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.

Shocking news: Electrical and phone cords are ticking time bombs

"Until you add a cat to your life you won't have realized how many cords there are in the average house. From curtain cords to lamps, computers, kitchen appliances, telephones, hair dryers or irons, they're everywhere. While cats all like to play with cords, kittens are especially vulnerable because they play with things by putting them in their mouth. If a kitten chews an electrical cord she can get burned or cause a house fire. If she gets tangled up in window blind cords she can get trapped and strangle. Make sure to always keep all types of household cords out of the reach of your little kitties."

by Tracie Hotchner, author of The Cat Bible

At Cause to Paws we often have customers come in and tell us how their cats are eating their computer wires - not realizing that cats like to chew. We have sold them little rubber bones, cat coils and even 3" bully sticks to help with their chewing needs. There are also lots of dangling teaser type cat toys which can take the place of the cords. Cats need to have play and interaction time, so it is important to have things available for them to play with, alone or with you. Our cat section is quite extensive to try and cover all these needs. We are constantly looking for new things to keep the cat busy - so they will avoid the household items.

Fling-Ama-String™…if cats had money, they'd buy one! Fling-Ama-String™ hangs on any standard door knob. It is battery-operated. One side of a long string is sewn to a flat elastic "conveyer belt' which is constantly rotating. The string flings in and out for kitty’s non-stop amusement. The toy has 2 speeds to satisfy the frisky or faint feline. Batteries not included.

Pull tips: Is your dog a puller?

Pull tips: Is your dog a puller?
by The canine experts at Dogster.com

"If your dog is a puller, don't let him pull you! As he attempts to pull you, don't let your arm extend all the way out, which is enabling him to pull. Keep your elbow bent and tucked in, and when he starts to pull, don't let the elbow straighten and pull back. If this is done enough times, it should help... it may not eliminate the pulling, but the dog will not pull as hard."

We work with a number of trainers and most of them highly recommend Premiers Easy Walk Harness for dogs that pull - from the Petite to Xlarge and every size in between. Lots of great feedback and I have seen it work miracles. It sort of looks like a martingale for the chest - as the dog pulls, you correct by pulling back which causes the harness to close and allows you to "steer" the dog - easily turning them left or right - getting them back on track in terms of walking beside you.

Another thing I like about them is even if your dog finds a way to chew the harness the company will replace it for the cost of shipping - (rumour has it it is usually because we, as owners, leave the harness in some tempting location and the dog sees it as a chew toy!). I have become quite the expert at fitting dogs. I have learned that there are some dog shapes that are not conducive to the harness so coming in for a fitting can be helpful.

And for even better news - the company now offers the harnesses made from recycled materials, in very green packaging. Every little bit helps the earth out.

If you need help in training - we can help out with some names in addition to the harnesses.

I'm Back and So is Kanji and Summer

Had a great week off in Michigan with good friends. Had my dog fix by going to a parade in Northport, MI - dubbed the Kentucky Dogby. Lots of dogs with little saddles and "jockeys" on their backs and others with roses around their necks. For a small town in northern Michigan they put on quite a shindig - their local celebrity turned out to march as well - Mario Batali - a great chef - wonder if he cooks for his dog(s)?

It was obvious when I went to pick up Kanji he was ready to come home and rest. He ran right to the car and wanted to get in (made me feel good!). I know he had a great time while he was at "summer camp" but I think he was exhausted from all the activity - he is not use to that much fun - 24/7 .

It is a scorcher out there today - Summer has decided to arrive in August - so make sure you continue to keep your pets hydrated and cool. It's a real hot one today. Make sure you keep your dog cool - Forget about leaving the dog in the car and cracking the window - check out http://www.mydogiscool.com/ for lots of great information.

Off on Vacation - Leaving Kanji Behind

I am off for a much needed vacation but I am depressed that I have to leave Kanji behind. The good news is he is staying with friends - whom he loves very much. He is basically going to summer camp. It's great to have a trusted friend with a great location (3 acres all surrounded by water). Kanji is free to run around with their Chocolate Lab - Woody basically 24/7.

Not everyone can be this lucky. If you need to leave your pet behind there are various options available - Kennels, Vets, Pet Sitters (in your home or theirs), Pet Hotels, etc. Whatever you do it is important to make sure you get references and check the places out. We have a lot of people coming into the store offering services - we tell them unless we have experience with them or know of customers that use them we can not really recommend them. We do have a list of "trusted" sitters, walkers, and places we feel comfortable recommending.

Whatever you do make sure you provide your pet with some comforts of home - their toys, bed, blankets, food, treats - and things with your scent on them. And when you come back make sure you bring them a special treat or toy so they know you were thinking about them while you were gone.

Feel free to come in and talk about your needs - we would love to help you out.