News for You and Your Cat

June 15, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

Allegra, Ruby and I are so happy that summer is finally here. Even though the girls are strictly indoor kitties, they do enjoy their sun puddles and the warm summer breezes wafting in through our screened windows.

Most cats are not fond of traveling, but sometimes, travel is unavoidable. If you have to take your cat on the road with you, our tips for summer travel with your cat will help make the trip safe.

Most cats like to assist their humans with work. I certainly wouldn't know how I'd ever get anything done without Allegra and Ruby's help. Today, I'd like to introduce you to three hardworking cats who are part of the family business at Wood Violins.

Wishing you health, happiness and purrs,

Ingrid.

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

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In This Issue

Summer Travel With Your Cat

Cats Are Part of the Family Business at Wood Violins

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

Marketplace

Summer Travel With Your Cat

By Vickie Fisher

You've probably already figured out that your cat is not going to happily jump into the car, stick its head out the window and "lap up" the scents and breezes in anticipation of traveling someplace "fun." That revelation aside, the biggest difference between traveling with a dog and traveling with a cat is that in the case of the cat, it often appears that neither party involved in the expedition will be happy!

However, sometimes, a temporary or permanent relocation makes travel a necessity.

You cat most likely won't be any happier that the first step before traveling will be a trip to the veterinarian. Most states require a health certificate, and while requirements for traveling through a state will vary, most states are serious about rabies and will require a current rabies vaccination.

If you need to make a stopover along the way, make sure you've checked out the "pet friendly" hotels along the way. Gather food, water, dishes, toys, treats and any other comfort items. Don't forget litter, a litter box, plastic bags and paper towels.

Ready to go? The very first and most important thing to remember about traveling with your cat is that it can be very dangerous to have a cat loose in the car. Always travel with your cat in a secure carrier. Cats will feel much more secure if confined to a carrier, especially if you include a little absorbent padding and something that smells like home. A bigger carrier is not always better. The carrier should be large enough for the cat to be able to get up and turn around.

Take the shoulder strap for the seat belt, run it through the top handle of the carrier and latch the carrier into place. Use a seat in the car where there is good ventilation. I can't stress the importance of using a secured carrier enough. While we never like to think about an accident or an unexpected event, they can happen. With an open window or door, your cat could escape and become lost or injured. It's not worth the chance.

Don't fall for the pitiful meows and think that your cat will be happier out of the carrier. A loose cat in the car is a recipe for disaster. Loose cats can hide underneath a car seat, making it impossible to retrieve them safely at the final destination. Chances are, after some period of protest, your cat will curl up and sleep.

You may want to consider a kitty harness and leash in case the cat must be taken from the carrier for some reason. Get your cat used to a harness and leash well before the trip.

For summer travels, don't underestimate how rapidly the temperature inside a car rises. While heat stroke is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, they can get it. If you find your cat becoming overheated, make sure you have cool water that you can rub into its coat to cool it down. Never leave your cat in the car, not even with the windows slightly down.

Cat guardians often fret about the cat being able to eat, drink and use the litter box during the trip. It may help to not feed a large meal in the morning of the trip. A full tummy makes your cat more likely to get car sick and/or have the need to eliminate. Chances are, kitty will be perfectly happy not eating, drinking or using a litter box for 8-10 hours, but if not, that's why you've packed the plastic bags and paper towels in a handy place.

Vickie Fisher is the president of the International Cat Association. For more information about TICA, visit TICA University

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

Cats Are Part of the Family Business at Wood Violins

I recently received one of the most creative marketing emails involving cats I had seen in a long time. It came from Wood Violins, a company created by acclaimed musician Mark Wood. Wood Violins handcrafts absolutely amazing electric violins, and from the marketing email, it became clear to me that they have some feline assistance with their work.

I first met Mark Wood ten years ago when he was touring with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Until then, I had never heard anyone play an electric violin, and I was mesmerized. Fourteen years ago, Mark created Electrify Your Strings, a music educational phenomenon that inspires students, teachers, and local communities by injecting a high voltage dose of energy and much-needed funding into a school's music education program. Mark also created the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, a place for adventurous musicians and vocalists to explore the exciting creative terrain of improvisation, performance, and technology.

