Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Animals at 5:26 PM Saturday, October 24, 2009

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Cat Food From A to Z

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 04:56 AM PDT

Good-dog-Miles-with-DrLarry I was surfing this morning looking for interesting pet news. I came across a scary incident with implications for none other than Yvonne! 

It appears that a pet food manufacturer is recalling a couple of brands of their cat food after reports of neurological problems in cats in the Rochester, New York area. These are NOT Purina brands by the way.
The Manufacturer is Diamond Pet Foods and the brands involved are Premium Edge Finicky Adult cat food and Premium Edge Hairball Cat food. Here is their recall notice.
 
It appears that these products are deficient in vitamin B1 or Thiamin. Thiamin deficiencies in cats can cause ataxia and convulsive seizures in cats. It looks like the vitamin pre-mix that goes into these products may be deficient in this key B vitamin.
 
It got me to thinking about the unique nutritional needs of cats. As the saying goes, "Cats are NOT Small Dogs," when it comes to nutrition.
 
We've talked about the need for more protein in their diets on   several occasions. We've also discussed their needs for specific amino acids, essential fatty acids and the need to encourage cats to take in as much water as possible.Betcha-wish-you-could-fit-in-this-box
 
I came across a National Academy of Sciences' pamphlet on cat food that is among the most comprehensive I've seen. I know almost all of the authors of this report. They are well respected Veterinarians and Nutritionists from academia and the private sector. This cat food primer does a great job of separating the wheat from the chaff and is free of any marketing bias.
  
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Band of Cats

Posted by Animals at 5:40 AM

Band of Cats

Eerie Desktop Wallpaper for a Chilling Cat Halloween

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 07:25 PM PDT

Here are 20 spine chilling and cute (in a spooky way) Halloween Cat wallpapers to decorate your computer with this Halloween. There is a good assortment here and we hope you find something you like. They’re in various sizes but will look great...

To see and read the rest of this and many other posts then be sure to visit us at www.bandofcats.com
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Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Animals at 5:44 PM Friday, October 23, 2009

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Twitter a Critter

Posted: 21 Oct 2009 12:04 PM PDT

Yvonne-DiVita You're on twitter, right? I know you are. If you are, please follow me on my twitter page: @mypetblog - and I'll be sure to follow back.

Last week someone twittered about this Purina sponsored page: Twitter a Critter. You can hardly tell Purina sponsors it, their logo is very small - and that's because the page isn't about them, it's about helping dogs and cats who need homes. Forever homes.

I love the design of the page (site)... with lots of dogs and cats and the Adoptapet.com logo at the top.

The addition of a bunch of celebrities is nice, I guess. But, I don't need celebrities to entice me to donate to shelters on behalf of stray dogs and cats. In fact, I would be more impressed if the celebrites had short videos talking about a stray dog or cat they'd rescued. Or, how they're helping the site, other than just "being" there.

When I clicked over to the Twitter a Critter page, I was worried about filling out the form  to be "a life- saving hero RIGHT NOW!" I did it, though. Complete with my current zip code. And now, I know how many beautiful dogs and cats are available for adoption right here in my hometown. And I feel really sad that I cannot adopt them.Twitter-a-critter

Next, I added my up and coming zip code (CO) and there are so many beautiful pets available there, that it's overwhelming. Still, I think this will be a good option for us when we actually get to CO. Mind you, there are puppies, too! I'm torn between a full grown dog and a puppy. I'd consider one of each, but I doubt the Wabby would tolerate a puppy. I don't want to stress her out. The trip cross-country will be stressful enough!

Anyway, you can actually "twitter a critter"... which means, by visiting the site and looking at the pets that are available, you can click a link on a particular pet page, and twitter that pet's status to share with all your tweeps. And, help that pet get adopted.

So, even if you can't adopt a pet today, you can twitter a critter and introduce a pet to a potential new forever home using Twitter. Go on - try it, I know you want to.
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All the Creatures

Posted by Animals at 5:39 PM

All the Creatures

Dog agility

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:11 AM PDT


The sport of agility has been around for 20+ years now. I remember watching in person at least 22 years ago when the tunnels and other colorful agility equipment first came on the scene. Before then it was all the plain wooden obstacles like the jumps and ramps. In those days the fitness equipment for [...]

We have a new kitten in the house

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 08:48 AM PDT


After our house cat made her great escape into the wilderness last May and joined our crew of outdoor cats, the inside of our home has been cat less. My daughter was the caretaker of Sabrina the former house cat, they were always together. Once Sabrina got out that night in May, through an opening [...]
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