FosterKittens.org

New Design, Same Kittens!

2008-05-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new blog format! Those readers accustomed to our previous design may find the new format to take a little getting used to at first, but I think you'll soon agree that the move to a new publishing system was a good idea. Don't get me wrong (especially as the one who put the original web site together), the old design was great - the main reason for the move to this format is simply to allow greater ease of use. The time commitment required to maintain a purely hand-coded site was getting in the way of more important matters. The kittens we foster have to take priority of course, and using a content management system will take much of the design and coding work off of my hands. In addition, we will now be able to offer RSS feeds for subscriptions to FosterKittens as well as other features yet to come.

The overall web design is not complete, and all the content has not yet been moved over to the new blog. Please continue to bear with us as the transition is wrapped up in short order. Thanks for all your support!

Get Ready For The Average Joe Cat Show!

2008-04-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite events of the year is coming up soon - the Fifth Annual Average Joe Cat Show and Photo Contest. To be held on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Avenue NE in Shoreline, WA from 10 a.m.-3. p.m., this is a really fun benefit for Purrfect Pals, a local organization we strongly encourage everyone to support. As they say, "This is a cat show for family cats." Forget all that Victorian nonsense about cat breeding, this is a show that celebrates real cats and their families. There's always a lot to do and see at the cat show, besides winning lots of ribbons for every category entered, including vendor booths, a photo contest, silent auction, cat behavior experts, adoptions, and more. Admission is a bargain at only $5 per person or $12 per family, but we always give extra (it's for a good cause people!). Check out Purrfect Pals for more information. See you there!

Change Is A Good Thing

2008-04-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

And it's coming soon. The past few weeks I have been considering several format changes to FosterKittens. Actually surprising in retrospect, but it seems one greatly underestimated the popularity of kittens on the web! In any event, the new format will add some useful features, such as an RSS feed for subscriptions, and hopefully make it easier to maintain and keep up-to-date. Please be patient as these changes are put in place, and you'll be rewarded with even more stories and pictures of the cutest kitties on the internet! Stay tuned...

Don't Be Afraid To Report Cruelty To Animals

2008-02-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

I know this is a hard topic to address, but as people who care about animals we have to face the reality that some pets are abused or neglected. It's not pleasant to witness abuse, but just imagine how much harder it would be to be a helpless kitten suffering abuse at the hands of an indifferent caretaker. Recently, we were involved in reporting a case of neglect that we witnessed here in Seattle. I'm glad to report that the authorities responded appropriately and investigated the matter. We can now hope that the pets involved in this sad situation will have better homes with loving families.

It's human nature, I think, not to want to get involved. But it really is important for people who care about animal welfare to take a stand and help rescue animals who are suffering from human cruelty or indifference. Cruelty to animals is a crime in every state of the union and every municipality. Most cities have dedicated animal welfare personnel charged with investigating reports of animal cruelty or neglect. In many cases, these officers have regular police powers and have the ability to thoroughly investigate any report. There's no need to fear reprisals when making a report either, as police will not normally disclose the identity of anyone making a report (court proceedings, should the situation result in criminal charges, may be a different matter, but simply making a report usually does not require authorities to reveal your identity).

The important thing to remember is that in cases of abuse, an animal's life is often at stake. You don't have to make a determination that abuse is actually occurring; that's the job of the investigators and the courts. If you think abuse or neglect might be occurring, then you have a duty to make a report.

Don't waste time! Make a report immediately if you witness animal abuse or neglect.

On The Way To A New Home

2008-01-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

We're going to miss him a lot, but it's time for Speeder to head off and find a new, loving family. If you're in the Seattle area, take a few minutes this week to stop by the Humane Society and say "Hi!" to Speeder. Who knows? You might just find a new pal to take home. Speeder loves attention and isn't afraid to let you know this fact. He might have a little dog in him (heaven forbid!), because he has a special, little "bark" when he wants to be given a little extra love. It will seem a little quiet around here without his barks and purrs. We're just glad we were able to spend a little time with him.

