The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : June 2015 The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : June 2015

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Some Facts to Consider Before Taking on the Responsibility of Being a Cat Owner


The only way to determine if a breed will be hard to manage is by looking at your own lifestyle and how much time you plan on training and playing with your cat. Certain cats need more attention and mental stimulation than others. Some breeds are more vocal than others and some breeds require a lot of maintenance. These are all factors to consider when taking on the responsibility of being a cat owner.


Abyssinians
This is an energetic cat that can get into trouble when unsupervised. They are very inquisitive and climb on just about everything. They require a lot of attention from their owners because of their playful nature. So, if you’re the type of person who likes to come home and relax at night and read a book, this rambunctious breed might be too high octane for your lifestyle.





Tonkinese
This man-made breed is as cross between the Siamese and the Burmese. While this breed can make a great pet, it requires a lot of patience. They have a lot of energy and need a lot of attention. They are adventurous and will jump onto things. If you own this cat it’s important that you inspect every part of your house to make it safe for your cat and it’s important not to have fragile objects that could easily be knocked down from a shelf or table. This cat will get into trouble if left alone or ignored for too long so unless you have time to play with your cat or have another cat to entertain them this might not be the best breed for you.



White Turkish Angora
This breed is one of the most vocal and while it may not be hard to groom it’s alpha male tendencies may make it hard to cuddle with. If you’re looking for a lap cat this is probably not the breed for you. They are rather independent but like to stay in the same room as humans. It might be hard to get them to be very affectionate as other breeds naturally are. This is a very old cat breed and many people do like to have this beautiful cat as a pet. In this instance, just keep in mind that they will probably not give you the affection that a dog would and you won’t be disappointed. They do shed in the summer months so brushing their coat is a necessary part of care to keep their coat from matting.


Turkish Van
This unique looking breed has a white body and a colored tail and forehead. They also have unique eyes, sometimes gold in color. They can be a difficult breed as they are one of the few who love water. They will play in water and try to turn on faucets. They love to jump up on things and attack like a wild cat. If you’re looking for a mellow and laid back pet, this is not the breed for you but if you can cat proof your home and want to be entertained, this ancient breed might just be suitable. They won’t shed too much beyond the seasonal shedding and will require some brushing with their longer coat.


Persian
This is a lovable cat but not the cat for you if you don’t have time for daily grooming. They have a lot of fur and if it’s not groomed it will develop painful mats. This is one of the most popular cat breeds but it is also one of the most high maintenance.



Siberian
This cat was bred in very cold weather so it has a triple-layered fur coat. They will shed more than other breeds and require brushing about 3 times per week and if you don’t like hair in the house this might not be the breed for you. They need regular teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and eye wiping as well. They are highly energetic and acrobatic so if you have lots of fragile items in your house as a part of your decor, you may want a cat that is less inclined to launch from one high place to the next.


Himalayan
The Himalayan cat breed is another breed with a very high-maintenance grooming schedule as it is one of the few breeds that require daily brushing. Their fur will mat if it’s not taken care of so it’s important to seriously consider the time commitment required for this breed. 

They are sensitive to a dirty litter box and if you don’t keep it very clean they are likely to find another place to use the bathroom. They also need their eyes cleaned a lot because they tear. Finally, they will need regular teeth brushing and a monthly bath. They are beautiful but if you are already very busy, they are not the breed for you.


Siamese
There are 2 reasons that this breed can be very difficult for pet owners: first, they are one of the most vocal breeds and require a lot of your attention. They are known to be demanding and will talk to you quite a bit; the second is that they are curious and adventurous so they will get into everything. They have so much energy and need to be played with so they don’t destroy the house. If you are enticed by their looks but not willing to commit to playing with your cat on a daily basis, this is not the breed for you.


Sphynx
This cat needs attention and even when you’re gone during the day they would like someone to play with. They can play with dogs well but will get into mischief if you ignore them. They also want to cuddle up with you while you sleep so they don’t get cold; so if you’re not wanting your cat to sleep in the bed, this is not a great breed for you.

