What is Catnip?

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family. The active ingredient, nepacetalone, is what has the magic effect on our cats. It pleasantly stimulates pheromone receptors in the cat's nose. Too much catnip can make a cat aggressive, causing her to growl or hiss, so as with all recreational pleasures, moderation is key.

About one-third of cats have no response to catnip. Quality of catnip varies. At Cause to Paws we sell a variety of toys with catnip in them, some are refillable, others are not. We also sell loose organic catnip as well as "teabags" full of catnip to put into toys. Dried catnip can be revived by crunching it between your hands to release the oils. Catnip can also come in a spray- It is steamed distilled to produce a pure extract and then is blended with spring water. It can be utilized to revive those toys that cannot be refilled.

Catnip is not addictive, but if you give it to your cats every day the effect will begin to wear off, so Jane Kelley says "save the 'nip for special occasions". Cat expert and animal communicator Jane A Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

According to Duckyworld (our #1 selling catnip - toys and loose), catnip also makes a wonderful tea for people with feverish colds or who have trouble sleeping. catnip tea also helps settle an upset stomach, toothache and relieves gas!

How to Stop Unwanted Barking

Found a great article on Dogster. Here is a summary/shortened version that I thought you might find helpful.

Dogs bark to communicate with you. Learning why they bark is the key to stop your dog from barking. Depending on the reason for barking and your own training skill level, you may need to consult with a qualified trainer/behaviorist to assist you with the training. For more on selecting a behavior professional, check out the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior guidelines for choosing a trainer.

Just as there are many reasons humans speak, dog barking occurs for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the most common:

Distance decreasing: Distance decreasing barking can also be considered attention-seeking barking. The dog is barking to communicate with the owner - "pay attention to me!"
Boredom: Evaluate your dog's lifestyle. How much physical exercise is she getting? How much social stimulation through appropriate play with other dogs? How much play does she get with you? Is she getting adequate mental stimulation in the form of both training and problem solving? If your dog is barking because of boredom, consider more physical exercise, more positive training, and introduce new toys and games for environmental enrichment (At Cause to Paws we have lots of interactive toys that can help)
Frustration: While some frustration barking is boredom barking, not all boredom barking is frustration barking. Often in class, dogs bark when their owners have poor timing or because the rate of reinforcement is too low, the dog is frustrated because the signals are unclear.
Separation distress (limited vocalization, no injury to self or property), consider how long the dog is left alone - if it is more than eight hours for an adult (even shorter periods of separation are recommended for puppies), find a dog walker or pet sitter to break the day up. Provide her with mental stimulation through puzzle toys, kibble hunts, etc., when she is alone. (At Cause to Paws we carry things like DAP - Dog Appeasing Pheromone - sprays or collars, Rescue Remedy drops, Happy Traveler tablets from Ark Naturals which often helps calm the dog while you are gone or Lavendar Foam can help your dog to relax.Greetings, and exits should be low key).
Invitation to play: Some dogs bark to say, "Hey, I want to meet/play with you NOW NOW NOW!" (puppy barking frequently falls in this category). These barks are generally high pitched, and are often accompanied by wagging "propeller tails," loose/wiggly body language, play bows and jumping. Ask those who would like to interact with her to wait for calm, quiet behavior before greeting to avoid reinforcing the behavior.
Separation anxiety: True separation anxiety (destruction to self or property) is a topic beyond the scope of this Blog. If your dog is injuring herself or destroying your home, We recommend you seek the assistance of a behaviorist such as Vera Wilkinson from the Cooperative Dog, in addressing this issue.

Rawhide - What is it really?

Have you ever wondered what Rawhide really is?
Rawhide is the inner layer of the hide of any cleft-hoofed bovine livestock. The animal's skin is split into inner and outer layers. The tough outer layer is used for leather shoes, garments, and upholstery, while the softer inner layer is cut and formed into different shapes for dog chews.

Beef-Hide is premium rawhide made from cows raised for consumption. American Beef-Hide is derived from corn-fed cows within U.S. borders.

Collagen fibers link to make the animal's hide tough yet flexible. Human skin has the same basic structure but is much thinner. When collagen in the skin dries out, it becomes stiff. As your dog chews, the saliva moistens and softens the rawhide. Foreign rawhide is often sun parched while U.S. beef-hide is oven dried to prevent over drying.

The quality of rawhide is often related to its country of origin: We try to carry only American Beef-hide: Corn-fed beef raised in the U.S. supply a thick, palatable and high quality chew. American beef-hide is considered "The Source" of choice for premium chews.

Natural tendencies of wild canines and their predecessors was to sink their teeth into their prey and pull away on the hides stripping the skin and meat. Inherent in this feeding processes was the beneficial action of the tugging and pressure on the teeth and gums which served to toughen the gums and clean the teeth for a continuously healthy mouth.

Dental Benefits: As rawhide is chewed and moistened, it wraps around the teeth and rubs off plaque and calculi. Behavior Benefits: All dogs have an inherent desire to chew, especially puppies. Aberrant chewing can be a sign of lack of exercise or a vitamin deficiency, but it is most often a normal desire to chew. This drive can exhibit itself on furniture and clothing items. Beef-hide offers a dog a safe chewing outlet.

But are they safe for my dog? Not everyone is comfortable using rawhide, it is up to you to decide. Chews come in every size and shape imaginable. It is important that the chew be large enough and thick enough that your dog cannot easily chew off and swallow a large piece or the whole chew. Rawhide that requires more than 7 days to chew should be replaced due to dirt and bacteria buildup.

If your dog has gastrointestinal disease or is eating a therapeutic diet, you should seek a veterinarian's approval before feeding any chews. Dogs with beef allergies or that consistently swallow bones whole should probably chew unattended.

Hope Everyone Had a Great Thanksgiving

Are you prepared for the Holidays?

Now it's time to think about the next set of Holidays. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, it is great to include your pets in the celebrations.

Taking a photo to send to friends and family? Don't forget to get the family cat or dog involved. We carry Antlers, Santa or Elf Hats and holiday outfits for the pets. It definitely bringa a smile to everyone (well maybe not the cat or dog- but what a photo opp!)

If you don't have a pet, doing something for a friends cat or dog is often greatly appreciated as well. Going to a cookie swap with friends who have pets, bring along some bakery treats for the dog - everyone will comment on how thoughtful you are.

Gift Baskets filled with treats and toys for a business associate is one option if you don't know what to get them (of course this only works if they have a pet) - there are just so many bottles of wine or cheese baskets one can receive! At Cause to Paws we can put something together for you - or you can pick out items yourself and package them up. Either way people will really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Other things to keep in mind.

Be careful at Holiday Dinners - this is a great opportunity for dogs to seize half-carved turkeys, half-cut hams and semi-sliced roasts from the kitchen counter top - or eat things they shouldn't - like chocolate or candy. Even too many dog treats can be harmful, keep an eye out.

Which brings up another concern - Call your vet and check his or her schedule for the Holidays. Ask if there will be emergency care available. Your vet's office might be closed, so be sure to get the phone number and address of the nearest emergency veterinary clinic. It's good to have this type of information on hand just incase. If you are going away this is information you need to give to whomever may be taking care of your pets. If you are in need of a pet sitter or walker- you better arrange this ASAP because often they book up early.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday Season.

Salon time: How often should a cat be shampooed?

Tracie Hotchner, author of The Cat Bible states the following about cat grooming - thought I would share.

"In addition to rinsing with warm water regularly, a shampoo twice a month can really reduce the number of allergens on your cat. Use only lukewarm water (hot water can be counter-productive and stimulate more dander production) and a mild cat shampoo. Some of the cat shampoos on the market are even soap-free. Bathing every other week will condition the skin and hair while removing dander and saliva. Keep the water flow warm and gentle and eventually your furry friend may even look forward to bath time!"

At Cause to Paws we carry Bobbi Panter's line of shampoos.

All her Shampoos are SALT FREE. They do not use sodium chloride to thicken their product which is basically table salt and drying to skin, fur and eyes. No salt means no cheap filler, faster rinse time, faster drying time and all of the essential oils they use can actually penetrate the skin and fur!

The Ph is balanced to match the eyes.

It's CONCENTRATED "For 50% MORE WASHES PER BOTTLE". Although all her shampoos are safe for cats - we recently have added a cat specific version called Shaggy Cat.

Shaggy Cat Shampoo - is two products in one. A natural shampoo and conditioner that smoothes and detangles with Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera Gel. Shaggy Cat reduces shedding, dander and matting. Two products in one! Check it out.

Traveling? Need a pet sitter?

The Holidays are coming soon. Are you traveling? It can be stressful. If you have a pet that needs taking care of while you are gone can only add to the stress - especially if you need to find a pet sitter.

How do you find one?

It's easy if you have done this before but if it is the first time here are some ideas.

First you might consider starting with a friend, a very good friend! You might consider neighbor. If they can't help at least they may know who to refer you to. Ask for recommendations from your veterinarian, humane society or dog trainer. Even a Pet Boutique like ours, Cause to Paws, have a number of Dog Walkers and Dog and Cat sitters that we feel comfortable recommending

Make sure your chosen pet sitter is affiliated with a professional pet sitting organization or has solid references - don't be afraid to ask. Insurance is important as well, in case there are only problems. Once you have made a list of trustworthy and reliable sitters in your area, the next step is to call and interview candidates over the phone or even better yet in person. See how your pet reacts to them and vice a versa. Ask what they charge, how long the visits are, if they are bonded and insured, and if they have any special skills or veterinary experience.

When calling an agency, find out how many pet sitters they employ and their days of operation. Inquire whether they charge extra during the holidays.

Some sitters will take the dog or cat into their home. Others may want to stay at your home overnight so that the dog is in it's own surroundings.

Good quality pet sitters book up early so you need to consider finding one right now otherwise your travel plans may not happen.

Howl-O-Ween Dos and Don'ts

Here's hoping that you and your dog have a happy fun - and importantly - a safe Halloween. With a little preparation this should not be a problem.

Make sure to keep your Halloween decorations just out of reach. Cats especially love electrical cords. Pets are curious, anything that is shiny, crinkly twinkling is attention getting. Motion decorations can be hard to resist - but can also be scary for some dogs. I know that Kanji will definitely bark at any moving figures - it scars him (which I guess is the intention of those type of decorations.

Keep Halloween candy away from pets. Especially chocolate which is toxic to dogs and cats. Gum and candy with xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is known to be deadly. To be safe make sure you have treats for the pets around.

Candles in pumpkins can lead curious cats into dangerous situations - so maybe these are not such a good idea to have around. Teenagers can be especially cruel to animals during this time - acting out as pranksters or doing their devilish things. Don't leave your pet outside unsupervised (which is a good thing to do all year round), - better not to take any chances.

Every time the door bell rings Kanji goes ballistic - he is assuming someone is coming to visit him and he gets so excited. On Halloween you usually have a constantly ringing doorbell and a parade of strange costumed individuals. This can be overwhelming for some dogs and you may want to consider putting them in a room far away from the mayhem which might be happening. Give them a chew bone or a toy to try and distract them. If they get too stressed consider things like Happy Traveler or Rescue Remedy - natural remedies to relieve stress - we carry both at Cause to Paws.

If you are trick or treating with your dog (with or without a costume!) make sure they wear their collars and ID tags.

Have a Happy (and safe) Howl-O-Ween.