Speeder Is One Happy Kitty

2008-01-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

We're still cleaning up from the holidays this year, and Speeder is always happy to help, when not napping of course. Unfortunately for us, that's most of the time! We don't mind though. He's one of the happiest foster cats we've ever had stay with us and will make someone a great new friend.

Even thought we've kept to his diet, and he'd definitely always like to have a bit more, he's still as friendly as ever. Speeder always enjoys hanging out with us when he can, even if it's just sleeping quietly in the same room. We like having him around (though our own cats are getting a bit jealous), and we'll miss him when he goes out for adoption.

A Friend For The Holiday

2007-12-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Our home is a little more crowded these days even though kitten season has passed, but the more, the merrier I always say. Speeder has come to stay with us this holiday, and he's built for colder weather - a little overbuilt actually! While staying with us, he'll be on a diet; though officially a stray, it's clear Speeder has been enjoying the good life as he has managed to put on total of 14 pounds. Obviously someone has been indulging him a bit. Though active, Speeder's weight is unhealthy for his size, and we'll have to keep him away from the treats while he stays with us. We'll keep you up-to-date on his progress.

Spotlight: Pets Unlimited

2007-12-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

This spotlight is long overdue (literally as well as figuratively)! The very first organization for which we were fortunately enough to foster cats, Pets Unlimited is an organization I consider one of the best shelters in the country. Though a bit smaller in size than some shelters, Pets Unlimited is dedicated to providing the very best care possible for all animals. I'm happy to report that Pets Unlimited is another shelter that follows the basic principles of no-kill ethics. All cats at Pets Unlimited are given a home at this state-of-the-art shelter's facilities in comfortable rooms until they are adopted, no matter how long it takes. They are committed to making the effort to place each and every cat with a caring family.

Located on 2343 Fillmore Street in San Francisco's Pacific Heights, the shelter is easy to find just up the street from the world famous Fillmore jazz club in a charming little neighborhood. It's also just a block from Alta Plaza, a great park for taking a walk if you're waiting for an appointment at the animal clinic. In addition to the shelter, they offer a wide range of medical care as well as emergency services. Pets Unlimited has a full medical facility in the building with a large veterinary staff, specialists, modern equipment, and surgical facilities. For the alternative medicine crowd (this is San Francisco after all), the medical center also offers the services of licensed acupuncturists and has facilities reserved for holistic care for your pets.

If you live in the Bay Area, consider volunteering to foster at Pets Unlimited. In addition to fostering when we were in San Francisco, Robert spent many hours volunteering at the shelter helping to care for resident cats and always had a great time.

Keeping Our Cats Safe In The Garden

2007-11-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Keeping our cats and kittens safe in the garden, and around household plants indoors, is an important consideration too often overlooked, unfortunately with all too common tragic results. The holidays are fast approaching and decorative plants are frequent gifts - the problem is that Grandma's basket of flowers may be deadly to your cat. Lilies, for example, are extremely poisonous to cats, and even the tiniest amount consumed can be lethal within a very short time. We all know (or at least should know) to keep our pets away from the antifreeze in the garage or the pills in the bathroom medicine cabinet, but the tragic accidental deaths of many domestic cats can also be traced to poisoning from household and garden plants.

Everyone enjoys a nice garden and having attractive houseplants in the room. Whenever we make decisions about the plants to put in our homes, we have to take the time to consider whether or not they may be harmful to our pets. The simple fact is that cats evolved with a taste for greenery. Anyone with cats knows that they will gleefully devour many household plants if given the chance, and kittens can be the worst offenders. Whether it's to calm an upset stomach, a need to find missing minerals in the diet, or just a love of the scent, it's not exactly clear why cats chew plants. But they certainly do. For this reason, we need to take care to avoid known toxic plants around our homes.

