The Power of Pets

The power of positive social interaction between people has been well-documented. Positive speech and actions increases serotonin and decreases cortisol leading to lowered stress levels. Lower stress levels means less stress-related illnesses and fewer complications with existing conditions. Can the same be said for our famously aloof feline friends? We're going to explore together some case studies highlighting how positive physical interaction between cats and people is not only beneficial for us, but the kitties as well.

Emotional support animals and therapy animals are not a new phenomena. The ancient Greeks were the first to use animals, specifically horses, to help brighten the days of those who were very ill. In medieval Belgium, animals and people were often rehabilitated together with the idea that interacting with humans gave the animals a companionship that mirrored what the animals could offer. The first formal research into animal therapy began in the 1960's with Dr. Boris Levinson. He noted that his mentally impaired patients were more likely to interact with dogs rather than other people. Animal-assisted therapy, as Dr. Beth Barba describes in her work "The Positive Influence of Animals: Animal-Assisted Therapy in Acute Care", is "a therapeutic nursing intervention that brings animals together with persons with physical and/or emotional needs as a way of meeting those needs" (Barba 1). Animal-assisted therapy, or AAT, is an interdisciplinary treatment involving nursing, medicine, psychology, social work, as well as occupational, physical and recreational therapy. This isn't a one size fits all type of treatment. It is a case by case basis that follows specific guidelines are provided for a responsible and outcome-oriented program. 

Animals can provide such benefits for the sick, elderly, or isolated that there are dozens of programs nationwide and more springing up frequently. Barba notes that the benefits are not just mental or emotional. She writes,

Physical benefits of association with animals include lowered blood pressure and heart rate (Baun, Bergstrom, Langston & Thoma, 1984; Thomas & Friedmann, 1990) and decreased muscle rigidity. Psychological benefits are improved self-esteem, greater feelings of security (Messent, 1983), reduced stress and anxiety (Wilson, 1987, 1989), improved social interactions and communications (Brickel, 1980), and sensory stimulation (1).

AAT can also improve communication between the patients and their caregivers or family members. Animals can also serve as transitional objects in efforts to improve communication skills of withdrawn and isolated patients by facilitating interactions of patients with others. Barba notes that "patients appear to others to be more human, less sick, and more treatable (Rossbach & Wilson, 1992)" (2). An example of the world of benefits that AAT can provide is detailed in UCLA and Paolo Castelli's work "COMPANION CATS AND THE SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF MEN WITH AIDS." Sixty male pet owners living with AIDS were given a formal questionnaire including items related to demographic, lifestyle, and pet ownership, as well as the Comfort from Companion Animals Scale, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire. Those living with AIDs often deal with decreasing abilities to function on their own as their illness progresses as well as social isolation and diminishing social support. Not to mention that loneliness seems to be an inevitable symptom of this virus. Castelli referenced an epidemiological study of 1,872 gay and bisexual men which showed that "the incidence of depression was influenced by the presence of AIDS and by having relatively few confidants (Siegel, Angulo, Detels, Wesch, & Mullen, 1999)" (Castelli 178).

Because those living with AIDs may have more compromised abilities, having a dog which requires more physical activity might not be realistic. Having a cat is less demanding of physical interaction and attention from its owner which would be far more feasible. The purpose of the study conducted by UCLA and Castelli was to contrast the "contributions of cats versus dogs in the social support system and psycho-social well-being of men with AIDS by examining relationships among the extent of their pet attachment, human social support, psychological health, and loneliness" (179). They hypothesized that cats would be a better companion for this population.

A request for volunteer participation in the study was distributed to 500 individuals living in the San Francisco area in February 1992. All prospective participants were clients who had received assistance from Pets Are Wonderful Support. Written confirmation of an AIDS diagnosis from a physician or hospital was required for all clients. Of the 500 requested, 63 volunteered for the study. Most of the participants  had cats, lived with other people, and were not employed. None of the participants were without a pet in the household. Below is a table measuring pet attachment, social support, and perceived loneliness from this study.

Thirty (47.6%) respondents listed their pets among their providers of emotional support. Many of these men listed their cats as means of social support as well. Their original hypothesis is cats being more compatible than dogs was true. For these participants, "cats were more effective than dogs in eliciting love, making the person feel needed, and serving as a source of constancy" (184). 

It's not secret that having pets is extremely beneficial to people. But can the same be said for cats? Cats and humans have an interesting relationships. For one, once cats mature into adulthood, they don't meow to communicate with other cats. They really only meow when adults to communicate with humans. As for measuring how much cats actually enjoy interacting with humans in a positive way, we'll look to Preventative Veterinary Medicine's study "Effect of gentle stroking and vocalization on behaviour, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease in anxious shelter cats".

There has been little research on the effects of positive social interaction on cats in stressful situations, like those in shelters. In this study, 139 cats rated as anxious upon admission to an animal shelter were allocated to either a Gentled or Control group. "Gentling" is gentle stroking and vocalizations that this study strongly suggests helps cats emotionally, socially, and physically. Stressful situations can reactivate subclinical conditions and "inhibit the production of mucosal antibodies, particularly secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) (Gourkow et al., 2014), resulting in increased susceptibility to pathogens that cause Upper Respiratory Disease" (266). Cats were gentled four times daily for 10 min over a period of 10 days. Some cats that were too aggressive to handle were gentled with the aid of a tool. The cats’ mood was rated daily for 10 d as Anxious, Frustrated or Content. Gentled cats were less likely to have negative moods (Anxious or Frustrated) than Control cats. This study uses a lot of very technical terms since it was published for a veterinary journal so I'll do my best to simplify it. 

