October, 2010

Happy Fall, everyone!  The weather has finally cooled off in South Texas.  Thank goodness!

Hope your weather is pleasant.  It is terrible about the violent weather in some parts of our country.  I always think about the pets and how they survive some of mother natures wrath.  I am so thankful for organizations like the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Society and others who make it their mission to rescue animals adversely affected by weather.  If you don't already, maybe you could consider making a small (or large) monthly donation to one or more of these fine organizations.  You can arrange a monthly donation be charged to a credit card.  Even $5.00 a month helps.  That gives them a better idea of funding available to plan their operations.  Thank you for what you do for them

October 16th is National Feral Cat Day.  There will be many special benefits and fund raisers for local animal shelters to help stabilize the lives of feral cats in our communities, with Trap-Spay/Neuther-Return programs.  One of the leading sponsors of help for feral cat colonies is the fine group at www.alleycatallies.org.  Please visit their website to see all of the wonderful work they do and consider making them one of your charities this year.

We announced the addition of a new line of outdoor cat kennel enclosures by Cat Den - Habitat Haven in Canada.  This is a line of outdoor enclosures you build from pre-packaged kits.  We will be adding other pieces so you can add to a kit or design your own.  If you live in Ontario Canada, the manufacturer has qualified people to construct it for you.  However, the kits are designed for easy construction, for a do-it-yourself cat kennel.  Nothing gives a cat the feeling of being outdoors like being outdoors and this is freedom without the danger.

We are also pleased to add products from the manufacturer Mr Herzher.  They produce a line of really fine quality pet furniture including a Decorative Litter Pan Cover of "Rhino Wicker", Fine Feline Furniture in Early American or Ebony finishes, one of the most Decorative Pet Beds and Decorative Pet Steps in fine wood in Espresso or Warm Cherry.

Also, we have added a lot of new designs to our line of T-Shirts With Catitude.  Check out all of our new products!

And don't forget the Outdoor Cedar Cat Houses are on Sale 10% off through October 31st!  Get your outside kitty ready for winter.

From Kitten To Cat, The Journey Is Amazing

 These little creatures can give you years of enjoyment and love.  They will grace your home with their playfulness and beauty.  They will give you hours of laughter and enhance your life experience.  All they require is your complete attention, care and love in return.

The decision to bring a cat or kitten into your home is one that should be made with thoughtful consideration.  These are somewhat fragile animals that must be cared for and protected.  Small children usually aren’t familiar with handling a cat or kitten.  For the safety of the cat, and the child, it will be necessary to teach the child the proper way of interacting with the new addition.  Supervision must be given, in the beginning, to insure the safety of the cat and the child.

Consideration must also be given to whether this will be an inside cat, an outside cat or an inside/outside cat.  From statistical studies, an outside cat’s life span is 2 to 4 years.  On the other hand, a house cat can live into its twenties, if cared for properly.

If you’ve never had a cat in your home, you may find you need to make a few adjustments.  Kittens, in particular, are very inquisitive.  They will examine every nook and cranny of your home.  By doing this, they establish “safety zones”.  You must let them have these in order to give them the security they need.  Cats are very safety and security minded.

They may also find electrical cords, which could injure them if chewed on, or valuables that can be broken, if played with.  The best thing to do is shorten cords to raise them off the floor.  You can do this with twist ties.  Valuable or breakable items should be put away until you feel the cat will not be attracted to them.

 The kitten never lacks in imagination.  Constantly exploring it’s environment, the kitten is in awe of the surroundings.  There are so many things to see and do.  The kitten never gets bored, maybe tired, but not bored.  A kitten learns its behavior in the first weeks of life.  It needs stimulation by play to keep it from becoming destructive in later months.  Providing toys and safe places to sleep or play is of utmost importance to the kitten’s development.  Providing scratching posts, cat bed and a climbing tree is of utmost importance to your furniture and your nerves.

Small toys such as catnip scented mice or small ball type toys seem to keep their attention the longest.  Batting these toys around, all over the house, is not only fun to them but gives them the exercise a house cat needs.  If you opt for other more expensive toys, they should have an interaction to entice the kitten because they have such a short attention span.

Sibling kittens learn the art of play and rough and tumble interaction with other kittens, which will serve to make them play longer into adulthood.  This is important for their physical development, giving them the exercise they need and creates the psychological frame of mind to get along with other family pets.

An adult cat is a thing of beauty and grace.  Jules Verne once said “I think a cat could walk on a cloud and not come through”.  The feline is one of God’s most perfect creations.  He knew we needed these in our lives. 

The journey through life with a cat is truly a joy you can’t understand until you experience it.

Please contribute your pictures, videos or stories of your pets!  Click here to upload your pics or videos or email a link to your YouTube video to customerservice@kittystoreonline.com.

Until next time.....................................Miss Kitty

AUGUST, 2010

The winner of our August Cat Toy Sweepstakes, for the Play-N-Squeak Thrill of The Chase, is 

Kitty Cat Keep Pet Sanctuary in Welland, Ontario, Canada. CONGRATULATIONS!

