News for You and Your Cat

May 1, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in this area. As I'm writing this, the dogwood and redbud trees in my backyard are in full bloom, azaleas are just starting to blossom, and everything is turning to the lush early green that you only see this time of year. Unfortunately, spring also brings the arrival of lawn fertilizers. While a lush green lawn may be beautiful, the toxic chemicals that often contribute to achieving this look present a serious health hazard to humans and animals. Find out how lawn chemical affect your cats - and yes, this even applies to indoor cats.

When was the last time you did absolutely nothing? In our busy culture, relaxation is often relegated to the very bottom of a long to do list. I would like to encourage you to rethink this approach: there is great value in doing nothing.

Wishing you health, happiness and purrs,

Ingrid.

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

Connect with me:

In This Issue

How Lawn Chemicals Affect Your Cats

The Value of Doing Nothing

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

Marketplace

How Lawn Chemicals Affect Your Cats - Even Indoor Cats

When I go for my daily walks in my suburban neighborhood this time of year, not a day goes by that someone hasn't just fertilized their lawn. I can see the granules on the sidewalk, and sometimes, I can even smell the chemicals. I am strongly opposed to the use of chemical fertilizers, and I don't understand the obsession with flawless green lawns. But mostly, I worry about the effect lawn chemicals have on the cats who come in contact with them - and that can happen even if your cats never leave the house.

There is no question that lawn fertilizers and pesticides are hazardous to pets and humans. Pets especially can absorb pesticides through their paws or lick them off their bodies. In addition, pets can be exposed to pesticides when they eat grass.

Lawn chemicals tracked indoors contaminate air and surfaces inside the home

But that's not where the danger ends. You also bring some of the chemicals found in fertilizers and pesticides indoors on your shoes. An EPA funded study in 2001 found that 2,4-D and dicamba (chemicals used in herbicides) are easily tracked indoors, contaminating the air and surfaces inside residences and exposing children and pets at levels ten times higher than pre-application levels.

Signs of pesticide poisoning

Insecticide and pesticide poisoning is always an emergency situation and requires immediate veterinary attention. Symptoms of pesticide poisoning are: * Excessive salivation * Tearing of the eyes * Excessive urination * Muscle twitching * Weakness * Difficult breathing * Collapse * Nausea * Vomiting * Abdominal pain * Weakness * Dizziness * Unsteady gait Repeated exposure to phenoxy herbicides like 2,4-D may affect the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and muscles. Pesticides containing chlorophenoxy acids can cause anemia, neutropenia (low white blood cell count), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count.).

Keep cats (and humans) safe from lawn chemicals

The sad thing is that it's so easy to keep cats (and humans for that matter) safe from these harmful chemicals: simply stop using them! There are plenty of natural and organic alternatives to these chemicals that are not only safer for your pets, but also friendlier to the environment. If you have cats that go outside, consider keeping them indoors during the time of year when fertilizer use is most rampant. And even if your cats never go outside, remember to take your shoes off before you go inside the house so you don't track residual chemicals inside. It doesn't take a large dose of these toxic substances to cause a potentially deadly problem.

As for my own lawn, it's survival of the fittest: I don't fertilize at all. I also don't water. And you know what? Every year, my lawn turns green in the spring, and grows through the summer. It gets mowed every couple of weeks. If I had my way, I wouldn't even do that, I'd grow wildflowers and enjoy an even more natural look. Unfortunately, my homeowners association frowns on that. My lawn may not look as "perfect" as some of the lawns in my neighborhood, but I know that it's safe for the critters that live in my backyard, and for any dogs or cats that may be passing through.

The Value of Doing Nothing

How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards. - Spanish Proverb

We live in such crazy busy times that stress has become the norm for most people, and because of that, most of us don't even realize how stressed we are until we allow ourselves to slow down.

It's well known that the more stressed we are, the more damage we do not just to our mental health, but also to our bodies. Our bodies are not designed to distinguish between a real threat - "I'm being chased by a tiger!" and a looming deadline. Your adrenal glands release the stress hormone cortisol regardless of the trigger, and higher and prolonged cortisol levels in your bloodstream wreak havoc with your system.

This busy lifestyle carries over into what is supposed to be our leisure time. Weekends are filled with activities and errands and social engagements. All of this busyness leaves no time for what is one of the best things you can do for yourself: spend some time doing absolutely nothing.

Doing nothing without feeling guilty is something all my cats have taught me over the years. As a culture, we tend to always feel rushed, and many consider being busy a badge of honor. However, there is great value in doing nothing, in simply being. We need down time. We need time to relax.

If you can't remember the last time you did absolutely nothing, start today. Just sit on the sofa, preferably with a cat or two or three, and just be. Don't think, don't plan. Just sit and read a book, or watch mindless TV, or admire the way your cat's fur looks.

Make doing nothing a daily practice, even if it's only for a few minutes. You'll find that not only will you feel less stressed, you'll actually accomplish more in the long run.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Cats and Road Trips: 7 Steps to Keep Your Cat Safe and Comfortable

Guest post by Kim Salerno When it comes to pets, dogs travel with their humans the most often. In fact, they account for over 85% of pet travelers. This makes sense; most dogs are happy to go on adventures. They love car rides and can't wait to hop in and head out anywhere, whether it's [...] The post Cats and Road Trips: 7 Steps to Keep Your Cat Safe and Comfortable appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

FIV Infection on the Rise: Know the Facts

The Banfield Pet Hospital annual State of Pet Health Report for 2014 revealed a sharp increase in infectious diseases among cats. The reports analyzed data from the nearly 470,000 cats cared for in Banfield's 850 hospitals across the nation. The report showed a 48 percent increase in the prevalence of the feline immune deficiency virus [...] The post FIV Infection on the Rise: Know the Facts appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Exclusive Interview with Lil BUB's "Dude" - Part One: How It All Began

I never met Lil BUB in person, but I, like hundreds of thousands of others (BUB currently has more than 650,000 Facebook fans), fell in love with this amazing little cat via photos and videos. I hope to some day meet Lil BUB in person. She conveys a level of charisma on the printed page [...] The post Exclusive Interview with Lil BUB's "Dude" - Part One: How It All Began appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Weruva Review: Cat Food Good Enough to Eat

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know that I'm passionate about species-appropriate nutrition for cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, and they need meat not only to survive, but to thrive. The optimal diet for a cat is a properly formulated raw, home-cooked or grain-free canned diet. I maintain a small [...] The post Weruva Review: Cat Food Good Enough to Eat appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Click here to subscribe to The Conscious Cat - new content every day!

Upcoming Events

May 8-12, 2014
Central Veterinary Conference East
Washington, DC

September 6 and 7, 2014
National Capital Cat Show
Chantilly, VA

Please visit the Events Page on my website
for more information and directions.

Marketplace

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Your ad here!

Would you like to advertise your products or services in future editions of this newsletter?

Please contact me for more information.