Jazzpurr

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2010-03-12T15:56:00.003-05:00

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2010-03-12T15:56:00.001-05:00

Colby ♥

2010-03-08T20:23:00.001-05:00

Colby found his forever home this week ♥ We are so happy for him but will miss him very much

Alternative to Declawing

2010-03-02T00:18:00.001-05:00

Soft Paws® are an excellent alternative to declawing. They are easy to apply at home and cats and their owners love them. They are completely safe and humane and can be used on cats of all ages. Soft Paws® are vinyl nail caps that are glued on to your cat's existing nails. They look like a cat's nail, only hollow. They are easy to apply and cats tolerate them extremely well.

http://www.softpaws.com/

Cat Testimony

2010-02-24T23:31:00.000-05:00

Another wonderful volunteer has told Jazzpurr what the benefits of owning a cat are to her:

"To me owning a cat means love, security for them, attention, medical, warmth, affection, companian, and so much more. I can't list all they mean to me. We have 3 precious cats each one with a different attitude."

-Kaye

Cat Owner Testimony

2010-02-21T03:33:00.002-05:00

If you're still on the fence about whether or not to adopt a cat, here is a testimony from one of Jazzpurr's hard working volunteers:

"Having a pet or pets is a wonderful experience. And cats are so different from any other pet. They don't want to be cuddled unless they themselves want it. They don't want to play unless they want to play. They really are a very independent sole.

It's wonderful to come home at night to have Pudi great me at the door, as I live alone. The two sit and watch while I eat. They sleep with me taking up most of the queen-size bed. In the early hours of the morning Pudi puts her whiskers on my fact to see if I'm awake yet. Then she'll attack my hand because she's ready to arm-wrestle.

Whenever I'm on the telephone Pudi has to get up on my lap to be rubbed. Anytime I'm on the computer there's Genie sitting in front of the screen, then walking back and forth over the keyboard, then onto my lap for cuddling. If I don't tell him I'm going downstairs he hollers till I call him and let him know where I am. He sits beside me on the couch, then when I get up he takes my warm spot.

To train Genie to use the cat water fountain, I had to pretend I was drinking from it for about five days. Now he thinks he is really smart cause he can do it. Every morning Genie has to come downstairs with me to clean out the pooh boxes.

They are really great company and a comfort all round."

-Pat, owner of 2 happy cats

Cat Comic

2010-02-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

Cat Toys

2010-02-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

Play is a vital activity, not only for kittens, but for adult cats, too.

Cats are athletic creatures with amazing strength and agility. Nature made them into perfect machines for leaping, jumping, and dashing. Just because your house kitty doesn't have real prey to chase doesn't mean she can't act out her inner predator.

Why play?

Toys and regular playtime are part of providing your cat with a stimulating environment, which makes for a happy and healthy cat. Play gives them an outlet for their energy, mental and physical stimulation, the opportunity to satisfy their instinctual huntingdrive, and a chance to bond with you.

What to play with?

Cats are experts at amusing themselves. It takes very little—a crumpled ball of paper, a pen left on a desktop, a newspaper spread open on the floor—to engage your kitty in what, to her, is the most fascinating of games.
Your cat's imagination can turn almost anything into a wonderful toy that she'll bat around or chase to her heart's content. Typically, cats most enjoy playing with small, light objects that are "flickable," such as a cork or a Ping-Pong ball, which they can swat and then chase.

Cats also love empty paper bagsto investigate and "hide" in. Remove the handles so your cat doesn't get caught in them. He could be terrified if he's chased by a big paper bag. Empty cardboard boxes are also popular with cats.

Interactive play

Playtime isn't just for cats—it's for their people, too. Your cat's speed and grace will amaze you as she dashes about, trying to catch her "prey."

Toss a crumpled ball of paper for her to chase—she may even bring it back to you. Some cats love to "fetch" so much that they will actually initiate the game by dropping a toy in your lap for you to throw.