Keep an open mind with these breeds and realize they can make great pets as long as you have time to give them. Some of these cat breeds make excellent therapy animals and companions so just take some time to consider what it is you’re looking for in a pet before choosing your breed. As always, to avoid health complications and expensive vet bills do your homework about the breeder before you take your kitty home.
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Madera Police Department: Pet Owner's Child Put Rubber Band Around Muzzle of Puppy


Harry is the adorable young puppy who was brought to Madera County Animal Control with rubber bands tightly wrapped around his muzzle. The band had cut through the fur and skin and into his mouth. It took surgery to repair the wound, and luckily, Harry is recovering now.

The woman who brought him, Ana Zarco, has stated that she found the dog in a park. The press release stated in part:

"Ana had fabricated a story about locating Harry at a local park. After conducting an investigation, it was discovered that Zarco was in possession of Harry for over two months and one of Zarco’s young children placed the rubber bands around Harry’s snout. The child is not of age to face criminal charges. It is unknown when the rubber bands were placed on Harry. Zarco stated she did not realize Harry’s snout was wrapped in rubber bands; Zarco said she took the dog to the shelter because she didn’t want it to die. The Madera Police department will be requesting animal abuse and neglect charges against Zarco."

Harry has recovered from his surgery. The staff at the veterinary clinic love him. He's sweet, friendly and like any puppy, he loves to play.

Incidents like this one should serve to remind everyone that leaving dogs alone with children is always a bad idea. It's not just what the dog might do to the child, but what the child might do to the dog. It's inconceivable that this woman didn't realize what her child had done to their puppy for days -- and that's probably how long it would have taken for this kind of damage to be done.

Supervise children and animals carefully. Little children don't always know that they are being cruel to animals. In this case, it's not clear how old the child was.
  
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Woman Spends $141,598.35 A Year Taking Care 122 Abandoned Cats


Bromley, Kentucky  - A mother-of-two has revealed how she spends $141,598.35 a year looking after more than 120 rescue cats.

Silvana Valentino-Locke, 55, even employs two live-in 'cat nannies' to look after her pet posse at her home.

Even more surprising than the dozens of cats and jaw-dropping care costs, Mrs. Valentino-Locke, who has been married to Tony for 32 years, says her spouse does not mind her cat obsession.

“Every man who comes to adopt a cat always asks, do you have a husband? They can't believe anyone would tolerate all these cats,” she told The Mirror.
Luckily Tony works long hours so he doesn't see all the work of caring for them.

Mrs. Valentino-Locke began turning their home into a rescue center more than 20 years ago, adding that it 'reached full potential' in 1998 and became the Romney House Cat Rescue.

She now has 52 cats living with her and Tony in their four-bedroom home, with some 30-40 waiting to find new homes, housed in a number of garden sheds which have been converted into cat houses.

Mrs. Valentino-Locke, who has two sons with Tony Jr., age 27, and Daniel, 30. Tony has also taken in some 30 'feral' cats, who all live and roam free in a neighboring field.

Caring for the 122 cats, which constantly changes as kittens are born and cats adopted - is a full-time job and a costly one.

She spends approximately $786.66 per week on the daily feeds. With 12 litter trays to change every day, the cost of litter alone is $47.20 per day.

She employs two live-in 'cat nannies', who are paid $393.33 a week plus food and board, and can spend as much as  $7,079.92 a-month on veterinary bills.

She is devoted to the cause of caring for the cats, and gets up at 6.30 a.m. every morning to take care of them. Sometimes she doesn’t get to bed until after midnight.

The annual total of $141,598.35 is funded 50% by Tony, who runs a courier film, with the rest covered by donations, fundraising drives and her charity shop.

Despite the 52 cats sharing a home with her and Tony, she refuses to let her obsession affect her standards. With the help of her staff, the couple's Kent home is cleaned from top to bottom, twice a day. 

“It takes about an hour and a half. We mop every floor and clean furniture,” she told The Mirror.

“It's a long, exhausting job. The phone is always ringing with people who have cats that need to be rescued.” she said.

Her life with her 122 cats has now become the subject of a Channel 5 documentary, called ‘90 Cats & Counting: Cat Crazies’, set to air on Wednesday, July 1.  
  














