Gypsy Cat Rescue: 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Fortune Cookie and Taffy Cat Toys!

I found these little guys while cruising around on Pinterest. I have recently discovered how addicting Pinterest is! Beware...

I thought these were the perfect cat toys because of uneven shape that will move easily even at the slightest touch as well as the little fortune sticking out that is surely irresistible to all cats. All you need for these cookies is 2 colors of felt (one for the cookie and preferably white for the fortune, but it is really up to you), a little tuft of stuffing, catnip (optional), and a sewing machine or needle and thread!

You can use whatever you have around to cut a circle out of the felt (the bottom of a glass or small bowl) and a rectangular shape out of the white felt long enough to stick out. She has the tutorial on her website Dandelions and Lace so go check it out and make a ton of fortune cookies for your kitties and their friends!!

I also found these Taffy Cat Toys! The idea is to recycle thread spools by covering them with material (it looks like fleece?) and tying each end to be the perfect light weight rolling kitty toy! I haven't made these yet but it looks like they sewed decorative lines down the fleece and then pulled them through the other side before they tied a knot. When I have an empty spool I will upload a more detailed tutorial but in the meantime they are being sold on Etsy so if you love them but don't really feel like making them yourself, you can still enjoy them. They look so easy I just had to share! Let me know how yours turn out!

Recently Veterinary Pet Insurance Company made these cool little decals that you can adhere to your refrigerator to remind you of things in your home that may be toxic to your cats. Several veterinary clinics/boarding facilities were giving them out free and I just had to grab one so that I could share it with all of you! Here goes...

1. Topical spot-on insecticides

2. Household cleaners

3. Antidepressants

4. Lilies

5. Insoluble oxalate plants (dieffenbachia, philodendron, etc...)

6. Human and veterinary pain relievers

7. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

8. Glow sticks

9. ADD/ADHD medications

10. Mouse and rat poisons

If your pet does eat poisonous substances, you can call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-289-0358. It is a 24 hour 7 days a week helpline and they also have a website: www.petpoisonhelpline.com. However take note that a $39 fee is billed by Pet Poison Helpline. So depending on your pets behavior, it may be best to either wait to see how they react, or take them to a veterinary clinic as soon as you see unusual behavior.

*picture courtesy of google search engine: deviantart.com by whatsmyname-papi

New Changes and 11 kittens!

Hey Everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter surrounded by the ones you love!

Today I just wanted to share some exciting new changes that we have made to Gypsy Cats Rescue! We are having some work done in our Rehab Rooms in order to make them safer for our foster kitties! We tore up all the carpet and replaced them with flooring that allows us to sterilize more efficiently in between kitties and keep our kitties as healthy as possible!

We also recently took in 11 kittens ranging from 10 days - 4 weeks old that were found abandoned. They all require bottle feeding every two hours. As you can imagine, we are going through formula like crazy! Because of the changes that Gypsy Cat Rescue has been making and the recent addition of a ton of kittens, we set up a Go Fund Me account to make donations easier for everyone! If you still would like to make physical donations of food, toys, blankets, and such like the list we created on the "How To Make A Difference" page at the top of the website, we are definitely still accepting donations in person. However, we also wanted to provide an easier more accessible way for others to donate monetarily.

We do not use any donations for ourselves, all the proceeds go toward the cats/kittens that we rehab, bottle feed, and maintaining feral colonies.

If you want to see some of the new foster kitties getting ready to find new home click here! They are adorable and I know will steal your hearts!! Keep in mind we do pre-adopt our fosters and as soon as they are old enough and off the bottle or healthy enough, they can go home with their families.

Here is the link to our Go Fund Me account: http://www.gofundme.com/8hki70

If you would prefer to make a physical donation, click here to see our list of helpful items!

Have a great day!!

Easy to make cat toys!

Easy to make cat toys -Pom Poms

Supplies:

yarn (you choose the color)

scissors

Directions:

1. Wrap the yarn around four fingers repeatedly until you get a nice bundle. The more you wrap the puffier your pom pom will be. Be sure not to wrap too tightly.

2. Cut another piece of yarn about a foot long. Thread the yarn underneath the yarn your have wrapped around fingers and the other side then tie it tightly together. The knot should go all the way around the bundle.Make sure the knot is in the middle of the bundle.

3. Cut all the loops and trim any that are not uniform. Fluff up with your hands and play!

*Option: create a longer tie string so that you can dangle the pom pom!

Here is an easy video to follow if it makes it easier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aTTDVryeFbY

courtesy of http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com

How many should I have?

Generally, each cat should have a litter box and if you have multiple cats, there should be one for each cat and then one. That way a litter box is always accessible and they don't have to look for somewhere else to go.

What kind of litter box do I need?

