Cat hygiene

This kitty has learn to brush herself!
Cat hair cut and Cats play

Cat fight

Two cats fighting!
In red corner is B.J. and in blue corner Cognac!
B.J. vs. Cognac!
3 rounds!
Who will win?
Watch this exciting match with our commentator and find out;)

Killer Cat

Samantha killed Princess

No Words on Wednesday...

Long Tummy on Tuesday...

Here I am on Tummy Tuesday!
How about that tummy?
Like Norma Desmond said,
"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
~~~~~
I am ready for my tummy close-up...
~~~~~

3 sleeping cats

Cats said: "It's so hooot... so... we are sooo sleepy...."
4 kittens and Mother with Children
Did you know ? I think almost every cat is funny :D

Remembering Those Who Served...

Memorial Day
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary
St. Louis, Missouri
May 28, 2007

I was limericked too...

Oh Hooray!
China Cat told me to go over to Kitty Limericks
and much to my delight, I was limericked too!
Karen Jo at Kitty Limericks wrote about my love of tomatoes!
What a terrific surprise for me on this holiday weekend.
This is what she wrote about me:
~~~~~
Willow is a little over three years old. She was adopted from the Humane Society when she was 2 1/2 months old. She quickly made friends with China Cat and the two of them get along very well. Willow likes to eat things which come in cans, like beans, tuna and tomatoes. Her Mom very cleverly got a can opener which leaves no sharp edges, so Willow can enjoy her food right out of the can. Willow absolutely refuses to eat anything which gets on the floor. She even refuses to eat the crunchies which get out of the bowl and on her placemat.
~~~~~
And here is the picture of me and my tomatoes:
~~~~~ And my wonderful limerick:
~~~~~
Willow likes to eat canned tomatoes.
She eats out of the can and gets some on her nose.
The can may fall down,
But she doesn't frown.
She hops to the floor and licks her tomatoes.
~~~~~
Thank you so much for this honor!

My Favorites Meme

I was tagged
for the Favorites Meme by Suzanne.
This should be a lot of fun.

Time of day:

Anytime of day that I am eating, of course!

Day of week:

I can't decide what my favorite day is because I have fun everyday. However, to answer the question, I will say Sunday because Sunday is the day that starts the week with more fun things to do!

Season of year:

Spring would be my favorite because the weather starts getting warmer and I get to go out for hours in my sunny screened-in porch. I do like Summer too but sometimes it is way too hot!

Holiday:

I am torn between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving I always get turkey but Christmas I get presents. Oh, I guess I get good food at Christmastime too. Actually all holidays seem to have good food so now I am really confused. presents and lovely family time.

Beaches:

I'm sure I don't have a favorite beach since I have never seen one. I do have a pool in my backyard but I'm afraid to go out near it so I guess the pool is also not one of my favorite things.

Song:

Just like China Cat, my favorite song is my own song. I sing my song to my Food Lady and she likes to hear me and then gives me my crunchies.

Flower:

When we have fresh flowers in the house I always try to eat them. My favorites are Roses. My Food Lady loves roses but she doesn't want to eat them like I do.

Movies:

I don't have a favorite movie but when I was a kitten I loved watching the TV. I don't do that so much anymore.

Soaps:

I don't watch soaps, but I hear them because my Food Lady watches a lot of them.

Beverage:

I like drinking water a lot but I also like milk from my Food Lady's cereal bowl. Yum!

Fruit:

I think that tomatoes are considered fruit so that would have to be my favorite fruit. If you don't think tomatoes are fruit, then my next favorite fruit is strawberries.

Snack:

Any type of Temptations - I love them all.

Food:

The only cat food I eat is Eukanuba Restricted-Calorie crunchies. I like it very much. The only problem is that my vet told my Food Lady that I should lose 2 pounds so I'm not supposed to get any extra in-between meals.

Restaurant:

I have never actually gone to a restaurant but I love it when my Lap Lady brings home some leftover chicken or steak.

~~~~~
If any other cat wants to play, consider yourself tagged!

Pet Food Recall: Expanding Again!

This from the FDA:

Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula Recalled Due to Cross Contamination

Contact:
Customer Information Center
1-866-214-6945

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- Meta, MO-- May 23, 2007 -- Diamond Pet Foods announced that it has recalled a limited quantity of Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula because of confirmatory testing that indicates the product may include traces of melamine resulting from cross contamination during manufacturing. No animal deaths have been reported.

This action is limited to Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula with production codes of NLR0404A2SL, "Best Before" Oct. 9, 2008, and NLR0404B2SL, "Best Before" Oct. 9, 2008. The recalled product was manufactured at the company's Lathrop, Calif. facility. No other Nutra Nuggets products are affected.

Consumers who purchased Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula with production codes of NLR0404A2SL, "Best Before" Oct. 9, 2008, and NLR0404B2SL, "Best Before" Oct. 9, 2008, should stop feeding the product immediately and return unused portions to their retailer for a full refund. Consumers may also contact the Diamond Pet Foods Customer Information Center toll free at 1-866-214-6945 for further information. The Center, which is staffed by veterinarians, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT.

