Make it A Merry Christmas for you Furry Friends!

Holiday Safety Tips from the ASPCA (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/holiday-safety-tips.aspx):

Holly, Jolly and Oh-So-Safe! Of course you want to include your furry companions in the festivities, pet parents, but as you celebrate this holiday season, try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. And be sure to steer them clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations:

O Christmas Tree Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.

Tinsel-less Town
Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.




No Feasting for the Furries
By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising fur kid will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.

Toy Joy
Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Choose gifts that are safe.
Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallowing the pieces, which can then become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible.
Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer—and tons of play sessions together.

Forget the Mistletoe & Holly
Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies, can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.

Leave the Leftovers
Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won't lead to costly medical bills.

That Holiday Glow
Don't leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!
Wired Up
Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth.



House Rules
If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.
Put the Meds Away
Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.

Careful with Cocktails
If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

A Room of Their Own
Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

New Year's Noise
As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips from the ASPCA
for more info, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.aspx

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.
Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin’ Turkey

If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice

Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.



No Bread Dough

Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake

If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing

A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong

While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

New Facebook Page

I launched a new facebook page for my Ferret and Friends Zazzle Shop. The shop has been neglected for some time, but I am now updating products and getting holiday-ready! I hope you will join me! Not only will I post sales in my shop and new products, but I would also love it to be a place where people share photos and stories about their beloved pets:) I hope you will join me there, too:)

www.facebook.com/ferretandfriends

So you have a pet?

Fran

I really don't like to separate people and make judgments, but in the case of pet owners and non-pet owners, I have to say there is a totally different mind frame between the two. Someone who has never owned a cat will not for minute get why I get up at 5:45ish in the morning on a Saturday, put on my slippers and shuffle down the stairs to open a can of cat food. Then shuffle back to bed. Nor will they get why I turn my living into a ferret playground for a few hours a day, creating a mess that I will later have to clean up. And then do it all over again the next day.

I have no doubt my life would be simpler without my little zoo--two black cats: Lordie aka Lord Infamous (my daughter didn't know she was a girl when she named her), Francis, the cowardly but loving large male. Two ferrets: Bonnie, the older but sprite little bra-stealing princess and her cohort, Pauley the playful who is in to everything! And finally Giovanni(Gio or G), the stomping around tortoise who should have been named Bulldozer. Maybe they are not easy, but they are worth it!


Gio

I don't know how many times I have been blue and Francis will sense this and come and keep me company. Sometimes he will just stare at me, but even that makes me laugh. You would have to know Francis to know why. He has the rude habit of staring and staring without blinking for long periods of time. Try to beat Fran at a stare-down---impossible:)


Bonnie

Or when Sean, my husband, and I have an argument, Francis steps between us and raises his paw as if to say, QUIET! How can we not stop arguing and laugh. Yes it's the laughter and good feelings they create. Even Gio has his cute habits. Like how he loves green beans and after he eats has a green little ring around his mouth. Sometimes a stray chunk of bean sticking to his cheek. Yes, he does have cheeks!


Fran and Lordie

So no, my sister who never has been fond of animals will not understand any of this. But then again, she doesn't get the soft little wet kisses Bonnie gives me. Nor does she have a companion, long before anybody else is awake for the day, that will share some of her cheese from her cheese bagel. She will not get whipped in the face by a Fran-tail at 4 am either, but that's besides the point.


Pauley

So what is the point? The point is, pets give us the kind of love people can't. With no strings attached. As long as they are fed, that is:)


Good night!

Blog Change

Hello! I will be posting my pet blog monthly from now on. I hope you will stick around and join me!

My Blog

Bonnie and her toy ferret:)

I have been finding it very challenging to keep up with two blogs, my paintings and all my online stores. So I will be doing a monthly blog from now on instead of weekly. I hope you will continue to follow:)
Juli

Fourth Of July

Around the Fourth Of July my two sisters and their families come to stay with us. So I will be taking a small hiatus from my blog to get ready for the visit and to enjoy the time they are here! I wish you all a wonderful holiday!








