Cat Facts and Myths~

I thought I would post some helpful information on myths about kitties.

Myth: Cats always land on their feet.Fact: While cats instinctively fall feet first and may survive falls from high places, they also may receive broken bones in the process. Some kind of screening on balconies and windows can help protect pets from disastrous falls.

Myth: Cats should drink milk everyday.Fact: Most cats like milk, but do not need it if properly nourished. Also, many will get diarrhea if they drink too much milk. If it is given at all, the amount should be small and infrequent.

Myth: Cats that are spayed or neutered automatically gain weight.Fact: Like people, cats gain weight from eating too much, not exercising enough or both. In many cases, spaying or neutering is done at an age when the animal's metabolism already has slowed, and its need for food has decreased. If the cat continues to eat the same amount, it may gain weight. Cat owners can help their cats stay fit by providing exercise and not over-feeding.

Myth: Cats cannot get rabies.Fact: Actually, most warm-blooded mammals, including cats, bats, skunks and ferrets, can carry rabies. Like dogs, cats should be vaccinated regularly according to local laws.

Myth: Indoor cats cannot get diseases.Fact: Cats still are exposed to organisms that are carried through the air or brought in on a cat owner's shoes or clothing. Even the most housebound cat ventures outdoors at some time and can be exposed to diseases and worms through contact with other animals feces.

Myth: Tapeworms come from bad food.Fact: Pets become infected with tape worms from swallowing fleas, which carry the parasite. Also, cats can get tapeworms from eating infected mice or other exposed animals.

Myth: Putting garlic on a cats food will get rid of worms.Fact: Garlic may make the cat's food taste better but has no effect on worms. The most effective way to treat worms is by medication prescribed by a veterinarian.

Myth: Pregnant women should not own cats.Fact: Some cats can be infected with a disease called toxoplasmosis, which occasionally can be spread to humans through cat litter boxes and cause serious problems in unborn babies. However, these problems can be controlled, if the expectant mother avoids contact with the litter box and assigns daily cleaning to a friend or other family member.

Myth: A cat's sense of balance is in its whiskers.Fact: Cats use their whiskers as "feelers" but not to maintain their balance.

Myth: Cats heal themselves by licking their wounds.Fact: Such licking actually can slow the healing process and further damage the wound.

Here is Calay also owned by Jude of Muffin's Pet Connection

Calay, 6 week old rescued kitten. She is a three legged cat. When she was adopted she had 103 fever, was flea infested, malnourished, and starving to death. Her dangling left hind paw, a little stump, was badly infected. She was fighting for her life.

But thankfully Jude and Norm came to the rescue and now Calay is a healthy kitty. And she can do just about anything a cat with all four paws can do.

PeggySue's Story

I have a dear friend in New York. Her name is Jude Sunden Lassow. She owns a company called Muffin's Pet Connection in Brooklyn with her sweet husband Norm. They have the most adorable kitties. PeggySue is one of them. She is three years old. Rescued from their basement in their building. She had Giardi , fleas and was malnourished. She was born with a partial stump of her front right paw. Jude and Norm took care of that kitty with so much love. Muffin's subsidized the spaying, blood testing, shots, deworming and front line for fleas. Muffin's was kind and adopted PeggySue.

My friend Jude and I came up with a great idea one day and decided to create a catnip doll in honor of PeggySue. The PeggySue doll is handmade by me. ;-) My company is called Janet' s Creative Pillows www.janetscreativepillows.com. This awareness© catnip cuddle 'n kick doll is 5" or 6” tall. Each doll is uniquely different; also includes a little catnip embellishment toy. It is 100% Stretchy cotton gray fabric, stuffed with 100% Polyester Non-Allergenic America's best selling polyester fiberfill, and contains hand grown ORGANIC CATNIP from Canada. The PeggySue catnip cuddle doll is the Ambassador for Spaying and Neutering cats and dogs. Please go to www.muffins.org and learn about Muffin's low cost spay/neuter program. Muffin’s adopted PeggySue, a semi-feral, three-legged cat. ‘God Kissed Her Little Paw’; see the capabilities, NOT disabilities. Norm rescued PeggySue from the basement in our apartment building. 25% of the proceeds from this doll benefit the PEGGYSUE 'HELP-A-PET" fund. The $5.00 includes shipping per doll. Muffin's is a 501 (c) tax exempt Animal Service Organization.

Please visit my friend Jude at www.muffins.org if you are interested in purchasing one. I can promise you that it's worth every cent. Even doggies love them!