Meow Mix-brand cat food sold by Walmart in eight states is being recalled because it might be contaminated with salmonella, manufacturer J.M. Smucker announced in a notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.
Two lots of 30-pound bags of Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food are involved in the recall and were shipped to more than 1,100 Walmart stores in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The lot numbers are 1081804 with an expiration date of September 14, 2022, and 1082804 with an expiration date of September 15, 2022. Consumers with questions can call J.M. Smucker at (888) 569-6728, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, the company said.
Salmonella symptoms in felines include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and excessive drooling. People can also get salmonella from animals that have been in contact with contaminated food, or from handling it or touching unwashed surfaces that held them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella infects 1.3 million Americans every year, killing about 420 and hospitalizing another 26,500. Those most at risk from salmonella include the elderly and children under five. Most of those stricken experience fever, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea for four to seven days.
Please spread the word! Jazzy was LOST on September 14, 2020 in Norristown, PA 19401 near Chain St. Near Riverfront Trail
Description: Black fixed cat with white spots on belly that resemble bikini. Very friendly and loves to rub and go in between legs. Will go to you if you put your hand out. Bottom spot almost looks like heart.
Put a box outside with a blanket or sweatshirt that you have worn. Cats have a very strong sense of smell and it will help them find their way home. Look for the cat at dusk and dawn (any time at night when it’s quiet) using a flashlight. Look under bushes, decks in sheds or garages – especially when it’s cold. The light reflects off the cats eyes and you will be able to see them a few blocks away. Shake their bag of treats. (This usually makes them come running home.)
Post flyers around the neighborhood. Not everyone has facebook. Also post them at pet stores and other places that have bulletin boards like WAWA. Give flyers to the mailmen and bus drivers in the area and ask your neighbors to check their sheds and garages. Call the vets, shelters and police in the area.
Getting your cat microchipped will help in the future if they should escape again.
FINDING INDOOR ONLY CATS WHO ARE LOST
Indoor only cats rarely travel far – they seek an immediate hiding place (under a deck or porch, under brush, in a garage or shed) and hunker down out of fear. Immediately start searching around your house as well as your neighbor’s houses with a flashlight (get on your hands and knees and shine the light under decks etc) – shake a treat bag and call it’s name and listen for a possible soft meow. (they are too scared to come out) ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS TO OPEN GARAGES AND SHEDS TO SEE IF THE CAT GOT LOCKED INSIDE.
They can stay in this spot for weeks! Indoor only cats RARELY come out during the day – they only come out after dark and into the wee hours of the morning. Be sure to check the surrounding trees as cats are often chased up trees and will sit up there for days and days….
Cats have an amazing sense of smell – put their bedding, your dirty clothes/shoes, and a tiny bit of strong smelling wet cat food outside to attract your cat.
Set a Humane trap (like a Hav-A-Heart wire trap) bait it with smelly cat food….this is sometimes the ONLY way to catch a scared indoor only cat AND IT WORKS!
Hang LOST posters immediately and give one to every neighbor as too many people just assume when they see a cat that it is a stray – if they know you are looking for your cat they will be extra vigilant and want to help. Ask them to take a photo of any cats they see in your area –sometimes people think it is your cat but it is not.
Immediately contact your Animal Control Officer and provide photos/description. Also contact local shelters, rescue groups and Vet offices. Post on Facebook on both local, county, & state pages (i.e. “Lost & Found Pets NY, NJ, PA, etc.)
Twitter has decided to shadowban not only my account yet that of my friend Gwen. I wonder if Twitter realizes just how detrimental that is to animal welfare.
We have followed their TOS to a T. Yet they have decided to secretly block our tweets. Our petition still needs signatures to pass legislation. Yet with this ban, It may not happen.
Please Help #Pennsylvania make changes. Raise your voice #PawsNeedClaws #CatsNeedClaws #OutlawCatDeclaw Sign & Share this #Petition – chng.it/5nWCvqwY video: youtu.be/Un-MALgaHXs
Therefore, please help us spread our petition. Please sign and share where you can.
Winter is here and that means colder temperatures. Which also means strays will hide in your car. This being said we are urging everyone to check under their hoods and in their tires, before revving up that engine.
We also urge everyone to not leave their companions out overnight. The only time they should be let out is to relieve themselves and or for a couple of minutes of play time, with supervision.
Think of it like this if it’s too cold for you it’s definitely too cold for them.
Bring them in. We would hate to see more companions wind up in the emergency vet room due to winter exposure. (Frostbite).
Ada and Drake are our Pets of the Week! These two adorable kittens were left at the animal shelter in a box. Now, they’re looking for a family to grow up with. For more information, contact the Happy Hills Animal Foundation at (336) 622-3620.
— Read on myfox8.com/2019/10/01/meet-ada-and-drake-fox8s-pets-of-the-week/
I was asked why cats sleep so much, at a shelter I volunteer for in NY. I can say with certainty it is not because they’re lazy. Yet they do literally put the nap in “cat nap”. Roughly on average, and any cat care taker can tell you this they will sleep up and around 12 to 15 hours a day. Although according to one care-giver she clocked her cat sleeping 20 hours.
Why do cat’s sleep these odd hours? According to Veterinarians and PetMD – Cat’s are crepuscular and not Nocturnal. What is Crepuscular:
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, where an animal is active during the hours of daylight or the hours of darkness, respectively. The term is not precise, however, as some crepuscular animals may also be active on a moonlit night or during an overcast day. The term matutinal is used for animals that are active only before sunrise, and vespertine for those active only after sunset.
The time of day an animal is active depends on a number of factors. Predators need to link their activities to times of day at which their prey is available, and prey try to avoid the times when their principal predators are at large. The temperature at midday may be too high or at night too low. Some creatures may adjust their activities depending on local competition. Therefore, for many varied reasons, crepuscular activity may best meet an animal’s requirements by compromise.
According to Dr. Ziskin VMD – Why these hours? Well, cats’ sleeping habits have to do with their evolution and their history as hunters. The cats of old would hunt during the early morning and twilight hours and then sleep during the main daytime and nighttime hours when their natural predators would be on the prowl. This is part of the reason cats often like to sleep “tucked away” somewhere.
Pretty much it’s an evolutionary throwback encoded into their DNA. Known as Instinctual DNA, which many predatorial animals such as Lions as well as wolves have.
There is no changing a cats sleeping habit, even if you try. Therefore if you have a cat keeping you awake, there are methods to keep them busy without disturbing your sleep. As in Cat tree’s, Cat toys with no sound of course, and keeping your door closed. Or my favorite which gives them everything they could want. A Catio, with plenty of high places to climb as well as their favorite, snack and toy.
I have seen so many people turn in their cats because of their crepuscular habits. It’s saddening to see this happen, and to know that people would do this, is very Disheartening. As a volunteer I am disallowed from given my two cents at the job, yet as an animal advocate – during “off duty” hours, I can say a few choice words.
One – This is not a reason to hand over or dump your cat to any shelter, especially, when we have an over whelming number of cats as is. Two – Maybe you really should not invest in having any animal if you cannot take the time to learn about them, or deal with a little noise. Three – I really hope you don’t plan on having any children in the future, because like cats – babies/ particularly 5 months to at least 3 years of age, are up odd hours and disrupt sleep. I would hate to see you throw in said proverbial towel and dump them at an orphanage.
Which goes hand in hand with my favorite quote
You can judge a man’s true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” ― Paul McCartney
To better understand the nature of why your cat scratches, it’s important to take a look at the important uses of your cat’s claws:
Hunting: Cats are natural hunters. Their retractable claws provide them with traction while running and help them catch and hold onto their prey. If you watch the way your cat plays with its toys, you can see that while your indoor cat doesn’t need to hunt for its next meal, the practice of hunting and chasing is still an instinctual part of your cat’s behaviour.
Stretching: Being able to grip items, like your carpet, allows your cat to twist and stretch the full length of its body, which is not only a good form of exercise, but it’s also a great source of enjoyment for your cat.
Climbing: A cat’s claws are curved to help climb up trees and other surfaces to get to safety. For indoor cats, their claws allow them to grip items such as cat trees or furniture, so they don’t fall or slip.
Leaving their scent: When cats scratch an item, they leave behind a special scent produced from glands on their paws. This allows a cat to leave its signature behind as a message to other cats.
Protecting themselves: A cat’s claws act as a method of self-defense when faced with a predator. While indoor cats have little need to defend themselves, their claws still offer the security of knowing they have a form of protection. Cats also use their claws to communicate certain messages, for example swatting to communicate the need for distance.
Balance: When a cat is declawed, it’s not at all like clipping nails. Declawing is amputating the claw and related bone and muscle tissue. Without their claws, cats often have trouble balancing
Scratching is a perfectly natural practice for your cat and serves several healthy functions. As listed above, without their claws they go through the trauma of not being able to be themselves. They also go through a life time of pain, We must assert our love for our companions and stop the barbaric declawing of our beloved cats.