Yankee Doodle Doggie Cheryl Ann Quigley @caqphotography
http://www.redbubble.com/people/caqphotography/portfolio



Glenna Walker Happy 4th of July! http://www.redbubble.com/people/iluvmyragdolls/portfolio

Photo Of The Week

Timmy wants a pancake!
Sent in by Ellen Norcott

Outdoors or Indoors?

Fran (in the back) and Lordie

If you own a cat, you have probably already had to face the dilemma of whether to let your cat outdoors for any length of time. Or to keep them an indoor only cat.

When our two cats, Fran and Lordie, were adult cats, we did let them out, since I worked from home. And we trained them to come in the house whenever I blew a horn. For a while, it was the perfect routine. They did get fleas, so we had to treat them for that, but otherwise, things ran smoothly. That is until the adventurous Fran decided to go too far and get lost. We didn't see him for 22 days.


Fran and Lordie in on of their favorite spots. They like to perch here and stare at me while I am on the computer:)

We were devastated! Fran was a stray my daughter Ashley brought home from the pet hospital she worked for. He had a cute, scraped up nose from trying to escape from his cage. They finally had to let him wonder around the hospital and he soon became a favorite there.



Fran finally had a home....ours:)



We put fliers up and went around the neighborhood looking everywhere. We put an ad in the newspaper. I didn't realize just how many black cats there were until I started looking for Fran. Every time someone called we would jump in out car to find him. Yes, it was a black cat, but it wasn't Fran.

22 days went by until suddenly my daughter sees a black cat in out back yard. I say, "it's not going to be him." We had looked everywhere! The next thing we know this cat is at out patio door looking in. And we both scream, "FRAN!" He had finally found his home again!


Fran gazing out the window.


Fran was my buddy because he would sit and watch me paint every day. I would throw Q-tips at him to play with (I used them to wipe off mistakes). He sleeps at the head of the bed right by me every night. So when my husband wondered whether we should ever let them out again, I said a definite "NO!"




Fran while I paint!


But now I am back to wondering if I am being selfish. But I never want to go through that again! Every spring it's the same guilty feeling I have that they have to stay indoors. We even asked our vet, who said if you want them to live longer, keep them inside.


Fran looking at his friend, a squirrel.

So now we have been contemplating buying some sort of fence. Or cat house. Or something. So I am posting this blog to get some opinions from all of you out there. What has worked for you?

Photo Week!

Happy June! Here are some fun photos I have come across and wanted to share with you:)

Photo Of The Week

Animal-lover Jeanne Carley unveils her 15th ferret calendar, featuring 12 months of furry friends in scenes from classic films.

So you want a ferret....

Did you know that ferrets are the third most common pets after cats and dogs? These animals are cute and cuddly and make great pets, but they are exotic animals and caring for them does take time and energy. Please be well-informed before you purchase one! I am listing some information from a great website to help you make that choice easier! My daughter moved back home and brought her ferrets with her. So I had to learn about ferrets, too. They are not an easy pet, but they sure are worth it:)





10 Ferret tips from the website http://www.everythingferret.com/id65.htm

1. Feed your ferret a premium ferret or premium kitten food (only if ferret food is not available). Make sure the food you choose contains at least 34% protein and less than 2% fiber. Make sure that meat is the first ingredient on the list of ingredients on the back of the bag. Avoid any ferret foods that contain dried fruits and vegetables. Remember, ferrets are strict carnivores! Suggestions: Totally Ferret, Zupreem, Iams Kitten, Eukanuba Kitten.

2. Give your ferret meat based treats or fatty acid supplements as treats. Give your ferret cooked chicken, chicken or turkey baby food, chicken livers, cooked egg, and chicken or turkey flavored cat or ferret treats. Avoid giving your ferret fruits and raw vegetables as treats. A raison a day won't hurt your ferret, however raisons provide no nutrients for your ferret (and they contain sugar). Raw vegetables can cause intestinal blockages in ferrets. Remember, ferrets do not have a cecum and cannot digest vegetable matter.

