Acclimating an Adopted Cat Zoonotic Diseases

PETS

How to Acclimate an Adopted Cat to its New Home

Cats have a special place in the hearts of millions of people. These wily rascals can be flirty, funny or even aloof. The personality of cats, coupled with their compact size, makes them ideal pets for homes of all sizes.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says approximately 1.3 million cats are adopted from animal shelters each year. However, of the cats entering shelters, only around 37% are ultimately adopted, according to the National Kitten Coalition.

Individuals who adopt cats may want to take every step they can to make the relationship with a new companion animal work. That often means finding ways to help the cat feel comfortable by acclimating it to its new home.

The length of time it will take to adjust to a new environment depends on the cat’s temperament. However, these tips can help. • Pick a familiar item and bring it with you. Does the cat have a favorite toy, carrier or scratching post? Moving something into the home that has the animal’s smell may help him or her adjust more quickly. • Select a room as a home base. Introducing the cat to the entire home and all of the people in it can be overwhelming. Rather, select a small room in the home, such as an office or laundry space, that the cat can call home for the time being. With the door closed, this small space can be comforting and let the cat learn the smells and sounds of the home before it ventures into other areas. Remember to visit often and provide plenty of love and affection as tolerated. • Avoid lots of traffic. Now is not the time to host a house party. Remove stressors like large crowds, increased foot traffic and kids’ play dates. Loud sounds and sudden movements can put cats on edge. • Don’t force the issue. The kitty will start to come around when he or she is ready. Don’t be compelled to pull the pet out from hiding under a bed or couch; let the cat set the pace. • Keep kids away. Young children tend to be boisterous and jerky, which isn’t a good mix with a skittish cat. While the cat is acclimating, keep young children away. When they are introduced, do so in small intervals and supervise carefully so the cat does not get hurt and children are not accidentally scratched or bitten by a scared cat. • Provide a quiet area. Perhaps that first room or a cozy nook can be the cat’s quiet spot. According to cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, cats need solitude and quiet time. A box or basket lined with soft, washable bedding in a corner can serve as a place for a cat to retire to. • Introduce existing pets slowly. Existing pets should be introduced gradually. Keep a dog confined until the cat feels secure in the home. Two altered cats can become friends in the same home. However, older cats often are more accepting of kittens than other adults. Keep this in mind when making introductions.

Cats are happiest when they’ve had time to settle and get used to surroundings in their new home. Once the adoption takes place, give the cat plenty of time to become comfortable in its new environment. (MC) 

Companion animals provide unconditional love, which is one reason so many people welcome pets into their homes. Though pet owners often safely cuddle and bestow affection on their pets without thinking twice, they should be aware of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that pets can pass on to people. The risk of getting an illness from a dog or cat is low, but individuals with immature or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to these diseases, advises the Cornell Feline Health Center. The following are some examples of zoonotic diseases.

Toxoplasmosis Caused by a protozoan organism, toxoplasmosis can be contracted from eating partially cooked meat or from contact with animal feces. If a cat is contaminated, it can be risky to handle litter box cleaning, particularly if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant.

Catch scratch disease Bartonella henselae is a bacterium found in the saliva of infected cats and in the bodies of cat fleas. It is usually transmitted from cat to human by way of scratches and bite wounds.

Hookworm Hookworms are tiny parasites that animals can ingest from the environment or contract through their mother’s milk. People get hookworm infections while walking barefoot, kneeling or sitting on ground contaminated with the stool of infected animals. According to PetMed, the hookworm larvae enter the top layers of skin. (MC) 

Zoonotic Diseases

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KIDS &FAMILY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun Something Different: Yummy Brownies in a Waffle Iron

By Donna Erickson

Signal Contributing Writer

Looking for an easy, last-minute, chocolate-y dessert idea that doesn’t require heating up the oven on a hot September day? Here’s a clever idea you and your kids will enjoy: Make yummy homemade brownies in a waffle iron. Then, top them with fresh seasonal fruit like raspberries or scoop some vanilla ice cream on top. Yum!

Here’s how to make the kid-pleasing, all-American chocolate treat in this off-kilter way:

Brownies in a Waffle Iron

(Makes four 7-inch round waffles)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Dash of salt 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Melt butter and cool. In a mixing bowl, let your kids measure and combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, combine the butter, eggs and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a big spoon until combined, being careful not to overmix, as it will be a thick consistency. Generously spray or brush a waffle iron with oil, and set on medium heat. When ready, an adult may spoon some of the brownie mixture onto the waffle iron. I use an ice cream scoop. Vary the amount according to the size of your waffle iron so that it doesn’t spill over the sides when closed.

A homemade waffle brownie makes for a tasty chocolate treat. When the batter is baked (our family likes them crispy on the outside), carefully remove the “waffle brownie” out of the waffle iron with a spatula, and cool slightly on a rack or plate. To serve Sprinkle serving portions of a warm waffle brownie with sifted confectioner’s sugar, raspberries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fudge sauce. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container or in your freezer. Shortcut idea: Use your favorite commercial brownie mix. I used the family-size Pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix for delicious results.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2022 Donna Erickson

Distributed by King Features Synd.

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PUZZLES

SUNDAYSIGNAL · 21 CROSSWORD TIME

SOLUTIONS

Opinion Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.

