The Return of Simon's Cat!

That's right, Simon Tofield has created another cartoon featuring that cat we've grown to love. I'm not sure what more I can say about this except watch it. And, if you haven't seen the first two, you can find them in previous posts on this site!



(Video courtesy of Youtube.com)

Meet My Pets

I figured it was about time to introduce you to all of my pets. They all have unique personalities and they were the inspiration for this blog.

My dog: Amber is the first dog I've ever had. My family has had her since I was in sixth grade. We adopted her from the Denver Dumb Friends League. She's an Australian Shepherd/English Springer Spaniel mix. Amber is very intelligent and learned how to play dead in ten minutes.

My cats: We have two cats, Fluffy and Cali. Fluffy is a black domestic long hair and Cali is a black and white cow spotted domestic short hair. Fluffy lives at my parents' house while Cali lives with me. I got Cali a year ago from the Table Mountain Animal Center and she's acted like a crazy kitten ever since. As for Fluffy, my parents got her because my family has a tradition of getting a black DLH cat and naming her Fluffy. This Fluffy is Fluffy five for the whole family.

My guinea pigs: Right now, my family has seven guinea pigs. We adopt guinea pigs that can't seem to find homes. Once a guinea pig has been at a shelter for several months, we pick them up and we nurse them back to health, which is needed with some of the guinea pigs we adopt from shelters. We adopted Pumpkin, Truffle, Holly, Hazelnut, Fred and George from numerous shelters across Colorado. Cheyenne, the guinea pig who lives at my apartment, was adopted from Petco.

These are all of my wonderful pets and my family will always adopt a pet in need.

Summer Reading To Get Your Paws On

As the weather begins to hint at the warmer weather of summer and the prospect of more time to relax, now is the time to look for some books to fill your newly found spare time. Lucky for us, there are plenty of great books that would make for some light reading over any vacation.

• Your Cat Interpreter by David Alderton: I just picked this book up today for a bargain price. It's about all the little things you want to know about your cat. I have read a portion of this book and so far it has been great. All the information has been divided up into easy to read chunks. This book is great if you're looking for a book that's easy to pick up and put down.


• Mutt Book by David Alderton: This book is by the same author and I took a look through it. The premise is interesting. It's all about decoding your dog's heritage with the help of pictures to identify your dog's features. I was tempted to pick this one up as well and I think this would be a fun project to do with some friends.


• Marley and Me by John Grogan: I've heard great reviews about this book and it's on my reading list. It follows the story of a couple who gets a Labrador Retriever puppy to practice for children only to find that the dog causes more problems than most kids ever would. This would be a great beach read.


• Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies: This is one of my favorite books. I decided to throw this one in here since it is a unique piece of fiction. It is from the point of view of a red deer. It follows his tale as he ventures across Scotland in an attempt to save his herd from its evil leader. This is a little longer than the others and will take up more time this summer.

Hopefully, one of these will strike your interest and offer some entertainment this summer.

(Picture courtesy of barnesandnoble.com)

Who Knew?

Are you the kind of person who likes to be different? If a dog or a cat is too tame for you, there are some options for pets that come from the wild side.

Potbellied Pigs: These pigs grow between 90 and 150 pounds as opposed to typical hogs that can weigh as much as 600 pounds. They are easier to train than dogs and can make great pets for the right people. These pigs can be trained to do special tricks and I have seen them do everything from play the piano to throw away trash. These are great pets for people who want something easy to train without the extreme amounts of energy of a puppy.

Sugar Gliders: These little marsupials are cute and very playful. They are native to Australia and are nocturnal. They have a membrane between their legs that allows them to glide, hence their names. so they need a large enough cage to climb and glide as they desire. They work well for someone who wants something small and unique.

Bengal Cats: Ever wanted a tiger without the risk of being...eaten? Well, this cat is for you. These cats are a hybrid of Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat. They have markings that make them look wild, but a much more manageable temperament. The problem is that they are illegal in some parts of the US. If these cats are legal where you live, they would be perfect if you're looking for a wild look in a domestic package.

Skunks: That's right, they make great pets. Skunks can be de-skunked to avoid having a house that smells like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. They are supposed to be very intelligent and just a little shy. Skunks would make great pets if you're looking for something that's just all around different.

There are many more options if you're looking for a pet to fit unusual needs or tastes, but I think these are some of the best of the most unique.

