Woods Weekly Mews
A Volunteer Publication
December 8th, 2010
"Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back!" - English Proverb
Mark you calendars - this Saturday, December 11th, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. is Woods Humane Society's annual Holiday Open House. Bring your dog (or cat if he is extraordinarily calm around lots of dogs) to have their picture made with Santa, bring doggie in to our microchip clinic, or purchase a one of a kind cat painting (which make wonderful gifts for the animal lover in your life!). Or better still, think about adopting one of the wonderful cats or dogs at the shelter - they'd love to have a new home for the holidays!
We've eaten our way through Thanksgiving and the holiday season is in full swing with Hanukkah here and Christmas just around the corner. And most of you no doubt are busy baking, shopping and decorating. If you have kitties or doggies around, there are some things to keep in mind during this time of year to keep your furry loved ones safe.
Did You Know? Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe are all poisonous to cats (and dogs). If you plan to decorate with these plants, make sure they are placed out of reach of your furry friends (a difficult task with kitties on the scene). Even some foods often common during the holidays - chocolate, alcoholic beverages, onions and yeast dough can all cause problems for cats and dogs. Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic and heart stimulant. While harmless (and delicious) to humans, in animals it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and muscle tremors.
Christmas trees can pose potential hazards to pussycat, as well. If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure to block the access to the water in the tree stand from your cat (this is where a pretty tree skirt can serve a dual purpose). The water can become contaminated by fertilizers from the tree and/or can become a breeding ground for bacteria causing stomach problems.
Though it sounds obvious, don't use breakable ornaments on your tree within kitty paw reach - they are tempting potential toys that can cause serious cuts to tender paws if they fall and break. I've learned through experience to decorate the bottom half of our tree with soft or non-breakable ornaments like stuffed toys. All three cats love the tree and spend much of the day lounging underneath. And quite frequently I find my little teddy bear, reindeer and kitty ornaments in all corners of the room after being batted around in good sport. And before Maggie became a little old lady cat (and before we switched to an artificial tree), she would climb the tree and nap in the branches (she's a tiny 6 pounder). While it was extremely cute and made for some adorable photo ops, breakable ornaments wouldn't have lasted long in her wake. If your cat is a tree climber you might try hanging an orange or lemon scented air freshener in the inner branches - it might make the tree less appealing.
Also, while it's not used very often these days, avoid the use of tinsel on your tree. The long strands will be irresistible to kitty and can be easily swallowed and cause intestinal blockage. Equally dangerous are edible decorations such as popcorn or cranberry garlands. Kitty can get sick or choke on these items. And if you plan on giving kitty presents, avoid putting catnip filled toys under the tree unless you want kitty to go wild and unwrap all of your gifts to get to hers!
And last, and hopefully equally obvious, never leave lit candles unattended with kitty around. She can become interested in the flame and strike out at it, burning her paw or knocking it over, risking a fire. And even just walking by a lit candle can put kitty at risk from fluffy tail getting just a bit too close.
Something to Celebrate:
Last week's happy tails:
Feline Adoptions- Q, Blackie, Alan, Cheetah, Lulu and Leila
K9 Adoptions- Coco, Audrey, Little Man, Aramis, Polo, Daisy, Cheyenne, Witch, Patches and Lucy
While you are enjoying the holidays, don't forget that the cats (and dogs) at Woods still need loving attention from our wonderful volunteers. The cats will especially welcome warm laps to curl up in as the weather gets chilly. And if you can manage, please think about adding Woods to your holiday shopping list - items such as paper towels, dog and cat toys and treats, copy paper, toilet paper, and bedding will be gratefully welcomed. And the Holiday Open House is the purrfect time to bring your items and join the fun!
Linda Beatson
Volunteer Captain
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