Real Dogs Don't Eat Kibble contains many great recipes for homemade dog foods!

Wow - Wacky Wordless

Male cat names

Male cat name from letter G to letter J

G
Garfield
Gatsby
Gibson
Gizmo
Griffin
Grover
Gumby

H
Hacker
Hackett
Hagerty
Harley Davidson
Harvard
Heatcliff
Henderson
Herbie
Hershey
Hilton
Hobbes
Hogan
Hoss
Howie
Hugo
Hurricane
Hutch

I
Ice
Iggy
Igor
Indigo
Inferno
Inkers
Ira
Irish
Irving
Itchy
Ivan
Izzy

J
JJ
Jabber
Jaguar
James
Jasper
Jazz
Jax
JC
Jellybean
Jessie
Jet
Jimmy
Jinx
Joey
Johny
Johnson
Johanssen
Junior


leave comment if you have some suggestion form male cat names from letter G to letter J

I really don't like going to the vet...

Hey, look what I found out in my screened-in porch!
It might be a scary PTU but the door is open.
So I thought I would just check it out... Not a good idea!
As you can see, we were both trapped! I called to my squillion Jessie, "Please get me out of here!"
She did her best but could not get me out of that darn PTU. After we were put into my Food Lady's white VW,
named after Skeezix,
we ended up on a bench at the V-E-T! We both complained the whole way there
but my Food Lady kept telling us that this was necessary
and it's only once a year.
~~~~~
When we were in Room #1,
my Food Lady discovered that I was actually drooling.
I have never drooled before but I was terrified there.
~~~~~
My doctor came in the room
and tried to get me to come out of my hated PTU
which somehow became my beloved PTU.
~~~~~
As much as I did not want to get in the PTU,
I was certainly not going to get out of it
until I was home again.
The doctor and her assistant tried dumping me out of the PTU
but I very cleverly wedged my left hind foot at the top
so I was not coming out.
OK, they eventually figured out how to get me out.
However, I just went limp and didn't even bite or scratch anybody
and therefore they did heap praises upon me
regarding what a good cat I was.
Honestly, I just wanted to go home! Here I am back home again, on my favorite rug,
by my favorite sliding glass door,
to my favorite screened-in porch.
What a relief!!!!! .
Don't forget to visit Carnival of the Cats at the Cat Blogosphere.

Pet Food Recall : In the News Today. May 19, 2007

Bee feed is being tested for melamine affects on bees. Late last year, after commercial honey bees were fed a supplement of protein based bee feed, nearly a quarter of the bee population died without explaination. Noone knows whether the feed had been tainted or even if it has an affect on bees but it is worth studying. I'll keep you updated on any developments.

New Jersey has introduced a Bill that would make it legal for pet owners to sue manufacturers for emotional pain and suffering if their pet becomes ill or dies from the tainted pet foods. The bill is up for consideration Monday. If passed, it would set no monetary limit on damages. Hooray for them!

The FDA has deemed the pork, fish and poultry safe. Tests on the swine, fish and poultry found that melamine does not accumulate in the animals and the risk to humans consuming the meat is very low, the FDA said.

Earlier this week, Menu Foods posted claims forms on its Web site for U.S. and Canadian pet owners related to the recall after receiving "hundreds of thousands of calls" from customers. While dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Menu Foods by pet owners, the company said it will begin discussions with customers who wish to settle with Menu Foods directly, out of court.

ANOTHER PET FOOD RECALL

May 18, 2007

Chenango Valley Pet Foods, which previously recalled dry pet food, announced today it's pulling more food -- including for ferrets -- off the market out of fears they were cross-contaminated with rice protein concentrate from China.

Added to the Pet Food Recall:

Doctors Foster & Smith Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dog Food
Shop Rite Redi-Mixt Dog Food For Dogs
Lick Your Chops Kitten & Cat Food
SHEP Chunk Style Dog Food
8 In 1 Ferret Ultra-Blend Advanced Nutrition Diet
Bulk Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food
Health Diet Cat Food Chicken & Rice Dinner
Evolve Kitten Formula

Dog Food Secrets : Includes Recipes for Homemade Dog Foods!

Calm before the Storm...

This is how I looked
before the PTU showed up in my beloved screened-in porch...

Pet food Recall : How long has Melamine been in our pets' food?

When US Food and Drug Inspectors reached China last week to investigate the plants involved in the tainted wheat flour investigation, they found nothing to investigate. Both plants had been closed down and all equipment had been dismantled.

“We visited the two facilities, but there's essentially nothing to be found in that they are currently closed down, not operating,” Walter Batts, deputy director of the FDA’s Office of International Programs, told reporters. “There's essentially nothing, as they have determined, that is available to be seen at the facilities. They've been closed down, machinery dismantled, nothing to really get access to.”

The FDA did confirm however, that China has detained the manager of one of those companies – Mao Lijun of Xuzhou Anying.

The Los Angels Times reported that Mao Lijun’s factory has sickened people and plants for years.

“Farmers in this poor rural area about 400 miles northwest of Shanghai had complained to local government officials since 2004 that Mao's factory was spewing noxious fumes that made their eyes tear up and the poplar trees nearby shed their leaves prematurely,” the paper reported.

“Yet no one stopped Mao's company from churning out bags of food powders and belching smoke — until one day last month when, in the middle of the night, bulldozers arrived and tore down the facility.

