Monday, November 30, 2009

When will it stop?

My mom called me tonight with some terrifying news. Some of you may have heard about the atrocities at the Toronto humane society in the news, unfortunately being a student I can`t afford cable or newspaper so I only heard about this tonight.

I`ve read the articles and seen the pictures so before clicking on the link please understand that it is very disturbing.Here is the link.

At this moment my cats are sleeping beside me, cuddled right up next to each other (which btw is rather odd for them) and sleeping safely and soundly. I am so grateful that I was able to adopt and take care if them, and yet at the same time I am heart broken for all of the animals who have had to endure this kind of cruelty. The maddening part is that this cruelty came from a society that was supposed to be protecting them. I donate to the Ottawa Humane Society and I have no idea if the two are connected but I can say that I will find out soon. For those of you who read a recent post you`ll know that my mother was looking to adapt a cat, living in Toronto she was most likely going to go to the THS, now she wants to adopt as soon as possible so that she can at least take one cat out of that kind of hell.

How can it be so easy for people to see this kind of treatment and turn a blind eye? Was there not one volunteer to speak up for these animals? Not one person who's stomach turned at the sight of animals in pain?

When will people begin to see animals as living things. We are animals, we are mammals we are mothers and fathers and we have instincts. While we have the capacity for higher brain power that does not mean the life of an animal is worthless. I know of so many instances where a pet has been a huge impact on many peoples lives, just as much as another human being.

I sit here wanting to wish this away. But all I can do hug and hold my two wonderful cats that have brought so much joy to my life in such a short period of time and hope beyond hope that there are people in the Toronto area who are willing to take those poor animals into forever homes.

I'd like to also say that I understand the large demand on a place with so many animals like the Toronto humane society. I know for a fact that they have something like 400 cats up for adoption. I know that there are also awful pet owners who will drop their pets there in the middle of the night in the depths of winter to freeze until an employee finds them in the morning, but the entire point of a place like the THS is that once an animal has dealt with such cruelty that they are brought into an environment that is safe and loving. There should not be an entire centre in downtown but rather an outpost for a much larger facility on a much larger property ( I know for a fact that only 40min outside of the city there are such properties).

That's all I can really write, it was mostly venting so I apologize if this is disjointed but I felt it needed to be said and now the sadness of it all has really taken over and I think I'll just go to bed and keep my cats close tonight.

Please gives all you pets and extra big hug and kiss today.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Easy Like Sunday




Kitty Christmas Gifts?

So I've been wondering what I should get Joplin and Hendrix for Christmas, and I haven't been able to come up with anything other than a bed for Joplin (Hendrix like sleeping in Steph's guitar bag for some reason).

I'd like to get something that would be good for while were out of the house, I feel bad when we're both gone for the day and they don't have anyone to entertain them!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Some questions for you!

So I'm back to blogging! I'm so sorry it's been so long but things get busy and deadlines pop out of no where. I'm very sorry for not visiting any blogs at all, I'll be catching up today and tomorrow.

But for now I have a few questions:

1. Adopting a Cat or a Kitten ?
As many of you read recently in my blog my mom's bunny past away from complications with anesthesia during a surgery. Now that she has had some time to think she starting to talk about adopting a cat. We've been talking and wondering what would be best, an older cat or a kitten. I personally think and older cat would be better not only because they're would not be too too much training but there are so many older cats that need homes. She agreed but also wondered would a cat not become attached like a kitten would? I explained that with Joplin when we adopted her we were like her saviors, taking her out of the cage and bringing her home. With Hendrix he has never known anything but a good home so he is not quite as clingy as Joplin is (however he is still only 6months old). Also my mom would like a cat that has been de-clawed, she and my father have ALL leather furniture, however she does not want to adopt and then de-claw because of her bad experience with Shiny bunny. So I'm asking all of you what you think? Here is all the info in point form:
  • cat or kitten?
  • which one would be more attached?
  • adopt a de-clawed cat or de-claw after?
Now I know that this all can depend from cat to cat but I'm looking for a general idea


2. Hendrix is gorging!
So Hendrix is gorging himself and then throwing up. This happens every once in a while and I'm a little worried. He has his morning wet food (1/4 of a can) and then begins to chomp away at the dry food. I don't want to take away the dry food because Joplin is used to being able to graze and I cannot figure out a place where Joplin can get to but not Hendrix, again please help!!

