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Critter Tips

There is no such thing as an “outdoor cat”—bring all pets indoors when the temperature drops. Offer your garage or shed with warm blankets and fresh water, to a family of stray cats. Even the furriest of friends suffer in frigid temperatures.

Wind chills cut through fur just as fast as they do through your street clothes—don’t keep dogs out too long in the cold and wipe their feet off when getting home. Even tough paw pads can be frostbitten or affected by salt and chemicals.

Always identify your pet with an adjustable collar and tags. Breakaway collars are great for cats and keep pets safe from strangulation. Adjust collars frequently on growing kittens and puppies. Ask your Vet about microchips!

Bunnies and chicks are not toys—please do not adopt or purchase a pet as a temporary gift or for holiday fun. All animals need and deserve loving, appropriate homes.

Using Teflon coated and nonstick cookware can produce fumes that are highly toxic to birds. “ Teflon Toxicosis,” has been identified as one of the leading causes of death, among birds.

Keep your eye out for swimming pets! Not all pets are good swimmers. Train your pet to only swim with you and never alone. Train your pet to find the stairs in the pool for easy exiting. Like children, pets need supervision at all times.

Never leave your pet in your car during the summer months. Leaving windows open may not prevent your car from reaching fatal temperatures, causing heat stroke. What you may think is “cool enough,” is not always the case.

Fresh water is a must for all pets. Refresh water bowls daily and leave toilet seats down at all times. Chemicals and cleaners can be toxic to your pets if ingested.

Consider adopting an older cat. An adult cat’s appearance and temperament are fully developed and they make great companions. Adult cats are anxious to give lots of love but are often overlooked at shelters.

October: Halloween can be “Tricky” for pets. Keep all pets indoors and closely supervised—chocolate is toxic to pets—do not leave candy or treats within reach of your pets.

Turkey and chicken bones along with most others, pose choking hazards to your pets. Some smaller bones will also break or splinter, causing pain and distress to your pet.

A pet with access to lit candles can result in burns from flames and hot wax injuries. Secure Xmas trees if you have climbing cats and remember that tinsel string and holiday wrapping can be fatal if ingested.

Always adopt a pet for life. Before adopting, consider your lifestyle and future—no pet should be abandoned during its lifetime.

Spay and neuter all pets. Pets live longer and healthier lives when spayed or neutered, have less of a tendency to stray from home and will get along better with their housemates.