Some cats go wild for the little red light of a laser toy, chasing it around the floor and up the wall. The cat gets a good workout, and you don't even have to get off the couch. Just be sure never to shine the light in your cat's eyes, as it could damage them. When the game ends, offer your cat a toy to finally grab.

Do-it-yourself toys

You don't need to spend a bundle on fancy toys for your cat. In fact, many owners say that their cats ignore the store-bought toys and play instead with a plastic ring from a milk container, a strip of paper, or a gift bow.
Here are some household items that make great cat toys:

Round plastic shower curtain rings
Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with holes. Try putting one in a dry bathtub, as the captive ball is much more fun than one that escapes under the sofa.
Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are good for pouncing, hiding and interactive play. Plastic bags are not a good idea; many cats like to chew and swallow the plastic.
Empty cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels, made even more fun if you "unwind" a little cardboard to get them started.
Cardboard boxes. Fasten some together and cut out doors and windows to make a fun cat condo.
You (or your kids) may even enjoy making your own toys, such as sachets, or felt mice stuffed with catnip.

The kitty boutique

There's really no need to buy toys, but there are so many cute ones out there that it can be really hard to resist. Cats really enjoy toys like plastic balls, with or without bells inside, sisal-wrapped toys, which they can dig their claws into. or "fishing pole" toys consisting of a long rod with a length of cord attached that has an enticing lure at the end.

If you're going to buy any cat toys, you might need to cat-proof them, too. Remove ribbons, feathers, strings, tinsel, eyes or other small decorations that your cat could chew off and swallow. Also, keep any toys that could be harmful to your cat out of reach when you can't supervise her play.

Read the full article here

"Better than Grass" Salad for Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

"Better than Grass" Salad for Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T03:22:00.002-05:00

Mira found her forever home! ♥

2010-02-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

Mira got adopted over the weekend! We are happy for her but will miss her dearly ♥

Cat predicts 50 deaths in RI nursing home

2010-02-07T21:13:00.006-05:00

Dr David Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor at Brown University, said that five years of records showed Oscar rarely erring, sometimes proving medical staff at the New England nursing home wrong in their predictions over which patients were close to death.

The cat, now five and generally unsociable, was adopted as a kitten at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Providence, Rhode Island, which specialises in caring for people with severe dementia.

Dr Dosa first publicised Oscar's gift in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007. Since then, the cat has gone on to double the number of imminent deaths it has sensed and convinced the geriatrician that it is no fluke.

The tortoiseshell and white cat spends its days pacing from room to room, rarely spending any time with patients except those with just hours to live.

If kept outside the room of a dying patient, Oscar will scratch on the door trying to get in.

When nurses once placed the cat on the bed of a patient they thought close to death, Oscar "charged out" and went to sit beside someone in another room. The cat's judgement was better than that of the nurses: the second patient died that evening, while the first lived for two more days.

Read the full article here

Blind, Traumatized Cat Bounces Back : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

Sami's owner was desperate. Recently diagnosed with cancer, she knew she had to find a home for her pet. When she found Tenth Life Sanctuary near La Belle, Florida, she gratefully handed over her beloved, healthy cat and a $20,000 donation.

If this seems too good to be true, it is. When rescuers found Sami at the so-called sanctuary several years later, she was living in a small cage amid filth.

She cowered and hissed at everyone who tried to help her. She was also completely blind, and her eyes were so infected that they had to be removed surgically.

As sad as Sami's tale sounds, this is not a story about despair. It's a story about a collaboration that turned a bad situation into a triumphant one.

The power of persuasion

Sami was one of 600 cats removed from Tenth Life Sanctuary last November. After receiving reports including videotapes allegedly showing sick and dying cats, the La Belle animal control officers knew they needed help—not only in convincing the sanctuary's owner to turn over his hundreds of cats, but also in re-homing them.

