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!