Fortunately, we don't have to become botanists to protect our cats and kittens. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a great resource; the Center also runs a national 24 hour a day hotline at (888) 426-4435 to answer questions and offer assistance in cases of a suspected pet poisoning. As a useful guide, the Center has an online list of known toxic plants. Fortunately, their list of nontoxic plants is a lot longer. These lists were very helpful recently when we were working with our landscape architect to design our backyard garden. While our cats, of course, won't randomly wander about trying to find the most toxic plant in the room to eat, why take an unnecessary chance? It's entirely possible to design an attractive garden, and to have a large selection of beautiful plants in our homes, without putting our cats at risk.

Just a reminder: we are not veterinarians and cannot offer specific medical advice. If you think your cat has been poisoned by ingesting plant materials around your home, please don't waste time by writing us - immediately get your cat to an emergency clinic!

CatGenie Review Update

2007-11-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

Much to our surprise, our CatGenie review has turned out to be one of the most popular pages here at FosterKittens! I guess this only goes to show the effect of unintended consequences, that or maybe just the strength of the desire of cat owners to find alternatives to the traditional litter box. Since we've had so much interest in our CatGenie from friends and neighbors, it seemed time for a progress report.

Since first installing our GatGenie in the powder room this past winter, we've had no major problems and our kitties have adapted fairly well. We were initially concerned when one of our adult cats at first turned up her nose, but she seems to have fully adjusted to her fancy, self-cleaning litter box. And now, thanks to the new side wall and dome attachments we recently added, she can scratch to her heart's content without flinging nearly as many of the biodegradable plastic granules around as before. I think the addition of the new dome attachments is a big improvement over the original open design - some cats like scratching the hood on their litter box after all - and all of them seem to manage to toss around as much litter as they can without one. In short, due to the lack of serious problems and the addition of the new dome, I'm pleased to report that our original recommendation still stands.

Spotlight: Purrfect Pals

2007-10-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Today I'm pleased to highlight one of our favorite shelters in the Seattle area, Purrfect Pals. A progressive shelter founded in 1988, Purrfect Pals takes the position that every cat deserves a chance and is strongly committed to finding a home for every cat and kitten in their care. They operate a traditional animal shelter helping cats and kittens find new families as well as a sanctuary for hard to place cats who may not be able to be placed in homes due to medical or behavioral issues. Currently, about 250 cats live at their sanctuary. Though these special cats may not necessarily be available for adoption, they can be sponsored by concerned friends who wish to help provide for their care.

Purrfect Pals also sponsors a great annual tradition the Average Joe Cat Show. The Average Joe Cat Show is all about what's really important, our relationships with our furry friends, and not some fake ideal of a "pure breed" cat. It's always a popular event (attendees at the 2007 show are pictured to the right) and always a lot of fun. All participants in the show are up for an award in any of several different fun categories, and there is always room for everyone to receive a second place ribbon! If you are looking for other events to attend until next cat show next spring, the organization also hosts the Black Cat Ball fundraiser, featuring a dinner and auction, each year at the end of October.

Robert and I are glad that there are shelters like Purrfect Pals around. They are a rare shelter that specializes in caring for cats, and they do deserve your support. If you have a house full of furry friends right now and can't adopt a new cat any time soon, please consider making a donation for the kitties staying at the Purrfect Pals.

Thinking About Vegan Cat Food, Part 2

2007-10-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the year, I told our readers about plans to give vegan cat food a try - that is, cat food not derived from animal products. I also promised to give a follow-up report on how things went. I said at that time, that "as people who care about animals, we naturally discover that we have to make ethical choices." The ethical dilemma I was trying to address is whether it is "just to nurture one animal by means that necessitate killing another." The heart of the matter is whether it is acceptable to kill other animals in order to feed our own domestic cats. The answer to me seems fairly clear that it is not, especially as long as alternate means exist. And they do.

