After watching Cosmo come out of her shell the last couple months I have to pass on a public service announcement. If your aging pet shows signs of pain or arthritis, I urge you to talk to your vet (or multiple vets), about the options available.

Sometimes you do not realize a decline in activity over time. They sleep a bit more, they walk tentatively a bit more, but when you are around them every day it is not as obvious especially in cats what is going on (same goes for weight gain, weight loss, and other slowly progressing issues). We tried a couple pain meds on her in the past for her arthritic front feet and hips but they had zero effect. Supplements had helped previously but had lost their effectiveness over time. I did not aggressively pursue more medications because from my perspective she was still fairly happy. She was always around us (just sleeping), eating well, normal litter box use, etc.

After getting a new vet this year who had new ideas, we decided to try something different on Cosmo. Suddenly she isn’t sleeping all day, toys are constantly being dragged out of the box, and lately I have even caught her zooming around with Mia. Sometimes you don’t know what was missing until it suddenly returns.

Here are a few of Cosmo’s recent antics this weekend. Normally she won’t do anything in front of us, but she seemed to forget I was sitting on the couch and I subtly turned the camera on.

(direct link to video)

I don’t want to discuss particular medications here for a couple of reasons.

Cats are very sensitive to these type of meds especially when it comes to their liver and kidneys. So consulting your vet and getting pre-med bloodwork is a really good idea.

Another reason, I REALLY am against pharmaceutical advertisements in general (human and pet), as the responsibility should not be on the patient to chose the med, but on the professionals with first hand knowledge. As a side note, what works on Cosmo does not work to the same degree on Dexter, so it definitely is a very individual situation.

I urge you to seek a vet with a lot of experience prescribing arthritis meds to felines. Make sure you feel comfortable with their knowledge before proceeding. Dogs and cats are very different, so sometimes finding a specialist is not a bad idea. Cats tend to mask pain really really well, so I will say a lot of the practices I worked for in the past did not have many owners who actively treated pain in their felines. Its growing, but most vets have more experience with canines so ask questions and find out how frequently they utilize particular medications in cats.

With Cosmo, we know there are risks in what she is taking and have weighed them thoroughly. I would rather her bounce around playing and interacting with the other cats enjoying life then sleeping. So for her the benefits outweighed the risks.

After our cricket trials the other day, I decided to try something less, shall we say, living. The bug torture factor and the cleanliness of crickets did not win mom over on that whole idea.

I picked up a Nano HEXBUG for about $5 dollars at the local store.

Here is how that adventure went:

(direct link to video)

First we tried it in the tub, okay reaction. More just Bayou making a lot of noise when it touched him.

I decided to add a tail using medical cloth tape (folded over on itself so it wasn’t sticky), and this provided much more interest. The bug doesn’t flip back over as easy with a tail, but it still works pretty good.

Putting the bug in a clear container made it even more fun. Cosmo and Dexter like it to (you don’t see this in the video as they are a bit intimidated by the bengals and prefer to play with it by themselves).

The treat box version was probably the favorite, although I need to create a box just for the bug with holes that have an edge so it cannot escape.

Result, Nano HEXBUG is the new favorite toy. No more bug torture, YAY!

Supervise your pets with this toy since it is not made for animals (especially with added tail).

SO, in the never ending quest to enrich my feline’s lives, I finally bought bugs for them.

I decided to experiment with a few interesting options and new toys, the first being crickets (ugh). I am not super squeamish about bugs, but putting crickets purposely in my bathtub just seemed, well….wrong.

But seeing as I adore my crew, I sucked it up and went to the local pet store for a bag of feeder crickets (at least this experiment cost my under a $1.00).

Here are how things went:

(direct link to video)

End result, good mental stimulation as they were in the bathtub MOST of the day watching, poking, and meowing at the bugs. Everyone slept well that night, that is for sure.

No nutritional value as not ONE of my crew ate them (even Dexter my major bug connoisseur). This of course led to the unfortunate task of mom cleaning said bugs out of the tub.

The one thing I did not like was watching bugs poked at for hours on end. I figured they would chase a bit then eat them. But instead, the crickets were subjected to LOTS of poking and also bites and shakes (resulting in missing legs). I never thought I had feelings for bugs, but apparently I do.

So, for the next round I decided to try something less….living. Check back tomorrow for our Nano Bug experiment!!

This last weekend the hoomans took a trip to a rescue organization north of the Denver area. I had not heard of it until recently and was excited to visit their facility.

Unlike most of our association with rescues, this one works with the BIG guys. Tigers, lions, bears…..OH MY (couldn’t help it).

They also have wolves, serval, leopards, mountain lions, emu, and several other smaller species we could not see from our vantage point.

They have quite a bit of space so many of the larger animals are out on huge plots of open land to enjoy. There were lots of creative structures to lounge on, some to climb, and others like half buried pipes so they had nice dens to escape to.

Unfortunately many of the animals have been abused or caged in such small spaces for years they have trouble adjusting to freedom. Or some of the animals (like the tigers), are not necessarily meant to be social animals.

