A Cat's New Years Resolutions

Love, Devotion and All Those Smells!

You've probably seen the book "Why Cats Paint." Apparently dogs are more literary-- or perhaps we just haven't received email from the feline portion of the pet population. If your cat has composed any poetry lately (or if your dog would like to add a few verses to these haiku received on the Internet) please let us know.

How do I love thee?
The ways are as numberless
as my hairs on the rug.
I lie belly-up
in the sunshine, happier than
you will ever be.
The cat is not all
bad-- she fills the litter box
with Tootsie Rolls.
I sound the alarm!
Paper boy-- come to kill us all!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

Sleeping here, my chin
on your foot-- no greater bliss-- well,
maybe catching rats.
Today I sniffed many
doggie behinds-- I celebrate
by kissing your face.
Look in my eyes and
deny it. No human could
love you as much as I do.
My human is home!
I am so ecstatic
I have made a puddle.
I am your best friend,
now, always, and especially
when you are eating.
(Are you sure your dog didn't pen that last one?)

Dog's Letters To God

How come people love to smell flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another? Where are there priorities?

When we get to Heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it the same old story?
Is it true that in Heaven the dining room tables have on-ramps?

More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Are there dogs on other planets, or are we alone? I have been howling at the moon and stars for a long time, but all I ever hear back is the beagle across the street...

If we come back as humans, is that good or bad?

Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

TOYS!!!

Let’s face it—we can’t spend all our time playing with our companion animals. And when we do, there are ways to give our furry (or feathered) friends more exercise with less effort... Just as with children, you can purchase a whole chest full of toys, but your pet may only play with her favorite—or you may own one of those critters who’s “hard on his toys,” destroying all but the sturdiest items. Keeping your pet in playthings doesn’t have to mean taking out a third mortgage on your house. In this issue, we’ll let you in on some tried-and-true items tested and approved by real pets which you can order through the mail, purchase at the local shops (and some we carry at Morningstar) as well as some “found” toys invented by the animals themselves. Please let us know about items popular in your household for next year’s holiday issue!

Ferret Jessica (Parker) gets her kicks from batting an empty aluminum can against the wall (also popular with some puppies.) Venus, the Bernese Mountain Dog X belonging to former Morningstar receptionist Laura Lee Yates, is ecstatic when presented with an empty plastic water jug (cap discarded.). She’ll chase it around the house, banging it against the walls, grabbing the handle in her teeth so she can fling it into the air. Ebbie, the new kitten belonging to Dr. Hooley’s daughter Mary Kathryn, loves to play with the plastic ring pulled from the jug. (This would never work with a puppy or ferret, who would be apt to swallow the thing...) Jeff Cameron reports that the favorite toy of his young Australian Shepherd Tanner is his food bowl. (Hope it’s a sturdy one...) Tanner would always be out of water if Jeff didn’t firmly attach his water bucket to the fence. Cats (especially kittens) are fond of climbing into boxes, so don’t recycle holiday gift containers too soon. Avocado pits are quite popular, but you have to be careful the family canine doesn’t get into the act and swallow it!

Among the toys invented by dogs that we can’t recommend include the trimmings from horse hooves (wonderfully smelly but not a good idea) and various forms of garbage (a popular item.)

As for commercial toys, the choices are endless: stuffed critters and balls, hard rubber Kongs and Tugs. Some favorites: Dr. Diane Clark and husband Tom have huskies, and everybody approves of the Chuck-It, which comes with a multi-colored ball that’s easy to spot. Because it allows you to fling the ball a lot farther than you can bare-handed, the dogs get more exercise and the humans can still lift their arms at the end of the play session. The Clark felines love catnip pillows that are big enough to roll on but small enough to bat around, as well as furry little mice (though these rascals have tails that can detach and, if swallowed, become a GI obstruction.)

Moving lights attract many animals—one of our patients shed pounds chasing the beam flashed against the family room wall while his owners watched TV. If you’re using a laser light, be sure you don’t shine it in your companion’s eyes.

Vet assistant Tara Hansen, owner of a pair of Australian Shepards, suggests that if you have two dogs (or more!) you invest in a sturdy rope Tug, so the canines can go at it in a game of Tug-o-War.

Bacchus and Six-Toes, the Coffee Trader cats, are fascinated by their dangling string-on-a-stick. (You can also get mouse/snake/feather-etc.-on-a-stick.)
Gail Vollmer’s ferret Flower really loves her special ball that dispenses treats (but her fellow ferret Noodle could care less.)

One stuffed toy (available through “Life is Ruff,” the great little animal supply store in Ridgway) especially popular with lively puppy Venus Yates is Buggy—a gaudy ladybug shaped like a ring that squeaks, rattles, and has dangly legs just begging to be gnawed by sharp neddle-teeth. Venus also gives an emphatic pawprint of approval to the Buster Cube, a red box that her owners fill with kibble so she can work for her dinner. (This does make a lot of racket as she bangs it into the walls and barks in frustration when she has it wrong side up, but it uses up a some of that excess puppy energy.)

Here at Morningstar we’ve started carrying two types of Kongs, the hollow, oddly-shaped hard rubber toys that bounce wildly and are great for stuffing with treats. The company supplies a fun pamphlet full of recipes created by veterinarians and dog lovers from all over the world, including such favorites as Philly Steak and Banana Rama. You can even stuff a Kong with a four-course meal!

Veggie Kong Omelet
1 egg
Your choice of shredded cheese
Any vegetables that your pet may like
Appropriate Kong toy
Scramble egg and fold in vegetables. Put into Kong toy. Sprinkle some cheese over the top and microwave for about 20 seconds. Cool thoroughly before giving to dog.