My Bestfriend

Where does your beloved pooch sleep? We all know, from experience, that a rough night’s sleep can ruin our day, and the same goes with our beloved pets. Thus, it is important that we provide our pooches quality sleeping arrangements, so they could get the rest they deserve.

Sure, your own bed or the couch are great options, but they are not always ideal. Your dog needs a spot to retreat, a place to lay his head — somewhere soft and comfortable to call his own, and where he can curl up and relax.

A good night’s rest equals a good day’s performance for both you and your dog. And to make sure your dog receives a good night’s sleep, there is a wide range of beds that are available in the market. A quality bed should be on the top of every pet lover’s list! When choosing a bed for your dog, pick one that provides warmth, support and a sense of security that your dog needs.

Some beds are specifically designed to relieve sore joints, bones, or other problems due to age, weight, and joint- or bone-related problems while others aid in some allergy and clean-up relief by providing one main area to clean where the majority of shedding and dander is contained. Most beds are reversible, providing your pet with an additional laying surface.

Also remember, restless dogs sometimes tear things up, so choose a design that will withstand your canine’s biting. Some designs feature wooden frames for added support, and may be raised off the floor (which also protects your pet from floor drafts).

My friend and dog lover, Shaun Olmstead, suggests that before purchasing a bed, make sure you’re ordering the correct size by measuring your dog’s favorite laying position and adding 5 inches. You can also measure from the base of the tail and neck and add 9 to 12 inches.

Cat lovers who have allergies involving cats such as hay fever and asthma do not necessarily have to deny themselves the pleasure of feline companionship forever. They can still deal with their allergies while living with the cats they love by practicing the following techniques on minimizing cat dander, the microscopic flakes of dried saliva on cats’ skin which cause allergy.

My cat loving friend, Shaun Olmstead, who used to sneeze at the mere sight of a cat, says that cat allergens need to be airborne and you need to breathe them in for you to have an allergic reaction to them. Cat allergen is very small so it remains suspended in the air longer. There is also a high rate of recontamination (because the cats are running around the house).

Below are some steps to decrease your cat allergies. They may never be able to eliminate your allergies entirely, but they can help minimize the symptoms.

No more cats sleeping on the bed. Better yet, Keep them out of the bedroom altogether. Sorry, this is a small price to pay for allergy relief. Close the bedroom door to try and keep the cat allergen down in the bedroom. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary free from allergens. So tempt your cats to sleep elsewhere.

Wash all beddings in 140-degree hot water at least twice monthly to eliminates both dust mite and cat allergen (because we know some of you will still let them sneak up on the bed every now and then).

Vacuum up cat allergen with a high grade vacuum cleaner twice weekly. Vacuum walls, carpet, flooring, chairs, and furniture…everywhere. Cat allergen particles are very small and invasive so you really have to do a thorough job. Good hand tools on your vacuum cleaner are the answer here. Also, installing a central vacuum will help pick up the rest.

Use a vapor steam cleaner to clean your home. In addition to vacuuming, vapor steam cleaners are now proven by research to be extremely helpful in killing off the cat proteins/dander, which are embedded in your carpets and upholstery. Steam cleaners provide a chemical-free way of cleaning and killing dust mites, bacteria, mold spores and cat allergen.

Wash your hands immediately after petting your cat and do not rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can result in itchy eyes for hours. Use a strong anti-bacterial soap to avoid this problem.

Clean your cat. Some people wash their cats to reduce the amount of cat allergen that is released from their cat into the air, but research seems to be conflicting about its effectiveness. Alternatively, you can get a micro fiber cloth and just damp rub down the cats’ coats to rid it of visible dander. The majority of cats would prefer this to the highly dreaded bath.

Confine your cats to one area of the house. I know this will be difficult for some people but this at least controls the cat allergens to a separate place where you can concentrate your air purifier and cleaning efforts.

You DO NOT have to get rid of your CAT! If you do a good job following these tips, your cat allergies should be significantly decreased. Keeping a cat when you have allergies takes a concerted effort, and is only for those who are nutty enough about their cats (like us), to go to all this trouble.

We all know that cats clean themselves. But sometimes, they need a little help from us to give them a proper bath especially if they are infested with fleas or played too much outside. My friend and cat lover, Shaun Olmstead, shares tips on how to give your kitties a proper bath without the scratches and bites.

A word of advice: consider trimming your cat’s claws beforehand to reduce your risk of getting scratched. It is important to adopt a calm, positive attitude before and during the bath to help ease your cat’s anxiety.

Take your cat into the bathroom and close the door and keep it closed until you are finished.

Fill the bathtub with enough lukewarm water to cover your cat’s paws. Gently set your cat in the tub. Give your cat free rein in the bathtub using minimal restraint, but gently hold on to the back of her neck if she tries to escape.

Apply lubricating eye ointment (available from your veterinarian) or a drop of baby or olive oil to your cat’s eyes to prevent irritation from the shampoo.

Scoop water in a plastic cup, and pour it over the cat until her fur is wet, making sure to avoid her eyes.

Apply a regular shampoo made for cats, or a flea shampoo if needed, and rub it into the cat’s fur. Use caution around the eyes.

Hold your cat under the faucet or scoop clean water over her to rinse. Be sure to remove all soap when rinsing, since cats will groom themselves and ingest anything left on their fur. Quickly pat or rub your cat dry with a towel.

Comb through your cat’s fur to spend quality time together as she dries, then give her a special treat such as catnip or kibble for a job well done.

Do cats really have nine lives? What is the life span of the common cat?

My friend and cat lover, Shaun Olmstead, says that cats can live up to 12-15 years (this was based on his experience on taking care of cats). He added that given proper care, nutrition, and regular veterinary visits, a cat kept indoors can live as long as 21 years or more. This is, of course, barring any serious medical conditions or untimely accidents.

On the other hand, kitties that are indoors-outdoors usually don’t last to the average age because of traffic accidents, fighting with other cats, intentional acts of violence, poisoning (accidental or intentional), diseases caught from other cats, being picked up by animal control and subsequently euthanized if not claimed, and death caused by predators.

“Stray cats” AKA “feral cats” usually don’t live more than a couple of years because of starvation or all of the above.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest living cat is a Burmese called Kataleena Lady who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Kataleena Lady was born on March 11th, 1977, making her 25, a mere youngster, compared to other claims.

An unofficial report says that the oldest living cat is Creme Puff of Austin Texas. Born on August 3rd 1967, Creme Puff celebrated her 38th birthday in August 2005. Also deserving a mention are Puss, who was born in 1903. Puss was owned by Mrs T. Holway of Devon. Puss passed away on 29th November, 1939, one day after his 36th birthday.

The Manx and Siamese breeds have been mentioned as being among the longest-lived pedigreed cats. The Jaguar is said to be the longest-lived species of cat, sometimes reaching 30 years.

Pets are more than just furry and cuddly companions.  They are also beneficial to their owner’s health and well-being! My friend, Shaun Olmstead, swears to the health benefits he gets from his pooches and kitties! He says taking care of his pets increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. Walking his dogs for 20 minutes five times a week helps him keep fit.

Research shows that pets are good for cardiovascular health: Owning a pet can decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Studies have also found that pet owners are more likely than people without pets to survive after hospitalization for a heart attack, and that owning a pet lowers anxiety and decreases feelings of loneliness and depression.

Pets also increase the opportunity for socialization — they’re a natural topic of conversation and offer a chance to connect with other pet lovers. Pets also help in increasing mental acuity.  Simple chores like remembering to walk and feed your pet exercises your brain, and it increases your sense of responsibility, which is important to people.

The emotional bond between an owner and a dog, cat, or other pet can be as intense as those between humans, and it may offer many of the same psychological benefits. Caring for an animal offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Before getting a pet, decide honestly what you want in one. Some people want to have a more active lifestyle, some desire companionship, and others are looking for protection. In any case, you as the owner should work to foster a genuine relationship with your pet. Take into account what you will be able to handle, in terms of time, attention, and activity. Regardless of your age and abilities, you will reap the benefits of a pet if you pick the right one for your lifestyle.

My friend Shaun Olmstead called the other day and told me to check out The Today Show. Co-host Meredith Vieira was telling the tragic story of a dog that died after being left in a kennel drying machine in a grooming salon. Investigation revealed that the dog had been in a cage dryer which had been set at 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, which was too hot and too long for any dog to survive. According to animal experts and animal rights groups, kennel dryers— an electronic box with a heating element used to dry a pet after it has had a bath, are safe if used correctly. Temperatures on these dryers should never exceed 85 degrees.

This incident should be a wake up call to all pet owners to be wary and meticulous in choosing the grooming shops and boarding facilities wherein they leave their beloved pooches. Pet owners must be warned that the pet grooming industry remains unregulated, which is why extra caution should be given when acquiring services from these facilities. Our pets are our responsibility. We should only leave them in the hands of responsible and well trained individuals.

Joey Villani, a judge on Animal Planet’s “Groomer Has It,” shares the following tips on choosing the right pet care facility:

• Request, evaluate and check the credentials of the pet care professional! What is their education/training, their level of experience and expertise? Find out when they graduated from pet styling school and if it was licensed by the state and/or approved by a nationally recognized industry organization.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Are they certified by a nationally recognized industry organization? Are they trained and certified in pet injury prevention, first aid and CPR? How many years have they been a pet care professional?

• Be observant! Request a tour of the facility. Refusal should raise a red flag. Will the cage/crate provide a clean, comfortable, and safe enclosure for your pet? Is the overall facility clean and well maintained? How are they handling and caring for the pets in their facility? Do they use cage dryers? If so, what guidelines govern their use? Do they maintain constant monitoring and safety of the pets while drying?

• Take responsibility!  You are the guardian who must speak for your pet.  If you feel uncomfortable or have misgivings about the facility, then choose another.

Having cats as pets is not for everybody, it’s actually an acquired taste. Cat lovers are either brought up with the feline mentality, or were simply born with the feline gene. My friend Shaun Olmstead is so into cats he probably belongs to both categories, he can literally read kitties’ minds. He seemed to understand the feelings and innermost thoughts of these furry creatures!

If you have no idea about cats but would want to adopt or take care of one, here are a few tips on understanding these adorable creatures. Always bear in mind that cats are very independent. They love and need their humans, but not all the time. A cat is not like a dog and won’t always shower you with attention.

Understand how cats behave. When a cat is afraid, it will run and hide under a table. By not forcing yourself on a cat, you are helping to prevent a feeling of anxiety that it would eventually associate with you. Let him come to you in its own time. It will get curious enough to investigate, and by being gentle and quiet around it you will set it at ease.

Cats can act crazy and weird, sometimes. Most cats have periods of time that they feel they must dart from one place to another very quickly. As long as you are aware that this happens occasionally, you won’t get freaked out by this erratic behavior.

Discover your cat’s personality. Just as with any other animal, not every cat conforms to what we think all cats should be. Some will have a wilder side than others, and some will be the type to sleep the normal 20 hours per day.

Cats are clean creatures and they enjoy clean environments. Make sure that their litter boxes and feeding spaces are always spic-and-span.

Learn the basics in cat speak. Interpreting what cats are saying with body language can lead you to love cats. When your cat swats at everything, it wants to play. When its ears are perked up and his tail is twitching excitedly he may want to play or get attention.