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Sheltering Helpless Animals In Distress - South Shore, Nova Scotia
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PLAY IS EXERCISE FOR YOUR CAT |
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Written by Shaid
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Thursday, 13 June 2013 23:30 |
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Encouraging your cat to play is a great way to help keep him at a healthy weight. Playing with him yourself or having lots of variety in his toy box will keep him stimulated and avoid boredom.
Safety first! Do be careful not to let your cat have elastics or string and check his toys regularly for damage. Toss anything with sharp or broken pieces. Never shine a laser pointer directly into his eyes. Ensure climbing toys and window seats are securely fastened as your cat may launch himself at them by running across the room – especially if you have more than one cat and they chase each other.
A cat tree or climber is a wonderful thing. Climbing, scratching and hiding are great fun and most of these units will provide enough room for several cats to play at the same time. A little house to sleep in is also popular on the tree.
A box, laundry basket or paper shopping bag will give kitty hours of pleasure. Add a small plastic ball and he’ll have… well, a ball. IKEA sells a cat tent that my cats love to play and sleep in. One of them likes to have her dinner in there – yes, she is spoiled.
Many cats love to have catnip or catnip toys. Keep an eye on him the first time though to make sure it doesn’t bring out his aggression – especially if you have more than one cat.
A flicker stick or wand toy is something you can use to interact with your cat. Encouraging your kitty to leap in the air, follow it around corners or just bat at it is great exercise. You can easily make one of these yourself!
Scratching mats and posts not only help prevent your cat from scratching your furniture and drapes, they get lots of stretching while scratching on them and keep their nails trimmed and healthy.
You can hide toys or treats around the house for your cat to find. There are also balls which you can insert treats or kibble into. Your cat rolls it around to dispense the contents. This not only gets kitty up and moving, he enjoys using his hunting instincts while doing so.
Many cats like a tunnel to play and hunt toys in. You can buys many different styles of tunnels or make your own out of cardboard boxes. There are also “crinkly” fabric bags and tunnels.
My cats like to play on the staircase and reach through the spindles to box with each other. This is another good place to play with a flicker stick. They also like to bat the toys down the stairs and chase them.
Another fun toy you can make yourself is a ball box. Put some balls or other cat toys into a cardboard box and toss in some treats. Kitty will have a blast hunting for the treats among all the toys.
Shaid is open DAILY from 11am till 3pm. You can also see our current animals for adoption at www.shaid.ca on the “Our Pets” tab. You can visit us on Facebook, just search for Shaid Tree Animal Shelter and LIKE our page to get all our updates.
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OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR |
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Written by Shaid
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Thursday, 16 May 2013 14:38 |
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IT IS OVER FOR THIS 2013 YEAR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE!
SEE YOU MAY 25 AT 9 AM AT THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS IN BRIDGEWATER.
AND MAY 26 BAG DAY FROM 9 TO 2.
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Last Updated on Monday, 27 May 2013 16:57 |
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Written by Shaid
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Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:05 |
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We are very happy to give you our new e-mail address. Please send all your correspondence, requests, inquiries, pictures, follow-ups, to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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We were not be able to receive and to answer all the e-mails from our former e-mail address in the last month.
If you didnt get a reply to your e-mail, please, send it again to our new one. Thanks for your understanding. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:11 |
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Written by Shaid
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Wednesday, 20 March 2013 21:02 |
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We are often the recipients of information that we believe because we’ve heard it many times and have no reason not to believe it. Here are some interesting myths about cats… and the truth:
- Cats always land on their feet: Although cats will usually land on their feet, if they fall from considerable heights, they can still land awkwardly and become injured. Cats do have the ability to move their bodies very quickly and will instinctively roll during a fall to try to land on their feet. Cats also have no collar bones which lets them twist their body’s right way up quite efficiently.
- Male cats are more likely to urinate indiscriminately: Male and female cats will spray urine to mark their territory. Neutering often helps eliminate or lessen this behavior since it reduces the cat’s mating instinct. Even a cat that has always used his/her litter appropriately can begin to spray if another animal joins the household, visits or even is just seen out a window. Kitty wants the interloper to know that he/she is already king of the castle.
