Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the U.S.  This time of year, as the weather gets colder & more harsh, I think of how thankful I am that the animals with whom we share our lives (Raven, Sage, Saffron, & Crow—I know, they sound like hippy-dippy names…sigh) are inside where it’s warm & dry, and that they’re very loved.  I’m especially thankful for all those amazing people who do animal rescue work and try to improve the welfare of animals.  It’s a hard job and I really don’t know how they do it day after day.  Thank you!

We hope you have a wonderful day and that you have much to be thankful for!

DIY: Catnip Fortune Cookie Toy

fortunecookietoyHow cute is this diy fortune cookie cat toy? It’s a super easy tutorial.  Besides a sewing machine, you’ll need:

  • white felt
  • cookie colored felt
  • fiberfill or batting
  • good catnip
  • fabric pencil

You could sew a bunch of these for gifts—people and cats will love them!

The tutorial was written by Cindi Massei who has an Etsy store called Happy Paws Bakery & Boutique, though it’s closed right now.

Be sure to check out these other DIY toys on PetProject.

DIY: Pet Water Fountain Using Tubing

catrockfountainHere’s a tutorial for a pretty easy and cheap diy water fountain for your animals. This one uses tubing to pipe the water up to make it easy for pets to drink.  The guy who did this tutorial used rocks to hide the hardware and give the water something to land on so it doesn’t splash, but I’m thinking you can use anything that can sit in water—a vase, a large glass, etc.

Water fountains are great for cats.  They’re instinctively drawn to running water and its a good way to increase their water consumption, which is important since kidney failure is so common in older cats

I think dogs also prefer fresh water, which is why so many will drink from the toilet if given the chance. A pet fountain will help stop that.  Just like humans are supposed to drink a certain amount of water a day, dogs also benefit from a healthy level of water consumption.

Check out this DIY Filtering Water Fountain too.

Cat Dies From H1N1 Virus

H1N1purple

It’s been confirmed that an Oregon cat has died from H1N1 (Swine Flu). It’s believed the cat caught it from his people.  The article linked to is from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association has a wealth of information and I recommend you check it out.

The OVMA says there isn’t reason to panic.  You can keep your kitties safe.  If you’re feeling sick:

  • wash your hands regularly
  • use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
  • cover your mouth & nose when you sneeze
  • avoid touching your cat’s eyes, nose, & mouth
  • the CDC adds, you should limit contact with your pets until 24 hours after your fever is gone

It is also possible for you to catch N1H1 from an infected pet.  So wash your hands after handling sick pets.

Keep an eye out for symptoms in your cats too.  Take your cat to the vet if your see signs of respiratory illness.  Look for:

  • coughing
  • sneezing
  • lethargy
  • conjunctivitis (swelling & redness of the membranes around the eyes)

You also need to take special care of your ferrets.  Take the same precautions as with cats and look for:

  • weakness
  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • elevated temperature
  • yellow or green discharge from the nose or eyes (from a secondary infection)

Pet birds are susceptible to H1N1 and should be tested for the virus if they develop symptoms of respiratory illness.  Pet pigs are also at risk for catching H1N1 and should be seen by a vet if they become ill.  It isn’t known if dogs can catch H1N1.

Keep up to date on information about companion animals and H1N1 from: