Nanny McFur

Chester and Simon

Right down to the finest movement of a whisker, your cat is telling you something. It makes life much easier for both of you when you know how to interpret the signals they are giving you.

It is easy to interpret ears flat to the head - the cat is mad and ready for a fight. Some are more subtle.  Here is a cute illustration I found at thedrugattic.blogspot.com

Much love,

This was posted less than 24 hours ago and already has 398,449 hits. Watch and you will see why. You will want to watch it more than once!

If you live in the Brantford, Ontario, Canada area:

Call Brantford Veterinary Clinic 519-756-2390

Check it out and let us know if your cat is left or right pawed.

Love,
Nanny

Just lookin' for change

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Victoria Day, May 2-4, Firecracker Day. The first long weekend of the summer for Canadians. We celebrate with sparklers and fireworks, go camping in the rain, get together with families and friends, and drink a lot of beer.  Here is just a glimpse of the holiday excitement at Nanny's house yesterday.

Is it over yet?

ZZZZZZ

Kittens are born with their eyes shut. They open them in about six days, take a look around, then close them again for the better part of their lives. ~Stephen Baker

I've come to expect I will always be cleaning cat hair out of the bathroom sink. It is just the cost of doing business when you have cats. Check out this adorabe slideshow at http://catsinsinks.com/

I'll leave you with this cute video:



Much love,
Nanny

In a room full of cat lovers, why does the cat make its way straight to the person who does not like cats?  In the cat world, eye contact is considered to be a challenge. The person who does not want the cat is not looking at them and so the cat feels that person is in no way a threat to them. You thought they were just being a nuisance, didn't you?

Dogs may also perceive eye contact as a threat. This is why it is wise to teach children not to make eye contact with a dog. The best way to defend themselves is to "be a tree". This means arms down and look at your shoes.  Conversely, a pet parent who practices good eye contact skills will establish themselves as the pack leader and have a well behaved dog.

You could try to out-stare a cat but just so you know, unless the cat's eyes dry out, crack and fall out of their head, they will never blink - maybe not even then.

As you know, next week is National Dog Bite Awareness Week. I was surfing the net hoping to find some activities in my area. The closest is in Toronto May 14-15: Jin Shin Jyutsu for You and Your Animal Companions. Of course I had to know what the heck Jin Shin Jyutsu is and how it is relevant to dog bite awareness. The class is being offered by Jin Shin Jyutsu Toronto. Check out Jin Shin Jyutsu for your animals. The lady in the video, Adele Leas, will be teaching the class.

It is a physio-philosophy that involves the application of the hands for gently balancing the flow of life energy in the body; more generally, it is the awakening to awareness of complete harmony within the self and the universe.

There are two important distinctions between Jin Shin Jyutsu and many other massage and oriental healing modalities to which it is often compared.

First, Jin Shin Jyutsu is an art, as opposed to a technique; a technique is a mechanical application, whereas an art is a skillful creation. Second, Jin Shin Jyutsu is not a physical manipulation of tissue and uses only minimal pressure. The hands are used as "jumper cables," contacting 26 "safety energy locks" to redirect, or unblock the flow of energy along its pathways.

My cat isn't overweight ...

Here is a great idea for your cats (maybe small dogs too) that is so inexpensive it is almost like stealing. I purchased a package of 5 brown paper yard waste bags on sale for 99 cents to use as "tunnels" for my cats.  They love it! They stay open because the paper is fairly rigid. Another way to use them that I haven't tried yet would be to cut the bottom of the bag out so that it is an open tunnel they can go straight through.

If you are crafty, you could use some non-toxic craft paint or markers to decorate the outside of the bag. Throw some toys in there and stand back and watch the fun. Try it! Ya gotta love a fun, sturdy, safe toy for about 20 cents. Better still, it lasts a long time and they can't lose it.

Enjoy!
Nanny

When a cat pants, it is an indication that something is wrong, possibly life-threatening. Panting is unusual for cats so be vigilant if you notice it. Often times it is from being overheated. They could be on the verge of heat stroke. It could also be a signal for health problems such as respiratory, cardiovascular, or neurological illness. If it is heat, take measures to cool the cat down immediately. In any case, always contact your veterinarian to be sure.





For dogs, panting is normal. It is part of the dog's cooling system. Dogs have sweat glands on the ears and pads of the feet but the tongue is the main part of their cooling system. If your dog is panting excessively, it may be a signal for health problems such as respiratory, cardiovascular or neurological illness. Only you can know if your dog is panting "unusually" or excessively. Just as with cats, take measures to cool the dog down if it is heat. As always, contact your veterinarian for advice.

Lots of love,
Nanny

In honour of the Royal Wedding, some cute baby Welsh Corgi Puppies.