The story added, “It wasn't authorities that finally acted: Mao himself razed the brick factory — days before the investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration arrived in China on a mission to track down the source of the tainted pet food ingredients.”

So, how long has this been going on?

At a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration press conference, David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food protection for the FDA, said melamine was seen in pet food samples as far back as early 2006. Before that, he said no one knows, or will likely ever know, if melamine was or was not present in pet food.

Why didn't it sicken our pets before?

The answer remains a mystery. It could be that it has been affecting our pets all along but noone knew what to look for. It may also be that it was only recently that when other chemicals were introduced into the mixture along with the melamine, it was then that they had a deadly affect. Either way, the fact remains that the protein results were altered, melamine contains no nutritional value. So at the very least, the question I would like answered is: Have our pets been undernourished for quite some time?

Basenji Stew

4 small parsnip
2 whole yellow squash—cubed
2 whole Sweet potatoes—peeled and cubed
2 whole Zucchini—cubed
5 whole tomatoes—
(15 oz.) can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup Couscous
1/4 cup shredded Carrots
1 teaspoon Ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon Ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon Ground cumin
3 cups Water or chicken stock
2 cups cooked chicken
Combine all the ingredients (except chicken) in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Add chicken. Place over cook brown rice or barley.

Healthy Food for Dogs - Homemade Recipes

Pet Food Recall : Kirkland Added To List

May 15, 2007

One more name has been added to the ever expanding pet food recall list. This time is Kirkland, made by American Nutrition and sold at Costco Wholesale Clubs.

Kirkland Signature™ Lamb and Rice canned dog food is included in this recall. It is sold as part of the Kirkland Signature Premium Dog Food 2-Flavor Variety Pack, item #38436, with a specific code on the package which reads, "Best if used by Apr 15 09."

Costco is asking it's members to stop using this product immediately and return it to any Costco for a full refund.

Find out more about the secrets of commercial dog food and get easy homemade recipes to keep your dog safe!

Pet Food Recall : This From Royal Canin USA!

May 12, 2007

Dear Pet Owners,

We deeply regret the concern and anxiety this update will cause both our loyal customers and the pet community.

Based on our ongoing investigation and extensive review of our manufacturing and quality assurances testing procedures, we recently announced a voluntary recall of eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products due to tainted Chinese rice protein concentrate.

A very limited number of Sensible Choice and Kasco products in this recent recall tested positive for trace levels of a melamine derivative, so we are voluntarily recalling the following products out of an abundance of caution.

We have received no confirmed cases of melamine related illness in pets eating Sensible Choice and Kasco products affected by this recall.

These eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products with Best By date codes between July 28, 2007 to April 30, 2008 are being voluntarily recalled:

SENSIBLE CHOICE® (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® Chicken and Rice Adult (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® Chicken and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® Lamb and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® Chicken and Rice Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® NATURAL BLEND Adult (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® NATURAL BLEND Senior (Dry Dog Food)
- SENSIBLE CHOICE® NATURAL BLEND Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
KASCO® (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
- KASCO® Chunks (Dry Dog Food) - KASCO® Hi Energy (Dry Dog Food)
- KASCO® Maintenance (Dry Dog Food)
- KASCO® Mealettes (Dry Dog Food)
- KASCO® Mini Chunks (Dry Dog Food)
- KASCO® Puppy (Dry Dog Food
- KASCO® Cat (Dry Cat Food)

Based on today’s announcement, pet owners should stop feeding their pets the eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and dry cat food products listed. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet.

The safety and nutritional quality of Royal Canin USA pet food is our company’s top priority because we understand that the health of pets comes first. Pet owners who have questions about the voluntary recall of Sensible Choice and Kasco dry pet food products and other Royal Canin USA products should call 1-800-513-0041 or visit our web site at www.royalcanin.us.

All Sensible Choice and Kasco products have a satisfaction guarantee and the company will refund or replace the diets that are part of this recall announcement.

The hard working men and women of Royal Canin USA are continuing to do everything in our power to maintain your trust and confidence in all of our brands.

Sincerely,
Olivier Amice
President and CEO of Royal Canin USA

KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE ...Healthy Food For Dogs-Homemade Recipes

Happy Mom's Day!

A Healthy Alternative to the Pet Food Recall

Shih Tzu Sushi

1 can salmon, canned, pink—reserve liquid
1 cup brown rice
2 cups water—plus salmon liquid
1 whole egg, hard-boiled—chopped
1/2 cup peas and carrots, frozen—or more if desired
1 tablespoon fresh parsley—chopped
2 tablespoons cod liver oil1 package Nori Sheets -- *see Note