Cats and the very many surfaces they climb are always full of dangers. One of those dangers are household plants; many owners do not realize that even the common of household plants can hold the deadliest of toxins for our beloved feline fur kids. I am going to go over the plants that are deadly for your feline fur kid and try my best to give a description of what it may do. Then try to help with how to better store or show off your plants without any cat chewing or eating your plants. Like many guardians over the years since, I had the privilege of taken care of many companions I thoroughly did my research, to prevent accidents in our home from happening. You would be amazed at the information I found on the toxicity on common plants. From Lilies to Tulips having this information can help prevent accidents.
Amaryllis (Amaryllis sp.)
The plant contains similar toxins to the flowers in the Narcissus group or the Belladonna Amaryllis (the only true Amaryllis). The leaves, stems and bulbs contain phenanthridine alkaloids, which can cause vomiting, hypo-tension (drop in blood pressure), and respiratory depression. Excess salivation and abdominal discomfort can be seen from the raphide oxalate crystals, which are more concentrated in the bulbs. • Common Names: Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady Family: Amaryllidaceae Toxic Principles: Lycorine and others Clinical Signs: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, anorexia, tremors.
Autumn and Spring Crocus
Two types of Crocus plants a spring and autumn, spring crocus are more commonly found, depending on your geographical location. However, the spring crocus plants, although not as bad as the Autumn Crocus can still cause issues for your companion. In addition, the Spring and Autumn plant almost always get mistaken for each other. The Spring Crocus can still cause however, a varying of symptoms, such as general gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. • The Autumn Crocus: Additional Names: Meadow Saffron, Colchium, spring crocus, crocus Scientific Name: Colchicum autumnale Family: Liliaceae Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses Toxic Principles: colchicine and other alkaloids Clinical Signs: oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Azalea is actually a species of Rhododendron. Over 1000 species of rhododendrons/azaleas exist. The small, deciduous species are referred to as the Azalea and the large, woody shrubs as Rhododendrons. The Rhododendron is more toxic but this can vary drastically due to the hybridization of these two common plants. These plants contain grayanotoxins which disrupt sodium channels affecting the skeletal and cardiac muscle. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous, and as little as ingestion of 0.2% of an animal’s body weight can result in poisoning. When ingested, clinical signs include gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inappetance), cardiovascular (e.g., abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, weakness, hypotension), and central nervous system signs (e.g., depression, tremors, transient blindness, seizures, coma, etc.). The overall prognosis is fair with treatment. Common signs to watch for: Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Inappetance Abdominal pain Abnormal heart rate and rhythms Hypotension Weakness Tremors Depression Blindness Seizures Coma Common Names: Rosebay, Rhododendron Scientific Name: Rhododendron spp Family: Ericaceae Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses Toxic Principles: Grayantoxin
Easter lily – Yes even some of our most favourite flowers are hazardous to our precious fur kids. The Easter lily the common yet beautiful flower we obtain for the Easter holiday is deadly to our companions.
The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. Examples of some of these dangerous lilies include the tiger, day, Asiatic hybrid, Easter, Japanese Show, rubrum, stargazer, red, Western, and wood lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestion’s (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure. Other types of dangerous lilies include lily of the valley. This type does not cause kidney failure, but can cause life-threatening heart arrhythmia’s and death when ingested by dogs or cats. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently, the lily poisoning can be treated. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney function monitoring tests, and supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis. Intravenous fluids must be started within an 18-hour window for the best outcome. Common signs to watch for: Inappetance Lethargy Hiding Vomiting Diarrhea Halitosis Dehydration Inappropriate urination or thirst Seizures Death Scientific name: Lilium longiflorum Alternate names: Lilies, Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, red lily, wood lily, Western lily, stargazer lily, daylily, Japanese show lily, Asiatic lily, Asiatic hydrid lily, peace lily, calla lily, lily of the valley, Lilium longiflorum, Lilium tigrinum, Lilium speciosum, Lilium auratum, Lilium lancifolimu, Lilium umbellantum, Hemerocallis For more information on other deadly plants that your companions should stay away from please use this site here: http://petpoisonhelp.wpengine.com/poisons/ If your pet ingested these plants, go straight to your veterinarian or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre at 888-426-4435.
To keep your plants while also keeping your companions safe. You can buy a terrarium with a lid, or turn your old fish/lizard tank into a terrarium to protect your plants and your animals from accidental damage and death. There are also other methods such as placing your plants in a cabinet with windowed doors on them “China or Nick Knack Cabinets”, alternatively, placing your plants outside, in a small greenhouse viewable to passersby if you want to show the beauty and elegance. There are many items around your household you can turn into a “terrarium”. If you need idea’s just use google for inspiration.
However, make sure it is out of reach from your companion or the very least in a room you keep your companion from going into.
Guardians Of Life 
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