Thanks to all of you, I've missed blogging!

Friday, November 27, 2009

NEW POST TONIGHT!

NEW POST TONIGHT, SORRY ITS BEEN SO LONG!!!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Another lazy Sunday- back at it tomorrow!








So I know its been a while since my last post but it has been a very very busy week. Here's some pics from over the week!

Monday, November 9, 2009

MC Monday #1

Ok my first MC Monday!! (Finally) These are always gonna be short but sweet so here we go:

Cat tower: an amazing help for introducing a new cat!

This was MC's advice to me when Joplin was having trouble dealing with Hendrix. Not only that but she was finding ANY way possible to be higher up than him, which meant that there was many a time I caught her in places that she shouldn't be i.e: shelves, kitchen table, potato bin, toilet seat (this always was followed by her inevitably falling in and making a wet mess everywhere)

After we got a cat tower all of our "hierarchy" issues disappeared and it even cured our scratching issue because they LOVE the scratching post at the bottom of it.


Thursday, November 5, 2009

Joplin's Birthday!

So today Joplin turned 5! Such a big girl, and yet still a baby. I remember when we first got her she was really tiny and underfed, her coat was rough and dull, and she wasn't very social. Now just two years later on her birthday she's a nice weight with a beautiful coat and best of all shes snugly, social and loving. I can't imagine life without her. Here's some before and after of Joppy:






















She was n
ot impressed that I slept in a bit delaying breakfast but I think I made it up to her with her prezzies. They are both fun and practical!
\


We started with a special dinner which was extra stinky. Hendrix loved hid kitten dinner but Joplin barely touched hers, it was too much like the food I tried to get her to eat when she was sick.


So back to her regular Friskies (the only wet food she'll touch). Now she's happy!


First up is a brand new cat nip toy which is always a hit. We called him Mr. Fishy.


Both of them love Mr. Fishy.
















Next up, cat grass! Inspired by Chuchu's Blog I have also decided to try growing my ow
n from seed!


A not quite as fun thing for Joplin but something I've got to learn is nail cutting. It went pretty well except it was hard to make the cats sit and stay, gotta figure that one out.


Something that I've been looking to get ever since I saw it in One's Cat Nip is the Litter Locker Plus. Apparently this is supposed to be great for apartments and condos, which is exactly my situation. I'll write more about it once I've used it for a while.




















Another non-present present was the Pine Litter. I have heard sooo many great things, especially from MC about this type of litter that I'm going to give it a try and see how well it can reduce the odor.


A last little note: Hendrix is now a little mountain goat hehe





















Oh and I've gone picture crazy because I got a new camera for my birthday a couple days early :D

Monday, November 2, 2009

We will miss you Shiny bunny


Two years ago my sister and brother bought my mom a bunny for Christmas, at the time it was only my sister who was still living at home but she had a full time job and was rarely there. The bunny was to help my mom cope with missing her own "bunnies" who had moved away.

She loved the bunny so much and socialized him, litter trained him and taught him not to spay. She named him Shiny and he learned to come when called and would often hop around the house when she came home and let him out. Then he would settle in her lap to be pet and fall asleep.

A couple of days ago he went in for a routine procedure and unfortunately didn't recover. A one in a million chance.

I called to see how my mom was doing and she burst into tears. I have seen and heard my mom cry from happiness but never sadness and this shook me to the core. I began to cry as well, I was so upset that I wasn't able to do anything to make things better as she always had when I was a girl. So I did what I could and hopped on a train to come visit her. Thank goodness my sister was here when Shiny passed away, she was here for the most difficult part. Now I'm trying to keep her mind off of it.

Its amazing what an effect the loss of a pet can have on us. Amy from House of Cats lost her oldest cat Floyd recently as well, she had had him since 1996. I can't even imagine how painful this time must be for her. But as I told my mom, things happen for a reason and now they are in a better place.

To my mom and to Amy, things will get better and your pets were lucky to have you as mothers, whether it was for a short or long time.

Background taken from:

http://www.hancockandmoore.com/images/fabric/Greenwich%20Burlap.jpg