Gambit Pets: Holiday 2023

WINTER 2023

SEASON’S GREETINGS

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS ANIMAL HOUSE HOW TO BE A GOOD ROOMMATE WHEN YOU HAVE A PET

JAWSY’S ADVICE COLUMN FOR CATS + HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

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GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

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may 13 • December 9

2024

Contact Sales and Marketing Manager Abby Scorsone Bordelon 504-636-7427 or abigail.scorsone@gambitweekly.com

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Pet

Peeves

How to cohabitate with other people and animals

BY K AY L E E P O C H E

LIVING WITH OTHERS CAN BE HARD. Suddenly, your mess is not just your mess anymore. The dishes in the sink from last night you normally wouldn’t think twice about make an unpleasant surprise for your roommate the next morning. And nobody’s fessing up to eating the last cookie that has mysteriously gone missing.

Having a pet in the picture, even if everyone in the household is a self-proclaimed animal lover, inevitably complicates matters further. No matter how cute, you now have a furry living being in your house that can’t use the toilet, needs to be fed and can’t exactly clean up after themselves.

Whether you’re a pet owner moving in with someone, a pet-less person moving in with someone with a pet or you’re already living with someone and planning to adopt an animal, here’s what to know before and after deciding to take that next step.

For renters who own a pet or are looking to get one, the first step should be checking with the landlord to see what their pet policy is, according to Twila McGee, owner of NOLA’s Finest Pet Care. Keep in mind that a tenant looking for a roommate may not be familiar with the ins and outs of their landlord’s pet rules, especially if they don’t have a pet themselves.

Once a pet owner knows the landlord accepts the kind of pet they have, McGee recommends they be honest with potential housemates about their pet’s quirks and behaviors from the get-go.

“Just like children, sometimes some fur kids can have habits that might be kind of annoying,” she says. “It just really all depends, and I would

PHOTO BY LIGHTSPRUCH / GET T Y IMAGES

say that it’s very important to be honest about that upfront and make sure that the other person is okay with that.”

Terms and conditions may apply Is one person assuming all responsibilities for the pet, including financial and caretaking obligations? Or are multiple people going to split the cost and care? If the latter, whose name is going on the adoption record or vet paperwork? And what happens if one of the caretakers has a lifestyle change, such as losing their job or

working longer hours, or moves out altogether?

Although it may seem formal, McGee, who also offers pet care courses, says it’s best to get the details of the arrangement in writing, sometimes referred to as a pup-nup.

“Memories fade over time, so if you want to avoid future disagreements and arguments, it’s best to get it in writing,” she says.

McGee notes that a roommate agreeing to have a pet in the household is not the same as them agreeing to take on any care and responsibilities.

“It could just be a single pet parent agreement, where they’re just saying, ‘Hey, I’m cool with you having a pet in the household, but

I do not want any kind of responsibility, whether it’s financial or just basic upkeep or basic needs,” she says.

Safety first When bringing a pet into a new environment, caretakers should check the property to see what plants are growing in the yard and make sure they aren’t toxic to pets. For those who aren’t wellversed in botany, there are apps that can help identify plants.

Even in single pet ownership situations, everyone in the household should be aware of what food allergies or sensitivities a pet may have. There are also foods

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

Honesty is the best policy

Getting a cat means signing up to clean far more frequently than a typical pet-less person. That could mean cleaning the litter box twice a day.

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Pets can be a wonderful, welcome addition to a household, but make sure to figure out who is responsible for what.

PHOTO BY JOSE CARLOS CERDENO / GET T Y IMAGES

that are off limits to dogs or cats in general. A pet owner may want a roommate to ask before feeding their pet anything at all.

“If you have someone that’s not aware of this, it’s not a good idea to just give them some scraps because you see them with the cute puppy eyes,” McGee says.

And if certain doors or pet gates need to be kept closed, roommates and guests alike need to be mindful of that.

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

The litter box in the room

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Getting a pet also means signing up to clean far more frequently than a typical pet-less person.