It was an easy decision to reach that the responsible thing to do is to try vegan cat food in our own house. We decided to give Evolution Diet Pet Food a try to see if our cats would eat it. Overall, the reception was mixed. In terms of dry food, it seems that our cats will happily eat this particular brand of vegan cat food. If mixed in with their usual cat food, they will eat the vegan dry food just fine. Over time, we could adjust the mix to slowly increase the percentage of vegan cat food until the transition is complete. Wet food, on the other hand, is another matter. After a few nibbles, both our adult cats decided that it just wasn't for them. From the samples we served our cats, the wet food just did not have a similar texture or smell to the traditional food we've given them in the past. It may just be that the change was too much for their liking.

Of course, we can only say for our own cats and for this particular brand, that these results hold true. Until we can try other brands, it is impossible to say whether our cats are simply being picky (and who doesn't know a finicky cat!) or whether they just insist on having animal products for dinner. We'll keep looking for good vegan alternatives for pet food for our little family, and I'll post any further results here. I think the important thing to remember is that we have a responsibility to give vegan pet food a try as long as good alternatives exist. If we can reduce or eliminate the suffering of animals trapped in the pet food industry production chain by simply choosing other sources of pet food, then any small effort will have been worth it.

Kittens Are Hot This Season!

2007-09-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Our little friends didn't have to wait long. We were happy to learn recently that Jack, Babette, Toby, and Annie were hardly settled in at the shelter when they found new families. Of course, once foster kittens head back to the shelter after getting big enough for adoption, they have to have their operations first – no responsible shelter today adopts out pets without making sure they have been neutered or spayed. Fortunately, recovery time is only about a day, so the extra wait time is minimal. We also learned it seems there is a minor kitten shortage at the Humane Society right now. That's the best news we've heard in a long time! Wouldn't it be great if the normal circumstances were reversed – that people had to wait to get a new cat instead of cats having to wait at the shelter to find a new home? Of course, this is an anomaly, not the norm, and there are always plenty of older cats waiting to be adopted too. If spay and neuter programs keep working though, and if cat breeders finally do the right thing and shut down, maybe that will change as well!

Looking For A New Home

2007-08-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

We're taking a little break this week as our new friends, Jack (pictured left), Babette, Toby, and Annie have gone back to the shelter to find new permanent homes. If you're in the Seattle area, take a few minutes this week to stop by the Humane Society - there's always a room full of kitties just waiting to meet you. I've written this before, but it remains just as true today: it's always hard to send our little guys off, even though that's the whole point of fostering of course. I ask you, can anyone resist such a cute face? Still, we know that fostering kittens and adult cats is always a very rewarding experience, one we wouldn't trade for anything. Despite the occasional "accident", the extra cleaning, and the time spent transporting our charges back and forth to the shelter, I couldn't recommend fostering more. If you're interesting in fostering, we have few shelters we can suggest. Otherwise, just check with your local Humane Society.

More New Friends!

2007-08-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

This week we have three little white and blue tipped kittens and one grey kitten staying with us. They're happy and healthy, but just need to grow a little before heading out for adoption. Though we haven't given them names yet, we're still rather attached to the little guys. We have two boys and two girls. Interestingly enough, the largest of the bunch, a girl, is also the most shy – and the smallest, the other girl, is the most outgoing! It just goes to show that size isn’t an indicator of personality.

This brings up a small point on the importance of early socialization for kittens. Most kittens pass through a brief window in which they can learn to bond with humans. If they aren't exposed very much to people in the first two to eight weeks, it's possible that they may never learn to be very close to their human families. In extreme cases, with truly feral kittens, they will often become quite frightened of humans.

Of course, all of this depends to some extent upon the kitty's personality. If you have the patience of St. Francis of Assisi and your feral or semi-feral cat has an inquisitive and forgiving personality, you just might be able to win him over if you give it enough time. But that's not something you can bet on. In many cases with feral cats, or kittens who've not received sufficient human attention, they may only at best learn to tolerate people. Now this doesn't mean that they can't become much loved members of your family, it may just mean they will never become a lap kitty or a kitty you can pet too much. Nevertheless, it's always best to start early and give your kittens all the attention they can handle!

