31 Pound Fat Cat Finds a Home

Spokesman.com May 30, 2009

(CNN) - One fat cat

The Washington Humane Society is looking for the owner of a 31-pound cat.

It was brought in as a stray over the weekend. Workers said he is friendly and sweet, just needs to lose a little weight. He's even too big to fit comfortably in a kennel.

If the owners aren't found, the plus-sized feline will be put up for adoption.

May 30, 2009 in City
Fat cat finds a home in Oregon
Laura Mcvicker
The (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The calls came in from all over the United States. One cat lover called from Massachusetts, and another from Nevada.

They were all seeking to own a 31-pound cat that turned up at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s shelter last Saturday. The enormous tabby became a big celebrity after he was featured on CNN.

Sure, he’s obese, admits Kate Goudschaal, director of community programs for the Humane Society. But besides that, what’s not to love?

“He’s really sweet,” she said. “He really is just a love of a cat and definitely loves people.” As it turned out, it was Katee Belcher, of Gresham, Ore., who nabbed the kitty. She and her fiancé saw the cat on Wednesday’s evening news and fell in love. “He’s just absolutely precious,” she gushed Thursday afternoon. “There was no talk about it. We immediately called the shelter.”

As one person on an impressively long waiting list, Belcher was chosen because of her experience toning obese cats. Her current cat used to be pretty plump, she said. Belcher promised shelter officials that the fat cat, which she hasn’t named yet, would be placed on a strict dry-food diet and get walked every day. “Absolutely no table scraps,” she promised. “And I can take him on a kitty leash with a harness in the yard.”

Before finding a home, the cat created a stir at the Humane Society. He was brought to the shelter by a passer-by who spotted him waddling down Southeast 13th Street.

After arriving at the shelter, staffers realized there was a problem: He couldn’t fit in a kennel.
So he checked into the private office of the operations director, who was away on vacation.
With this setup, he got lots of exercise and love from staffers walking in and out of the office, Goudschaal said.

“Everybody wanted to see him,” she said.

He was also placed on a strict diet of mainly dry cat food, Goudschaal said. She thinks he became fat from being fed wet cat food, which contains many more calories than dry food. The diet quickly paid off. Since arriving at the shelter, the cat went from 34 pounds to a little-thinner 31.
Goudschaal hopes his new owner will continue the weight-loss plan. “We were looking for someone with a lot of love,” she said. “Love as in extra exercise, not extra food.”

Buy A Pet Gate For Your Home

By Matthew Penrod

Do you have areas you need to keep your pet away from? Maybe you can't watch him but want to make sure he stays out of trouble? A pet gate could be for you. This article will help you understand more about dog barriers, their uses, and what to watch for.

Barriers for animals in your house can be very handy. They can be used to separate your dog or cat and children when the pet is eating or you can't supervise your small child's interaction with him. If you have a small puppy, a pet gate is a great way to keep them confined while house training. This way they do not have to stay in a small crate. Finally, if you need to keep your dog or cat restricted, a barrier is a great alternative to closing them in a room, which can cause separation anxiety.

One type of pet barrier is a hardware -mounted gate. These are mounted to the wall or door frame with screws. They are extremely strong and very secure. These gates cannot be tipped over and are made from either wood or stainless steel. Some of them are even meant to swing open when you need to pass through.

Another type of dog barrier requires no tools and is portable. These are called pressure-mounted gates. They secure themselves by the pressure they exert on the wall or door. Most of them are made from a combination of wood and wire. These should never be used to guard a set of stairs as they can be flipped over fairly easily.

Barriers for stairways in your house or on your deck are also available. Make sure these are always hardware-mounted, as a pressure-mounted gate can fall over. There should never be a fixed bar at the bottom of the device. It can be a tripping hazard and very dangerous around stairs. Finally, you should make sure there is a mechanism to keep the door from swinging out and over the stairway.

Pet barriers are also available for your car. They are very useful in keeping your pet in one section of the car and away from your lap and feet. It also cuts down on the distraction of your dog or cat running around the back of the vehicle. Your passengers will also notice an absence of pet hair in the front seat as well! These gates are secure, require no tools to install, and fit most vehicles.

Be aware of a few things before you purchase your pet gate. Stronger and taller breeds will require a hardware-focused fence to be safe and effective. If you have a dog that likes to chew on everything, be sure to find a stainless steel model. Swinging units can be found for those who find stepping over a gate annoying or physically difficult.

In closing, a pet gate has many uses and come in many styles. Protect your home, children, cars, and dogs from damage. If you have decided you want a barrier in your house, they can be purchased at pet stores and online for varying prices.

About the Author:

Matthew Penrod is an expert on pets and maintains a pet gate and pet fence website. If you are seeking a pet containment system then look no further than the PetGateLTD.com. You will find an assortment of pet supplies including underground dog fence products and pet gates for any size dog.

Sometimes I have found that stacking the gates are better to keep a cat contained because one is too easy to climb over.

There Is Nothing Wrong With Celebrating Your Pet's Birthday

By Tammy Pilfinger

Do you know any crazy fanatical pet lovers? Pets are people too. At least that's what you'll hear from crazy pet lovers like me. People like me are the ones that dress their little furry friend up in outfits. We also let them eat off of dinner plates just like any other person would in our homes. To people like me, pets are permanent family members. We are just as concerned about their health and well being as we are about our real kids. We fret about them and take great personal enjoyment in their individual quirks.

There are plenty of American couples who have never had any kids of their own. Some adults aren't capable of having children for one reason or another. Others have purposefully chosen to be bachelors or otherwise remain single. Sometimes single people long for the gratification of raising a child. If having a real baby isn't an option, some of these decent people might choose to substitute a pet as if it were their actual kid.