And yes, McGee says, that means cleaning the litter box twice a day, or as often as your cat goes No. 2.

“Same thing with how we use the bathroom, it’s just something you can’t get around,” she says.

Additionally, McGee recommends deep cleaning the litter box once a week. That means completely dumping everything out, cleaning the box with warm water and soap that doesn’t contain fragrances or harmful chemicals, drying it and filling it with fresh litter.

Depending on the cat’s habits and if there’s a hood on the litter box, vacuuming or sweeping around the litter box once a day is also a good idea.

Litter boxes should be placed in low-traffic areas, like a laundry

room, and away from the kitchen and pet’s food. And in situations where there are multiple cats, multiple stories in a house or older cats, it may be smart to have multiple litter boxes.

“Older cats, they deal with arthritis and just things that we deal with aging ... so they may not be able to get up the stairs or down the stairs as quickly as they did before to get to their litter box,” McGee says.

“Some may not be able to hold it as long.”

Fur, fur and more fur When choosing for a pet, there are definitely dog and cat breeds that shed less than others, but pet owners are pretty much always going to have to deal with pet hair in some form or another.

Regular grooming, however, can help control the shedding. And a good vacuum cleaner — paired with a consistent and frequent vacuuming schedule — is a must, McGee says.

“This is more than just, ‘Oh my god, this really cute puppy or this cute kitten!’” she says.

“You have to be wholeheartedly committed to taking care of them for 20+ years.”

For more information or to schedule a pet care class at NOLA’s Finest Pet Care, visit nolasfinestpets.com.

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Photo Opps with Santa The holidays aren’t just a great chance to capture awkward photos of your children sitting in Santa’s lap. Oh no, they’re also an excellent time to get that perfect picture of your pet dog, cat or iguana having an existential crisis over being dressed up as a human while sitting in a stranger’s lap!

This year, big box pet care chains Petco and PetSmart are offering free Santa photos at locations around the New Orleans area. Be sure to check with the store for details and to schedule an appointment.

Petco locations

Dec. 9, 1 to 3 p.m.

Locations: » 550 N. Carrollton Ave. » 5300 Tchoupitoulas St., Suite 42 » 3520 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie

PetSmart locations Dec. 16 and 17

(Check petsmart.com/santa-photo-days for hours and reservations.)

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GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

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Cat Chat

With Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws Dear Jaws, Every time my human is about to leave the house, no matter where I am, she hunts me down to scoop me up, squish me and “remind” me that I’m “just a baby!!!!” This causes her to be chronically late, and it disturbs me from my much-needed naps. After all, it’s exhausting being this handsome. Is there any way to fix this behavior, or is she a lost cause?

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Sincerely, SIR BUDRICK SQUISHINGTON, AKA BUDDY Sent telepathically from atop a cabinet where I can’t be reached by human arms

My Dearest Sir Budrick Squishington, First of His Name

Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws P H O T O B Y J O H N S TA N T O N

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GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

First, allow me to wish you a Merry Catmas! As feline historians have long understood while bipeds have mangled the holiday’s true name, the origins of the holiday season are, of course, tied to their ancient practice of paying tribute to their cat owners in the hopes of a prosperous crop in the coming year.

As for your question, separation anxiety among humans is at an epidemic level, according to the National Academy of Meowentists, in part because of the lingering effects of being locked in their homes for prolonged periods of time during the pandemic.

Treating it can not only help your biped live a more fulfilling life, but also make yours much easier as well.

The first thing to remember is that your human is, by its nature, a simple-minded creature. As such, they take many of their emotional cues from you, their pet overlord. Unfortunately, their poor language skills can make this symbiotic emotional relationship much more complicated.

For instance, whomst among us has not had a situation in which your human is preparing to leave the house and you ask them to pick up some food or treats from the store? Rather than acknowledging their new orders, your human begins cooing and babbling incoherently while aggressively petting your head. Then they walk out the door, leaving you to worry over whether they understood your orders before they left.