Gentled cats showed an beneficial response in every positively associated antibody or enzyme as compared to the Control cats, which showed no consistent patterns.There was a significant increase in shedding over time in Control cats which can be a sign of stress. However, this increase was not seen in gentled cats. Control cats were 2.4 times more likely to develop upper respiratory disease over time than gentled cats. It was concluded that "gentling anxious cats in animal shelters can induce positive affect (contentment), increase production of S-IgA, and reduce the incidence of upper respiratory disease" (274). 

Cats aren't the nasty, detached creatures they so often get the rap for being. They need positive social interaction from us as much as we need it from them. Cats can be such a valuable asset to our lives emotionally and even physically. Fostering these amazing animals enables even more people to be able to call a cat their own and benefit from all that cats have to offer. 

The Hardest Part of Fostering: Letting Go

It's like saying goodbye to a friend, but also your baby but also someone else's baby. There's a lot of mixed emotions that come along with fostering kittens, especially feral ones. The ultimate goal of every foster parent is to have each of their fosters placed in loving forever homes. That doesn't mean that the countdown to adoption day isn't hard for foster parents. Or that their absence isn't deafening at times. I've only fostered two litters now and it can be a bit rough. You know that you've given them everything they need to be a healthy, functioning cat in their new home. So what can you do to help cope with the "loss" of a foster?

• Foster kittens/cats that you know won't be right for you long term.

This can mean something as simple as fostering long hair cats when you know that you want a low maintenance pet. Even fostering only high energy kittens when you feel that adult and senior cats fit your lifestyle. One of my friends who has also fostered kittens has a resident cat that can't stand other pets. So just knowing that a potential adoption isn't in the cards for you can help ease the burden.

• Lean on your friends and family.

Nobody expects you to be distant and cold when adopting out a foster. It can hurt and having a support system around you is never a detriment. As well, having others around the cats themselves can also help. This way the cat is used to seeing different people and you won't feel like the cat thinks you're abandoning them when it comes time for adoption.

• Find a community of foster parents.

There are a lot of blogs and Facebook groups out there that have a bunch of really awesome people fostering cats and dogs. Don't be afraid to venture into the comment section or forum of one of those pages and see if anyone is struggling with the same issues. Hint hint... every foster parents is. 

• Ask adoptive parents to keep in touch!

I've asked every family that adopts one of my cats to send pictures every so often. I've found that people always want to share pictures of their cat so giving them permission just opens the floodgates for cute pictures and videos. One of the kittens from my first litter, Tina, has a very sweet family who keeps us posted every few months with some pictures of her. 

• Know that this means you can save another life.

This is all a part of the process! Circle of life, if you'll forgive the cliche. Giving your time and energy and space to a kitten to give them the tools to thrive is what this is all about. As much as we'd love to be able to have every kitty that comes through our doors, it's simply not a reality. The reality is that adoption opens up a spot for another cat to be saved. 

Every emotion that you have about fostering is more than normal, I assure you. Fostering is a hard job at times, but it more than pays off in the long run.

How I Fell in Love with Cats

I wanted to take a break from the more educational writing and bring it back a bit to what, or who, really ignited my love for cats. Even though I have had far more dogs as pets in my lifetime, cats have always held a special place with me. I was born into a pet having household. My parents already had several pets before I was even a thought. They had bought a small orange and white tabby from a local pet store called Animals N' Things. This tabby, Hootie (named after the band Hootie and the Blowfish), was still only an adolescent when I came on scene. When I came home in my car seat, Hootie was immediately obsessed with his wriggly new playmate; at least that's how my mother describes it. 

Hootie grew to be very protective of baby me over the next few months. My mother would put me down for a nap in my crib and Hootie would jump up onto my windowsill to watch me sleep. This would only last so long until he decided he could get a better view from in the crib itself. My mother would silently scream at him to get out so as not to wake me and shake treats at the door, but Hootie was a pretty adamant guy. Another one of his favorite spots to hang out with me was on my play mat. Maybe it was the colorful, noisy hanging toys that also intrigued him, but I'll just think it was me. 

After a few years, my parents decided to get some more pets. Neo the bulldog and Mushu the pug were thrust into our everyday. They were great dogs, but Hootie really was not a fan. This lead to him often seeking refuge in my room. We spent many, many afternoons together listening to my Now That's What I Call Music CD's on my electric blue boom-box. A couple of years later, when my parents decided to separate, my dad got Hootie and my mom got the dogs. I remember laying on the white leather couch of my dad's apartment on Hamilton Street with Hootie laying on my chest and just cryyyyyyying. Why was first grade me crying? I recall telling my father it was because one day Hootie wasn't going to be here anymore. I guess I was really wrestling with the concept of mortality at seven years old. 