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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Some Pets May Enjoy Lounging Around All Day…Not Pringle, The Bearded Dragon


While some pets may enjoy lounging around all day, others are ready to take on the world — one task at a time. Meet Pringle, a cute bearded dragon from Melbourne, Australia. 

His owner, Sophie Hayes, got him when he was a tiny one-month-old lizard, and discovered that Pringle is nothing like those reptiles who just like eating and sunbathing all the time. Pringle loves to be in front of the camera! He’s a natural model and you can see him posing with all kind of props without any problems.

Pringle is now 4 years old and has already got so famous that he even appeared on The New York Post! However, he remains a humble lizard who likes simple things like going for a walk, eating salads or playing video games. Even many presents from his owner can’t spoil this bearded dragon!
  













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Heartbreaking Story - It Has Happened Again: Eight to Twelve-Week-Old Puppy Was Found with an Embedded Rubber Band Around His Muzzle


This eight to twelve-week-old puppy was found with an embedded rubber band around his muzzle. Just a baby and cruelly treated already. The injury is severe, that Harry, the puppy, is receiving treatment and surgery at a veterinary clinic. The Friends of Madera County Animal Services (FMAS) are asking for donations to cover his medical expenses.

This group is an organization that works tirelessly to try to save the lives of the helpless at the Madera County Animal Shelter where lives are cheap and dogs are killed when not rescued or adopted.

FMAS is asking for donations for his medical care and they are also offering a reward of $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this. Donations can be made to their PayPal account or mailed. This is a nonprofit 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

If you would like to make a donation to help with Harry’s medical expenses, click here: The Friends of Madera County Animal Services (FMAS) 

Mailing address: FMAS - Harry Potter, P.O. BOX 923, Madera, CA 93639

To see Facebook thread, click here: Facebook

Sharing saves lives. Please share Harry’s story with your friends, family and coworkers so that FMAS can raise the funds for all his medical care. Even if you can't help this dog, someone you know might be able to. Sharing only takes a moment; please do it for Harry.
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Friday, June 26, 2015

Meet Shabani, The Handsome Gorilla That Has Japanese Girls Going Ape Over Him


Shabani, the 'handsome gorilla' is driving Japanese girls mad. The Australian-raised gorilla finds fame as women flock to the zoo to see him because he is 'so good-looking'.

Shabani now lives in Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, and has attracted a large following of admirers who visit him because he is so 'handsome'.

The western lowland gorilla was raised at Sydney's Taronga Zoo but moved to Japan in 2007.

Zoo officials said there has been a notable increase in young female visitors thanks to Shabani.

His rise to fame has been fueled largely by Twitter, where fans post pictures of him claiming he is 'too handsome'.

His adoring Twitter following often refers to him as an 'ikemen', which means a 'good-looking man'.

Taronga Zoo’s Senior Zookeeper, Allan Schmidt said “Shabani was moved to Australia from The Netherlands as a two-month-old in December 1996 with his family.”

When asked if he was surprised by Shabani's popularity he said, “No because the Japanese are crazy... The Japanese love their fads.”

He added, “I would say most people would consider him fairly dashing.”

Schmidt said this is not the first time 18-year-old Shabani has enjoyed viral internet fame.

After moving to Nagoya, he was pictured in 2007 walking along a tightrope in the zoo enclosure.

“He's used to the limelight. He was born in The Netherlands and moved to Australia as a baby, where he grew up with a very stable father and mother”, he said.

“It's not surprising he's very successful, he was moved to Japan to mate with three female gorillas, where he has had two healthy male offspring.

Shabani has lived at the Japanese zoo since 2007, but has only recently become so popular, Rocket News 24 reported.

Pictures of the gorilla posted online capture him in moments where he appears to be flexing his muscles, staring broodingly into the distance or playing with the younger gorillas.
Comments posted online describe him as 'hot' and 'too handsome'.

“I went to Higashiyama Zoo. This hot Shabani ikemen was certainly handsome,” one woman wrote.

Another posted photos with the caption: “Shabani who is in Higashiyama Zoo is famous as the too handsome gorilla!”

Meanwhile another visitor posted a picture at the zoo with friends with the caption: Went to see the handsome gorilla Shabani... it was a fun holiday.”




















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