Laugh. Learn. Love cats.
Pierre: Hey, Newton! Newton! Look behind you!
Pierre: They’re out there!
Newton: What?
Newton: OMC, it’s ducks!
Newton: Ashton, you’re missing this!
Ashton: I can’t eat them, so what’s the point? I would rather wait in the kitchen for chicken.
Pierre: Don’t mind her. Girls are weird.
Newton: Do you think vultures taste like chicken, too?
Newton: I’m stepping in as spokescat today for an important message. Did you know that April is ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month?
We are lucky cats who live in a safe home where no one can mistreat us, but many animals aren’t so fortunate. We know that abuse sadly happens in our community. Yours, too. If you see animal abuse or neglect, be sure to report it to the authorities so that it isn’t allowed to continue. Law enforcement doesn’t know the animals in your neighborhood like you do, so they won’t notice if one of them is showing signs of something being wrong.
Remember that abuse isn’t just someone kicking a puppy. Animals who are neglected and not given medical care when they are obviously injured or suffering from illness are at risk, too. As we move away from the cold weather days, don’t forget that winter isn’t the only time that the weather can be dangerous for animals left tied up without shelter, food, or water are still at risk. And of course, dogs or cats left locked in closed up cars are at risk from the heat, even on days when the temperature outside isn’t summery hot yet.
Know who to contact. Your local law enforcement is a good place to start, but in some communities, you might need to contact animal control for assistance. You are the voice for the animals who can’t dial a phone themselves to ask for help, and it’s up to all of us to help animals who are suffering neglect or abuse to get help.
Of course, we always support helping your local shelter or animal rescue. That is where many abused animals ultimately end up, and your helping out with a shelter or rescue can make a difference for an animal who was previously abused and is starting over again.
The head peep’s favorite flower has always been the stargazer lily. She loves how they look and especially how they smell.
But we can’t even have them in the house. Do you know why?
If you said it’s because stargazer lilies are poisonous to cats, you’re right. She knows that if there are flowers in the house, we absolutely must have the taste. It doesn’t matter how where she puts them. Cats can jump five times their height, so it’s hard to find anywhere safe to put toxic flowers.
This is especially important this time of year, since the tradition of Easter lilies can be a dangerous one for the cats in your house.
According to the pet poison helpline, some lilies are more dangerous than others, but even the least dangerous lilies cause tissue irritation in the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus, causing drooling, foaming and pawing at the mouth, and vomiting. And those are the less dangerous lilies! The potentially fatal lilies, including the Easter lily, can cause acute kidney failure if cats eat only two or three petals, or even if they just drink the water from the vase.
Instead of listing which lilies are more dangerous than others, it stands to reason that the best thing that you an do is just avoid having lilies around cats entirely. The risk is just too high.
We are indoor kitties, so we enjoy looking at the lilies in our garden from the safety of our screened porch.
Just say no to lilies. Let this guy enjoy them instead… for your safety.