Drain salmon, reserve liquid for rice. do not remove bones or skin, flake with fork.Defrost peas and carrots.In a sauce pan add salmon liquid, water, brown rice, cook. let cool to touch. In a mixing bowl add salmon, brown rice, chopped egg, peas and carrots, and parsley, cod liver oil. Mix well. place one nori sheet on a flat surface and spread mixture 1/4 inch over nori, leave 1/4 inch edge of nori and dampen with water. And roll. repeat till nori sheets are used, or mixture is gone.Individually wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate till ready to serve.Cut rolls into size for your doggie.:
Nori Sheets is dried seaweed found in the oriental section of your grocery store or specialty shop. This recipe freezes well also.

Hope you find this recipe for homemade dog food useful! More recipes like these can be found at: Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Scupper

Scupper at Pension Milou

This is the story of Scupper. It’s a story that actually began many years ago when a black Labrador called Bosun used to come and stay here. Bosun had a best friend at Pension Milou – a Jack Russell terrier called Alfie. Bosun and Alfie were inseparable. Alfie was a very special dog with a wonderful temperament and Bosun’s owners often spoke about getting a Jack Russell puppy as a friend for Bosun. Well, that never happened. Alfie went first to Australia and then home to England where he still lives with his family and a new lady friend, another Jack Russell terrier. Bosun sadly died and life, as it does, went on. You can read more here: Bosun - le chien pêcheur de Monaco.

Sometime later, when a group of Brits were trying to help the Refuge de Flassans in the Var, several of us went there and adopted a dog. Bosun’s owners, Nicholas and Victoria went along and adopted THE most beautiful black Labrador - Neptune. You’d not expect that such a good specimen of a breed would be in a refuge, but Neptune was originally from a breeding kennel where he’d been used at stud. He was and is a beautiful Lab. He’d probably been chucked out because he’d got too old to be of further use. Well, he landed on his feet when Nick and Victoria, and daughter, Daisy, gave him a new home.

Not long after Neptune settled into his new family they decided they would finally get the Jack Russell terrier they’d long wanted. They knew exactly where to go in the UK. Bosun had had a great friend in England called Badger - a Jack Russell, of course - and Badger's aunt was expecting puppies.

Travelling from England to France

The family wanted a wire-haired male. Scupper was the only boy and fortunately had the right coat. Unfortunately he was the runt of the litter. When he was born he was a tiny and very weak puppy and not expected to make it. He was hand-fed and being the little fighter he was, he made it with all flags flying. When the family went to see him they went with some trepidation, after all, they were to have no choice as he was the only boy available. They needn’t have worried. One look and they were totally captivated. Scupper had found his family. And when he was old enough and with all the right injections and papers, Nicholas collected him and brought him to France.

Nick and one very small, tired puppy

Soon after this, I got to meet him. Scupper was a puppy so scrumptious and adorable, you felt you could eat him. He was beautiful, he was bright, he was interested in everything going on. He was cute and funny and responsive and loved to be cuddled.

Daisy and Scupper

Scupper and Neptune spent their time either in Monaco or in the house in the country - in the Aveyron.

His first brush with disaster came in February when he ate some slug bait. He was taken immediately to the vet who put him on a drip. His system was flushed out and after a few days, happily, he recovered.

Water is fun!

Scupper came to stay here on two or three occasions. He was a dog that always wanted to please, he gladdened the heart of everyone who met him and everyone who met him fell in love with him. If he had a fault, he barked a lot but then he was a Jack Russell. Here, he’d wear a citronelle collar, which bothered him not one jot and it worked – no barking. Even with his special collar on, he looked adorable because he was.

Christmas 2006 - Victoria & Daisy with Neptune & Scupper + biscuits!

Two weeks ago today – a Saturday – he was at home in the country and, as he always did, followed his friend, Neptune, outside. After so much rain, the grasses had grown and Victoria watched Neptune running along and every now and again, Scupper’s head would appear, bobbing up and down – the grasses pretty much covering such a little dog. But a little later, Victoria was horrified to see him return to the house with an enormous swelling on his neck. She rushed him to the vet who said it wasn’t likely to be a snake bite as he was too lively. The truth is we don’t know what caused the swelling: a snake, an insect, perhaps he ate something – like all Jack Russell terriers and especially puppies, he was into everything. Whatever it was, he was one sick dog, and unfortunately the medication seemed to make him worse. He went back to the vet three times over the next day or so but by the following Thursday, he had deteriorated and first thing on Friday morning, Victoria put the Scupper and Neptune into the car and drove the six hours to their regular vet in Cap d’Ail, where he was immediately put onto a drip, blood taken and the woeful diagnosis given that he had renal failure. But no one was giving up.

Buddies: Scupper & Neptune

He remained on a drip for days, eventually leaving the surgery to go home at night to the Monaco apartment, and then, back next day to be hooked up again. He ate the tiniest amount of food but he was fast losing weight and getting weaker.

