Thinking about Tony the Tiger in Louisiana

There is much on the news and paper articles about Tony the Tiger, currently residing at a truck stop in Louisiana. When the articles appear they usually show Tony in a small cage. However, Tony has a 3,600 square foot area with a pool and toys and a large grassy area. Tony has been with the owner since he was 11 weeks old. While I have never met the owner, people who know him, like him and say he is a very responsible 'cat' owner. Because of safety issues (recall the outbreak in Ohio a few months ago) there is pressure to remove Tony from his current home. Maybe if the issue is the barrier fence - then maybe people can help him upgrade it.

Where will 'they' (the permit pullers) put Tony? In another cage away from people he 'might' attack? I say leave Tony alone until he is assured an immediate space in the 'wild'. There is a cat sanctuary in Colorado, for instance, where there is mega acreage for large cats to roam. I would definitely reconsider signing any petition to 'free' Tony until his new home is assured. We all know how politics works. The cure could be worse than the disease.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/truck-stop-tiger_n_1073640.html

Tick season

If you own a warm blooded animal of any ilk, who is outside and especially near tall grasses, you should be on the look-out for ticks. The outdoors can be a wonderful place for pets, but many owners live in fear of their furry loved ones bringing home unwanted guests -- ticks. While ticks are seasonal one should be on the look out for them year round in many areas..

Ticks love dogs or any other warm blooded body for that matter, including humans!

They live in more woodsy areas, but many parks and hiking trails have them as well. Animals can also get ticks from other animals.

Ticks are tiny relatives of spiders. They can cling to tall grass and easily climb on to and bite their victims, becoming engorged with blood.

Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These diseases vary by area, with Lyme disease being prevalent more in East Coast and mountain areas. Generally, disease transmission is minimal until a tick has been feeding for 24 to 48 hours -finding the tick and removing them during this time is important.

Always check your pets for ticks after they come indoors. You can run your hands over their fur, head, ears and neck and under their stomachs. With special attention to the head,

If you find an attached tick (they can be tiny) use tweezers to grasp it as close to the head as possible. Concentrate on drawing it (slowly) straight out - twisting can dislocate the body from the head leaving the head almost impossible to remove. (Then you need a vet.) If this is really difficult to do you might try one old trick we used. Light a match, blow it out and lightly touch the tick while the matchhead is still hot, The tick will generally let go. Finally clean the bite with antiseptic, or alcohol. Kill the tick in the alcohol as well. Don't discard a live tick.

Tick preventatives are (Frontline) and products containing permethrins (i.e., K9 Advantix, etc.) are topical medications that you would apply between your pet's shoulders once a month to repel ticks.

There are also amitraz tick collars, which kill ticks upon contact -- before they can transmit disease. Do not use amitraz collars or permethrins on cats, as they are toxic for them; Fipronil is toxic for rabbits. Lastly, your dog can be given a Lyme vaccine, if you live in a populated tick area.

If your pet has a tick bite and you are concerned about disease, call your veterinarian immediately to discuss the need for tests and treatments. If you or your child has a tick bite contact your Doctor immediately, tick diseases can be serious for humans too.

Information on tick medicines gleaned from information from a Vet in Washington.

Cat Compass

Several years ago when we lived on Cape Cod, we moved from one end of the peninsula to the other. Our cat Pepi was about 5 years old at the time. He was very family oriented and he stayed around the house mostly. When we moved more than 50 miles away from our original home, he came with us and seemed to settle in quite well. My husband and I hired a child care person to stay with the kids and we went on a trip. When we came home he was nowhere to be found. A few weeks later our old neighbor called and said that Pepi had been seen in our old back yard. He must have traveled through the woods and down many roads and neighborhoods. After her call, I drove back to the old neighborood and found him in the woods at our old house. He was skinny and exhausted, and ready to be picked up and put in the car. He slept on my lap all the way back to the new house. He recovered well and stayed close by after that. It was an amazing thing and I am so grateful for my neighbor's caring enough to call.