Fast forward to about 2008 and a few moves later, my father is about to move out of his condo in Somerset and there's a problem. The two-family house in Little Ferry we're about to move to doesn't allow pets. My father breaks the news to me that we have to give our 11 year old healthy cat up in order to move. You can imagine how well this went over with me. I was told Hootie went to a shelter and I don't want to think of what happened to him while he was there. Senior cats don't tend to fly off the shelter shelves like hotcakes. I still have pictures of Hootie set up in my dorm room. I'll always remember how he would force his way into the fridge every Christmas to get at the eggnog or how he was one of the only cats I ever knew that preferred belly rubs. He was the best boy and the reason why cats are so special to me today.

Following Up on FIV

A few posts back, I tried my hand at editing a Wikipedia page about FIV. More specifically, I edited the section about the transmission of FIV and how it can be prevented for indoor and outdoor cats. I circled back to see what came of my edit and unfortunately, it had been removed. The reasoning was that I had not provided enough citation which I totally get. I'm going to go back and edit the page again and attempt to link the correct information. I feel that my addition to the page wasn't just fluff and that it could legitimately help people trying to deal with FIV in their house or in their community. I'll check back once a few days have passed after submitting my edits. 

Foster Profile: Henri and Pineapple

For this next entry in the Foster Profile series, I would like to focus on a pair of siblings that got adopted together! Adopted by my family, actually. These guys are Henri (left) and Pineapple (right)! Formally, they were known as Harriet and Heath-bar respectively. My family adopted them from an organization based in Northern New Jersey called FOWA Rescue. FOWA is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) (nonprofit) rescue organization based in Wayne, NJ serving the North Jersey area, dedicated to the welfare, sheltering and placement of homeless animals. They support the fight to end the euthanasia of all adoptable animals.

My mother, after researching this rescue group, contacted one of their foster parents in November of 2017 about seeing a litter of eight week old kittens. We knew that we wanted to adopt a pair together. Henri and Pineapple's litter was found in a dumpster where it appeared that someone had dumped them. My two younger sisters were drawn to these two and the next day we were back to pick them up and bring them home!

They were, of course, timid at first, but day by day they conquered room after room in our house. After about a week and a half, they had full run of the house. They used their litter box beautifully and were getting along perfectly, as you can see from the picture below.

Unfortunately, a few days before Thanksgiving, Henri started to act a bit weird. She wasn't eating nearly anything and she was very lethargic. We took her in the next morning to the vet to get her checked out. She had lost some weight and was dehydrated so she was to stay the night at the vet so they could monitor her. There was nothing that she ate that could have poisoned her or anything of that nature, so her sudden turn for the worse was very concerning. There's something called Fading Kitten Syndrome. FKS is a set of symptoms that cause a kitten to fail to "thrive." Symptoms include: lethargy, decreased appetite, rapid weight loss, dehydration, pale gums and agonal breathing. Henri ticked a few of those markers so the vet chalked it up to possibly being the cause. 

Over the course of the two days Henri was at the vet, she was administered steroid shots to try to get her going again. Thankfully, she made it over the hill and started eating on her own again and walking around and grooming herself. She came home the next morning and has been happily living with her brother and our other cat, Jolie. Henri and Pineapple will be celebrating their third birthday this August 10th. 

One Step Closer Animal Rescue: Cassy

Back in high school, I worked at a local veterinary hospital which hosted several adoption events on location with an organization called One Step Closer Animal Rescue. OSCAR is a non-profit rescue organization based in northern New Jersey that saves dogs and cats from desperate situations. In my time volunteering with them, I met one of the organization's founders, Cassy Mead. I recently reached out to her and she graciously agreed to be interviewed about her experience working in this field. 

Q: Tell me how you came to create OSCAR.

A: My family was always taking in any dogs or cats the neighbors found when I was young so I've always been used to fostering and rescuing animals. Rescuing was taking up a considerable amount of my time and funds so my husband and I founded OSCAR as a way to make it official back in 2010. 

Q: I know for a long time OSCAR was a in-home-only foster organization. Can you tell me a bit about how that worked?

A: Well, it was a real "it takes a village" situation. Since we didn't have a physical kennel to house any dogs or cats in, we operated mostly out of other people's homes. Our foster parents were always amazingly generous. Luckily, we were able to purchase a property in Andover in 2016 that has something like 30 runs for the dogs and a cat room. The property is a nice size so the dogs have room to run around and play.

Q: Are all of the animals under your care housed in the kennel?

A: Mostly, but we still have some dogs that need more specialized care or senior dogs in foster homes. We're able to help more animals that way. I have three foster dogs at home right now with my own two dogs. 

Q: Where do you rescue the dogs and cats from?

A: From a lot of different places, honestly. Owners will sometimes surrender them or they're just found roaming the streets. We also rescue from shelters in states other than New Jersey. We are a no-kill shelter so our animals are able to stay with us for a long time if need be.

Q: What is something you wish more people would do to help animals in need?

A: There's a ton of small things. For example, we have a program here where volunteers come in to walk the dogs and play with them for a few hours each evening. Our staff works really hard to keep this place clean and safe for the dogs and cats, so sometimes the animals don't get as much socialization as they need. Or just donating a bag of litter or some wet food to your local pet food drive is a humongous help. 

Q: What are some upcoming events that you are hosting?