Who can blame these good people for wanting that kind of love in their lives? Dogs and cats are so lovable that it is easy to see how they fill that roll. Many of you probably have friends or relatives who treat their pet like it was one of their own kids. It doesn't make them crazy.

Is it someones birthday? If your cat is going to be just like a regular part of the family, why not have a birthday party for her on her birthday? Why not do what you would do for any other child. You can make her a special birthday cake. Put candles in it and help her blow it out. Sing happy birthday to her just like you would a child. Then when you're done, go ahead and let her tear open her presents. If it is a kitten, you should wrap some kind of catnip filled object in loose paper so she will be able to rip it apart like a kid.

Don't forget to record the special moment so you can post it online. Look at how many other animal lovers have posted mpegs of their cats and dogs online there. There are some really funny ones with cats on there. If you don't believe me take a look for yourself.

So, just because you don't have any human children around home, or even if you do, it doesn't mean you can't celebrate your cat's birthday. Pick up some new toys for your little furry friend and enjoy the day just as you would with a normal kid.

About the Author:

If you're in the market for new litter boxes for your house pets, you can find the best deals on them at Discount Litter Boxes. Find all kinds of great deals on cat supplies.

Cat Training Tips

By Janice Chee

Cats in the wild can take care of themselves, that's not the case with household pets. House cats become completely dependent on humans for their care, feeding, and other attention. Responsible cat ownership and the proper care of your cat is important. Check local bookstores or the humane society for educational material to help you learn to care for your cat.

Many people falsely believe that it is impossible to train a cat. You can train a cat with any positive training program that is based on a system of gentle training and rewards. Rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior is a proven way of training your cat.

Even though cats are relatively clean, it's good to bathe your cat about every three weeks. You can use a mild soap which you have at home, or purchase a specialty product made just for cats. Some cats are difficult to bathe. Prevent bath time from becoming difficult by bathing your cat from the time it is a kitten. When bath time is over, reward your cat with a snack.

Try to keep going into the bathroom for a bath calm. If the only time you take your cat in the bathroom is for a bath, it is going to tense up when you pick it up and head for the bathroom. Allow the cat to enter the bathroom with you at other times so that it becomes just another room in the house. Then, when it is bath time, try to keep your cat calm and entertained.

Use a q-tip to gently clean and dry your cat's ears and nails after bathing. Do not use a hair dryer because your cat's skin is much too sensitive and can easily be burned. Not only that, but the noise and strong, hot air will probably cause your cat to freak out and try to run away. Towel dry your cat and finish with a good, gentle brushing.

It's a good idea to buy your cat its own bed. While it is common for cats to sleep with their owner, your cat will be just as satisfied sleeping beside your bed. This will keep your clothes and bed linens from always being full of cat hair. Some people are allergic to cat hair, and you don't want to have to choose between your cat and your sleeping mate.

Keep the litter box where any odor will not disturb your family. No one wants to smell the litter box, so clean it often. The less you clean the litter box the worse it will be when you do clean it.

About the Author:

For more information on the best way to care for a cat, click on the link. And, if you are looking to learn how to choose a pet for kids, visit our sister site and get your answer.

Best Way To Care For A Cat During Summer

By Jackie Michaels

During hot summer months it is important to take extra care of your cat. Be careful to protect your cat from dehydration. Since your cat is unable to communicate with you, you will have to keep a sharp eye on your pet. Watch for any changes in behavior that may be related to heat. If you aren't home enough to keep an eye on your cat, make arrangements for cool living conditions so that your cat doesn't dehydrate and overheat.

As the temperature outside rises, consider keeping your cat inside the house. Once a cat has become a pet, it doesn't have the same coping skills as a stray cat. It's up to you to provide a place for your cat to cool itself. A pet cat that has found a cool shade outdoors may not come home until after dark. Cement retains heat far too much and can cause injury to your cat's sensitive paws or cause your cat to overheat.

If your cat travels in your car with you, never leave your cat in a parked car in the heat. The temperature in a closed car rises extremely rapidly in the heat. It can be harmful or even deadly to your cat.

Even when you try to park in the shade to prevent your car from heating up, as the sun moves throughout the day. The heat travels from hot areas to cold areas. Dogs can sometimes alert passers-by that they are in discomfort, but a cat is unable to do that and may die in as little as fifteen minutes. Always get your cat out of the car with you when you park.

Keeping your cat's fur needs to be kept short and well groomed to help it stay cool. Frequent combing will allow you to remove shed fur that may still be on your cat. Cat's which have natural long fur often give you no option but providing a cool environment. This includes cats like the Persian and Siberian.

Keep clean cool water available for your cat at all times and in all seasons. Your objective is to prevent your cat from dehydrating and getting too hot. Help your cat maintain its body temperature to be comfortable and safe during hot weather.

About the Author:

For more information on the best way to care for a cat, click on the link. And, if you are looking to learn how to choose a pet for kids, visit our sister site and get your answer.

Baby-Talk-2 Welcomes You - Goes Online - Privacy Policy

Hi My name is Baby. I am 9 years old this month. My mommy doesn't know the exact date because she got me from the humane society, but thats ok. I live with her and a grumpy old cat named Luna. Luna is going to be 16 in a few months and probably has a right to be grumpy. Don't you think? We just lost our older brother, Max, three weeks ago. It was a very sad day. Mommy cried a lot, but is better now. I've been paying a lot of attention to her so she isn't so sad any more.

I hope you enjoy this site about me and other cat tales. If you would like to write me an email, please send it to: katmando5139@yahoo.com

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Update April 2009 - Privacy Policy

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