It's Adoption Season!

2007-08-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

Boy the kitties are flying out the door, as it were! This past week, our latest batch of kittens returned to the shelter all were adopted out in only one day. We finally named the little cuties Ricki, Oliver, and Charlie before returning them after recovering from their colds. We can also report that Oliver and Charlie (wrestling in the picture on the left) were adopted together - it's always fun to have siblings as they are already good friends. And even more exciting, Guava found a new family as well. Like so many adult cats, Guava unfortunately had to wait a little longer to find a new home, but he was always given the very best of care while waiting, both at our house and at the shelter. We wish him all the best!

A New Home For Malcolm

2007-07-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

More excellent news came our way this past week as Malcolm found a new home and a new family on Sunday! We're always glad to learn when one of our guys is adopted so quickly. Malcolm is a great kitty - though somewhat shy at first, he couldn't have been friendlier once he got to know us a little bit. It's also great news when someone decides to give an adult cat a chance. Though as cute as they can be, kittens may not always be the right choice for every home; sometimes an adult cat can be a better fit for a new family. Next time you're considering adopting a new friend, don't forget to check out the adult cats at the shelter. You won't be sorry you did!

New Kittens Arrive!

2007-07-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

It's always a lot of fun to have pile of kittens! Our latest cuties from The Seattle/King Co. Humane Society arrived this week to recover from the usual cold (or more technically, upper respiratory infection or URI). While a "cold" is normally not a major concern for an adult cat, it can be very serious for a kitten if not treated properly - so our little guys are getting some extra care to make sure they stay healthy. Right now they're on the road to recovery.

The kittens are about 10 weeks old, two boys and a girl. I refer to them as "the kittens" because we haven't given them names yet - one of the common jobs assigned to foster parent. It seems right somehow to wait a little and learn more about their personalities before giving them names. Even though people adopting cats and other pets from shelters are perfectly free to give their new family member a new name, we still like to give a little thought into what we end up calling them.

It's always hard to say how long our fosters will be staying with us, but the goal is always to get them ready for adoption as soon as possible. Since space is normally tight at virtually every shelter in the country, we want to keep those adoptions rolling! In fact, the Humane Society has been running an "adopt two adult cats for the price of one" special; if you are thinking of adopting, now is a great time. While our little guys are getting better, we'll provide updates here and let you know when they're ready to go to that special new home - who knows maybe yours!

A New Home For Baby

2007-07-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Excellent news... Baby was adopted this past week! She didn't have to wait at the shelter for long to find that special someone to give her a new home. And now she's happier than ever (though I like to think she had a pretty good time while staying with us getting over her cold). It's always a little hard to send our new friend back for adoption, but we know that the The Seattle/King Co. Humane Society always does a good job finding a home for the kitties in their care. I can also report, Malcolm and Guava have also gone back for adoption - so be sure to stop by the Humane Society to say "hello" to a couple of great guys. Who knows? Maybe these guys can fill a special place in your family!

Malcolm And Guava Come To Visit

2007-07-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend our newest foster cats arrived. Malcolm and Guava are two adult males who need a little time to get over a slight cold. Malcolm, the orange tabby to the left, is a big playful guy, just a little shy, but warms quickly to a little kind attention. Guava on the other hand, is so happy to meet new people, he'll virtually knock you over! Though they have somewhat different personalities, both guys are a lot of fun to have around - and that's what matters most.

Malcolm likes to hang out in a little kitty tent we keep in the office and watch the world go by. He was found stray in the Seattle area, but he clearly was a house cat at one time as he is as friendly as can be. At least until someone comes near, and then he's ready for a game. Guava likes to keep moving, constantly exploring his new surroundings – you never know; there just might be a mouse in that corner or under that chair! He's a good lap cat, and just couldn't have a warmer personality.