A: We always have at least one adoption event a month, and the next event we have is an adoption event over in Rockaway on the 14th. Our website has a list of all of our upcoming events and supply drives.

If you're interested in what OSCAR does or even adopting from them, all the information you need can be found on their site. From my own experience I can say that OSCAR is run by a group of very compassionate, dedicated people that serve the animals in their community extremely well. I'd like to thank Cassy for lending me some of her time. Be sure to check out OSCAR!

How-To Get a Cat to "Like You"

Cats have an, often misplaced, reputation for being unfriendly. However, if you find that there's still a bit of a rift between you and your kitty, there are some steps you can take to close that divide. Besides all of the routine care and keeping of having a pet, cats appreciate it when you put in the extra mile. Here's six strategies you can use to become the best of buds with your cat.

• Let your cat be in the driver's seat!

Cats are much like humans in the fact that they need to warm up to a social situation. The first time you hang out with someone doesn't mean you're automatically best friends. Cats have complex social behaviors and their personalities need to be respected. Focus on something besides the cat to start so that they can take their time exploring the space or even just debating whether or not they want to greet you at the moment. Often, when the cat initiates contact with a person the activity lasts longer as opposed to when you approach the cat. Hence, your cat just happens to love your friend who's allergic.

• Get down to their level.

This doesn't mean you have to physically get down on the ground in order to interact with your pet. This means that you should be aware of the way that cats are used to interacting with each other and follow suit to make them more comfortable. Cats will greet each other nose to nose. So to simulate that interaction, gently offer your cat the tip of your finger a few inches from their nose so that they can decide if they want to smell you. When doing this it helps to be on the floor with your other hand in your lap. Making your posture softer means that you are not as "scary." Your cat will probably just take a quick sniff and walk away. That's great! If your finger gets a cheek rub then that's a super successful greeting.

• Give them some scritches!

Cats are extremely sensitive to touch so it's important to be mindful about how you pet them. Dogs like scritches and rubs all over, but cats like a more fine-tuned approach. Gently petting and scratching the forehead, cheeks, and chin, or their peri-oral area, will likely elicit positive responses. Positive responses are behaviors like purring, slow blinking, and kneading their paws. My cats also LOVE when I scratch their back right before their tail starts. Remember that every attempt to pet your kitty should be introduced with a hand extension as an invitation to smell.

Be wary of petting an unfamiliar cats belly. Trust me.

• Give them ample space

Don't get discouraged if your attempts at bonding are met with some negative responses. Hissing, biting and swatting are more obvious signs of displeasure, but it's also important to pay attention to more subtle hints. Flattening their ears, looking at your hand without moving, and swishing their tail back and forth are signals that it's time for a break. A lot of owners don't realize that those are signs to back off and can escalate the situation to hissing or swatting. 

You can't force a friendship so remember that your cat will be ready for more interaction at a later time. They just need space to readjust and refresh. When the cat sees that you can respect their space, it builds some trust between the two of you that requires complete passivity on your part. Free brownie points for you!

• Play is paramount!

Many people underestimate the amount of play time that cats need as they have the reputation for being quite aloof. Laser pointers are your best friend in this case. Having a toy that puts some space between your cat and you will give your kitty necessary exercise and forms positive associations between time spent at play and you! Wand toys are the next step in this process as you actually hold the toy. Slowly inching closer to each other while still leaving enough space for both of your comfort levels is essential.

Your cat will need toys that they can play with without having you control them. Providing scratching posts and more stationary toys like this one placed in common areas will allow the cat to let their guard down and play around you. 

You'll need patience and a strong will, but taking these steps will get you closer to a reality of loving companionship between you and kitty. Best of luck!

Foster Profile: Peanut

I really enjoyed writing Jolie's foster profile a week or so back and I think it's a nice way of breaking up some of the more serious content. For this next featured foster profile, I'm going to introduce you to Peanut!

Peanut is a member of a five kitten litter that was born in June of 2018 in my backyard to the famous Mommy Tortie. He was the runt of his litter so my family and I believed he was a little girl for weeks before we could get our hands on him. The first few weeks after Peanut and his siblings were born were a bit stressful. Even though we had two enclosures with blankets stationed in the backyard, one elevated and one on the ground, with food and water available, Mommy decided not to birth her litter in either of the two. My family and I were worried when we heard the tell-tale chirps of newborn kittens, but couldn't seem to find them anywhere in the backyard. After a few days of searching and watching Mommy's behavior, we finally saw her slip through a break in the fence between the neighbor's fence and ours. She had the babies housed between the two fences where we couldn't reach them, nor could any dogs or possible predators. Frustrating yet reassuring. 

After about six weeks, the babies started to show themselves. They were gorgeous. There was one diluted tortie (like Mommy), one brown tabby, one cream colored tabby, one bright red tabby and then Peanut. Peanut was the only black kitten! Once we managed to trap three of the five kittens at eight weeks, the other two were a bit more wary. A couple weeks passed and we were able to give the three kittens caught some flea baths, meds, vaccines and adopt them out into their forever homes! We worked with North Shore Animal Rescue for some assistance with the process. The only two left were Peanut and his brother, who we named Red. Red, unfortunately, was not ready to be an indoor cat. He had too many feral behaviors and although he is not food aggressive or territorial, being outside with his mom was what was best for him.