3. Give your ferret a one-half inch ribbon of hairball remedy a few times a week during non-shedding seasons, and a one inch ribbon daily during shedding season. Be sure to give your ferrets the hairball treatment at least one hour after they eat. Don't give your ferret hairball remedy right before he or she eats a meal. Remember, hairballs can and do cause stomach and intestinal blockages in ferrets. They can't cough up hairballs in the same way cats do.

4. Give your ferret at least three hours of supervised out of the cage play time each day. Invent creative games to play with your ferret and provide him or her with lots of interactive toys. Remember, ferrets are very intelligent animals. They can get depressed and stressed if caged for too long. This can lead to illnesses such as ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems (plus it is just isn't nice). Hold your ferret often and give him or her lots of affection. Ferret are social animals (like dogs) and need interaction with others for good mental and physical health.

5. Purchase the largest cage possible for your ferret. One ferret requires a cage that is at least three feet wide, two feet deep and three feet high. If you have more than one ferret, you need a much bigger cage. Choose a ferret cage that has multiple levels. Fill the inside of the cage with tubes, tunnels, hammocks, sleep sacks, dangle toys, a litter box, food bowls, a water bottle and lots of soft fabric bedding. Don't ever use a fish aquarium as a ferret home.




6. Use recycled paper litter in your ferrets litter boxes. Do not use cedar or pine chips as litter for the litter boxes or as bedding in the cage. These products may cause respiratory problems in ferrets.

7. Ferret proof your home!!! Keep your ferret away from shoes, soft rubber items, foam rubber, Styrofoam, pencil erasers, rubber bands, nuts, candy, chocolate, soda, chips, gum, cleaning supplies, soap etc.. Be aware that ferrets like these items and will do anything they can to get them. All of these items are potentially lethal to your ferret. Block off any openings around the dishwasher, stove and under cabinets. Keep your ferret away from the laundry room. Also be aware that ferrets can climb into reclining chairs, sofas and beds to fall asleep. Ferrets are often injured by getting crushed in furniture. Always know where your ferret is at all times. Never let your ferret run around the house unsupervised. Ferrets can open cabinets and climb into bath tubs, washers and dryers and drawers. Try to have a ferret safe room for your ferret to play in.

8. Groom your ferret. Make sure your ferret's nails stay trimmed. Clean your ferret's ears whenever you see wax building up. Keep your ferret free of fleas. Don't bath your ferret more than once a month (unless he or she gets into something). Brush your ferret's fur regularly, especially during shedding seasons (spring and fall). Brush your ferret's teeth with cat toothpaste at least once a month.

9. Have money set aside for medical emergencies. Be sure to have enough money set aside for emergency surgeries and vet visits. Try setting aside a certain amount of money every month for your ferret's medical care. Just one surgery can run as much as $800.00 or more. Your ferret depends on you to care for it in the event of a medical emergency. Have at least $1000.00 available at all times for medical care. Ferrets do tend to get illnesses that require surgery.

10. Keep your ferret up to date on his or her vaccinations and heart worm medication. Ferret do need to be vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper on a yearly basis. Both diseases are lethal to your ferret. If you live in an area with mosquitos, your ferret needs to be on a monthly heart worm prevention medication. Take your ferret in for a check up and vaccinations every year (more often if your ferret is ill).

Written by Mahri
EverythingFerret.com


Photo By Juli Cady Ryan for Ferret and Friends http://www.zazzle.com/ferretandfriends

Mother's Day Featured Photo

Loiosh is my baby...I taught him to walk on a leash when he was tiny, and now he goes just about everywhere with me. This is the two of us at a friends' wedding last fall. He was invited too -- the second wedding he's attended with his Momma.

Thanks to Kate Jones for sharing her photo!

Happy Mother's Day!

I think some pets out there want to say a big Happy Mother's Day to their human mommies:) Have a cute photo of you and your pet? Send them to me and I'll post them on Mother's Day!