If not, you might want to consider putting one together. You might also want to make a second one to keep in your car. I carry a million things with me in my big ol’ purse and think it could even be a good idea to have a mini one in there as well. Better safe than sorry!
A few items to keep in your kit include an eye dropper, some antiseptic cleansing wipes, a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and some gauze bandages and pads. Some leather gloves to keep your hands safe are also a fantastic idea, as is a pet first aid book. For a more complete list, definitely check out this post from Petfinder on recommended items for your kit.
One thing I personally think is missing from that list is Benadryl, though be sure to check with your vet on the correct dosage for your pet! When my dog had an allergic reaction last year, half a tablet cleared up his hives within a couple of hours.
What do YOU think? Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you’d had a first aid kit? Is there anything you think the list is missing? Let us know in the comments!
With all the delicious food that can be found during the holidays, it can be tempting to treat your kitty to human foods. But so many people foods are harmful to cats. Did you know that even tuna, which is used in many commercial cat foods, can be bad if your cat eats too much?
Dairy is another no-no for kitties, so that means no sharing leftover holiday party cheese and no sharing of Santa’s cookies and milk.
Speaking of holiday parties, it should go without saying that alcohol is toxic to cats and should be avoided at all costs. That means we must be careful of leaving holiday drinks unattended because even a very small amount of alcohol can be dangerous to pets.
For a comprehensive list of foods that are bad for kitties, please read this article and play it safe! If your cat gets into any of these foods and shows signs of lethargy or sickness, call your vet immediately.
Do you know of other foods that are dangerous for our pets? Leave a comment and let us know!
I don’t know about you, but I start getting excited to put up my Christmas tree around Halloween, but I somehow manage to restrain myself until after Thanksgiving. One thing I almost never think about is how deadly my Christmas tree potentially is to my pets. Thankfully, the internet exists and is filled with lots of great pet care resources so we can learn all these important safety tips before anybody gets hurt. Phew!
These 5 tips for a pet-safe Christmas tree were a real eye opener for me. For instance, did you know that if you’ve got a live tree standing in water, you must make sure that your cat or dog can’t get into the water because the tree is preserved with toxic chemicals that seep into the water?
And so much for tinsel on the tree. Tinsel can cause severe damage if swallowed by pets. This news will make my husband happy because he hates tinsel, not because he wants pets to swallow it!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so let’s make sure it isn’t a tragic time. Be sure to check out the full infographic here and then let us know in the comments if any surprised you! Is there anything you think the list is missing? How safe is YOUR cat from your Christmas tree?
Although celebrating Thanksgiving is a wonderful experience for us humans, it can be a very stressful time for our pets. All of the hustle and bustle of a house full of strangers, not to mention all that yummy food, can create an environment that causes pets to become agitated, scared, and even sick.
So what can we do to make sure that our pets remain healthy and happy as we celebrate the holidays?
One great idea for cats is to create a peaceful sanctuary where your kitties can hang out while the rest of the house is filled with guests. A quiet guest room with a door, equipped with your cat’s food, litter box, and maybe even a few toys, will provide a safe place for him to chill out until everyone goes home.
For more ideas, check out this article filled with other helpful hints for keeping kitty safe this Thanksgiving.
Do you have any suggestions for calming a nervous cat during the holidays? Share them in a comment below!
"Caruso" King of the Cats at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
There are good people everywhere who care about homeless cats, who devote countless hours to caring for them until they can find a permanent “forever” home.
Such good people can be found at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome.
I discovered Torre Argentina watching a documentary on TV. When I researched them further on line, I was so impressed with their tireless efforts for the cats, I knew I had to help. I was able to adopt “long distance” a beautiful black male which I named “Caruso”. Caruso was named in honor of my father, whose love of cats in turn, inspired my love of these beautiful, intelligent creatures.
Here’s a typical work day at the sanctuary:
“We’ve organized our workdays to begin at 8 A.M. with cleaning and disinfecting cages. Due to our confined quarters and the ease with which diseases spread, this job is one of the most important for our volunteers. Next, food is distributed to the cats in the underground shelter along with those that live permanently outdoors among the ruins. While feeding the outdoor cats, the volunteers must keep a vigilant eye out for sick or newly abandoned ones who must be caught, treated, vaccinated, spayed and neutered.
The workload at the sanctuary demands our presence seven days a week, including Christmas, Easter and every other holiday. Not only do the cats need daily attention, our finances do as well. Soliciting donations from tourists in all kinds of inclement weather is necessary for the survival of the sanctuary. Bad weather means no tourists or passersby – our biggest source of income. You can imagine our dilemma with a week of rain…
The need to stay abreast of medical issues, scheduling volunteers and developing new fundraising ideas has necessitated role and responsibility definition for all of us. Lia as treasurer, raises and manages funds, purchases supplies and oversees housekeeping and food distribution. Silvia is the spokesperson for the sanctuary. In addition, her responsibilities include record keeping and handling correspondence. In the end we must all be ready to clean a cage and distribute food.
Being denied facilities is one problem. Keep in mind that we worked with no running water and electricity for a year and a half. The only solution was to carry buckets to the nearest Roman fountain and back. The lighting problem was solved with a big gas lantern on a table. The shadows of the cats on the cave walls would have been a perfect backdrop to a Halloween movie. Currently we are still not hooked up to the city’s drainage system. There are no bathrooms and there is no hot water. .
In spite of all the obstacles and disappointments, Lia, Silvia and the volunteers say they have never felt so satisfied, useful and happy. At times when it seems impossible to go on, something happens that raises hope and encouragement. Perhaps one of our most handicapped cats is adopted or a generous donation helps pay another bill. In the end, the hundreds of abandoned cats and kittens that have been placed in loving families and the 3722 we managed (just in one year ) to have sterilized make it all worthwhile.”
Please visit www.romancats.com/ for more information on this wonderful sanctuary and how you can help.