Trapping Peanut was surprisingly easy. He jumped up onto our kitchen windowsill, where we feed them sometimes, and he allowed us to pet him and even pick him up. So once he gave us the green light to hold him, we wrapped him in a towel and whisked him away to the foster room (the upstairs bathroom). He had quite a few fleas so we gave him two flea baths which he was a champ for. He was the sweetest little guy who just wanted to eat and sit on our laps. My boyfriend's parents fell head over heels for him and I managed to persuade them to keep him. He's been living with them for just under a year and gets along with their three other cats, Tinkerbell, Penny and Liberty, wonderfully. He's a special guy who has managed to open tupper-ware containers full of tuna salad more than once.

Reporting Animal Cruelty: What You Can Do

Visiting this blog and others like it means that you care deeply about the welfare of not only feral cats, but domesticated animals in general. As much as you educating yourself and taking action helps so many, there are other people who are careless and ignorant when it comes to interacting with animals. Alley Cat Allies is an organization that works in communities to champion low-cost spay and neuter policies and programs, as well as lifesaving Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and Shelter-Neuter-Return (SNR). They also specialize in areas like veterinary outreach, disaster response and legal advice regarding cats. Alley Cat Allies has hit many hot button topics in the feral cat arena. One issue that they covered back in 2018 that I believe is particularly salient was how to navigate animal cruelty perpetrators in one's own community.

In their article "Animal Cruelty Suspects Must be Prosecuted to Protect Communities" published in October of 2018, they outline an unfortunate case of animal cruelty that unraveled in Taylor, PA, angering much of the community. Taylor is home to a feral cat colony that one landlord saw as a nuisance rather than a part of her town. Alley Cat Allies reported that,

Landlord Jennifer Oustrich allegedly poisoned at least two feral (also called community) cats at the property she owns and rents out in Taylor, Pennsylvania, just outside Scranton. When she allegedly killed the cats, she also tainted the values of her community. 

Oustrich was reportedly angry about the community cats getting into the garbage of her tenants, and had vented to neighbors of her intent to poison the cats. Necropsy reports, administered by local police with assistance from Cornell University’s Veterinary Medical Center, revealed that industrial rat poison mixed with dog food was set out for the cats, which slowly and painfully killed two cats, and possibly more.

Oustrich had many options available to her instead of being inhumane to living animals. Something as simple as providing her tenants with animal proof garbage cans would have prevented the suffering of these animals. Thanks to Governor Tom Wolf's Libre's Law put into effect in June of 2017 increasing penalties for animal abuse, Oustrich was arrested on two felony charges of aggravated assault, as well as six other criminal counts.

Alley Cat Allies left us with this call to action,

Alley Cat Allies urges the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office to prosecute this case to the full extent of the law.  We must ask every state to prosecute abusers so they can never maim, starve, poison, or kill our animals or our justice systems again. It’s what the animals deserve.

If you witness or hear about any possible case of animal cruelty, please contact your local authorities or the Department of Agriculture. I've linked two resources to read up on what your state's animal cruelty laws are so that you know what to demand of your local authorities for the sake of any abused or neglected animal.

Animal Cruelty Laws State by State
The Humane Society of the United States' State Animal Cruelty Chart

How-To Trap Humanely

Feral cats need to be trapped humanely in order to sterilize, treat and release them back into their community to live healthy, long lives. However, the logistics and mechanics of actually trapping a wary feral cat can be a bit sticky for a beginner. Not to worry, there are some solid steps you can take to safely trap a feline neighbor without too much stress on you or the kitty. 

STEP 1: Choosing the right trap

The best trap to use for a trap-wary cat is the reliable drop trap. Since the mechanism for trapping the cat is manual, patience will be a requirement. However, it does give you the choice of which cat you trap since other traps just capture whichever cat strolls in. Alley Cat Allies have created a list of some efficient options for especially hard to trap cats. They also have information on other kinds of traps, such as box traps. 

STEP 2: Customization

Camouflaging the trap is a great way to make the cats more comfortable around it. Covering the trap with a natural material like burlap with leaves or small branches placed around the top, sides, and on the floor inside the trap will lessen the trap's "unknown" factor for the cats. Be sure that none of your additions interfere with the trap closing.

STEP 3: Acclimation and incentive

Cats will naturally be more fearful of something strange and new in their surroundings. To make sure that the introduction of the trap doesn't disrupt their behavior patterns, acclimating them to the traps will be essential. This can be a bit of a waiting game. Placing unset traps in secure locations with plenty of food in it and leading to it can be a sure-fire way to get any kitty used to the trap and begin positive association.

Incentive comes by way of food. Food that is especially smelly will work best. Canned tuna, baby food (that doesn't contain onions), catnip and other foods like that work super well. Create a trail of food to the trap and place a heaping amount of it in the back of the cage itself. Some people withhold food from the cats usual eating spot for up to 48 hours. Do NOT withhold food for more than 48 hours as it's simply not healthy for the cats. Also never withhold water!

STEP 4: Choosing the right location

Cats will feel more comfortable to explore a new object if it is in an area that they feel safe. These areas are usually out of sight for humans. Placing a trap in a more secure place, like an alley or behind a line of bushes will increase your chances of a successful catch. 