Daisy & Scupper - gardening?

Two days ago, he seemed weaker, his legs were wobbly and he had a cloudiness in his eyes. He was a very sick dog and there seemed to be nothing to do but put little Scupper to sleep. On the way to the surgery, though, he suddenly brightened up and started to take interest in what was going on outside the car, even wagging his tail. Nick and Victoria were naturally confused. ‘We can’t put a dog to sleep who is showing such signs of life,’ but sadly it didn’t last long and by the time they got to the surgery, he had weakened considerable – and of course, the fact remained, he had renal failure. He couldn’t survive without a constant drip and even then, probably not for long. He would eventually suffer more. As he lay in Victoria’s arms, and just before the dreaded needle went into his little leg, his cloudy eyes suddenly cleared and he looked at her – right at her - with his beautiful bright eyes and seemed to be saying, ‘thankyou.’ And then he was gone. Nick cried, Victoria cried, Louise, our kind vet, cried. It’s not often a vet cries, you know. Scupper was only 10 months old.

Place du Casino, Monte Carlo

Scupper's ashes will be buried, and a tree planted over him, in his favourite place near to the small lake on the Aveyron property. When Scupper wasn’t following Neptune about, he’d be found here, sitting for hours watching and chasing the frogs.

Why Scupper? God – or whoever is in charge! – why does a gorgeous little puppy like Scupper have to die? Take an old dog, God! Don't take Scupper. Do the good die young? Well Scupper was young – too young – and he was more than a good dog, an exceptional dog who brightened the lives of everyone who met him. The only consolation - hardly that - is that whatever happened to him: a bite or poison or even the wrong medication, he was doing what he loved – running about the countryside following his best friend Neptune.

Aveyron in winter

It’s strange how some dogs have such an effect on you. Scupper, as I said, only stayed here two or three times but I’ll never forget him. That was the effect he had on people. He was a one in a million dog.

Oh Scupper, we miss you. I'm just mad as all hell that you died, that's all. Mad as all hell. If I could write poetry, Scupper, I'd write a poem for you - to you – but I can’t write poetry. You deserve a poem, Scupper - hell, you deserve a life! A life, longer than 10 short months.

I hope little Scupper is playing with Bosun now, in doggy heaven, and introducing him to the delights of chasing frogs. You know, I have a strong feeling he is.

Homemade Dog Food...A Natural Choice

With the pet food recall mounting, many pet owners are turning to their kitchen to try to keep their pet safe. There are many great books out there containing recipes for homemade dog foods. Just remember to keep a few basic facts in mind when choosing the ones that are right for your dog.

First, a well balanced diet for a dog consists of 40% meat. 30% vegetables, and 30% protein. These are their needs over time, it does not mean that every recipe that you select contain these proportions.

Remember to always cook your pets meat. Many people believe that since dogs killed their prey for thousands of years and ate the meat raw that they should continue to eat their meat raw. What you need to keep in mind when making this decision is that the dog is no longer killing their prey. We are. And as we are processing it, sometimes it comes into contact with salmonella and other forms of bacteria. So although raw meat sounds like a good idea, there are other things to consider.

Some foods are toxic to dogs.
Alcoholic Beverages can cause intoxication, coma and sometimes death
Bones from Fish and Poultry can obstruct or lacerate the digestive system
Coffee, Tea or any other form of Caffeine can be toxic and cause problems with the heart and nervous system
Citrus Oil Extracts can cause vomiting
Grapes and Raisins can cause damage to the kidneys
Large Amounts of Liver can cause vitamin A toxicity (affects muscles and bones)
Macadamia Nuts contain unknown toxin which affects the digestive and nervous system.
Mushrooms can contain toxins which can cause shock and result in death
Onions and Garlic can cause anemia (many homemade recipes contain small amounts of garlic which is widely thought to be acceptable for dogs - poisonous for cats however)
Raw eggs can lead to skin and coat problems
Raw fish if fed regularly can lead to loss of appetite, seizures and sometimes death

Work your homemade dog food recipes around these basic facts.

Wendy and Jack Volhald, well known and respected dog trainers, have been making their own homemade dog foods for over 30 years. In their book, Dog Food Secrets, they share some of their recipes for homemade dog foods that have enabled their dogs to live longer and longer with each generation. According to a National Survey done by the Newfoudland Club of America, the normal lifespan of a Newfoundland in 1998 was 6.2-6.7 years. Using the recipes for homemade dog foods found in their book, Dog Food Secrets, their dogs live to be up to 15 years of age.

We all love our pets and want only the best for them. You may feel as though you can’t make your own recipes for homemade dog foods, there are many books out there to help. Just remember, we have been successfully feeding our children well balanced diets for years and with a little knowledge you can feed your best friend too. At least you’ll know what they are eating.

7 Random Willow Facts

Oh Hooray!
I was tagged by Kimo & Sabi
and by Earl Grey for a fun meme
where I get to tell 7 Random Facts about Myself. Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!
~~~~~

