News and Views
by Amey Morris
I remember the first time I saw him. He was hidden in the back of a cage, and all I could make out were these two shining yellow eyes staring back at me. I was told the shelter had little room, especially for a cat who wouldn't let anyone touch him.
Of course I was hooked. Without thinking, I said "I'll take him", not realizing the work it would take teaching my new pet to trust and be loved. For the next six months, I didn't even know I had a cat. Except for the litter getting full and his food bowl getting low, I never saw Jules(which I named him). When he first came to his new home, he quickly hid under a chair and never moved when I was in the house. Finally, frustration took over, and I flipped the chair he claimed as his sanctuary. It worked! Slowly, Jules was coming around more, and by the eighth month, I finally pet that peaches and cream coat of his.
Since adopting him, I've picked up another cat and dog along the way. Amazingly, with each new animal, Jules began playing, cuddling and being less afraid of every little noise. He became my inspiration. I quit my job, went back to school and I am now a registered veterinary technician at the animal shelter. I love my work. Now I can give something back to the place that gave me my Jules.
Most people like the friendly, affectionate cats that come in. Me, I like the grumpy, hard to handle ones. I figure I can be the advocate for these animals that so many people think are “unadoptable”. So the next time you visit the shelter, give a second chance to the one animal hiding, they may surprise you!Cat care tip
· There is absolutely no medical or behavioural reason for a cat to have a litter of kittens before she is spayed. It offers no benefits of any kind, and increases her risk of developing mammary cancer.
· Cats are naturally nocturnal, and will want to be up all night. Help quiet your cat when you want to sleep by having a lively, interactive play session right before you go to bed.
· Sticking double sided tape on the corners of sofas and chairs may curb your cat's habit of scratching up the furniture.
· Kittens that grow up in a more complex and stimulating environment tend to be bolder and more confident as they age.
· Clipping your cat's nails is not only good for the furniture but excessively long nails can cause pain. It may make walking difficult, and some nails can eventually grow into the paw pads.
· If your cat refuses to eat, or starts urinating and defecating out of the litter box, contact your veterinarian, an underlying health problem may be the reason.
· Putting a bell on your cat does not protect the neighbourhood birds, and can drive cats crazy. A cat relies heavily on her sense of hearing to get around.
A Prayer For Animals by Albert Schweitzer
Hear our humble prayer,
O God,
For our friends, the animals,
Especially for those who are suffering;
For any that are lost or deserted
or frightened or hungry.
We entreat for them all
Thy mercy and pity,
And for those who deal with them,
We ask a heart of compassion
And gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves,
To be true friends to animals
And so to share
The blessings
Of the merciful.
AMEN
Did you know…?
· One female cat and her offspring, left to breed, can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years.
· Cats like to be a lot warmer than we do. We start to feel uncomfortable when out skin temperature gets higher than 44.5 °C, but cats don't start to feel uncomfortable until their skin reaches about 52 °C.
· If cats could read, they would need glasses. That's because their close-up vision directly in front of them is fuzzy.
· For Siamese cats, a lower temperature causes more dark coloration in the growing hairs. This is why newborn kittens, warm from their mother's womb are white all over. As they grow older, the hottest areas of their body remain pale, while their cooler extremities gradually become darker.
· The orange gene that results in the tortoiseshell coat pattern is linked to the gene that determines a cat's sex. (This means nearly all tortoiseshell cats are females and the rare male tortie is usually sterile).
Let us Know
If you would like to add anything to the Newsletter, please contact the email addresses below. This is your newsletter. Send in your pictures of your pets, let us know how our former shelter animals are doing in their new families!
Recipe
Tuna Kibblets (taken from MacPherson’s Natural Cookbook)
4 oz can tuna
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C)
2. Mix all ingredients
3. Form dough into a ball and divide in half
4. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness
5. Cut out shapes with a cutter into little squares and place on greased cookie sheat
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes
7. Cool and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator
Our Address
880 Riordon Drive
Bathurst, NB
E2A 4W7
Telephone: 506-548-8537
Fax: 506-548-5811
Hours of Operation
Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Monday Closed to Public
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