If you're trying to nab an especially trap-wary cat, then there are a few tricks to lure them in. Trap-wary cats will usually circle around the trap to see if there's another way to retrieve the food inside. One way to confuse a cat trying to sneak a treat out of reach is to place two traps side by side with their entrances facing opposite directions. This way, the cat will circle around one trap, see that there's an alternate entrance and may walk right into the next trap.

STEP 5: Take a break!

Cats are much smarter than people give them credit for. If a cat will not go into the trap after repeated attempts or they set off the trap accidentally, they won't be willing to go anywhere near that trap for a bit. Take a break of a week or two so that both you and the cat will be fresh again. This, again, means you need to have a lot of patience. The trap-wary cat needs to be reconditioned to think of the trap as a safe object. 

You can do this! Have some patience and a lot of tuna and you will succeed. 

Preventing the Spread of FIV

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is much like HIV in that it compromises the immune system and infects many types of cells. The good news is that cats can generally tolerate FIV fairly well with complete immune system debilitation at less than 5%. That's compared to over 50% in humans. However, there are some crucial steps an owner needs to take to prevent the spread of FIV. When reading up on transmission prevention of FIV on Wikipedia, I felt that there were some important information missing. Below is found under the Transmission section of FIV on Wikipedia.

The primary mode of FIV transmission is via deep bite wounds, where the infected cat's saliva enters the other cat's tissues. FIV may also be transmitted from pregnant females to their offspring in utero, however this vertical transmission is considered to be relatively rare based on the small number of FIV-infected kittens and adolescents.^[3][9] This differs from FeLV, which may be spread by more casual, non-aggressive contact such as mutual grooming and sharing of food bowls.Risk factors for infection are being of the male sex, adulthood, and outdoor access. One case study conducted in São Paulo found that 75% of the FIV-infected cats were males. Higher rates of infection in males than females occurs due to biting being more frequently engaged in by males defending their territory.^[8]

While it provides necessary information regarding the logistics of transmission, it neglects to advise for proper actions an owner or community can take to prevent transmission. Below is what I've added to the article to give owners of cats living with FIV some peace of mind and solid tactics.

As with all cats, FIV-infected cats should be spayed/neutered and should be confined indoors to prevent spread of the virus to other cats in the neighborhood. Keeping them indoors also reduces their exposure to infectious agents carried by other animals that can cause issues due to their compromised immune system. Diet is also of the utmost importance for FIV-infected cats. Providing them with all of the necessary nutrients to help combat this virus can be achieved by feeding them a balanced diet. A diet of raw meat and eggs as well as unpasteurized dairy products should be avoided to minimize the risk of food-borne bacterial and parasitic infections. If there is an uninfected cat in the household, FIV+ cats can share water bowls, pellet bowls, eat from the same bowl of wet food, and use the same litter box with low danger of transmitting the disease.  

Hopefully this will create a fuller picture of the tranmission of FIV as well as its prevention.

The Reality of Kitten Mills

Everyone has heard of the infamous puppy mill. These commercial "breeders" don't respect the lives of the dogs they house and breed resulting in unsafe and unsanitary living conditions and a myriad of widespread health problems. Although many puppy mills are still in operation, there has been an increased awareness and rejection of these businesses leading to more dogs being rescued from those conditions. Unfortunately, dogs aren't the only ones affected by these large scale breeding practices.

Cats and kittens are still undergoing this tremendous abuse all over the world. For one, kitten mills are much easier to conceal than puppy mills. Breeding facilities for dogs are usually outdoors and can be very noisy. However, with cats, due to their smaller size they are kept indoors in small, wire cages that can seriously damage their feet and legs. Several articles have been written about these inhumane breeding practices by shelters, blogs and news forums alike. I conducted my research via Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue, One Green Planet and The Dodo. 

From living in these harsh conditions, many of the cats are riddled with health problems. Most of the breeder cats’ coats have been destroyed and their bodies are infected with ringworm and other fungal diseases. Also common are painful dental issues, infected or ruptured eyes, and claws grown into the paw pads. As well, these commercial breeders are not retiring their female cats from birthing litters at a responsible, young age. Many of these females are being bred into their old age which can result in complications for the mom and the babies.

One would think that it'd be easy to report any unsafe facility and get them shut down, but that's simply not the case. Breeders who sell cats and dogs to pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected by the USDA, but according to the Humane Society of the United States. The Dodo cited that a woman accused of having unsafe breeding practices who was investigated was only fined $5,000 and put on probation for a year, which means that USDA inspectors will be visiting her facility and fining her more money for every sick cat they see. Yet she still has her breeding license. These breeders are not selling their kittens to reputable, responsible buyers either. Most of their customers are pet stores which will only result in more abuse and neglect of these animals.

This is a depressing reality, but there are tangible things that any individual can take to combat this terrible system. At the end of the day, these breeders are in it for the business. The law of supply and demand trumps all. So don't think that buying a poor kitty from the pet store is helping the cause. That's just showing the store and breeder that there is demand for these cats. If kittens are purchased at a slower rate, pet stores will lose profits and purchase less animals. The eventual goal is to eliminate all consumer support of kitten mills, so that these corporations would no longer have adequate demand for motivation to continue breeding.

