Cats Get Arthritis Too

As many as 30 percent of cats over age eight may be suffering from arthritis, according to a research study conducted by University of Glasgow Vet School Professor David Bennett. According to Dr. Bennett, cats will not usually limp or show any other outward signs of arthritis, as dogs and horses do. Lifestyle changes are the primary indicators in arthritis in cats. These changes include an unwillingness to jump or an inability to jump as high, a reduction in overall activity, sleeping more and playing less. Wear and tear on the bones due to age, previous injuries and skeletal abnormalities contribute to the development of arthritis.

Meet Dutch

 

 

Dutch’s family moved and couldn’t take their friendly cat with them. He’s 2 ½-years-old and already neutered. All he needs now is a home that will last forever. Stop by and see Dutch (tag number 108 ) on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Happy Birthday to Us!

One of the wagons used to round up stray dogs in the 1800s.

2009 marks the Women’s Humane Society’s 140th year in existence and we thought you might enjoy a glimpse into our past. The year was 1871 and the Women’s Pennsylvania SPCA (the name of the Society at that time) had just been given the contract to operate the dog pound in Philadelphia. Many people in Philadelphia had their doubts about the ability of a group of women to successfully operate the pound.  Someone started a rumor that the WPSPCA was opening a hospital for dogs and employing a corp of nurses to care for them. The word spread that the women had asked the city for $25,000 to build a hospital or asylum. None of these rumors were true. In fact, the city gave the women $2,500 to be used for the construction of a shelter. In return, the women were required to give the city the fees they collected when dog owners reclaimed their wandering dogs.

 

The women were also very involved in working to prevent cruelty to horses and Caroline Earle White, Society founder asked women to speak up when they saw cruelty to horses, telling them, “I don’t ask you to bring upon yourself an unenviable degree of notoriety, or to do anything which is not within the legitimate province of women, but only in a quiet and determined manner, where there is no gentleman at hand upon whom you can call, to insist upon checking any case of cruelty that may be in your power, either by remonstrance, which is best, or if necessary by the more vigorous means of threatening arrest.”

Meet Our Versatile Front Office Staff

 

Karen (left) and Heather (right) may just be the first two people you’ll see if you happen to stop by the Society to visit our animals. Heather, along with Mary, Shirley and Barbara, greet visitors, answer the phones, check in animals and handle adoption applications. In addition to front office duties, the staff spends a large part of their days fielding questions about our adoption program and other services.  Karen, our adoption counselor and front office supervisor, often fills in at the front desk when she’s not working with potential adopters.     

Meet Garfield

The economy is making life hard for many pet owners and Garfield’s were no exception. This two-year-old cat was given up because his family could no longer afford to care for him. Garfield was exploring the pet meeting room when this photograph was taken but he made sure to take regular breaks to show me what an affectionate cat he is. His family told us that he likes other animals and children. Could a cat be any more perfect?!  Stop by and see Garfield (tag number 84) on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Do You Shop at Acme Markets?

photo by John Moore

If you do, your receipt could help the Society. Acme Markets pays us 1% of the pre-tax total for each receipt that we submit. If you shop at Acme, send us your blue receipts or receipts with blue borders around the ads and coupons on the reverse side of the receipt. It’s an easy way to help us help the animals. Don’t forget to tell your friends and neighbors that you are collecting Acme receipts!

Receipts should be sent to: Women’s Humane Society, PO Box 1470, Bensalem, P A  19020

Meet Budgy

Someone in Budgy’s family was allergic to her and now this friendly three-year-old rabbit is looking for a new home. She likes children and other animals, according to her previous caregivers. Stop by and see Budgy on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners a Danger to Pets

Toilet bowl cleaning agents can irritate your pet’s gastrointestinal tract – particularly if you use drop-in cleaning tablets in the tank or toilet bowl. Thirsty animals drink wherever they can find water and don’t care if the water they drink is blue or comes from a toilet.

Some tablet-style cleaners are placed directly in the toilet bowl. These cleaning tablets are put into a hanging device that fits over the toilet bowl, gradually dispersing the contents into the water. If your pet manages to chew one of these tablets, it could develop chemical burns in its mouth. Tablets that are placed in the tank are diluted somewhat by the water, but drinking the blue water can still cause some nausea and vomiting. If you suspect that your pet has been drinking out of a toilet treated with a cleaner, call your veterinarian for advice. Don’t forget to keep the toilet lid down if you use one tablet cleaners or have just placed liquid cleaner in your toilet bowl.

Cat Myths

Have you heard these common myths about cats?

Cats always land on their feet. Not true, unfortunately. Cats do have the ability to twist their bodies in mid-air to land on their feet if they have enough time. If they fall from short distances, there is no time to change position. When cats fall from a distance higher than two stories, even if they manage to land on their feet, they often suffer serious injuries due to the impact of the fall.

Cats suck the breath out of babies. Not true at all!  There is no need to get rid of your cat just because you have a baby in the house.  A few years ago, Janice, who is our Director of Education and Legislative Action, tried to find proof that this had ever occurred and was unable to find one documented case of cats sucking the breath out of babies.

While that particular story is a myth, it is a good idea to keep cats away from sleeping babies. Cats enjoy snuggling up to a warm body, no matter how young or old. A young baby is not strong enough to move its head and could suffocate if its nose was pressed up against a sleeping cat. Also, crying or sudden movements could startle a cat sleeping next to a baby and cause it to scratch the baby. Many cats enjoy the company of children and are affectionate companions, but it is best to keep them out of cribs. Installing a mesh crib tent is a good way to keep your cat out of the crib, while allowing you to see and hear your baby.

Purring means a cat is content. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Cats also purr when they are hurt, sick or scared and might even purr to comfort themselves.

Cats love milk. Some of them might like it, but it’s not the best thing for them. Milk tends to cause diarrhea in cats. Not fun to clean up if the cat doesn’t make it to the litter box! Too much milk can also cause weight gain, so it’s best to stick to water. Your cat has no need to drink milk.

Is Your Pet’s Name Max?

Max tops the list for most popular name for both dogs and cats, according to a survey by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). VPI analyzed its database of more than 466,000 insured pets to find the most popular dog and cat names in 2008. While Max has been the most popular name for the last six years, Bailey is providing some competition in the dog name category.  Last year, Bailey was ranked ninth in dog names, but has risen to the second spot for 2008. Not surprisingly, VPI found only 13 Fidos in their database.

Take a look at the lists and see if your pet’s name made the top ten.

Dogs – 1. Max  2. Bailey  3. Bella  4. Molly  5. Lucy  6. Buddy  7. Maggie  8. Daisy  9. Sophie  10. Chloe

Cats – 1. Max  2. Chloe  3. Tigger  4. Tiger  5. Lucy  6. Smokey  7. Oliver  8. Bella  9. Shadow  10. Charlie