So they gradually work the animals through different types of enclosures, some designed to help them get used to being around others, so they can eventually graduate out to live in more open space.

These guys are not ready for social time quite yet

(direct link to video)

They have built a walkway above some of the enclosures so that not only can people come and visit but the animals are not bothered by the onlookers. Almost all their funding to run the facility comes from entry fees by visitors.

Being able to hang out above the animals not disturbing them offered a great opportunity to watch them relax and enjoy their retirement.

(direct link to video)

(this big grizzly was playing with weeds)

Most of the bears were actually still hibernating, but a few were out and about. This one was sporting half winter coat still, and she proceeded to offer some amusing itchy moments.

(direct link to video)

We were also lucky enough to see some of the animals being fed. A good deal of their food (raw meat) comes from area grocery stores donating their expired products. At the bird rescue I volunteer at, the local stores donate older produce as well. Its nice to know a lot of that stuff doesn’t always go to waste.

(that is a whole chicken in his mouth, just to give you a little perspective)

The lions definitely got fired up come feeding time. The lioness in this one seemed to make it her job to remind the feeding van who runs the show.

(direct link to video)

After eating, this older male lion took time to remind two younger males he was king of that section.

(direct link to video)

There are quite a few lions there, especially with the recent rescue of 25 from Bolivia.

______

If you are ever in the Colorado area I would recommend taking a trip out to visit them!!

Wild Animal Sanctuary

Sometimes I wonder if Mia knows that she is being filmed.

At the end, yes, I am patting her firmly, but the bengals love to be rough housed with. Her purring lately has gotten very exuberant, you should be able to hear it there in the final bit.

(direct link to video)

Usually twice a day I set up some sort of obstacle course and a rotation of favorite toys. It really helps to give the active cats something new to do and keep them from finding their own trouble. It takes 30 seconds to set up and 30 seconds to put away once everyone heads off for naps.

Rotating the toys, the room, and the set up helps keep it interesting. You can use pillows, carpet pieces/samples, tunnels, scratch pads, boxes, etc. Designate a basket or drawer for the toys so it is easy to put them away each day, and when a toy becomes boring hide it away for a couple weeks.

Couple inexpensive easy to tuck away items we use are a crinkle tunnel (we got ours from Walmart I believe for under $10 USD) and these type of pop up tents (not a sponsored link)

Anyone with an active cat or bengal knows that a bored kitty = trouble.

Mia, like most kittens, has her moments. Picking on the other cats, climbing up off limit shelves to knock items off, getting behind furniture to get into drawers or mess with cords, counter surfing, etc.

Usually if I pay attention I can head off this behavior early with some interactive play time or getting out a favorite toy. The key is to catch it BEFORE it escalates so I am not rewarding negative behavior. Most cats give cues. Asia used to sit and stare me down. Bayou will start wandering and meowing. Mia gives pretty obvious signs as well.

There are a lot of cats like bengals who end up in rescues or shelters due to picking on other cats, destroying the house (including some potty issues), too rough or attacking people, and meowing at night. A good majority of these cats are just flat out bored and frustrated. Yes, some felines are truly cat aggressive or have potty problems for other reasons, but a truly tired cat mentally and physically is less likely to find alternative ways to release energy.

Here is an obviously bored Mia. I got up and played with her after I turned off the camera. Usually I do something to wear her out like wand toy up and down the stairs, fetch, hide and chase, or bouncing ping pong balls.

(direct link to video)

If you notice your cat getting into trouble, watch for cues to see if you can head it off before it happens next time

Using an old treat box, I added a ping pong ball for Mia and it worked out perfect. I had to cut an extra hole or two near the corners, but she has been playing with this all weekend.

(direct link to video)

Yesterday I posted that I was babysitting my Mother’s sick pitbull, Bandit, for the day. In the comments it was mentioned that Bandit did not look like any of the horror stories that go around with pits (and he is not). I started to respond in the comments, but it turned into a book, so I thought I would post that response here…..

Bandit is a pretty good pitbull. He doesn’t have any dog aggression issues. The vets never had to muzzle him for any procedures. He used to be a bit skittish around kids until he was exposed often and got used to them. He doesn’t have any issues that I haven’t seen in any other dog breed.

I am on the fence with the whole pit bull debate. While I do believe the majority of the pit bull problem is poor socialization and the fact that most problem dogs are raised in REALLY bad environments….that is not the full story. Just like all the dog breeds, certain traits were bred into them, and to deny that pit bulls have some aggressive and stubborn instincts is irresponsible. Bandit is an example of a pit with very low level of aggression instincts, and even though my family spent little time socializing and training him, he was just fine. BUT, there are other pits that in the same situation would not thrive. Love and a comfortable sofa does not override all instincts unfortunately.

This is something that ALL dog breeds exhibit……like say one family gets a beagle and has no issues, while another gets one and raises them the same way and that beagle wants to dash out the door, dig out, jump fences, and run for miles non stop. This is a breed instinct, to run and hunt, and it is stronger in some beagles then others.