Meet the Kitten Guru: Hannah Shaw

One of my go-to gurus for fostering know-how is Hannah Shaw, otherwise known as the Kitten Lady. She not only fosters tons of kittens in her own home, but also provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops and consulting services. Hannah, along with her partner, Anthony Marttila, run this small empire of education and service all for the purpose of benefiting cats and kittens. They are based out in San Diego, CA, but they travel all over the state and country helping kittens and foster parents who need a bit of assistance. Hannah has informed a lot of my fostering practices and she's never lead me astray. If you ever have any questions about the challenges and triumphs of fostering feral cats, please go check out her site. 

Below, you'll find a short interview produced by Little Things on YouTube featuring Hannah! In the interview, Hannah also discusses Cat Con, a convention held out in Pasadena entirely dedicated to all things cat. I've never been able to attend, but it seems like a wonderful, wholesome time. 

With Hannah's help, I'm about to take on a new challenge in the world of fostering. Unfortunately, I have never been able to trap the mother of the two litters of kittens I have fostered. Now, after extensive research, I feel ready to take on trapping, spaying and releasing the momma cat. I'll be sure to update the blog on how that whole process goes. 

Litter Training Tips

One of the many wonderful things about having cats is that they don't need any extensive potty training! Unlike the house training process for dogs, cats are much more relaxed. Cats are naturally drawn to using the litter box as long as they are provided with a comfortable environment and encouragement. Still, when bringing in feral kittens there are several things that a new foster parent can do that'll make the transition smoother.

• Introducing litter at the right time.

Some kittens may be too young to start using the litter box when you first bring them inside. If their mother is absent and you bring a litter of babies inside when they're newborns, they need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom as their mother would do. Kittens don't usually start using the litter box until three or four weeks.

• Choosing the right litter!

Safety and preference are the operative words when choosing the proper litter. Of course, using the safest, most effective kind of litter is paramount for any pet parent. There has been some controversy surrounding the use of clumping litter recently. This clumping litter is made out of sodium bentonite which expands when it comes into contact with liquid. Some of the concerns are that as cats and kittens clean themselves and lick their paws after using the litter, they can ingest clay particles. As well, kittens don't know exactly what is safe and what isn't yet so the risk of them chewing on some litter is an issue. Litter dust is also a potential cause for respiratory issues in people and pets as it contains crystalline silica particles. The safest bet, especially for kittens, is using a pellet based litter that is less likely to be ingested and doesn't give off dust.

Preference is also extremely important when selecting a litter. Cats can be finicky and sometimes are so stubborn that if they don't love the texture of a certain litter then you might find some unwelcome surprises around your house. Again, patience is key. You might have to try out several kinds of litter before the kittens settle on one they like best.

• Choosing the right placement.

The litter box should be placed in a safe, smart space. What I mean by this is that the box needs to be set up in a way that makes natural sense to the kitten. Cats are drawn to corners and areas away from where they sleep or eat. Placing the litter box in the farthest corner or perhaps in the closest with the door open at all times is the best option. If you're fostering kittens that are 3-8 weeks then they should have no problem having access to the box as they are being housed in a single room of your home.

• Positive reinforcement!

Positive reinforcement comes in two forms here. Making sure the kitties have a clean toilet to use and praising them when they use or attempt to use the litter box. Cleaning the litter box once a day is essential for the cats comfort and for the sake of the smell, honestly. If a kitten uses the box, shower them with pets and treats to show them that this is good behavior that you want to continue.

Best of luck with your potty-training!

Foster Profile: Jolie

Fostering can seem like an overwhelming and emotionally draining undertaking. It's easy to get caught up in the little trials and tribulations that come with socializing and training feral kittens. I'd like to take a break from the more educational content to feature a fostering success story. For a few years now, my mother and I have been following a woman on Instagram by the name of Beth Stern. She has fostered hundreds of cats and kittens over the years and has placed every one of them into a loving, safe home. She fosters all of her kittens in her own home on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Back in 2017, a trio of kitten siblings popped up on Beth's page. The three babies were found with their mother in Hollywood, FL living in a dirty car engine. All of the kittens had severe eye issues and were emaciated.

An extremely kind woman made an effort to rescue the three and promptly contacted Beth, as they needed medical attention immediately. Unfortunately, the mother could not be trapped at that time. Beth flew down to Florida and got each of the kittens the help they needed.  Beth had named them Happy, Merry, and Jolie. All of them were spayed/neutered and given medication for their eye issues. Happy and Merry were completely blind in one eye and still retained partial vision in the other. However, Jolie's issues, both congenital and developed, caused total blindness in both eyes. Eventually, one of Jolie's eyes had to be surgically removed due to chronic infection. Despite all this Jolie was the sweetest, most chatty baby who got around just like any other sighted cat.

By this point, my mother had fallen in love with Jolie. She was one of many who contacted Beth about the possibility of adopting Jolie. Luckily, my family was chosen to become Jolie's forever family.

In December we brought Jolie home just in time for Christmas. Our other two cats, Henri and Pineapple, became wonderful big siblings to Jolie and they all get along beautifully. As long as neither of them get anywhere near Jolie's favorite hangout spot, cardboard boxes. Fostering can be an extremely rewarding experience and the knowledge that you helped give a cat the best life possible is an amazing thing.