1. I find it very important to have a routine. If my Food Lady is not awake by 6:00 it is my job to wake her up for breakfast. Sometimes I drop toys on her or I meow in her face. If she ignores me then I will lick her face. If I still don't get her attention, it becomes time for me to whap her on the head. That always works - and I get my breakfast.

~~~~~

2. Eating is very important to me also. If my Food Lady puts shoes on (she is usually barefoot at home) then I know she is leaving so I need food. The dad thinks this is ridiculous but hey...I don't know when she will be back and I want food!

~~~~~

3. I am always there when my Food Lady showers and dries her hair. First I sit at the shower door and wait for her to come out. When she is ready to use the dryer on her hair, she aims it at me and combs the top of my head. Usually I will roll over and she combs my tummy too. Then while she finishes drying her hair, I finish grooming myself. And then I get to eat.

~~~~~

4. I get very much frightened if people come into my house. I have hidden in the basement, or the bedroom under the bed, or on one of the dining room chairs or on one of the kitchen chairs.

~~~~~

5. I don't like to be held. My Food Lady likes to pick me up and I am a bit amenable to it if she puts me back down and feeds me my crunchies. I think that is why she always picks me up before I eat. Oh, I will also let her hold me so I can look out the window. But I wiggle away if there is nothing outside worth looking at - like birds or squirrels.

~~~~~

6. As much as I love my Food Lady I only sit on my Big Janitor's lap. Or when my Food Lady's Dad was visiting, I sat on his lap too. I have lived here since May 1st, 2004 (when I was about 3 months old) and I have only sat on my Food Lady's lap 3 or 4 times. But I do sleep on her at night. I don't know why, it's just the way I am.

~~~~~

7. I really love my sister-cat China Cat. She washes my head and my ears. And she always lets me plop down next to her for catnaps. She was very lonely when the cat that lived here before me, Samantha, went to the Bridge. Samantha wasn't very friendly with China Cat, so when I came here and loved her, China Cat was very happy.

~~~~~
So now the seven cats I am tagging are as follows:
~~~~~
KC and Missy Blue Eyes at their blog
~~~~~
Merlin and Dobby at their blog
~~~~~
Bathsheba at Jake and Bathsheba's blog
~~~~~
Riley and Tiki at their blog
~~~~~

Update on the Pet Food Recall

May 10, 2007

The Chinese government has detained an unknown number of managers from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd. and Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd.. This came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cited the two plants as those being the source of the contaminated wheat gluten.

There is a growing concern about the safety of food and drug shipments from China. The two companies that were cited by the FDA deliberately mislabeled the exported products to avoid inspection. China's former top drug regulator goes on trial later this month for taking bribes to approve drugs that had not been tested. Mississippi and Alabama have banned catfish from China after they were found to contain ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, antibiotics banned for use in the United States. Louisiana officials said that they will begin testing all seafood imports from China for antibiotics. Maybe this needs to be a wakeup call!

For 245 Recipes For Homemade Dog Food Click Here!

Cat Wallpaper #23

Another cat while sleeping



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Now Fish!

May 9, 2007

Since the pet food recall began, it has not only affected our beloved pets but thousands of hogs, 20 million chickens, and now an unknown amount of farm raised fish. Still, authorities say that there is no threat to humans.

The latest twist is authorities now believe that it was not actually wheat gluten and rice protein that was spiked with melamine, but wheat flour.

Dog Food Secrets

Pet Food Recall..Is An Uninformed Public Partially To Blame?

Imports Erode U.S. Wheat Gluten Industry

By ROXANA HEGEMAN
The Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. -- Even as fears grow over contaminated imported wheat gluten in recalled pet food, U.S. production has been so eroded by low-cost imports that it can no longer supply domestic demand, domestic makers say.

Only four domestic gluten manufacturers, including two in Kansas, have survived the flood of foreign wheat gluten bought here in the last decade at prices cheaper than U.S. producers can make it.

When the United States removed quotas on gluten imports in 2000, prices plummeted by about half, said John Neufeld, chief operating officer for Dallas-based White Energy, which purchased a bankrupt wheat gluten facility in Russell, Kan.

The U.S. imports roughly 80 percent of its wheat gluten from Australia, the European Union and China, where the contaminated wheat gluten behind the recent pet food recall is believed to have originated, according to figures from the National Association of Wheat Growers. It is used primarily as an ingredient in the baking industry, in cereal and in pet food.

More than 100 brands of pet food have been recalled since March 16 because they were contaminated with melamine. An unknown number of dogs and cats have been sickened or died after eating chemical-laced pet food.

The contamination has raised alarm among industry leaders, who say the nation's growing reliance on foreign food supplies compromises national security.

"Imagine if this was a child _ instead of 30,000 pets. How about 30,000 children? Would we be thinking, 'Gosh, I am glad I saved a few cents on that loaf of bread I bought,'" said John Thaemert, a Sylvan Grove farmer and wheat growers association president.