(Picture courtesy of hoothollow.com)

More Fun Than You Can Shake a Stick At

My last post was about the new activities that pets can participate in. So, to continue with this theme of innovation, I would like to talk about some interesting new pet gadgets that will certainly spark your interest.

Switched.com had a list of 12 pet innovations that are worth a look. There were a couple from that list that caught my attention.

• Pet Chime Doggy Doorbell: This invention was made to prevent pets from barking or scratching when they want to go out. To get your attention, they push the paw shaped button and a chime is emitted from a wireless transmitter.


• POOP-FREEZE Spray: This product reminds me of the movie "Envy" in which the main character invents a spray that makes doggy droppings disappear. While this product doesn't do that, it does freeze the droppings to make them easy to clean up.


• Modern Cat Furniture: The Refined Feline website sells cat furniture that is made to look modern and stylish. Their slogan, "Eyesore no more," describes how their furniture is made to fit with your decor rather than look like a sore thumb in your living room.

These were just a few of my favorites. Go take a look for yourself and I'm sure you'll be amazed at what people have come up with for our pets.

(Picture courtesy of switched.com)

Ever Heard Of Doga?

Our world is full of new fads and animals are no exception to our need to update and be modern.

In the past few years, several new creations have emerged to help our furry friends feel better. Some are a little out there, some bring us closer to our pets and others really seem to make a difference.

There are three new players on the health and wellness scene that have really caught my attention, so I decided to do some more research:

• Doga: So, what exactly is Doga? It's doggy yoga! As reported in the Post-Gazette article, many owners say they see a difference in their dog's ability to relax, just as seen in humans. The scientific benefit hasn't been proven, however. This fad started in New York and has been moving throughout the country. Cats also have their version of kitty yoga so they too can feel the benefits. Pet yoga involves teaching your animals to put themselves into positions that better breathing, blood flow and relaxation.


• Acupuncture: Most people are familiar with the interesting process of putting needles in the body to release pressure and increase wellness. Now, animals can receive this treatment to ease their pain. In addition to acupuncture, pets can use other Chinese forms of healing such as herbs. Animal hospitals now offer these services. Deer Creek Animal Hospital in Littleton, CO even has two vets specially trained to focus in these areas of treatment.


• Pet Psychics: Psychics are always the targets of some skepticism as their trade is one that relies on things unseen. However, being able to talk to someone without a voice, like the dead or, say, a pet, has become quite desirable. We were first introduced to Sonya Fitzpatrick, a pet psychic, on her Animal Planet show. She would speak to pets and let owners know what they were thinking and what they wanted their humans to know. While not a huge craze, it has caught on for some.

Who knows what craze we love will become something we can share with our pets next.

(Picture courtesy of Dogadog.com)

Sit, Stay, Enjoy

Looking for some fur-filled movies to enjoy this weekend? I have some suggestions.

I wanted to list out some great animal movies that I've enjoyed since I was young, but I realized I need to limit myself to just dog movies this time since there are so many choices for animal movies.

• Milo and Otis: Obviously this movie wasn't done with a huge budget but it's endearing none the less. Dudley Moore narrates the entire movie and does all the voices. The story follows an adventurous kitten named Milo who finds himself drifting down a river with only his Pug puppy friend, Otis, to find him. Four out of five bones.
  
• Fluke: Kind of a strange premise for this movie. A man dies in a car accident and is reincarnated as a Golden Retriever puppy. He then goes on a mission to find his family and, once he does, tries to think of a way to tell them who he is. Three and a half out of five bones.


• Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey: Probably a movie we all watched as kids. This story follows an older Golden Retriever, an American Bulldog, and a Himalayan cat as they trek through the mountains to get home after mistakenly thinking their owners have forgotten them. Four out of five bones.
  
• 101 Dalmatians: A Disney classic that can't be beat. Pongo and Perdita go in search of their puppies after they're stolen by the evil Cruella De Vil. This movie has been done in both an animated version and a live-action remake in 1996. Four and a half out of five bones.
  
• I Am Legend: Something a little newer for the list. Not only is this movie an awesome sci-fi thrill ride, there is also a touching friendship between Robert Neville and Sam, a German Shepherd. This bond proves that dogs are man's best friend. Five out of five bones.

Enjoy a dog-filled weekend!

(Picture courtesy of pugs.nl)