Watch for our next Sweepstakes, beginning in October!

THE SUMMER DOLDRUMS
Hope everyone is enjoying your summer.  It’s extremely hot and humid here.  I’m ready for some cooler weather.  My 5 indoor cats are ready, as well.  They enjoy their outdoor kennel but not as much when temps are near, sometimes over, 100 degrees!  They prefer lying around in the air conditioned house until the evening starts to cool off outside.  Cats are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for!

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING NOW AVAILABLE AT  www.KittyStoreOnline.com
I’m very excited to announce that we have partnered with BONGO International, a first class international freight forwarder, to assist our customers in other countries.  Now, our visitors from other parts of the world can immediately find out what the international shipping charges are for items on our site.  A lot of the products we offer on our site are not available in other countries.  This brings the U.S. retail sites virtually to their door.  That being said, shipping to Canada will still be handled by UPS or FedEx. 

SALE:  Our offer of 10% Off on the  SunCATcher Outdoor Cat Enclosures  ends August 31^st and remember they have Free Shipping with only a charge for lift gate delivery to residential addresses.

FERAL CATS
A subject that has always tugged at my heart strings is the plight of feral cats.  First of all, you need to understand what a feral cat is.  According to Alley Cat Allies, the leading cat advocate, feral cats are members of the domestic cat species but are not socialized to humans and are not considered adoptable.  Cats have been living outdoors near humans for thousands of years.  They typically live in groups called colonies and have strong social bonds with their colony members.

Like all animals, feral cats make their home where they find shelter and food, often in close proximity to humans.  Programs called Trap-Neuter-Return are provided in many cities throughout the country, some by city animal control and some by animal shelters.  Wonderful organizations in the pet care/pet products industries provide grants for these programs.  Among them are companies like Petsmart, Petco, Purina and many others.

The T-N-R programs are the most humane way to deal with the feral cat population.  These programs allow the cat colonies to survive but not continue to re-populate.  In the process, some cats are not returned to the colony if they are deemed to be very sick and returning them would infect other cats in the colony.  By doing this the colony is also much healthier. 

Spaying and neutering the cats reduces the injuries and illnesses they are subjected to by reducing the fighting.    The behavior and stresses associated with mating, such as howling and fighting stop.  Trap-Neuter-Return works!  No more kittens.  Their lives are improved and the population stabilizes and declines over time.

Most City and County animal control department’s traditional approach to feral cats is ‘catch and kill’.  This doesn’t keep an area free of cats for long.  Catch and kill is cruel, inhumane and creates a vacuum, as do attempts to ‘relocate’ cats.  Once some cats are removed from a territory, other cats move in to take advantage of newly available resources.  They breed, forming a new colony.  Catch and kill is an endless and costly cycle.

Trap-Neuter-Return is the SOLUTION!  If I have stirred something in you to help the feral cats in your neighborhood (AND help your neighborhood) please contact your local animal shelters or city/county animal control departments to see if they offer one of the T-N-R Programs.

If you or they need information or assistance please go to www.alleycat.org.  This is an invaluable source of education about feral cats. 

Join the “I’m An Alley Cat Ally” Campaign here http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=739&srctid=1&erid=10377662

National Feral Cat Day is October 16.  See how you can help: http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=388

If any of you have considered one of our "Premium Cat Trees” we will offer a 5 % discount on our already reduced retail prices for any of these virtually indestructible cat trees costing over $400.00 during the month of September.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter, at the link above, if you have not already done so or unsubscribe below if you do not wish to receive our sale specials or ENewsletter.

 Until next time………………..Miss Kitty

MAY, 2010

Ms. Kitty at  KittyStoreOnline would like to thank all of you who registered for our  newsletter.  We will try to publish a new one each quarter.  If you are receiving this newsletter and wish not to receive it or our "Sale" specials and "new product" announcements in the future,  please “Unsubscribe” by entering your email address and clicking the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of the newsletter.

If you wish to continue to receive the newsletter, and have not already done so, please complete the registration form above. 

I will attempt to enlighten and entertain you with this newsletter or at least give you information I think you will find interesting or useful.  Some information will be articles I write, some will be things I’ve found on the internet and some from contributing authors I think you will enjoy.

In each issue, there will be a place for you to send me your own pet’s story.  Maybe how you came to have your pet, what it means to your life, how it amuses you or just cute things it does everyday.  You will be able to upload your pet’s picture, along with the story and I will select one or two to feature in each newsletter.  Even if your story is not featured in the Newsletter, it will be posted on the website for all to enjoy.  It can be any type pet as we love and appreciate all of them and what they add to our lives.

Also, if you post a  YouTube video, showing one of our products, we will post that on the product page on the website.  You can send us the link here.

Don't miss our page "HISTORY OF THE CAT".  It will give you insight into the development of our domesticated cats.

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The first feature story will be the story of our dog “Muffin”.   We have had him for seven months now.