On April 26, the government said several hundred of the 6,000 hogs that may have eaten contaminated pet food are believed to have entered the food supply for humans. The potential risk to human health was said to be very low.

The food supply chain in the U.S. is highly regulated, but those safeguards are not always in place overseas. Other countries can make low cost food products because they have lower labor costs, less expensive land and less government regulation.

Neufeld's company estimated that the U.S. consumes about 530 million pounds of wheat gluten. Government figures show that about 386 million pounds of that wheat gluten was imported, he said.

White Energy's wheat gluten facility in Russell sells its gluten primarily to the domestic baking industry. The facility produces 40 million pounds of wheat gluten annually, accounting for just under 8 percent of U.S. gluten consumption, Neufeld said. Its gluten plant has been running at capacity and has not been affected by the recent concerns over the imported gluten.

The nation's largest gluten maker, MGP Ingredients Inc., is based in Atchison, Kan., with another plant in Pekin, Ill. The company has the capacity to produce 120 million pounds of gluten in a year but the plants are running at only 20 percent of that capacity, said Steve Pickman, MGP Ingredients' vice president for corporate relations.

"We have been unable to compete effectively on a price basis with imported gluten," he said.

Pet Food Recall: FDA Announces New Website Addressing Growing Concerns About Consumer Health

May 7,2007
Check out the New Website from the FDA

Midnight Monday with a Lizard!