Malcolm's story can serve as a reminder to us all of the importance of microchipping your pets. If a cat becomes lost, he can't tell anyone where his family might be. For only a small fee, your local vet or shelter can provide a little assurance that, in the event your kitty becomes lost, your cat will be able to "call home" as it were. All it takes is a moment to have your cat outfitted with a small microchip under the skin and a minute to register with your address and contact information. Not much effort to help protect an important member of the family.

Baby Is One Happy Kitty

2007-06-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that Baby is doing just fine and that she's getting over her cold. Right now her favorite activity is snoozing on the couch, but when awake she's as playful as a kitten! Baby is not only very friendly with us, as well as any visitors who stop by, she also loves our two cats. Every time she's out visiting the rest of the house (she normally stays in her own room), she always wants to play with any kitty in sight. It's clear that Baby has lived with other cats at one time, and she would certainly make a great addition to any house with cats. Baby will soon be up for adoption at the Humane Society, so be sure to stop by and say "hi" to Baby – she"d love the company while waiting for that special someone to stop by!

Say "Hi!" To Baby

2007-06-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Our newest furry friend from The Seattle/King Co. Humane Society arrived last night to stay with us and recover from a little cold. Baby is a medium fluffy tabby with a very sweet disposition and a lot of energy. As soon as she laid eyes on us, Baby started purring like an engine and just couldn't get enough attention. Since she's staying with us for a short time until she feels a bit better, Baby won't be up for adoption for a little while. But as soon as she's ready to go, I have no doubt she'll be very popular back at the shelter and won't have to wait very long to find a new home.

Baby is an adult cat, about three years old. It’s good to remember once in a while that, in addition to all the kittens, there are a lot of adult cats waiting for adoption at local shelters as well. For someone who may not have the time to devote to raising a young kitten, an older cat can be just the ticket. Of course, this isn’t to say that adult cats don’t also like to play – I’m pretty sure Baby has just as much energy as any kitten we’ve fostered in recent years. In addition, unlike a kitten who has a lot of growing to do, an adult cat’s personality, her likes and dislikes, daily habits, favorite foods, etc. are well known as soon as you meet her. In our case, we don’t have to wonder if Baby will grow up to be a friendly lap kitty – we already know she is.

As with our other fosters, we'll post updates on Baby on our web site as she recovers from her cold. If you might be interested in adopting Baby when she's better, please contact the Humane Society for more information.

Thinking About Vegan Cat Food

2007-05-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

As people who care about animals, we naturally discover that we have to make ethical choices all the time in how we live our lives. One of these ethical choices involves the food we give our cats and kittens. As people who care about animals, who care about reducing needless suffering, at some point we must consider the importance of making humane pet food choices. While many pet food brands contain various grains and other vegetables (all normally perfectly healthy for our cats and kittens) they almost all also contain animal products – in other words, products derived by killing other animals. This produces an ethical dilemma: is it just to nurture one animal by means that necessitate killing another?

While it can be a difficult matter to sort out, it does seem if one gives the matter careful reflection that it is most likely unjust to kill one animal to benefit another, even if the animal receiving the benefit is one we love very much. It becomes unjust if one accepts the principle that other living beings on our planet exist in their own right and not just as instruments to use and abuse however humanity sees fit. Just imagine replacing the cow or fish being killed, and whose carcass is to be ground into pet food, with your family cat. We cannot use our own conventions of “cuteness” as a measure of the kinds of life that merit compassion.

One important thing to remember is that our cats and kittens do not live in a natural state. This is not a question of wild cats on the plains of Africa hunting mice for survival. Even though genetically they may be nearly identical to their ancient ancestors, our domestic cats are our responsibility alone. Our cats and kittens depend completely on their caregivers for food, water, health care, and affection. This means that we are the ones who must make the choices and must consider all the ethical options available to us.

