My Jewelry Models

I am making up a brochure to advertise my business. So I needed some doggy models to wear the dog and cat jewelry I made. Luckily, I live in an area where there are tons of pets and many owners who graciously loaned their babies to me for photos.

Here they are:

This is Hoover, a male Chinese Crested, wearing my cobalt blue Bone Tag and matching barrette. He was such a doll, just sitting up on his chair and actually seemed to be posing.

Gorgeous Lily, a female Husky/Schnauzer mix sporting her Hot Pink Barrette. She is a wild woman, racing around and bursting with joy. It wasn't easy to get her still enough to photograph.

My heart was absolutely stolen by Lilly, a 14 year old tiny Yorkie who just made me want to take her home. Here she is, absolutely rocking her Paw Charm Tag and Hot Pink Barrette.

And this is Lolli, a one year old Terrier Mix and ball of energy, wearing her Hot Pink Bone tag. We had to tire this little one out before even having a chance of getting a photo.

This is my own 5 year old Siberian cat Bubba, wearing his lookalike pierced sterling pendant. I couldn't believe I got him to actually wear it, but he was transfixed by a bird out of the window and didn't move.

Next week I am going to visit our daughter Lisa and my grand-dog Pomeranian, Teddy to get a photo of the two of them wearing matching Paw Charm necklaces. Stay tuned!

Do Cats Hate Water?

I was scrolling through Facebook today and noticed a cat named Viljams (William in English) sitting in a sink, allowing water to run down his head.

That got me to thinking because I have never had a cat that liked baths or for that matter, getting wet at all. Bubba will occasionally drink from the tap, but only if it is barely running, and he NEVER gets himself wet.

However, I have been to Disney's Animal Kingdom and seen Tigers jumping around in their pool with great enjoyment.

So what's the answer? I did a google search and found this input from Animal Planet.com:

"Cats' aversion to water is widely accepted as fact -- but in truth, not all cats feel the same about taking a dip. One domestic breed, the strikingly beautiful Turkish Van cat, actually delights in getting wet. His ancestors did, too, plunging into lake waters to better cope with the extreme summer heat in the Lake Van region of Turkey, where the breed originated.

If your cat is any other breed, he probably views swimming and bathing as spectator sports -- and the prospect of being caught in a thunderstorm with raindrops drenching his fur is unthinkable. What do most felines really think of water? Here's what we've found:

Water Aversion

If a cat's experiences with water are mainly exposure to a sopping rainstorm, a forced bath or being sprayed with water as a disciplinary measure, why wouldn't she shy away from water? Scientists contend that cats' dislike of water comes from house cats' owners shielding them from the elements since the earliest periods of domestication and from their ancestors -- wild cats in Europe, Africa and China's desert cat -- whose limited experience with water did not require adapting and evolving to deal with it. Lions and leopards avoid river-dwelling predators (like crocodiles) by staying away from water.

On the other hand, some big cats in the wild, especially those in hot, arid areas, regularly swim and bathe to stay cool or catch dinner. The Asian fishing cat is a skilled swimmer, with partially webbed paws, that dives to nab its prey.

That Mesmerizing Drip

Despite not enjoying a full immersion, many house cats are fascinated by water, dipping an exploring paw into the water bowl to scatter a few drops or running into the bathroom at the sound of a shower.

A dripping faucet is a cat magnet, an interactive toy that draws playful paws eager to catch a drop or two. But even without a drip, a cat may gaze at a faucet, hoping to see a trickle.  Author Susan Conant, known for her mysteries starring dogs, also wrote "Scratch the Surface," in which she described a fictional Chartreux cat's encounter with a faucet: "How long can a cat safely go without water? The question never occurs to Brigitte, who nonetheless jumps to the kitchen counter, scampers to the sink and trains her amber eyes on the faucet. Just in case." For cats fascinated by water, flowing pet fountains that recirculate water in a continual whirl are great fun, and a good way to get them to drink more."

Thanks for clearing that up Animal Planet!

Dog and Cat Dental Care

We have had multiple cats in the past who developed tooth or gum disease and needed yearly cleanings and extractions under expensive (and not so safe) general anesthesia. 

So when we got Bubba and Bunny I decided to start them with early tooth brushing. I use a product just for pets called Maxi/Guard Oral Cleansing Gel, which I buy on Amazon. I apply a small amount of gel onto a 1" x 1" gauze pad and rub it across both their top and bottom teeth on each side of the mouth. Supposedly it is chicken flavored, and they don't love it, but they do tolerate it to get a treat afterwards.