Flea Baths: A Step by Step Guide

As promised in the Basics for Fostering Ferals article, here is a detailed how-to for how to give your foster kitties the most effective, least stressful flea bath possible. Flea baths are a must for any kitten coming in from outside as fleas love to make a meal of them. From start to finish, here's exactly how to de-flea your fosters:

1.) Gather your materials.

You're going to want to set up your bathing station at a sink rather than a bathtub. This is much less stressful for the kitten as being even partially submerged in water is a one way ticket to getting scratched or bit. As for shampoo, blue Dawn dish soap is the way to go. Not only is it cheap, but it's gentle and very effective. You'll also need a feline specific flea comb. Linked here is the comb that I use for my fosters. It's easy to use and gets all the little nasties out of short haired or long haired kittens. Grab some cotton balls for cleaning up the kitten's face.

A cup of warm water with a bit of Dawn in it should be ready to go next to your sink so that any fleas you pull off can get dunked into the water to kill them immediately. Towels and long sleeves are a must as well. You can use gloves if you feel that they would make you more comfortable.

2.) Calm your kitten.

Working a calmed kitten into a bath is much easier than working with a stressed, hissing kitten. This might take a while so be patient. Wrapping them in a towel will help with this. Stroking the kitten with the flea comb without going too deep into their fur will acclimate them to the sensation which will serve you well once the combing starts.

3.) Start combing!

Pass the flea comb through the kitten's fur starting at the top of their head and working your way down over their back and stomach all the way to their tail. You'll see some little black dots on the comb as your brush through. This is flea dirt which is basically flea feces. If you come across a live flea in your comb then immediately dunk the comb into the Dawn and water solution to drown the flea so it doesn't have a chance to jump off onto another kitten.

4.) Time to start the bath…

Most importantly, NEVER submerge any kitten in water. Only use running water to bathe a kitten instead of standing water. As well, NEVER get soap near your kitten's eyes or in their ears. Before any water gets onto the kitten, create a ring of Dawn around the kittens neck as a barrier. If you start cleaning the back first, the fleas will run up to the head and ears of the kitten making it way more difficult to remove them. Using warm water, lather the ring of soap around the neck really well. Then, using more soap, work your way down the kitten's back, stomach, legs, and tail. Make sure to get in every nook and cranny! Those fleas are persistent.

Using a damp cotton ball with some Dawn on it, carefully clean the kitten's face and chin. You might notice that as water is running off your kitty that the water might be a bit red. This is the flea dirt washing off. Since fleas subsist off of blood, it's only natural that their feces will also be red. Once your kitten is lathered up and cleaned thoroughly, make sure to rinse all of the soap off of them.

5.) Warm your kitten up!

Since the little guys have a hard time regulating their own body temperature, it's essential that you warm them up as quickly as possible. Wrap the kitty in a nice, warm towel and gently dry them. Make sure that they're thoroughly dried and then you can pass through their fur again with the flea comb. Lastly, and arguably the most important step, shower them with treats! Baths are never a fun experience for any cat so treats and kisses are super important.

Flea baths don't have to be a traumatic experience for you or the cat. Taking these precautions and following these steps will benefit the health and happiness of your fosters.  

Pet Poisons

It can happen to the most diligent and caring pet owners. Whether you turn your back for a second or you try to let your pet try some of your dinner, there are so many accidents that occur with pets from accidental poisoning. Here, we'll discuss some of the most common household items that can make your fur babies really sick. 

Acetaminophen, found in Tylenol and many other medications, can cause serious liver damage in dogs and cats. Cats especially are sensitive, as only a single tablet for an average sized cat can cause anemia and unfortunately, sometimes is fatal. In 2012, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reported that most of the cases they deal with are the accidental ingestion of prescription pills by dogs and cats.

Chocolate is a classic no-no for pets. Dark chocolate is particularly damaging to dogs and cats as it has a higher concentration of cocoa. Ingesting chocolate can result in seizures and even death.

Grapes, even in very small amounts, can lead to the rapid development of kidney failure. Repeated vomiting and hyperactivity are early signs of sickness.

Onions and garlic can severely damage your pets red blood cells which can lead to anemia. Even exposure to concentrated forms of onion or garlic like powders or soup mixes is also toxic. Symptoms of this type of poisoning are lethargy, weakness, reduced appetite, and pale gums. 

Mothballs, weirdly enough, can be poisonous to cats and dogs especially if they contain naphthalene. Vomiting and diarrhea may occur as well as increased drinking and seizures.

Lilies are a huge problem for the kidneys and hearts of our pets. In some cases, ingestion can be fatal. Be aware of the foliage that surrounds your home if you let your kitty outside.

Cleaning solutions/materials, such as bleach, drain cleaners, and ammonia, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers which can be extremely painful for any pet. 

Here are some simple tips to help keep your pets safe:

Store foods and medicine out of your pet's reach (even cats) and install cat-safe locks for your more curious than average kitty.

Do not let your cat on the counter while preparing food or eating. This is more sanitary for you and will prevent any sneaky bites of people food.

Do not feed your pet table scraps.

To learn more about how you can protect your pet from accidental poisoning, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's website and read more.