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The Pet Maven Newsletter  

Focus on Fur-sical Fitness
February 2012
In This Issue
Pikachu: The Traveling Kitty!
Let's Get Fur-sical!
Fetching Fitness for Fido!
Cat Sitter Profile
Caring for Your Elderly Pet
Featured Pets: Marv & Emma
Quick Links
Greetings!

This February the focus is on Fitness! We want our animals (and yours) to live long, happy, healthy lives! February is Pet Dental Health Month, so that's a great place to start; why don't you take your critter in for a check up?

In this issue you'll find ideas on how to get your couch potato puppy or kitten up and exercising. You'll also learn about a globe-trotting kitten named Pikachu.

You will also get some tips on how you can help your best friend through his or her golden years!

We hope you'll enjoy a brand new feature: Meet the Sitter, where we introduce you to some of our sitters, and you can learn about what they do when they're not charming the socks off your cat!

Finally, you'll get the chance to meet this month's Featured Pets, Marv & Emma, truly a kitty romance for the ages!

Helen Adler 

Pikachu: The Traveling Kitty!   


Most cats are homebodies, but Pikachu the traveling kitty is something special. He and his owner Ted Brady are traveling the United States by bicycle, in search of adventure and to raise awareness and money for animal shelters around the country!

Recently, Pikachu and Ted captured the hearts of New Mexico, when Pika accidentally escaped from his mobile carrier due to a loose zipper! For 18 days, Ted and local volunteers searched for Pika, and persistence paid off: Pika was finally found! He had taken refuge in a local family's shed, and they discovered him when they went to store their Christmas decorations. Pika's plight helped spur the creation of a new animal rescue group in Albuquerque, New Mexico called Meownty Hunters! Follow Ted and Pika's adventures on Facebook, Tumblr, and YouTube!

Let's Get Fur-sical!  

 

Want to help your kitty keep her New Year's Diet Resolution? Indoor cats are especially susceptible to weight gain, and sometimes putting them on diet food just isn't enough! For one thing, kittys are crafty creatures, and they just might learn to open the refrigerator and steal an entire stick of butter like one Pet Maven client's cats did this holiday season!

 

But besides putting a lock on the fridge, what else can you do? Make sure your kitties get plenty of aerobic exercise! 

 

Some kitties can be trained to use treadmills, while others find the idea distasteful.  

 

If your cat has taken an anti-treadmill stance, he might be enticed with a variety of fun interactive toys. Two very popular models are Da Bird and the Cat Dancer. Laser Lights are another fun option.  

 

With a little creativity and some patience, your fluffy friend will be sleek and supple again, which will help him live a longer, happier life. Learn More ...  


Fetching Fitness for Fido       

 

Apartment bound pooches can get a little stir-crazy, and sometimes a quick walk just isn't enough!

 

We've already seen some cats using "people" treadmills, but did you know there are treadmills made especially for dogs? Jog a Dog and Pet Zen are two to check out!

Or why not take your dog to a local dog-park and teach it how to fetch! Your dog will love the extra exercise and attention, and you'll both have a lot of fun! The City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation has a special page devoted to dog parks and dog runs, as well as information on the rules and regulations for keeping your pooch park-legal.

As an alternative to dog parks, small dogs can enjoy a game of fetch at home! If you have enough room for a bed, you have enough room to toss a ball around for your little one.

 

But what if your pooch hasn't trained you yet how to play fetch? Don't despair! There are several useful sites that can help make the process fun and surprisingly easy! Here are a few to get you started:


Meet the Sitter! Yvette    

 

Yvette has been with The Pet Maven since the summer of 2011, but her history as a caregiver for cats started much earlier.

 

Yvette grew up around cats, and when she moved to New York City she rescued a lovely white cat she named Lily. Lily suffered from a heart condition, but with Yvette's tender loving care she lived a long, happy life.  
 
Yvette's current cat (pictured) is Daisy, another rescue kitty, who charmed Yvette and her boyfriend with her sweet personality. Yvette wasn't sure she was ready for a new kitty and they decided to sleep on it. But when they turned to leave, Daisy came right up to the door of the cage and gave the sweetest cry! They couldn't say no! They had to bring her home from the ASPCA that same night.

Yvette has rescued other cats, including four belonging to a Pet Maven client who became seriously ill and was no longer able to care for them. She and a coworker of the client took care of the lonely kitties for weeks until they were able to find a new owner who was willing to adopt the entire group! Yvette loves working with cats and says her favorite thing about cat sitting is seeing how happy they are when she walks through the door.

When Yvette isn't cat sitting, she is running her own graphic design studio, which has been in business since 2001. She works on a variety of projects, spanning corporate communications, brand programs, marketing campaigns, publishing, signage, environmental and exhibition design.

Photo By: Kaja Kozlowska Caring For Your Aging Pet  

 

Every day our pets find ways to show us they love us; you could say their entire lives revolve around us.  

 

That's why it's important to keep a close eye on your pet for its entire life, especially as it ages. Just like humans, animals have a variety of age-related health issues. But by monitoring our pets as they age, and watching for changes in behavior and appearance, we can help keep our lifelong friends happy and comfortable well into their golden years.

 

Bedding & Furniture: Many animals, especially larger dogs, suffer the same types of aches and pains that older humans do. You might invest in an orthopedic pet bed specially designed for older pets, or look into ramps and stairs to help smaller animals get onto high furniture with ease. 

 

Quality Food: Everyone knows puppies and kittens need special food to help them grow, but aging animals also have special dietary needs. Most pet food companies make brands specifically for aging pets, and there are supplements and vitamins that help support healthy urinary and bowel function, as well as healthy skin and teeth.  

Exercise: A little gentle daily exercise keeps the blood flowing, which is great for general overall health. Frequent short walks or playtime with favorite toys will keep your best friend's heart in shape and muscles limber. Learn more ... 


Marv and Emma: A Love Story    

Owners Jessica and Sean M.   

 

Once upon a time there was a lonely boy named Marv! He was a handsome, young, rambunctious kitty with a lot of love to share!








One day, his owners Jessica and Sean went out to buy him some delicious cat food, when they noticed that the nice folks from Mat-Valley Kitties had set up a booth, and they just happened to have some charming 6-month old kittens who needed new homes.

They considered it their duty to bring home a little friend for Marv, and it was love at first sight. They named the fluffy white kitten with the mile-long tail Emma, and Marv was never lonely again!

Marv and Emma moved to New York City in 2008 all the way from Anchorage, Alaska, and they were kind enough to bring Jessica and Sean along for the ride!