This came from the PETA website. It wasn't signed so I don't know the author but I think it is well worth reading.

"Recently, I asked my vet about having my canine companion/best buddy Pete’s teeth cleaned.

Now, understand that I am someone who flosses daily, has never had a cavity, and faithfully wore a retainer for years after my braces came off. You could say that I’m a bit of a dental hygiene geek.

I guess my geekiness extends to doggie dental hygiene, because when the vet looked in Pete’s mouth, he seemed puzzled. He told me that Pete’s teeth were so clean that a professional cleaning simply wasn’t necessary! Hooray for prevention! And hooray for honest vets!

What about your dog or cat? Could your animal companion be in a Tom’s of Maine toothpaste ad, or is Fido’s or Fluffy’s breath so stinky that you hold yours every time he or she woofs, yawns, or meows? Good dental hygiene for your animal companion isn’t just about having pearly white choppers—although that’s a nice benefit. It’s also essential to his or her overall health.

For instance, did you know that if your dog or cat’s gums were to become infected and abscessed, it would allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream? This can cause complications with the liver, the kidneys, and even the heart!

If you haven’t already done so, why not start your best buddy on an oral hygiene plan today? The following are some tips on how to begin:

• Start very, very slowly. Use toothpaste that is specifically formulated for animals (as human toothpaste can upset animals’ tummies), and allow your animal companion to lick the paste off your finger. You may have to try a few different ones to find a flavor that your cat or dog likes. (Pete hates peppermint but loves vanilla!)

• Once your animal companion accepts the paste, put a dab on your finger, and gently run it along your animal’s teeth. When Fido or Fluffy is OK with this (it may take several days—be patient!), try doing the same thing using a soft toothbrush designed for animals’ gums and teeth, and make small, gentle circles along the gum line.

• Be sure to provide lots of praise throughout, and give Fido or Fluffy a treat, playtime, or a walk afterward so that the brushing will be seen as a pleasant experience. • Try to make brushing part of your animal companion’s daily routine—perhaps right after you brush your teeth!  

Call your vet and make an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any of the following warning signs:

• Yellow or brown tartar buildup along the gum line

• Inflamed, red, swollen, bleeding, receding, or tender gums

• Persistent bad breath

• Broken teeth

• Tooth resorption—a common and very painful condition in cats, in which the tooth basically dissolves

• Change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth, or depression Your animal companion is sure to thank you for your efforts with sweet-smelling doggie or kitty kisses—and that’s a reason for both of you to smile!"

Tiny Paw Bracelet available at www.tropicalkaren.com

A Product We Love: Cat and Kitten Attract Litter

Bubba came into our home without any difficulty adjusting. So when we got Bunny 1 1/2 years later, we were expecting a similar experience. (This is Bunny).

No such luck. Bunny had tummy issues from the very beginning. He had runny bowel movements and didn't use the litter box on many occasions.

We had him tested for internal parasites, etc. and he was healthy. The problem was a 12 week old kitten who was adjusting to a new diet and a new home. He had been fed a raw diet at the breeder's home so we continued that but it was a different, local brand.

So what we did was to try different kitty litters and we also went from two to three litter boxes.

We found Dr. Elsey's Kitten Attract Litter and after that, no more accidents. We now use Cat Attract Litter and both cats are fine with it.

It might not have occurred to me to blog about this product except for another incident.

One of our neighbors has a cat who has never used her litter box, preferring to use her owner's shower.We wondered if the fact that the cat had been declawed might account for her not wanting to use litter. So we recommended Cat Attract to the owner and from then on the kitty has used her litter box.
Apparently, regular litter hurt her paws when she stood on it but the Cat Attract doesn't.

The other thing I like about this product is that there is a 32 page "Litter Box Solutions" pamphlet in each bag or box of litter.

Dr. Elsey is a Feline Veterinarian with 30 years of experience and in this pamphlet he covers a lot of reasons that cat's don't use their litter boxes and gives advice about step-by-step methods to change this behavior. He also addresses how to clean areas soiled with urine or feces.

In preparing this blog entry I went to Dr. Elsey's website, www.preciouscat.com and noticed that there are also discounts there for someone making their first purchase. We don't qualify but are happy purchasers!

This is our Swarovski Clear Crystal Large Paw Bracelet available at tropicalkaren.com.

Dogs and Cats: Everything You Wanted to Know About Microchips for Dogs and Cats

When Bubba came into our lives the first thing we did was take him to the Vet for a checkup to make sure he was healthy.