It was clearly time for teamwork, and that's where The HSUS stepped in. Along with the ASPCA and Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, The HSUS joined the La Belle Animal Control in an unannounced inspection of the Tenth Life facility. The team braced themselves for the worst.

"The cats urgently needed help," says The HSUS' Adam Parascandola. "But one thing we're grateful for is that, after a frank conversation with the sanctuary's owner, he elected to sign the cats over to us. Without that quick collaboration, I have no doubt we would have lost many more cats."

No criminal charges have been filed against the owner to date.

Combining forces

With animal shelters everywhere teeming with homeless animals, finding spots for 400 felines seemed an impossible task.

But rescue workers in this case weren't about to give up. Pooling the resources of The HSUS, the Bay Area Disaster Animal Response Team, IDEXX Laboratories, PetSmart Charities, the ASPCA, and a number of private donors, they reached out to reputable sanctuaries, shelters, and foster homes.

One by one, each cat was examined, issued a health certificate, and readied for transport. Volunteers were on hand with cat carriers, transportation vehicles, and a dauntless drive to help.

Every adoptable cat eventually found a home, thanks to the admirable way the rescuing organizations—particularly the Bay Area DART—cooperated on behalf of these animals.

Read the full article here

West Hollywood City Council Prohibits Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-03T21:19:00.000-05:00

West Hollywood City Council Prohibits Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

Cat Comic

2010-01-25T15:23:00.001-05:00

Cat Quote

2010-01-25T15:14:00.002-05:00

"The behaviour of men to animals and their behaviour to each other bear a constant relationship."

- Herbert Spencer, 1820-1903

Cat torture raises fears of escalation By Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star

2010-01-24T15:34:00.001-05:00

The case of two unknown men who relentlessly tortured a cat until she drowned in her own blood has sparked fears the perpetrators could turn their aggression toward people.
Animal cruelty officers were so disturbed by how the cat suffered repeated kicks and stabs -- while slowly dying as blood filled her lungs -- that the humane society gave Crime Stoppers $500 above the regular tips reward.
"It's one of the most horrific things I've seen," said field operations manager Nancy McCabe, who has worked at the humane society for 28 years. "This is extremely upsetting and I encourage anyone who has any information to please come forward and help us bring justice to these two individuals.
"This is a huge concern. It has been proven that these people graduate. Maybe the next thing they'll go after could be a child or a young adult. It's very disturbing."
McCabe said it's possible someone is missing the cat, which was three or four years old.
The long-haired orange, black and white calico had been spayed and declawed.
"Obviously someone owned this cat and they took the time and expense to have the cat spayed and declawed," said McCabe. "So it would even help if someone came forward to tell us where the cat came from."
The cat was discovered Friday in the pool area at Atkinson Park on Riverside Drive West. Someone saw two men repeatedly kicking and stabbing a plastic bag around 4 a.m. There turned out to be a cat inside. The witness called the humane society later that day around 9:30 a.m.
When McCabe set eyes on the cat's broken and bloodied corpse, she was stunned.
"The cat had numerous puncture wounds over its entire body," she said. "It was extremely disturbing to see the torture that this cat endured. I don't understand people. To do something like that to a defenceless animal is just outrageous."
An autopsy revealed that in addition to being stabbed numerous times, the cat suffered four fractured ribs while it was still alive. The human society said this case is particularly disturbing because the cat appears to have been alive throughout the attack, dying slowly as blood filled her chest.
Retired psychologist Dr. Robert Carom said such "uncontrolled violence" is a frightening sign of what the perpetrators are capable of.
"That's why parents should certainly jump whenever their children are caught doing something like that," he said. "There's no doubt this would indicate there's a very good probability he would act out anti-socially. Sometimes when they do this behaviour, they're acting out their own personal frustrations, indicating they have a lot of violence inside of them. It is definitely on the list of syndromes you look at when you're looking at potentially violent behaviour."
Carom, who has worked for Corrections Canada, said he's dealt with such offenders first-hand.
"I've certainly seen people that are highly aggressive with aggressive criminal behaviours that did this kind of thing in childhood," he said. "There was no restraint or control. And people didn't think it was that harmful because it wasn't done to a human. But quite frankly, an animal is far more vulnerable."
Crime Stoppers police co-ordinator Tim Murphy urged people to call in if they have any information about this crime or any other. No detail is too small, he said.
"Any investigation is like a big jigsaw puzzle," said Murphy. "A small piece could be the piece that solves the puzzle. No matter how minor you think it is, call it in."
The humane society's $500 will be added to the regular Crime Stoppers award, which usually ranges from $50 to $1,000, depending on the information.
You can call Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or the humane society at 519-966-5751.