I knew Mark and his wife, musician Laura Kaye, are cat lovers, and I wanted to learn more about exactly how their cats support the family business. Laura graciously answered some of my questions.

Tell us a little about your cats.

We have 3 cats. Mallomar and Melody (aka "the girlies") are gorgeous velvety tuxedo twin sisters and are both 3 years old, with the softest bellies on the planet. We adopted them from a great animal rescue organization called Last Hope several months after the passing of our beloved cat Wesa, who was 21 year old. Ziggy is a silver tabby with incredible markings and is the newest member of our family at a year and half old. He "chose" us when we first met him at a friend's house whose cat just had kittens - he curled right up in our son's lap and went to sleep. The rest is history! The girlies dote on him like he's their little brother - one of them is always trying to give him a bath! He is one of the most amazing creatures ever and has a motorboat purr. All three of them are extremely social and greet everyone who comes to the door.

When did you first decide to use them in your marketing materials?

Totally by accident! We were gearing up for an e-news blast last year and laid out a selection of our violins, t-shirts, and other merch to photograph. Within seconds, all three cats were rolling around in them, mock fighting, and posing. I quickly grabbed my camera and started shooting. Thus, the Mark Wood E-News Cat Editions were born!

How do they "help" you with your business?

When we're not touring with EYS, we work from our home. Running our own business is incredibly intense. Our cat trio provides us with a mountain of soothing, purring stress relief. Plus, they help with our shipping by inspecting each box thoroughly - from the inside out!

I would imagine that your cats are used to hearing music all the time. However, not all cats enjoy loud music. How do yours react to music?

There's always so much music in our home that they're very used to it. The only time they jump is when Elijah (Mark and Laura's son) starts to play his drums.

Do they have a favorite music genre or instrument they like to listen to?

All three of them are quite social and they like to be wherever we are. Whether Mark is in his studio composing with his Viper or I'm in my room vocalizing, there's always a cat nearby, enjoying a private concert. Thankfully, they seem to be sensitive to the fact that we're artists and they don't play favorites!

How do they get compensated for their work at Wood Violins?

Massive amounts of affection combined with daily doses of fresh turkey and table scraps! Ziggy in particular is a bottomless pit - we call him the "Hoover." Mallomar is the slowest of the bunch - we put little bits of turkey near her and it takes her so long to decide what she wants to do with it that in most cases, Ziggy swoops in and grabs it out from under her nose.

For more information about Mark Wood, Laura Kaye, Electrify Your Strings, and Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, please visit www.MarkWoodMusic.com.

All photos courtesy of Laura Kaye, used with permission.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

10 Subtle Signs Your Cat May Be Sick

Cats can't tell us when something is wrong, and they are masters at hiding signs of illness. This is a throwback to their wild origins: in the wild, a sick animal easily becomes prey. Because of this, it's up to cat guardians to know what to look for. Any changes in your cat's normal routine, [...] The post 10 Subtle Signs Your Cat May Be Sick appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Review: Dave's Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

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. When we were approached [...] The post Review: Dave's Grain-Free Canned Cat Food appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Thunderstorms and Cats

Thunderstorms can be extremely stressful for cats. While cats may not show their fear in quite the same way as dogs (in severe cases of thunderstorm anxiety, panicking dogs have been known to destroy furniture, jump through windows or otherwise harm themselves during storms,) they may still become extremely anxious. Behaviorists are not sure [...] The post Thunderstorms and Cats appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Pre-Order "Catification" by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin and Help Homeless Cats

You've watched Jackson Galaxy transform the lives of cats on his hit TV show My Cat From Hell for the past four years. Frequently, the "fix" involves making adjustments to the cat's living space, making the term "catification" a household word among cat lovers. In the new book, Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home [...] The post Pre-Order "Catification" by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin and Help Homeless Cats appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Help The Conscious Cat Win a 4th Pettie Award

06-04-2014 01:00:34 AM

It's that time of year again! You helped The Conscious Cat win three Pettie Awards in three consecutive years: the 2013 Pettie for Best Overall Pet Blog, the 2012 Pettie for Best Cat Blog, and the 2011 Pettie for Best Overall Pet Blog. Allegra, Ruby and I would love it if you could help us [...] The post Help The Conscious Cat Win a 4th Pettie Award appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

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July 22-24, 2014
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