READER LETTERS Being the Bad Guy

In keeping with a long time practice of mine, I’m going to be the “Bad Guy” and state what should be obvious but obviously isn’t to many people.

FACT: If you buy drugs other than those prescribed to you for a condition diagnosed by a licensed physician and purchased at a licensed pharmacy, there is a better than average chance nowadays you might be ingesting far more than you bargained for… and there also is a very good chance you may soon have the sequence of your birthdays permanently interrupted! This isn’t some hidden secret. It’s on the news pretty much 24/7 so ignorance is absolutely no excuse.

And I for one am sick and tired of hearing the non-stop blaming of everyone except for the person who VOLUNTARILY(!!!!!) and ILLEGALLY(!!!!!) bought and ingested the drugs that killed them.

The wicked and evil Mexican drug cartel members couldn’t get jobs mowing lawns, let alone become multimillionaires, were it not for the voracious appetite the people in this country have for their products. Rick Barker Valencia

How Many Deaths?

How many more must die before L.A. County puts speed bumps or other safety measures on San Francisquito Canyon Road?

Please put the word out. I travel to my home every day in Santa Clarita on San Francisquito Canyon Road. I often see people speeding, passing over the yellow line and missing turns.

In the four years living on San Francisquito Canyon Road, I have had accidents into my fence and property four times and one directly across the street where I pulled three children, including a baby, out of the turned-over vehicle. No one died, luckily. James T. Neavitt Santa Clarita

Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters aren’t printed; email: letters@signalscv. com. Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Freedom, Death of Consequences

Back in 1970 the movie “Love Story” popularized the idea that “love means never having to say you’re sorry!” I’m quite sure love means much, much more than that, but you get the picture. Truth doesn’t matter as long as you can trivialize it while creating emotional ownership through sentimentality. Give it a good label and you can lead the masses around by the nose.

But today one might easily say “freedom means never having to deal with consequences.” That’s right. We’ve evolved as a society to the place where you can do what you want to do and never be asked to clean up your own mess or bear the weight of any undesirable consequences of your actions. And they call this individual license “freedom.”

Here are three examples.

First, there is California Proposition 47, which reclassified some felonies down to misdemeanors. This was done in order to make law enforcement and criminal consequences much more fair and nicer for those mired in the swamp of criminal life. In some cases this means that those who steal money or merchandise valued at less than $900 will not be arrested, but rather given a citation. And, as records indicate, many of these criminals choose not to pay their tickets, or show up in court, and thereby they escape any penalty for their crimes. But I am sure they do enjoy their newfound freedom to pursue thievery without consequence.

Second, of course, is the idea that true sexual freedom must, of necessity, mean that the government will make sure we can escape the natural consequences of our decision to engage in sexual activity. By removing the horror of having to deal with the consequences of our actions, we feel much freer to continue seeing sexual activity as a team sport where the unfettered moral conscience can be satisfied without consequence. After all, abortion is nothing if not a monumental improvement in the area of personal liberty. And, we can even applaud it if we keep telling ourselves that ending a human life is really “health care.” In this case, the death of consequences only means the death of a child. Oh well.

And by the way, in November we can embed this freedom in our state Constitution by approving an amendment that allows for abortion on demand without restriction. If you don’t want your baby, the government will help you get rid of it, one body piece at a time.

My last example is the very recent decision by President Joe Biden to “forgive” trillions of dollars of college debt. Again, what a wonderful expression of freedom from consequence! I can only hope he decides to forgive my mortgage as well, and any car loans, or credit card balances I may have hanging over my head. I’m glad the president has finally opened his eyes to the egregious traditional connection between taking out a loan and promising to pay it back. What freedom! Gone are the days when fathers carefully educated their sons and daughters about loans and credit. Gone is the responsibility to make sure our children realize the risk that comes from borrowing money. Gone are the days when we have to warn them about how easily debt can become an unforgiving task master that can ruin marriages and companies.

OK, now I’ll take my tongue from being firmly planted in my cheek and state the obvious. We’re watching government eliminate what has always been foundational for civil society. By that I mean the natural consequences that arise from our decisions and actions. I remember when you didn’t do the crime if you couldn’t do the time. When borrowing money meant working hard to pay it back. And when sexual intimacy, understood as the first step in reproducing human life, was practiced within relationships that would love and care for a child if conception occurred. All of these seem beneficial to me, right? Can we say eliminating these natural restraints has made this a better place to live?

Dear friends, I know we are a community with differing political, ethical and intellectual viewpoints. And I know those differences are deep and meaningful to us, which makes collaboration and even civil discussion hard. But at some point, we have to agree that the erosion of historical values and morals and civility has to stop. Why? Simply because we are killing ourselves. We’re poisoning the very soil that supports us, that gives nobility to our existence, and makes life elegant, meaningful and honorable.

If actions have no consequences, we’re on the doorstep of anarchy. If moral standards are up to each individual then all views and behaviors can be justified. And if we stand by and watch as the very fabric of our civilization unravels before our eyes, someday our children will rise up and ask, “Dad, Mom, where were you when tyranny and anarchy dressed up as individual license took away the guardrails of our democracy?”

I hope we come up with a better answer than we are able to give right now.

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

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