Read the full article here

Norfolk cat found frozen in snow survives

2010-01-17T00:59:00.003-05:00

A cat found frozen in the snow has made a miraculous recovery.

Annie, a 13-year-old tuxedo cat, disappeared during snowstorm in early December on the day her family was moving. After Annie had been missing for five weeks, her family feared the worst.

This past weekend, Animal Control officers received a call regarding Annie.“Basically, when I picked her up, she had no signs of life. She was stiff, she was unconscious, cold to the touch and not responding to anything,” said Hilary Cohen, a Norfolk Animal Control officer. Yet Annie started to move about once she was inside the cruiser.

“I realized driving down the road that her whiskers started twitching, and I realized we needed to work on this cat right away,” said Cohen. Annie received fluids and heat therapy for nourishment. She also was treated for frostbite. The cat is recovering nicely and expected to go home some time next week.

“She had a strong heart and a strong will to live that was just incredible,” said Alison.

Read the full article here

Benefits of Owning a Pet by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association

2010-01-09T04:48:00.003-05:00

Pets are Good for Kids

For years, parents have known that pets and children are a good combination. Now, research is demonstrating that children can benefit from animal companionship.

Children with companion animals are more likely to have higher self-esteem. A US study of 394 university students revealed that those who had owned dogs or cats as childhood pets were more self-confident than those who did not.

Pets are a wonderful stress buster for kids. One study revealed that children who had a dog present during their physical examinations had lower heart rates, reduced blood pressure and less behavioural distress than when the dog was not present.

Pets are wonderful playmates and sympathetic listeners. They also stimulate communication skills in children. A study of 455 school children between the ages of 11 and 16 revealed that children with pets had a better ability to understand non-verbal communications.

Live Longer - Own a Pet

A study by the US Department of Health concluded that pets increased the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6% of heart patients without pets.

Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2% lower than the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4%.

Owning a pet can reduce blood pressure as effectively as eating a low-salt diet or reducing alcohol intake.
A US survey of 1,000 Medicare patients showed that 40% of the elderly sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.

Nursing homes that use companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs. The overall cost of caring for seniors also dropped.

Pets: An Integral Part of the Family

More than 50% of Canadian households own pets of some kind. Dogs, cats, birds and other companion animals are living in more than five million homes. For their owners, these animals are more than pets-they are part of the family.

Each year, Canadian families spend about three billion dollars on their pets. This exceeds consumer spending on children's toys, footwear, eye care, and dental plans.

A recent survey of pet owners revealed that nearly 80% of respondents gave their pets holiday or birthday presents. More than 60% signed their pets' names on cards or letters. A slight majority (51%) gave their pets human names.

While virtually all pet owners talk to their pets, an astounding 94% spoke to their pets as though they were human. One-third of respondents spoke to their pets on the telephone or via the answering machine. More than 90% of pet owners believed their pets were aware of their moods and emotions.

Pet Ownership: It's Good for Your Health

Chances are, you'll live longer and feel better if you own a pet.

Medical studies on the human-animal bond reveal that pet owners are more likely to have reduced stress levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They also experience fewer heart attacks than people without pets.

Researchers have found that the mere presence of an animal has a beneficial effect on heart function, and stroking and talking to a pet reduces blood pressure and stress.

