CAT ADOPTION & WELLNESS
TEENA Teena is a female, black, long hair Maine Coon mix born approximately end of April 2019. Teena was rescued from an outdoor situation. She is sweet but very shy. A patient adult owner in a quiet home will be rewarded with her love.
T
he holiday season is a joyous time of year when people gather together and celebrate. It’s also a time when we prepare our home and hearts for this yearly celebration. Decorations are displayed and food is bountiful. However, there are a few things that every cat owner should be aware of to avoid any potential problems.
MARABELLE Marabelle is a female, tortoiseshell, long hair Maine Coon mix cat, born mid May 2018. She has a very attractive long coat that will require some daily maintenance. She would do best in a quiet adult home as a companion to another cat or going with one her siblings MeMe or Marco.
BOOGIE Boogie is a female black, short hair, cat with a touch of white born approximately mid March 2018. Boogie is sweet but a tad shy with strangers. She may do best in an adult home without young children.
Collaborative Cats PO Box 88 Ancramdale, NY 12503 (518) 303-2910 collaborativecats@gmail.com www.collaborativecats.com 18 • Winter 2020 | Mountain Dog Magazine
For instance, Christmas decorations can be hazardous for cats. Items such as ribbon, string, garland and tinsel can create the most health problems for cats this time of the year. Far too often cats swallow these items and it can cause for an intestinal blockage that requires surgery. It’s best to eliminate decorations such as these to prevent health problem to their cat. Holiday decorations are not limited to what is put on a tree or for what we use to wrap presents. Oftentimes plants and flowers are used for décor. For us humans, floral bouquets containing lily flowers are festive, fragrant and beautiful. For cats, lily flowers are deadly. Most parts of this plant can cause acute, irreversible kidney failure if ingested. When decorating your home, it’s best to stick with holiday plants and flowers that are safe for cats. Family and friends may visit to celebrate the holidays with you. As much as you may enjoy having company over, cats usually do not enjoy any kind of disturbance from their daily routine. Cats don’t deal well with change and even subtle changes in their environment can cause your cat stress. Just being around new people can be very stressful for a fearful cat. It may be a good idea to remind guests, especially children, that cats are usually good about getting out of the way on their own and while some cats may enjoy watching all the activity from a secure area such as a high perch, other cats may just enjoy hiding out and watching from a distance. Before guests arrive, be sure to provide your cat with a private retreat, a place that’s quiet where they can access their food, water and litter box. This place should be off-limits to people and other animals, giving your cat a secure place to feel safe in. Part of the festivities is sharing dinner amongst family and friends. This is a timeless holiday tradition that provides much enjoyment. As tempting as it is to share table scraps with your cat, it’s best to avoid feeding anything from your dinner plate. Typically cats do not tolerate sudden changes in their diet and eating table scraps can cause severe indigestion. However, if you can’t resist the temptation and end up sharing a few bites with your cat, as we all do at one time or another, make sure that the food does not include onions or garlic because it can break down the red blood cells and cause anemia in cats, which could be life-threatening if left untreated. The holidays can be overwhelming and stressful but don’t let that stop your from enjoying it. Set aside at least ten minutes of playtime each day to interact with your cat. Use cardboard boxes to create tunnels or toss around some crinkled wrapping paper. When the day is over you and your cat can cozy up, cuddle and relax.