My little friends, China II and Willow II,
went over to my Food Lady's Aunt's house.
She has a beautiful black cat named BC -
she said that BC stands for Black Cat.
BC is a very friendly kitty.
My Food Lady really enjoyed seeing and playing with BC
since she couldn't play with me.
~~~~~
BC is also very lucky
because there are lots of lizards there to play with. My Food Lady saw this little lizard in a hanging plant.
Maybe this is Louisiana George - maybe Daisy will know???
~~~~~ Anyway, he quickly ran up the rope on the hanging plant...... and walked right across the wall.
~~~~~
I was amazed at this feat
but I've never seen a lizard before. BC was sorry LA George didn't stay around to play...

Pet Food Recall: New Hope?

May 6, 2007
Perry Martos, a scientist at The University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada may have made a breakthrough in the investigation of the tainted pet food. The two unauthorized chemicals that were found in the pet food, melamine and cyanuric acid, when mixed together with cat urine, formed a mass in of crystal, in less than a second, very similar to that found in the kidneys of the affected animals. "If you can imagine an instantaneous kidney stone — that's essentially the way I would perceive it," says Martos. Scientists are now working on a way to dissolve those crystals

Meanwhile, in Washington on Wednesday, the Senate voted unanimously to standardize the nutrition labels on pet food and to fine pet food makers who don't report problems right away. The amendment also calls for a pet version of the system that now tracks human contamination that causes illness and death in people.

Try this homemade dog treat:

Cheesy Carrot Muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup finely grated carrot
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin or line it with paper baking cups. Combine the flours and baking powder and mix well. Add the cheese and carrots and use your fingers to mix them into the flour until they are well-distributed. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Then whisk in the milk and vegetable oil. Pour this over the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. Fill the muffin cups three-quarters full with the mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins feel springy. Be sure to let the muffins cool before letting your dog do any taste testing! One muffin for medium to large dog, half a muffin for a toy or small dog.

More homemade dog treat recipes can be found By Clicking HERE!

Such a Sleepy Sunday...

I was so sleepy this morning
that I didn't want to get out of bed.
I looked over and saw China Cat was still sleeping too...
So, Zzzzzz....Zzzzzzz....Zzzzzz....

ASPCA on the Pet Food Recall: "This Is Far From Over"

May 5, 2007
This from the ASPCA :“We are strongly recommending that pet parents immediately investigate, via their pet food manufacturer’s Web site or by calling them directly, where the ingredients—specifically protein supplements—are sourced from.”

Now let me see if I understand this. We are to ask the manufacturers who 1)did not inform the FDA of possible contamination of their wheat gluten until nearly a month after they found out, 2) did not pull some of their products from shelves after the FDA told them they were contaminated because they wanted to perform their own tests first, and 3) after suppliers accused one of them of putting rice protein in their pet food recipes without their knowledge or consent, that manufacturer of course denied it. And they are going to tell us the truth. And when they tell us that all of the ingredients come from the US, we are to believe them. I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night!

Dog Food Secrets -includes recipes for homemade dog foods!

Basenji Stew
4 small parsnip
2 whole yellow squash—cubed
2 whole Sweet potatoes—peeled and cubed
2 whole Zucchini—cubed
5 whole tomatoes—canned
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup Couscous
1/4 cup shredded Carrots
1 teaspoon Ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon Ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon Ground cumin
3 cups Water or chicken stock
2 cups cooked chicken
Combine all the ingredients (except chicken) in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Add chicken. Place over cook brown rice or barley.

For 245 Recipes For Homemade Dog Foods Click Here!

China II and Willow II toured a swamp!

OK, China II and Willow II gave me
their first report....
~~~~~
They went on a swamp tour!
They were kind of nervous about going on a swamp tour and they had never even seen a swamp before.
~~~~~
Well, actually I've never seen a swamp before either. But they were very brave and got in the swamp boat. They said that after they were on the boat
it headed out to where the 'gators live...
~~~~~
Their swamp tour guide said that the
big 'gator's name was Big Boy.
And the smaller one was Cindy.
When he called them, they swam over to the boat
to eat chicken that he threw to them.After seeing the 'gators and some egrets
they headed back to land.
~~~~~
China II and Willow II were happy that
Big Boy and Cindy didn't see them and try eating them!
I am too!

PET FOOD RECALL LIST EXPANDS...AGAIN!! May 4,2007

Check the Updated Pet Food Recall List from the FDA

For 245 Recipes For Homemade Dog Foods Click Here!

I was right to be very concerned...

Last Wednesday I was very concerned.
I had found the big green carrier thing
that usually means that my Food Lady is going away.
I was certainly right about that -
which is why I have been
unable to blog for what seems like forever!
~~~~~
But before she left I had an idea
to send my Squillion, Sadie Katie in the bag
so she could let me know what was going on.
Unfortunately, Sadie Katie was too big to go unnoticed
so China Cat and I recruited our little friends,
China II and Willow II. We helped them hide in my Food Lady's purse
and Thursday morning at 5:30 AM
(a ridiculous hour to be awake)
my Big Janitor and my Food Lady got in the car and left us.
However, they didn't know that
China II and Willow II were in the purse! Also before they left, my Food Lady gave us
treats and hugs and kisses and told us that a nice lady
was going to come over every morning and evening
to give us breakfast and dinner.
We did remember that lady from when
the big green carrier came out last time.
She was very nice and never forgot us.
And she even played with us.
~~~~~
So now we are just waiting for
reports from China II and Willow II...

Pet Food Recall Expanded

May 3, 2007
Menu Foods has expanded its pet food recall to include products that do not contain the ChemNutra Wheat Gluten but were manufactured at the same plants during the same period because of possible cross contamination. Here are the links to the expanded list:

Menu Foods Expanded Recall - US
Menu Foods Expanded Recall - Canada

Pet Food Recall : May 2, 2007 NEW ALERT!

The alert now includes ALL VEGETABLE PROTEIN PRODUCTS FROM CHINA: wheat gluten, rice gluten, rice protein, rice protein concentrate, corn gluten, corn gluten meal, corn by-products, soy protein, soy gluten, proteins, and mung bean protein. Read FDA Alert

245 Recipes For Homemade Dog Foods

Pet Food Recall - Before melamine there was Urea

May 1, 2007
Before melamine there was Urea. Chinese producers have admitted that they have been spiking US shipments for years. Urea is another Nitrogen-based chemical that has been used to fool US Companies into thinking that they were getting high quality protein products. Urea was used until it started making some animals ill.

Guarding against contaminated products being imported has become quite a problem. According to the Commerce Department, the pet food industry now imports 7 times the amount of animal feed it did in 2000. Wheat gluten and rice protein come in the form of a powder and chemicals like melamine can easily be mixed in (whether intentional or unintentional) and not be detected by the FDA because they are not on its battery of tests.

The FDA oversees a trillion dollars worth of products annually, this includes about half of all imports. The agency regulates about 25% of every dollar that is spent by American consumers annually, so it is impossible for the agency to inspect more than a fraction of all imports. About 99% of all food imports are not inspected.

Lawmakers are calling for an overhaul of the FDA but what do we do in the meantime?

So are any of us safe? It's not looking very promising...especially for our beloved pets.

Try This FREE Recipe for Homemade Dog Food!

Shih Tzu Sushi
1 can salmon, canned, pink—reserve liquid
1 cup brown rice
2 cups water—plus salmon liquid
1 whole egg, hard-boiled—chopped
1/2 cup peas and carrots, frozen—or more if desired
1 tablespoon fresh parsley—chopped
2 tablespoons cod liver oil
1 package Nori Sheets -- *see Note
Drain salmon, reserve liquid for rice. do not remove bones or skin, flake with fork.Defrost peas and carrots.In a sauce pan add salmon liquid, water, brown rice, cook. let cool to touch. In a mixing bowl add salmon, brown rice, chopped egg, peas and carrots, and parsley, cod liver oil. Mix well. place one nori sheet on a flat surface and spread mixture 1/4 inch over nori, leave 1/4 inch edge of nori and dampen with water. And roll. repeat till nori sheets are used, or mixture is gone.Individually wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate till ready to serve.Cut rolls into size for your doggie.

Note: Nori Sheets is dried seaweed found in the oriental section of your grocery store or specialty shop. This recipe freezes well also.

Healthy Food For Dogs - 245 Recipes For Homemade Dog Foods