understanding how to tame the hairy mess will keep your pet’s coat and skin healthy and simplify housecleaning…
With the latest awful weather and more on the way, it’s time to revisit your pet disaster plan. You do have one, right? Everyone should understand the importance of disaster preparation.
I posted this in June for National Pet Preparedness Month. September is Disaster Preparation Month. And today is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Hurricane Ian drives home the importance of having a disaster plan not only for yourself when Mother Nature throws a tantrum but also to keep your pets safe. Whether you must deal with tornadoes, floods, landslides, typhoons, wildfires, or other emergencies, there’s a rule that we must always PLAN FOR THE WORST.
And then pray it doesn’t happen. Learn more in the post…
May 7-13 is Dog anxiety Awareness Week, and June is Pet Anxiety Awareness Month. Do you have a fearful Fido? Do you need help with the fireworks and loud thunderstorms happening this time of year that makes dogs scared? It seems silly, but some dogs feel stress when their human wears a hat! I wanted to share some resources for recognizing and understanding signs of canine fear, anxiety, and stress.
While it’s normal for dogs to be cautious and not run head on into traffic, too much stress and anxiety isn’t healthy. Fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) also affect the immune system, impacting both physical and emotional health.
Up to 20 percent of dogs will be born prone to introversion and fear. Proper socialization improves puppy confidence, but abuse or poor socialization can result in anxiety-ridden adults. Pain or illness also can cause anxiety so these dogs associate certain kinds of handling with discomfort. Ongoing anxiety, stress or fear may lead to fear aggression.
Extreme fear interferes with learning, making it even more difficult to help dogs overcome the angst. Fearful dogs quickly recognize that escape behaviors or fear aggression makes the scary situation go away, so they learn to repeat these behaviors…
Do you love audio books — and thrillers? Yep, I also self publish audio books, including my nonfiction and my thrillers. And since my latest thriller DARE OR DIE released yesterday on all Ebook platforms, plus paperback and hardcover, I’m now planning the audiobook version.
And, that’s MY voice reading the story. How (and why) am I the one reading the book? And for authors out there, how can you do it? What mic do you need, what software…and if you want to hire someone, where do you find the perfect person to “voice” your book?
Read on! Here are the highlights. And if you want or need more step-by-step details, you can check out my on-demand webinar on the subject.
Will you adopt a new furry friend soon? There are many things to consider when adopting a pet. With Adopt A Shelter Pet Day on April 30th, I wanted to share some sobering adoption facts. In the ASPCA alone, 6.3 million dogs and cats enter their shelters each year, and only about 52% get adopted. I wrote about my pets’ adoption days here, and they chose me more than I chose them. But you don’t need to wait for happy accidents to get your pet, and can adopt shelter pets anytime all year long.
It’s a book baby birthday today–DARE OR DIE releases, thriller #7 in my THRILLERS WITH BITE series featuring September and Shadow. Get your copy from any of the Ebook platforms.
Or if you prefer physical copies, I gotcha covered with trade paperback and also hardcover versions, available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, or (maybe) if you ask your librarian nicely to order a copy. For all the audiobook lovers out there–yes, in the works, so stay tuned. I hope to have the recording finished and sent to the editor for a late May release on all audiobook platforms.
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR DARE OR DIE!
“Wow—what a ride! I cannot express how much I loved DARE OR DIE. I enjoy thrillers, but you gave new meaning to the genre with this one. Now I have to go back and read the entire series!” ~Mary H.
“Such a great page turner. Twisty.” ~Carol S.
“This might be the best one yet! As always, you are the queen of the (chapter ending) cliffhanger…” ~Kristi B.
“Another great addition to the Thrillers with Bite series.” ~Nicola A.
Get your copy now…Ebook, paperback, or hardcover. Ya know ya want to…
Do you know the signs of a cat urinary blockage? Do you know about FLUTD? Maybe you’re puzzled why your cat suddenly pees outside the box? Or maybe he strains and strains but can’t elminate. Is it constipation? Or does he have a cat urinary blockage? How can I stop my cat from peeing on the carpet?
If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place. Feline lower urinary tract disorders (FLUTD) can cause deadly cat urinary blockage. It frustrates cat owners—and also the cats! A cat urinary blockage can be deadly, so it’s vital to recognize the signs of a feline urinary tract disorder. This post is dedicated to my friend Susan Richardson-Cripps and the memory of Heathcliff, her fun-loving orange kitty boy.
Giving pets as gifts prompts discussions every time the subject comes up. Most recently, we got our “gift puppy” and “gift kitten” when they adopted us, and we’re so glad Karma-Kat and Shadow-Pup are part of our holidays. But for many folks, this year means a new puppy or new kitten for Christmas. Learn how to gift pets–and please share your experiences in the comments!
The professionals used to say that the holidays were a TERRIBLE time to get a new pet–that impulse adoptions could leave the cat or dog without a home after the cute-holiday-thrills wore off. More recently, though, the ASPCA conducted some surveys and discovered that when done properly, these adoptions can be lasting, loving adoptions. So I had to re-think my advice.
Holidays tend to be hectic times when normal routines go out the window. Whether a baby, adult, or senior rescue cat or dog, new animals need the stability of knowing what to expect. In fact, some holiday schedules may allow you to be home more during this time to help the new kitty or pooch adjust.
Holiday pets take more work, true. But just think: you’re not only giving the pet to a person—you’re giving a special human to a waiting cat or dog, a fur-kid hungry for a loving, permanent home. Happy holidays, indeed!
When I worked as a veterinary technician many years ago, pet parents ask questions all the time, but rarely to the vet. Folks often acted embarrassed, or waited to telephone from home hours or days after the appointment. Perhaps they felt intimidated by the doctor when they take pets to the back, or feared their questions were foolish. Maybe the busy schedule of the clinic offered little opportunity to ask.
Whatever the reason, remember that there are no foolish questions for your beloved cat and dog. Does your dog hate the vet, or is your cat fearful of vet visits? That can increase your own worry and stress.
As your pet’s top advocate, it’s up to you to arm yourself with expert advice and information to provide the best care possible. Here are some tips to be fear free when asking your vet questions.
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Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author. You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website.
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