It’s all very stressful and annoying. Which is why experts suggest training your human to simply leave the house with a minimum amount of fussing. This works on two levels: First, they don’t disturb you unnecessarily, which is always nice. Second, they won’t leave in a confused and unsettled state of mind, meaning they’ll be much more likely to remember your orders.

One tip I suggest is also making sure your human keeps some delicious treats just inside your home’s door. That way when they come home, they can always give you a tasty snack, thus proving their fealty to you, their pet potentate, while also giving their otherwise sadly two-legged lives a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

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Toys & Treats Local gifts for fur babies

SWEET KITTY PLACEMAT |

$9.99 from Petcetera.

By Sarah Ravits

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

GINGERBREAD MAN CHEW TOY |

$16.99 from Petcetera.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

HOMESTEAD TURKEY BONE BROTH |

$14.99 from Petcetera (3205 Magazine St., 504-269-8711; petceteranola.com).

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

8-BY-8-INCH CANVAS BUNNY |

STOCKING |

$4.99 from Petcetera.

BAD KITTY / GOOD KITTY CATNIP STOCKING |

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

$5.94 from Metairie Small Animal Hospital (Areawide; 504-835-4266; msah.com).

$35 from Cocoally (2041 Magazine St., 240-994-8417; cocoally.com).

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

SESAME THE POSSUM CAT TOY |

$9.95 from Cocoally.

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

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RASCAL PET SWEATER |

$34.99 from Petcetera.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

TOY TRIO |

$6.99 from Metairie Small Animal Hospital.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

gambitpets 8-BY-8 INCH CANVAS HOUND AND POSSUM | GET LIT MENORAH CHEW TOY |

$35 from Cocoally.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

$18.99 from Petcetera.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

“WHEN IN DOUBT, PLAY DEAD” BOOK BY ALLY BURGUIERES | $12.99 from Cocoally.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

HANUKKAH BOW TIE |

$6.99 from Petcetera.

FLOSSY CHEWS ROPE TOY |

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

$14.99 from Petcetera.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

STOCKING |

$5.99 from Metairie Small Animal Hospital.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

DOG BEER |

$6.99 per can from Pet Wants (2039 Magazine St., 504-982-2779; petwantsgardendistrict.com).

WE GOOD? PLUSH BONE |

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

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GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

LOCALLY MADE COLLAR | $23.99 from Petcetera.

GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

$18.99 from Petcetera.

PROMOTION

HOLIDAY

Main Hospital (24-hour emergency) • 101 Metairie Road • 504-835-4266 Kenner • 4041 Williams Blvd. • 504-443-4400 Lakeview • 734 Allen Toussaint Boulevard • 504-830-4080 West Esplanade • 5040 W Esplanade Ave., Metairie • 504-455-2345 Freret • 4525 Freret St. • 504-830-4095 Marigny • 1009 Elysian Fields Ave. • 504-372-2950

ROUXGAROUX Photo by Shayna Hall

WINNER TAVI

PHOTO BY JA OSBURN CHUCK Photo by Elizabeth Barbier

ARABELLA Photo by Twila Beasley COOKIE Photo by Wimberie Gray

RAMONA Photo by Darbi Mulkey

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

BUTTERCUP Photo by Mardi Black

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GRIFFIN Photo by Carrie D. Pavlick

PRINCESS LEIA Photo by Ed Ingraffia

GORDON RAMSEY Photo by Susan Sparrow

DUMBLEDORE AND LUNA Photo by Cindy Nguyen

PROMOTION

MORTY Photo by Sandy de Bie MOTHMAN Photo by Esther Beerman

PUA Photo

by Lila

MARDI MAE Photo by Laura Maher

MAXIMUS Photo by Kathy Bikers COCO Photo by Alessandra Hitchcock

LEO Photo by Ashley Rodriquez

MONDO Photo by Dana Taggart

HOLIDAY

CHUBBS AND LUTIN Photo by Cheryl Davis

GAMBIT’S PETS • WINTER 2023

GOOSE Photo by Colette Mayfield

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