Many hospitals and retirement homes engage in animal therapy. This may involve visits from volunteer animals or a pet that is kept at the facility. Seniors with pets are much less lonely than non-pet owners. Consequently, they do not make unnecessary visits their doctor out of loneliness.

A study of women undergoing stress tests demonstrated that the presence of a dog had a greater effect on lowering blood pressure than the presence of friends.

Companion animals also provide psychological benefits. Pets are sympathetic, supportive and non-judgemental listeners. Pets provide us with a distraction from our worries; they encourage social interaction and provide a soothing presence.

Read the full article here

2010-01-05T19:11:00.002-05:00

We are currently experiencing difficulties with our email system. If you haven't received a reply to an email you've sent from December 12th to current, please try again or email jazzpurrsociety@gmail.com until further notice. Thank you for your patience.

Fee waivers boost cat adoptions

2010-01-04T01:55:00.002-05:00

In December 2008, April Harris, shelter operations manager for Salt Lake County Animals Services in Utah, attended a training session at the Wisconsin Humane Society, where she learned that a no-fee adoption program was helping move more cats from the shelter and lessening the need for euthanasia.

By June, Harris' facility had launched a similar program.

"In the first month, adoptions just skyrocketed," Harris said. The number of cat adoptions at the Salt Lake City shelter increased from 702 in 2008 to 1,038 in 2009, through Dec. 15, she said. Euthanizations have decreased to 2,356 cats from 2,778 in 2008.

An increasing number of animal shelters across the USA are promoting adult cat adoption with similar no-fee programs or special promotions to address their cat populations, said Emily Weiss, senior director of shelter research and development for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal.

"Cats, especially adult cats, are at tremendous risk at shelters around the country," Weiss said. "In almost any part of the country, cats are much less likely to leave a sheltering facility alive."

Harris said shelters have not found it necessary to hold similar promotions for dogs, because dogs — and even young cats — are more popular than adult cats.

"The public just views cats differently than they do dogs," she said.

Harris said her shelter made up for the loss of the $65 cat adoption fees primarily by increasing adoption fees for more popular dog breeds. A sliding scale for dog adoptions was developed: Fees range from $45 to $295.

Shelters in states including Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas have launched ongoing programs to waive adoption fees for older cats. Others places try short-term fee waivers or special adoption events.

What some facilities are doing:

• Austin. The Town Lake Animal Center waived adoption fees for cats older than 5 years during the peak kitten months of June through August, increasing adoption rates by 27%, according to an ASPCA study. Dorinda Pulliam, shelter director, said the center will continue the program.

• Walnut Creek, Calif. Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation began month-long free-cat promotions in the summer of 2006 and has continued them yearly, according to the ASPCA study. The promotions waived fees for cats 6 months of age and older. As a result, the average stay for cats in the facility dropped to 3.3 weeks from 6.6 weeks.

• Portland, Maine. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland holds a no-fee promotion twice a year, the ASPCA reports. During the program's first year in 2006, the shelter showed a 12% increase in cat adoptions during the months fees were waived.

• Charleston, S.C. The Charleston Animal Society has held two weekend-long "Feline Frenzy" promotions in which it waived the adoption fee for adult cats, said communications director Kay Hyman. She said the events, held in May and October, dramatically increased the number of cats adopted. During the first three-day event in May, she said, 148 cats were adopted, compared with 20 felines the previous weekend.

Some shelters try short-term fee waivers instead of ongoing programs because there is concern about losing revenue, Weiss said.

"The cost to care for a cat per day can be significant," she said. "Even with an adoption fee for $100 you're likely not offsetting the cost of care for a cat."

Angela Speed, of the Wisconsin Humane Society, said its waiver program has been successful since it began in 1998. The program not only allows the shelter to adopt out cats at a faster pace, it also reduces illness, helping the shelter avoid additional medical costs. It also lets pet owners find other ways to spend the money they would have paid in adoption fees, she said.