There are many different kinds of litter boxes out on the market: covered, open, small , medium, large, long, short, vertically-oriented, etc... I would never suggest purchasing a kitten sized litter box even if you do have a kitten. Kittens grow quickly and it will soon become too small.

To begin with, start with a medium-sized litter box with a removable lid. All cats are different and some cats like lids on their litter boxes because of the privacy, some don't care. You will need to find out what kind of cat you have and then make the best choice for them.

The size of your cat does make a difference. Some cats are quite large weighing anywhere from 10-13 pounds. A cat this large definitely needs a large (most likely open so that the cat is able to turn around in the box) litter box. There are extra large litter boxes available at PetSmart and Simply Cat for reasonable prices.

Ultimately each cat has their own preference and while some people think this is silly, you will want to listen if you want them to continue to potty in the litter box.

Cleaning your litter box

The absolute best way to keep odors to a minimum or completely eliminated is to scoop your litter box/es once a day. When you fail to scoop your litter box on a regular basis, your cat will be grossed out and refuse to go in the litter box. When the filth gets too much, your cat will go elsewhere. Corners tend to be a favorite area. As long as you keep your litter box maintained you and your cat will be happy!

Daily scooping is recommended, however the litter will begin to smell after a few weeks. At this time it is necessary to dump all the litter, disinfect and scrub down the litter box, and then replace the litter. You should use a mild detergent when cleaning the box as lemon scents and ammonia can turn cats off and some cleaners are toxic to cats. Generally it is recommended to replace the litter once a week, however personally I have made it several weeks as long as I kept up on the litter box.

How much litter should I add?

Some people think that the more litter that they add the less they have to clean it, however this is not the case. Fill up your litter box approximately 2-3 inches for the best results and some cats even like less. Again pay attention to your cat and make adjustments according to them.

Location

Keep your litter box in a spot that allows your cat some privacy and is conveniently located. It needs to be easy to get to and available at all times.
Avoid placing litter boxes next to machines that admit heat (i.e. heaters, washing machines, dishwashers) the noise and can frighten away your cat and the temperature can magnify the smell.
Place the box away from your cat's food and water. They do not like to eat/drink where they poop and may not use the litter box if you do so.
If you have multiple levels in your house, be sure to place a litter box on each level so your cat has options to access if an area of your home is closed off (shutting basement door).
If you choose to keep the litter box in a bathroom or closet, make sure to wedge the door open from both sides so that your cat does not get locked in or out. Sometimes it is helpful to cut a hole in the bottom of your door to put in a pet door so that you can keep the door shut, by your cat still has access when necessary.

Solving Problems

Finally, if your cat goes to the bathroom outside of the litter box, this is a general indication that there is something wrong. First think of any changes you might have made (i.e. new food, different litter, different location of the litter box). If you have moved the litter box, your cat may have just not become accustom to then new location. Continuously put your cat in the litter box to familiarize them. If you have made no changes, there is a possibility of a medical issue. Make a call to your veterinarian and if your cat is checked and given a clean bill of health, then it is possible your cat has behavioral issues. Throwing your cat outside or punishing your cat is not the answer. There are animal-behavior specialists who are trained and experienced with cats. Look up a local profession to handle these types of situations. Know that these cases are not particularly common, and are not anything to be nervous of.

Adapted from handouts available at Simply Cats, their website: http://www.simplycats.org

Why Should You Spay or Neuter Your Cat?

Your pets will not be as aggressive and you can avoid many behavioral problems. Unneutered cats are very territorial and will mark it by emitting a very strong urine anywhere they please. The smell is very distinct and is very difficult to get out, so neuter your cat to prevent a stinky home inside or out!

Your cat will live longer and be healthier. By spaying/neutering your cat you are preventing uterine infections, testicular and breast cancer. Cats that are spayed/neuter on average live twice as long as those who are not.

Communicable diseases are more difficult to be spread. When you have an unneutered male "tom cat", it is not uncommon for him to be extremely aggressive and get into fights with stray cats. This increases the possibility of contracting diseases like Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses. If a cat contracts one of these diseases the overall quality of life can be affected due to the amount of pain they are in daily. It is not uncommon for vets to put these cats down in order to be humane. So prevent this by keeping up with your cat's vaccinations and spay/neutering them!

Spaying and neutering fights overpopulation. Kittens can become pregnant as young as 5-6 months old. Their gestation period lasts only 64 days, so there are many opportunities to become pregnant. The picture below represents one unspayed female, her mate, and all of her offspring. It shows 2 litters per year and accounts for kittens that do not make it. As you can see it quickly can get out of hand, and is easier to prevent!

*Adapted from educational flyers obtained at Simply Cats. Their website: http://www.simplycats.org.

Gypsy Cat Rescue

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