- Cats can lose their sense of balance without their whiskers: Cats use their whiskers as a type of feeler. They will often poke their heads into a space first and their whiskers help them gauge whether or not their body will fit through it. Whiskers are not required for balance and cutting them off can be painful for a cat since they are located on a sensitive part of their face. Cutting them off can also cause the cat distress because he/she may feel disoriented without this sensing ability.
- Black cats are bad luck: A cat that trips you up and causes you to fall and injure yourself may very well be a bit of bad luck; however, this particular myth is based in old superstitions going back centuries. Cats, especially black ones, were sometimes thought to be witches or belong to witches because of their nocturnal behaviors and because black was an “evil” colour being the epitome of darkness. Some people also believe that it is bad luck if a black cat crosses your path, although in some countries, this is considered good luck. These superstitious beliefs can affect how quickly black cats are adopted from shelters.
- Cats hate water: It is certainly true that most cats will avoid going into water and prefer to leap over it, however, many cats like to swim. If you have a pool and your cat likes to swim in it, be aware that the pool chemicals can be quite damaging to his skin.
- Cats have nine lives: While cats do have some amazing abilities to successfully leap large distances, survive falls and twist their bodies in seemingly impossible ways, once a cat dies, it does not come back for another eight lives. It may be that the root of this myth is that after a particular cat died, another similar one was mistaken for the dead one.
- Belling a cat will warn its possible prey that it is present: Unfortunately birds and other animals lack the ability to associate a bell with imminent danger. A cat can also learn to move so smoothly that their bell doesn’t jingle. Keeping your cat indoors or locating bird feeders in open areas so the birds can see your cat approaching are better methods to protect wildlife from your kitty.
- Cats need to go outside to be happy: Letting your cat outside on his own for any reason or any length of time exposes him to many dangers such as traffic, bad weather, wild animals, poison, sadistic people and those who collect them to sell to labs. Outdoor cats have an average lifespan of about two to three years. Indoor cats often live to be more than fifteen years old. Instead of letting kitty out, ensure he has stimulating toys indoors and a cat tree and/or window seat to give him interesting views.
- Cats should be at least six months old before neutering: With modern anesthetics, cats can be safely neutered as young as eight weeks old. This is great because you won’t need to go through a “heat” with your female cat or have your Tom reacting to a female who is in heat.
- A cat purrs because it's happy: Cats certainly can purr when they are happy and contented, however, they may also purr when giving birth or when they are dying. Purring is an expression of many emotions.
SHAID’s kitties still need non-clumping litter and canned food and the shelter needs bleach for keeping everything clean. Please donate if you can. Visit us on our Facebook page – SHAID Animal Shelter. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 21:07 |
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Written by Shaid
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Thursday, 31 January 2013 01:29 |
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Ever been sitting back relaxing and been joined by your kitty who wants to nuzzle your face or head butt you under the chin? This is often called head bunting by cat behaviorists.
You probably like it and that is probably because you realize that kitty is being affectionate. A kind of hug. But, why does she do it?
There are a few reasons and one is that it is a method she uses to bond and communicate contentment with you. She may also do it to other people and other pets in the house – not just other cats. She is telling you that she sees you as a friend.
Another reason is that she is rubbing her scent on you – her pheromones. The sense of smell is very important to a cat. Like dogs, cats will sniff each other’s behinds to learn important things about each other (well, important to them!). They use scent to communicate and to mark territory. Cats have scent glands in various locations on their bodies – paw pads, lips, tail, cheeks, chin as well as their forehead.
Cats like to rub against things to leave their scent for themselves. It is comforting to them to know they have been in that location previously. In my house there are several cabinet corners that have to be washed regularly as the cats leave an oily residue behind when they rub. They like to leave their scent on things that are important to them and by head bunting your face, she tells you that she likes you and trusts you.
Each cat has its own unique odor and she is leaving her signature wherever she rubs. Once she has rubbed against you, you are marked as a part of her family unit.
Cats are very sensitive to touch. They have pain and pleasure sensory cells all over their bodies. That is why they react immediately to anything that touches their fur and especially their whiskers. It is also why most love to be stroked and brushed.
Often your cat will follow you around and get underfoot or rub against your legs. This is part of the same behaviour. It can be a bit annoying if you are trying to get somewhere quickly and it can certainly be a tripping hazard.
Just keep in mind when she is doing it, it is because she wants to be close to you and she wants you to know it. You are just purr-fect in her estimation… whether you call it head butting, bonking or bunting!
Come and see our pets at the shelter! |
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ANIMAL EMOTIONS: DO THEY HAVE THEM? |
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Written by Shaid
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Friday, 18 January 2013 00:22 |
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As “parents” of our pets, most of us believe that we can tell when they are happy or sad and that they also tune into our emotional states and respond to them empathetically.
There is no scientific consensus on emotion in animals, eg what emotions certain species of animals, including humans, feel. Most of the debate is about mammals and birds and since they cannot speak, it is difficult to prove anything. However, animal pain was recognized long ago and resulted in the criminalization of animal cruelty.
The story of Koko the gorilla and her pet cats is well-documented. She has cared for several cats over the years and Koko's relationship with All Ball was featured in the 1987 book Koko's Kitten, which was written by Francine Patterson (Koko’s scientist/sign language trainer).
The Boston Globe printed a story in July 2007 about a resident cat in the dementia unit of the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence. When death is near, Oscar nearly always appears at the last hour or so. Yet he shows no special interest in patients who are simply in poor shape, or even patients who may be dying but who still have a few days. Animal behavior experts have no explanation for Oscar's ability to sense imminent death. They theorize that he might detect some subtle change in metabolism -- felines are as sensitive to smells as dogs -- but are stumped as to why he would show interest.
The emotions of cats have also been studied in the lab and it has been shown that cats can learn to manipulate their owners through vocalizations that are similar to the cries of human babies. Some cats learn to add a purr to the cry, which makes it harder for their humans to ignore. Individual cats learn to make these cries when a particular cry elicits a positive response from a human and the cat is more likely to use that cry in the future.
The idea of animal emotions is prominent in Darwin's work with his 1872 book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Willingness to see animals as emotional beings (and humans as having a rationality that can override the emotions) goes back to Ancient Greek philosophy.
Whatever you believe about your pets’ abilities to experience emotion and tap into yours, here are some tips for increasing your dog’s happiness quotient:
5 Ways to Perk Up Your Dog from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Start by cheering yourself up first! Remember, dogs are social animals. So, if you’re glum, they’re gonna be glum, too, because they reflect your mood. And even if you don’t feel happy, fake it! Studies show that forcing yourself to smile and talk in a happy voice tricks your brain into believing you’re happy. And your dog reads your mood by the sound of your voice and the smile on your face – just like you read his by his wagging tail.
Let Fido play with his food. Experts say one of the biggest reasons for doggy depression is boredom. So, next time you leave them at home, make sure they have toys to engage their mind – like a “treat ball”. Basically, a rubber ball with holes in that you pack with kibble. And the bits drop out piece by piece while they’re playing with it.
Another way to boost your mutt’s mood: change your tune. Studies show that cows produce more milk when they listen to country music. Because it helps them stay happy and relaxed. So, try some tunes. There is a list of “music for dogs” CDs at www.tesh .com. You can also try this: Record a tape of your voice or common household noise, and play it when you’re not around. Because hearing familiar sounds is comforting.
Use soothing smells. Certain aromas have an uplifting effect on dogs and humans. So, what’s the best? Vanilla! But instead of using vanilla air freshener – which can be toxic - sprinkle a few drops of vanilla extract on Fifi’s favorite chew toys. And let her chew herself calm.
Finally, let your pooch loose! Dogs don’t like to be in the house constantly, or only go for walks on concrete. So, once a week, let Rover run free in an off-leash park or a meadow. The exercise will help him stay fit. It’ll also produce the same feel-good brain chemicals that come with human exercise, like endorphins and serotonin. |
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