"Instead of putting that $35 toward adoption fees, they're putting it toward treats and litter boxes and toys for the animals, which increases that animal's quality of life," Speed said.

And although the adoption fees are waived, Harris and Speed said potential pet owners are still required to fill out forms and meet with a counselor to ensure the pet is a good fit for the family.

"If you can make it happen it's definitely worth it," Harris said. "You'll save so many more lives."

Read the full article here

Happy New Year from all the Cats at Jazzpurr!

2009-12-31T16:45:00.000-05:00

Enriching Your Cat’s Life

2009-12-30T17:12:00.000-05:00

Free-ranging and feral cats lead complex and busy lives. They maintain large territories that often contain a variety of habitats (forest, farmland, urban gardens, etc.). They explore, they hunt, they scavenge for food, and they might interact with other cats. In contrast, household cats, especially those who live exclusively indoors, have little to do and boredom may set in.

Even if you don’t think that your cat seems bored, there are a number of good reasons to provide enrichment opportunities for your feline friend.

Cats who lack enrichment can be aggressive in play, both with people and with other animals in the household.
Young cats without planned enrichment opportunities often pester their pet parents for play at inappropriate hours of the day and night. They may also interact destructively with furniture, plants or other objects in the house.
Cats lacking enrichment can become reclusive and are more likely to retreat from new people or objects that enter their homes than cats who are frequently exposed to a variety new sights and sounds.
Cats lacking regular play may be more attracted to perches by windows. When looking outside, they may overreact to the presence of outdoor cats they can see and become very distressed.

Great Ways to Enrich Your Cat's Life

Enrichment opportunities can easily be provided for cats. Here are some ideas to try:

Provide a variety of toys for your cat. Some cats prefer toys that they can throw around themselves. Other cats prefer toys that require owner participation, such as those you wiggle and dangle. Stimulating play for a cat involves opportunities to “hunt,” so move toys in such a way that they mimic the movements of a rodent or bird. Introduce new toys periodically to keep your cat from becoming bored with her toys.
Provide objects for your cat to explore, such as cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags, packing paper and toys that encourage her to investigate various holes with her paws. A dripping water tap can provide hours of fun! An aquarium with real fish or even a bowl of fake fish that move around can fascinate your cat. Rotate playtime objects frequently so that your cat doesn’t become bored.
Some cats appreciate the commercially available “cat videos.” The most popular ones contain close-ups of birds and small rodents. Many cats can watch the same videotape for hours each day, tracking the animals’ movements, growling or chirruping and swatting at the screen. Your cat might even enjoy watching a lava lamp! (Take care that she can’t burn herself if she touches the lamp.)
Cats love to watch birds, squirrels and other small animals. Position bird and squirrel feeders outside windows where your cat can observe animals coming and going during the day. If you live in an apartment, you can attach bird feeders directly to the outside of your windows.
Provide several small meals per day rather than one or two large meals. Also avoid “free feeding” (keeping your cat’s bowl full all the time). If your schedule doesn’t permit giving multiple meals, you can purchase a feeder with a built-in timer, designed to open according to a preset schedule.
Teach your cat to walk on a leash with a harness, such as the Gentle Leader® Come with Me Kitty™ Harness and Bungee Leash. Going on leashed walks is a safe way to take your indoor cat on outdoor adventures. To be safe, make sure your cat always wears ID tags on her collar when walking outside.
If you have the space, build an enclosed outdoor area where your cat can spend time when the weather is nice. Cats will spend hours watching leaves blow in the wind, birds flying and squirrels scampering around. If you can’t have an outdoor enclosure, try creating a window perch where your cat can easily sit and look out the window.

Read the full article here

Cat Quote

2009-12-30T13:30:00.001-05:00

"Two cats can live as cheaply as one, and their owner has twice as much fun."

- Lloyd Alexander

Cat Comic

2009-12-29T21:08:00.000-05:00