Aside from checking his weight, listening to his heart and all the other great stuff the Vet does, she recommended that we get him microchipped.

We had never heard about microchips and the thought of implanting a device under our "new baby's" skin sounded painful and somewhat repulsive.

So we asked the Vet about the procedure and here is what we were told.

Not Painful!  Microchips are implanted just under the skin, usually right between the shoulder blades. This is done with a large-bore needle and doesn't require anesthesia. Bubba (and then a  year later, Bunny), didn't even flinch when the chip was implanted. It did have a cost, I think it was $45.

What are Microchips? 

Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, that can be easily implanted under the pet's skin. If the cat or dog gets out and lost they can be returned when a Vets office, an animal control officer, or humane society uses a special scanner to detect the animal's identifying information.

Each microchip contains a registration number and the phone number of the registry for the particular brand of chip. A handheld scanner reads the radio frequency of the chip and displays this information. An animal shelter or vet clinic that finds your pet can contact the registry to get your name and phone number.

Once we got home, we got on the computer and registered our pets with an online pet registry linked to our pet's chip.We also received a tag for our pet with the chip number and registry phone number.

I must admit that it is a reassuring feeling to know that if one of them gets out (they are indoor cats), we will stand a much better chance of getting them back.

Introducing Bubba

We've always had cats. Unfortunately, my husband had become allergic to them, with itchy eyes and wheezing. So when our beloved cat Mickey died at age 18 I thought that was it and tried to reconcile myself to a catless home.

After about 6 months of grieving for Mickey the house just felt empty. Just out of desperation I went online and did a search for hypoallergenic cats, thinking there wasn't any such creature. I knew that the allergy-causing enzyme is in the cat's saliva and not related to his/her fur or dander so that the hairless cat, the Sphinx wouldn't work.

So, my search came up with a breed called the Siberian. (If you read my last blog entry you will get more info on that breed). They have only been in the USA since 1990 or so, having been imported from Russia.

I found a breeder in Georgia, the closest to Florida and we took a chance on one of her kittens. Sure enough, my husband had no problem with allergy symptoms. So we brought in an adorable 12 week old Brown Mackerel Tabby Siberian kitten. Since we knew he would become a large cat (14-20 lbs) and since we live in the South, we named him Bubba. Here he is at about 7 months old.

Well, I don't know if we were being paid back for calling him Bubba, but this guy was all play, all the time, and ROUGH! We soon realized that we couldn't keep up with him and would need to get him a companion.

Here's Bubba today...

My next blog entry will introduce Bunny, yes he is a cat and is definitely well named too.

Are There Really Hypoallergenic Cats?

"The Siberian is a medium to large cat first arriving from Russia in 1990. Their overall appearance is of excellent physical condition, strength, balance, power, and alertness, modified by a sweet facial expression. Siberians are a natural breed and reflect the climate in which they developed, with their very dense, medium to long, water repellent triple coat. This coat is accented with a ruff around the neck, full fluffy britches, and a bushy tail, normally carried up with pride but also quite useful to wrap around the face and paws to keep warm.

Although it has not been proven scientifically, many people believe that the Siberian is hypoallergenic. In fact, many allergy sufferers have a sensitivity to FelD1, and some Siberians have a lower than average occurence of FelD1 in their saliva. When a cat licks its fur, the saliva dries and flakes to create the dander to which people are allergic. This can vary from cat to cat and person to person. If you are allergic to cats and want to test your allergic response to Siberians, it is best to test with the Siberian you are thinking of getting. Spend time with it and find out how you react. There are no guarantees, but there is hope for allergy sufferers.

Siberian cats are very personable and want to be near their owners. They enjoy the company of children, dogs, and other animals. They are fearless and easygoing. Not much disturbs their natural calm and equanimity. They seem to know when they are needed for psychological and moral support and spend time with the person who needs that support. They are a quiet breed that expresses itself in a melodic way through sweet mews, trills, chirps, and lots of purring. All types of toys intrigue them. Some learn to play fetch, while others are intrigued by the moving cursor on the computer screen or sit and watch, entranced, as you type. Acrobatic by nature, the Siberian will play hard, often executing amazing somersaults in pursuit of a feather toy. An over enthusiastic kitten may need to be rescued while attempting to climb the bricks on the fireplace or jump to the top of a bookshelf. Siberians stay playful throughout their lives." (Excerpted from the Cat Fancier's Association Siberian web page).

This is Bubba wearing my Sterling Silver Cat pendant that actually looks a lot like him. Stay tuned for more photos and stories of both Bubba and his younger brother Bunny.