News for You and Your Pet

January 1, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

Happy New Year! Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Most of us do. And for most of us, they revolve around better health. While you're making changes to improve your own health, why not make some simple changes that will improve your cats' health as well? Read on for five simple things you can do to keep your cats happy and healthy this year and for years to come.

Did you know that most New Year's resolutions get broken even before the month of January is over? Find out how you can make New Year's resolutions stick. The simple solution may surprise you.

Wishing you purrs and wags and a healthy, happy 2014,

Ingrid.

Website: www.ConsciousCat.com
E-Mail: ConsciousCat@cox.net

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In This Issue

Keep Your Cats Happy and Healthy in 2014

New Year's Resolutions

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

Marketplace

Keep Your Cats Happy and Healthy in 2014

By Ingrid King

With the start of a new year, many of us make resolutions, and most of them revolve around our health. We vow to eat better and exercise more. We resolve to spend more time with loved ones and enjoy life more.

For most of us, our cats' health and happiness takes priority over almost everything else, so while you're making resolutions to improve your own life, here are five simple things you can do for your cats that will keep them happy and healthy this year and beyond.

1. Feed a species appropriate diet. Nutrition is the foundation for good health. Cats are obligate carnivores and they need meat to thrive. If you're not already feeding a raw or grain-free canned diet, consider making this the year you make the switch. Your cats will thank you for it. You'll find a wealth of information on feline nutrition, and on how to switch your cat to a healthier diet, on The Conscious Cat.

2. Don't allow your cat to become overweight. Unfortunately, obesity runs as rampant among cats as it does among humans. Maintaining a healthy weight for your cats is crucial to their good health. The health risks associated with obesity such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, and heart disease can easily be prevented. Dr. Karen Becker, a holistic veterinarian who writes extensively for Mercola Healthy Pets, blames humans for the obesity epidemic among pets. "Domesticated dogs and cats have no choice but to eat what we feed them and exercise as we allow it," says Becker. "Wild canines and felines, while they have other challenges to survival, follow their natural instinct to eat species-appropriate food and be physically active. Think about it - have you ever seen a fat, lumbering wild dog or feral cat?"

3. Refuse unnecessary vaccinations. According to the new American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) vaccination guidelines for 2011, yearly re-vaccination is no longer recommended. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has been recommending less frequent boosters for core vaccines (every three years) for the past several years. Research by Ronald Schultz, professor and chair of pathological sciences in the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, has shown that immunity for some vaccines lasts even longer than that, anywhere from 7 to 15 years. The risks of overvaccination range from autoimmune diseases to cancer. Educate yourself, and discuss vaccinations with your veterinarian, before agreeing to that annual "booster shot."

4. Regular playtime. Make time to play with your cats. Regular playtime will not only keep your cat happy, it's also a wonderful time for you to bond with your cat, and it helps you relieve your stress. Additionally, it provides exercise for kitty and corrects or prevents behavioral problems. Interactive toys such as the Play-n-Squeak Wand or the Neko Flies toys make playtime fun for both of you.

5. Regular veterinary check ups. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends a minimum of annual wellness examinations for all cats in its Feline Life Stage Guidelines. According to the guidelines, "semi-annual wellness exams are often recommended for all feline life stages by veterinarians and veterinary organizations. Their reasoning includes the fact that changes in health status may occur in a short period of time; that ill cats often show no signs of disease; and that earlier detection of ill health, body weight changes, dental disease, and so on, allows for earlier intervention."

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New Year's Resolutions

By Ingrid King

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Most people do. There's just something irresistible about a new year with its blank slate. The idea of a fresh start has great appeal.

Then why is it that year after year, most New Year's resolutions get broken by the end of January? I think it's because there's an inherent flaw in the term "resolution." According to Merriam Webster, the definition of resolution is "the act of determining." There's nothing there that says we're actually going to do something. This is why I prefer to set New Year's intentions. The definition of intention is "a determination to act in a certain way." The difference is subtle, but one (intention) implies that we are actually determined to do something differently, whereas the other (resolution) simply states that we've decided to change something.

Setting an intention is nothing more than focusing your thoughts on what you would like to create in your life. That doesn't mean you won't still have to do the work, but it sets you up for a more successful outcome.

Since losing weight is one of the most popular New Year's resolution, let's use that as an example: Rather than making a resolution to loose weight, which focuses on the negative (the extra weight you're trying to get rid of), set the intention that you're going to have a healthy, slender body that feels good. Now that's not to say you can just think yourself thin. You'll still have to exercise more and eat right, but by setting the intention and focusing your thoughts on the desired outcome, you will find yourself wanting to make choices that are in alignment with your desired goal. Making the necessary changes won't feel like a battle or a chore.

This year, one of my New Year's intentions is to eliminate phrases such as "there's never enough time, I'm so rushed, I feel overwhelmed" from my vocabulary. Rather than focusing on a perceived lack (of time), I'm going to try to focus on staying organized, being productive, and having balance in my life. To be successful, I have to be present and make conscious choices in support of my goal.

And when it comes to being more present, I have the best support team I could ask for: Allegra and Ruby! Cats are masters at living in the moment. They don't worry about running out of time to chase that catnip mouse, being too rushed to enjoy their meal, or not getting enough sleep. I think if I look to them for guidance, I can't help but succeed.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Kitten Teeth: Everything You Need to Know

Just like humans, cats have two sets of teeth: deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth, and permanent teeth. Kittens are born without teeth, but within the first two to three weeks the deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth, baby teeth, or primary teeth, erupt. All of the deciduous teeth are present by the [...]The post Kitten Teeth: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on The Conscious Cat....�

Mews and Nips: Cat Domestication Traced to Chinese Farmers 5,300 Years Ago

In a fascinating discovery, archaeologists have unearthed the first clear evidence of cats living among humans as semi-domesticated mousers about 5,300 years ago in China. The LA Times reports that this discovery fills in an enormous gap in experts' understanding of cat domestication, but it has also surprised them: an ancient Chinese village was the [...]The post Mews and Nips: Cat Domestication Traced to Chinese Farmers 5,300 Years Ago appeared first on The Conscious Cat....�

My 10 Favorite Cat Books of 2013

I don't keep track of the number of books I read each year, but my best guess is somewhere between 150 and 200, and at least half of them have something to do with cats. I reviewed more than 30 books here on The Conscious Cat this year. I made a commitment to myself long [...]The post My 10 Favorite Cat Books of 2013 appeared first on The Conscious Cat....�

Euthanasia: To Be With Your Cat, or Not?

Making a decision about whether or when the time is right for euthanasia is one of the hardest things cat guardians will ever go through. I've previously written about what can help a cat guardian make this difficult decision. But once you have made the decision, there are still more things to consider. One is [...]The post Euthanasia: To Be With Your Cat, or Not? appeared first on The Conscious Cat....�

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