The only way to solve this type of issue is selective breeding, which brings us to the heart of the problem; how do you shape the breeding of dogs universally? Are some dog breeds not suited for companion animals? Can you shape a breed to become a better companion animal? Breeding thus far has focused on looks first and foremost, with personality and health improvement being usually only the focus of a select few. Or how about all the breedings where there was no focus at all, either by accident or just because someone thought their dog should have a litter of puppies. How do we shift that focus around or solve this issue?

I will also say this, I don’t think I have ever walked into a home or a vet office room with a pit that was openly aggressive. Conversely, I have walked into countless situations where a small dog was seriously aggressive. Chihuahuas, lhasas, shihtzus, and cocker spaniels were always the problem breeds when I worked at vet hospitals. For every one rottie, pit, or chow we had to muzzle for a procedure, there was probably 25 small dogs that needed a muzzle. How is that acceptable just because the animal is 5 or 15lbs? I also personally know a child that was killed by a shepherd mix picked up from a pound and living with the family for 6 months.

We cannot ban all breeds that have killed or seriously injured someone, this would be a losing battle.

Banning pits will not solve a MUCH bigger problem. I agree it needs to be addressed in some manner, as the size and strength of a pit makes them very dangerous IF they are aggressive. I think universally banning them is a dramatic band-aid only used to appease public outcry, not solve the problem. I think some seriously aggressive spay/neuter programs combined with some sort of breeder certification and tracking would probably go further to helping the situation, for ALL breeds.

I would love to turn all dogs into this,
or this.

The question is….what is the best way to do this??

UPDATE:
So I find it odd that I wrote this article this morning, and clicking on the local news this evening there are TWO articles about dog attacks. Weird how those things happen….
Pitbull shot after attacking a dog
Boy attacked by German Shepherd

Quick and easy way to challenge a bored feline.

Take a small box (this one was for a pill bottle), insert a straw through the side (chopstick or popsicle stick would work too), and place a favorite toy or food item in the back of the box. You can place the item in the front of the box to get interest started initially and then later move it behind the straw.

For a greater challenge add additional straws, or place on a hard surface like tile so the box moves around easier.

For Mia in this video, I used a paper ball and a small rattle mouse toy she really likes.

(direct link to video)

Back in the summer I decided we really needed an outdoor pen for the felines that fit my narrow porch. I wanted something tall, durable and as large as possible, yet portable (since HOA rules do not allow anything to remain on the porch).

Examples of pre-made portable enclosures (these are not affiliate links):
Kritter Kondo
Feline Funhouse
ABO Happy Habitat
Kittywalk
Pet Travel Play Yard

I shopped around for awhile but either they were out of my price range or just did not fit the space well. Plus with 4 cats who all want out at the same time, I really needed something roomy. So I put on my creative hat and came up with a homemade solution.

I played with several ideas, making one out of PVC pipe, wood panels, etc. The most cost effective and easily stored solution ended up being an exercise pen topped off with a netting material.

The pen itself is 36″ tall, and has 8 – 24″ wide panels. The shape I use on the porch provides a total of 12 square feet, or 36 cubic feet of total room.

(I have not trimmed the netting yet, was thinking about re-positioning it a bit)

I ended up shopping around ebay for my supplies, although if I had been patient I am sure I could have found a used pen on Craigslist to suit my needs. Total cost for this project ended up being about $55 for the netting, string, and exercise pen.

The netting has 1 inch holes (that stretch to about 2 inches) and was labeled as sporting/backstop netting (although not sure if that is accurate). If I had to do over, I might go with something smaller since little kitty arms can fit through these holes…although I have had no problems thus far. I think it is a toss up, smaller netting for nails to catch, or larger netting where arms can go through. Either way, supervision is warranted.

I chose an exercise pen where the top and the bottom of the door panel was static so that I could attach the netting with no gaps. Here is an example of what I looked for in door openings.

I wrapped the edge of the netting around the top of the pen and threaded a nylon string through it to hold it in place. This was a bit time consuming, but was the most economical method I could find and left no gaps a feline could escape through.

One major note if you build something like this is understanding that when you fold the pen back up, some of the panels need to stretch wide, which means you need to leave a lot of play in the netting. I had to move the netting around a couple of times in order to find the right amount of extra play so it would close up, but not so much that it drooped down into the cage. I also bought extra netting in case I wanted to line the bottom as well. So far that has not been necessary but if I wanted to use this pen on an uneven surface like grass I will need to do that.

In case it is useful, these were the ebay suppliers I used. Prices vary though, so you might have to shop around to get the deal I did.
Ebay Netting
Ebay Pet Supplier

Oh look, Itty is demonstrating why I only use this pen with supervision.

(‘itty’ and ‘lil’ bit’ being Asia’s most used nicknames…..itty bitty she remains at half the size of Bayou)

Thank you Asia for the assistance.

Hopefully that gives you some ideas if you are looking for a similar solution. The hubby was happy with the results since it takes up very little room and I can hang it on pegs in the garage when not in use. Next task will be to build a raised seating/lounge area for the pen that also folds up and stores away

(please build and use at your own risk, some cats are more escape artists then others so supervision and care should be used when utilizing something like this)