Here is "Muffin's Story"

My husband drives the transport van for our regional MHMR, part time.  On a regular lady's pickup every two weeks, he had seen the small dog tied to a tree where she left him when she was away.  On this particular day, he saw Muffin tied to the tree, right next to their travel trailer, in a terrible thunderstorm, with no shelter, food or water and said her boyfriend would not allow him inside the travel trailer.  My husband asked the woman if she would let him have the dog.  She said "Yes, I'm sure you can give him a better home than I can".  Two weeks later, the travel trailer burned to the ground, destroying the tree where Muffin would have been tied at the time of the fire.  We had renamed him "Muffin" because he looked like a ragmuffin but today we call him "Lucky Muffin".  And we too are so lucky to have him.  He is a joy and even gets along with all of our cats.

ALERT:  Just prior to publishing this newsletter, we had another unexpected addition to our family.  This is "Cookie".

Cookie is a seven month old Shih Tzu.  Her owner was getting ready to move and said he was going to leave her behind.  He said the neighbors had dogs and would "probably" take care of her.  My husband said "Why don't you let me have her and I will make sure she is taken care of".  She had a terrible flea infestation.  Even though we bathed her that afternoon, she still had fleas when we took her to the veterinarian the next day.  They dipped her but also had to give her a CapStar pill to completely rid her of fleas.  She has fit right in with Muffin and our 5 housecats.  She and Muffin play incessantly.  The cats all watch as if amused.

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 Now, please CLICK HERE to send me your story & picture.  All of them will be posted here on our site for everyone to read and enjoy.  You can also ask a question or suggest a topic for the next newsletter by CLICKING HERE.

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I'd like to share one of the adventures of my last week.  I'm sure some of you will be able to relate.  Last week, someone placed a cardboard box on the corner about a block from our home.  A neighbor, driving by saw some little heads peeking out of the box.  Knowing I wouldn't leave them there, he stopped to tell me about them.  My husband and I drove to the corner and brought the box of 5 beautiful kittens home.  We prepared them a crate with soft towels to lie on, litter box, food and water.  Each afternoon, we have taken them out in the grass to run and play.  They are such a delight to watch!

Then began the search for a reliable shelter to find them "forever homes".  The two we sponsor on the website have been swamped with litters of kittens, some having to be bottle fed.  They were unable to take them.  At last, a great organization "Last Chance Rescue" came to the rescue.  They had a foster Mom available who would take good care of them until they are adopted.  So, we have reluctantly given them over to continue on their life path.  Please remember this wonderful organization in your prayers.

I will miss them and wish I could keep them all but we already have 5 housecats, one outside cat that adopted us and now lives here, our dogs Muffin and Cookie and several "neighborhood" cats I feed.  So, I must let them find homes where they will get the love and attention they deserve.

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The following is an article from http://wayofcats.com/blog.  It is written by a woman who calls herself Pammie.  Pammie has spent her entire life dealing with the nature and nurture of cats.  She has written two very helpful ebooks on the subject of cats.  After reading her article, please visit her blog.  You can ask any cat questions you have and she will answer them.

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And, finally, I'd like to share an article I found at www.petplace.com.  It is titled "Life Lessons You Can Learn From Your Cat"

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Our pets can teach us many things - if we're willing to listen. They teach us how to love unconditionally, how to look at each day as a new one, to embrace all the good things and why we need to cherish the simple things in life.

Here are some basic lessons our pets endeavor to teach us:

1. Rest and relaxation are the keys to happiness, so relax any chance you get. And don't work too hard.

2. There is always time for a cat nap.

3. The family that sleeps together stays together. Don't be afraid to curl up really close behind your person's knees or in the crook of the neck and purr.

4. Nighttime is the time to party, and it's more fun if you can share it with your family. Howl, meow, play with their ankles, or leap across the bed to wake them up.

5. Spend time with the people you love, especially when they are working. Sit near the computer and purr, walk across the keyboard occasionally, or better still, knock things off the desk one at a time so your person doesn't get bored.

6. Show your favorite people that you love them. Sit on their lap, pet or rub a leg, or run your tail across their faces to get your message across.

7. Get excited and come running every time a special treat or food is available. Showing a little appreciation and enthusiasm will always get you treats.

8. Don't settle for bland, tasteless food; refuse it and you will be fed fancy and expensive food.

9. Stretch and yawn before you get up, no matter what time it is.

10. Enjoy the sun – lie down, roll around and just appreciate the warmth.

11. Purr when you are happy.

12. Cleanliness is next to godliness, so keep yourself clean and pristine.

13. Appreciate a clean bathroom.

14. Enjoy the solace of a view from a nice window.

15. "Making bread" is good for the soul.

16. Be independent.

17. Don't always do what people want you to do.

18. Keep cool. If you don't want to do something, no need to argue – just don't do it.

19. Don't be afraid to look at things from a different perspective occasionally. Sit high on a bookshelf or peek out from under a chair.

20. Expect to be pampered and treated like a prince or princess, and you will be.

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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.  Please register above to continue to receive it or unsubscribe below if you got not enjoyment from these musings.  Either way, we appreciate your visits to www.kittystoreonline.com and hope you will visit again soon.....and often.