News for You and Your Cat

October 15, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

Halloween is right around the corner, and while our thoughts turn to trick or treating and Halloween parties, the holiday may quite possibly rank as one of cats' least favorite ones. From decorations to humans wearing scary costumes to the constant ringing of the doorbell, this is probably one holiday most of our cats would like to do away with. There are things you can do to make Halloween safe and less stressful for cats.

A couple of weeks ago, Lil BUB's human, Mike Bridavsky, sent me a video of BUB running up the stairs. And while this wouldn't be anything unusual for most cats, for BUB, it was an amazing accomplishment. When it comes to overcoming obstacles, BUB is one of the most inspirational beings on the planet.

Wishing you health, happiness and purrs,

Ingrid.

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

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In This Issue

Halloween Safety Tips for Cats

Overcoming Obstacles. Lil BUB Style

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

Marketplace

Halloween Safety Tips for Cats

It's that time of year again - as ghost and goblins delight us with their spooky mischief and thoughts turn to trick or treating, the ASPCA offers the following tips to keep your furry family members safe this Halloween.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms - especially dark or baking chocolate - can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst, urination and heart rate-and even seizures. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures. In cases of significantly low blood sugar, liver failure has been known to occur. Ingesting tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are swallowed.

3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their "birthday suits," however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet's costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

The ASPCA works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide. Learn more about them by visiting www.aspca.org. Photo by Alisha Vargas, Flickr Creative Commons

ŠIngrid King, 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Overcoming Obstacles, Lil BUB Style

Every life will have its share of obstacles. Rich or poor, young or old, regardless of social standing or education, everyone struggles in one way or another. We have no control over what life throws at us - but we can control how we overcome these obstacles.

When it comes to overcoming obstacles, Lil BUB is not only the most amazing cat on the planet, she's also one of the most inspirational beings. BUB, who has captured the hearts of millions around the world, was born with a rare bone disease. Osteopetrosis, also known as marble bone disease, is an extremely rare genetic disorder in which bones harden.

When BUB was diagnosed, there were no known treatments for cats. Mike Bridavsky, Lil BUB's "Dude," and her vet couldn't find much information about how to treat this disease, not even after consulting with specialists. By the time BUB was about a year and a half old, she was almost completely immobile. Mike had a Reiki Practitioner work with BUB, and also learned some energy healing techniques himself. "I was skeptical, but I also was ready to try anything." The Reiki helped, but BUB was still having trouble walking.

Eventually, a device called the Assisi Loop made a huge difference for BUB. The Loop uses Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field Therapy. The results were dramatic. After a month, BUB was walking comfortably again. After about five months, she ran for the first time in a year. About a year after first starting the treatment, BUB was running, playing and even jumping up on the couch. A few days ago, Mike sent me the video below, of BUB running up the stairs, which is nothing short of a miracle.

The Story of BUB's Miraculous Recovery as She RACES UP THE STAIRS

I think we can all learn a little something from BUB when it comes to overcoming obstacles.

Never give up

BUB's fierce determination and Mike's dedication to her well-being are a testament to what can happen when you never give up. Even though specialist after specialist told Mike that BUB would only get worse, Mike never stopped looking for a solution.

Stay focused on the positive

Mike was happy aabout every small success along the way. And I'm pretty sure BUB never doubted that she would get better.

Get support

A strong support system is crucial to overcoming obstacles. For BUB, that support is Mike's love and dedication to her well-being. We should all be so lucky to have someone like Mike in our corner.

Smile

I don't think it's possible to look at photos or videos of BUB without smiling. It may be challenging to smile when life is throwing you curve balls, but there's evidence that smiling actually has a positive impact on the balance of neurotransmitters, calming your nervous system and stabilizing your mood.

Practice gratitude

It may be challenging to find something to be grateful for when you're facing obstacles, but gratitude is a powerful force. Find three things you're grateful for at the end of each day, and celebrate them.

Give back

BUB has made it her mission to raise money and awareness for special needs pets. She has raised over $75,000 through Lil BUB's Big FUND for the ASPCA via grants offered by the ASPCA to any shelter in the country. BUB donates a generous portion of all proceeds from licensed products and from her own online store to the fund. Multiple studies have shown that giving makes us happy and even improves our health.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Mercury in Fish-Based Cat Food: What You Should Know

A lot of cats love fish, but feeding it as more than a very occasional treat could is not a good idea and could be harmful to your cat's health. The primary fish used in cat food are salmon, tilefish (usually identifed as ocean whitefish on the label) and tuna. Each of them presents health [...] The post Mercury in Fish-Based Cat Food: What You Should Know appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Cat Photography Tips from a Pro

Anji Martin is a Washington DC based photographer who specializes in wedding photography, portraits - and cats. Her company, Potok's World Photography, is named after her beloved cat Potok, who was her best friend. Potok passed away in October of 2013. Anji's cat photos are absolutely stunning. She has a way of capturing her feline [...] The post Cat Photography Tips from a Pro appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

"Tortitude" - The Unique Personality of Tortoiseshell Cats: Fact or Fiction?

Five years ago, I wrote a post titled Tortitude: The Unique Personality of Tortoiseshell Cats. The post describes some of the unique traits that many of these beautifully colored cats seem to share: they tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe [...] The post "Tortitude" - The Unique Personality of Tortoiseshell Cats: Fact or Fiction? appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Why Cats Hate Going to the Vet, and What to Do About It

America's cats are facing a healthcare crisis. The findings of a feline health study conducted by Bayer Health Care found that 52% of America's 74 million cats are not receiving regular veterinary care. 83% of cats are seen by a vet during the first year after they're adopted, but less than half of them ever [...] The post Why Cats Hate Going to the Vet, and What to Do About It appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

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