I stumbled upon this website today and found it to be very helpful.  It is an online network for cat lovers and has everything you need to know!  You can submit a question you may have about your cat, or even something you are just curious about.  Are you a seasoned cat expert? You can help out other people by answering thier questions too!  There is everything from advice on Food & Nutrition to suggestions regarding stray cats.  Are you wondering if it is legal in your area for someone to shoot a wandering cat? Or if there are any laws regarding spaying & nuetering your cats? There is even a law and legislation category full of answers!    If you are a cat lover, you can definately spend some time on this website and learn a lot! 

Here is a link:

http://www.catster.com/answers/

Enjoy!

Keep your family intact by creating an emergency evacuation plan. Even if you don’t live in an area that’s known for dangerous weather, please take the following simple actions before you’re forced to confront a catastrophe.

• Have an Evacuation Plan in Place
  Plan for the worst-case scenario. Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible, make sure all your pets are wearing proper identification and consider your evacuation route ahead of time.
• Arrange a Safe Haven
  Don’t leave your pet behind if you’re forced to evacuate. Find out if there are emergency animal shelters in your area.
• Pre-Pack an Emergency Kit
  Prepare a “go kit” of essential pet supplies before disaster strikes, and make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. The kit should be clearly labeled, easy to carry and should include items such as a pet first aid kit, recent photos of your animal companion and any medications on which his health depends.
• Choose a Designated Caregiver
  Consider who you’d like to act as your pet’s temporary caregiver should you not make it home in time to retrieve your pet. Make sure the person you choose agrees to take on the responsibility, has a key to your residence and has spent time getting to know your animal companion.
• Get a Rescue Alert Sticker 
  Affix stickers available for free from the ASPCA website to the windows of your home to alert rescue officials that a pet lives inside.

*During cold weather cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars or trucks.  When the motor is started the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt.  If you know of outdoor cats in your area, bang on the hood of the vehicle before starting to give the cat a chance to escape.

*Dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost during a snowstorm.  More animals are lost during the winter months than any other season.  Keep ID tags on all your animals.

*Always wipe off your animals legs and stomach when they come indoors from the sleet and snow. They can ingest salt, antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals while licking their paws.

*Never leave your animal alone in a vehicle during cold weather.  A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

*Make sure to clean up any spills from your vehicle. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats.

*Your animals like to warm place to sleep in the cold months too.  Make sure they have a warm place off the cold floor and away from drafts.  A cozy dog or cat bed is a nice thing to do for your furry friend.

*As always be smart about not leaving your dog or cat outside in the cold for too long.

Kim started collecting pet food donations at pet stores around the metro to give to people who otherwise couldn’t afford to feed their pets.  Since starting the program 3 months ago, Kim has personally delivered about 6,500 pounds of dog and cat food to food shelves across the Twin Cities.

She dropped off 600 pounds at a ICA food shelf in Minnetonka and three days later, half of it was already gone.

Even though the Pet Project adds about 30 hours a week to the already 40 hour week Kim has, she says if it helps keep even one pet from being abandoned or separated from its family, its time well spent.

“I don’t think anyone should be faced with losing their pet.  If I can help them keep their pet, my day is made”

Bravo to you kim, thanks for your hard work and kindness.

 * A cat’s heart beats twice as fast as a human heart at 110 to 140 beats per minute.

* The largest cat breed is the Ragdoll, males weigh 12 to 20 lbs-females 10-15 lbs.  The smallest cat breed is the Singapura.  Males weigh 6 lbs, females 4 lbs.

* Calico cats are almost always female.   (Huh, I didn’t know that)

* Cats knead with their paws when they’re happy.

* Cats have 290 bones in their bodies and 517 muscles.

Don’t forget to Spay or Neuter your cat

WPHS is on the go with  many programs and events that benefit not just their animals but also the community they are located in.  An example is their Super Seven program they have started.  This special group of Pit Bulls has been chosen to promote the positive attributes of the Pit Bull.  The extensive training course that the Pit Bulls go through will help bring about faith and hope in the breed.  WPHS hopes to show that Pit Bulls can contribute to and be well mannered family friends.

Another great thing they do is visit local schools pre K-8 grade, they come with trained therapy dogs and talk to the kids about animal safety and humane education.  The kids learn how to be kind and care for animals in every aspect and also how to prevent from being bit by animals.  Their therapeutic program(Pioneer Pet Patrol) is another way to connect with children.  Both the animals and the children with disabilities benefit greatly from this program.

We all either are in a bad way or know someone who is suffering with the bad economic times.  Shelters across the United States are overwhelmed with abandoned or surrendered animals that families can no longer afford to feed.  At WPHS Ellie’s Pet Pantry is trying it’s best to help out individuals with the cost of food for their animals.  If you are in this area and are in need of help with your food costs for your beloved animal contact the WPHS.  Also at the WPHS Pets for People is a program that offers low or no cost adoptions to senior citizens.  Life can sometimes be very lonely for the elderly.  Having a pet to care for and to keep you company helps lift that loneliness and is very therapeutic for both the animal and the person.  Most elderly folks are on a fixed income that doesn’t allow for much extras so this is a great program to help them find some companionship.   Thank you Western Pennsylvania for this wonderful program.

Two events happening in October are WPHS 3rd Annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest taking place on Sunday, October 11th.  There are six different categories to enter for a howling good time.  On Wednesday, Oct 28th the Pittsburgh Foundation will host Pittsburgh’s Day of Giving.  Any donation of $50.00 or more will be matched 50 cents to the $1.00.  What a great way to see your donations grow to help the Western PA Humane Society.

Now, for your gift giving this holiday season WPHS has available now a 2010 Cutest Critters Calendar.  The public sent in their favorite pictures of their furry friends and now the top twelve winners were selected and are featured on these beautiful calendars.  Check out the month with the two Chinese Crested dogs, these two were adopted from WPHS just this year.  What a great gift for the animal lover in your life.

Go to www.wpahumane.org and check out all the programs and events this humane society has going on and to order your calendar.

As Feline Snoozers featured humane society of the month when you order and donate a large cat tower for WPHS you will receive a FREE! small tower for yourself.  Simply go to the Cat-a-log page order the large cat tower just the way you want, select Western Pennsylvania Humane Society  from the drop down list and that tower will be shipped to them along with a card enclosed with your name as the donor.  Then, order a small cat tower for yourself or you can donate that one to WPHS also, it’s your choice.  You will be charged for just the large tower plus shipping charges for both towers.  Offer is only good October 15th thur November 15th 2009.