So long as vegan cat food (that is, not derived from animal products) options exist, it is very likely our obligation to give them a try, not only to protect the animal who would otherwise have been slaughtered, but also to help protect the welfare of our own cats from the dangers of pet food derived from diseased or otherwise contaminated meat. Currently, we are trying Evolution Diet Pet Food, both wet and dry, with our own kitties. Right now, I’m not able to make any recommendations regarding any of the different vegan products on the market, but we will let you know how the transition goes. I think that as people who truly care about animal welfare, giving vegan cat food a try is the least we can do.

Your Kitten Is What He Eats

2007-05-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

During a short break between foster kittens this season, I thought it would be a good idea to mention a reminder to us all about the importance of the quality of the food we give our furry friends. Recent events, with the sad deaths of many cats and resulting massive pet food recall this spring, drive home the point that not all cat food is equally good for our pets. Unfortunately, some pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers really just don't care about the health and safety of animals; some are only interested in selling product at the highest profit margin possible, even if it kills some of their customers.

One general rule I follow is the "does the major ingredient match the label" rule: if the first ingredient listed on the label of the cat food doesn't match the product name (i.e., if its "tasty tuna" brand cat food and doesn't primarily consist of tuna), it's not the best quality. Also, I try to stick with reliable brands from companies who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting humane causes. If I've never heard of the company and the ingredients don't look like something I'd actually want to eat, then I put it back on the shelf.

Of course, unless we make our own cat food (and who but an expert has the ability to do so?), we really have no choice but to rely on the good-will and ethics of the supplier. One challenge, especially in the light of recent facts uncovered in the recall, is that most cat food labels don't identify the origins of the ingredients. Who knew that cat food from your local grocery store contained wheat gluten imported from China? In addition, pet food does not receive the same level of scrutiny that food intended for human consumption receives. Since the United States FDA so far has no additional authority to regulate pet food in the same fashion as human food, we really are left on our own until Congress acts.

The Humane Society of the United States is involved in helping encourage greater pet food safety and in supporting passage of the Pet and Human Food Safety Act. Our cats and kittens totally rely on us to provide them with clean water and nutritious food - get involved in supporting this legislation today!

The Humane Society also offers resources for current information about the pet food recall in their Pet Food Safety Center.

Average Joe Cat Show

2007-05-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we attended the Average Joe Cat Show at the Shoreline Center here in WA, an annual event sponsored by Purrfect Pals. Unlike professional cat shows that highlight artificial, Victorian fantasies of a "pure breed" cat, the Average Joe Cat Show puts a spotlight on the average cat and emphasizes what's really important: our relationships with our furry friends. One of the participants pictured left, Trance is showing off her ribbons in her fancy show cage, including 1st Place for "Most Playful". In addition to the neighborhood kitties in the cat show, some of the Purrfect Pals shelter residents were on hand, some out to have fun in the show and all out to make new friends and perhaps find a new home.

In keeping with Purrfect Pals' recognition of the value of all cats and kittens to our lives, the Average Joe Cat Show is famous for awarding many first prizes in such categories as Loudest Meow, Biggest Feet, Most Toes, and Best Decorated Cage. And there are always second prizes for all! It sounds corny I know, but all our furry friends were winners at the show. We have attended the cat show in previous years, but it's always a lot of fun to see who's out and about. We've thought about taking our own cats to the show, but our kitties are not the type to go for a large crowd. Who knows - maybe next year.

For those who don't know, Purrfect Pals operates an adoption shelter in the Seattle area as well as a sanctuary offering care for hard to place cats, taking in feral cats as well as cats with long-term medical conditions such as FIV, Leukemia, or other illnesses. Purrfect Pals is a no-kill shelter, a policy I highly endorse, and makes every effort to place cats in suitable homes. If you are looking for a new friend, Purrfect Pals is a great location to find that special someone. If you aren't able to adopt a new friend right now, your support in the form of a donation for the kitties staying at the shelter would always be appreciated.