Heartbroken ...

Tonight our hearts are breaking for poor Chester. Since we already have six house cats, we were never able to bring Chester in the house. The best we could do for him was give him shelter, a cat bed to sleep in, and a space heater in the garage. We fed him twice a day and took care of him the best we possibly could have. 

He began to come around about two years ago when my husband befriended him. We have no idea where he came from or how old he was, but we noticed the past few months (especially with the cold, ugly weather we have been having lately) that he, as with most outside cats began to age rapidly. He was having trouble walking - possibly arthritis (who knows?) and so we gave him Fancy Feast with turmeric mixed in with it to help him with his joints. He would sleep in the garage most days and nights on an old sofa cushion we have that he seemed to like and somehow managed to jump up on. 

A couple of times he would wander (not too far) and we would not see him for a couple of days and then suddenly he would show up and once again live in the garage. This past Friday night after we fed him he walked out of the garage and never came back. The Godforsaken snow came that night and we fear that he died outside somewhere because he never came back. 

Chester eating with his buddy Charlie.

I suggested bringing him in and keeping safe and warm in one of our large dog cages downstairs (away from the other cats) until winter was over but my husband said that he would not be happy living his last days that way so we didn't do it. I am regretting that decision now and both my husband and I are shedding a few tears over his loss. I only pray we gave him some happiness in his hard life.

A Feline Funny for Valentine's Day

 

A surprise email this morning from our vet for Sir Leo:

We wanted to reach out and wish Leo a very happy birthday!! 

It is such a pleasure to be your veterinarian. 

We hope today can be sweetened with a treat for this big day and that all birthday wishes come true. Thank you for letting us be a part of your healthcare team and we look forward to seeing you for your next wellness exam. 

Happy Birthday!

New Cat Wreaths

 

                                           CATastrophe Treasures

Barb's Creative Design

You can find these awesome cat wreaths on ETSY.com by clicking on the shop names below the photos.

🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈

Just a few of my own hand crafted cat wreaths I had also created ...

Spring and Summer wreaths.

Halloween wreath ...

Two Egyptian Goddess Bastet wreaths ...

Another  Halloween Cat wreath ...

And last, but not least, my Norse Goddess Freya wreath titled, "Freya's Ride" ...

Catlore (and some great books)

 (artwork by Cyra Cancel)

As a fellow cat enthusiast, I am always on the prowl for new and fascinating things (or at least to learn about things I never knew before)!  Cat folklore, superstitions and proverbs intrigue me and so I thought that I might share some of the interesting cat info which I have found with you all.

Here are just a few:

* If a cat continually looks out the window on any given day, rain is on the way
* Some cats can predict earthquakes (there is actually some proven truth to this one!)
* Cats are believed to be able to see human auras
*A cat sleeping with their four paws tucked underneath their body means bad weather is coming
* If a cat sits with their back to the fire, this foretold a cold spell
* If a cat sneezes once, it means there will be rain. If they sneeze three times, the family will catch a cold
* Early Americans believed that if a cat washed her face in front of several people, the first person she looked at would be the first to get married
* Tortoiseshell cats were believed to be able to see into the future and could also give this gift to a lucky child in the household
* When the pupil of a cat's eye gets big (broadens), it is a sign of rain
* The Pennsylvania Dutch used to place a cat in the empty cradle of a newlywed couple and the cat was supposed to grant their wish for children
* In England, it was believed that if a black cat lived in your house, the young lass would have numerous suitors
* It was once believed that fur and blood drawn from various parts of a cat's body would cure all ailments
* In Tell-Basta (which was at one time the Egyptian city of Bubastis), a graveyard holding 300,000 mummified holy cats was discovered. A few were sent to museums.
* A kitten born in May will be a witches cat

Pretty wild stuff, huh?  I also wanted to share these two books with you which I had read many years ago and, to this day, I refuse to part with them  ~ both were written by the renowned author Desmond Morris ...

These are both really great books and I highly recommend them to any cat lover!

Turmeric and Cats

We have been giving Butterscotch turmeric in capsule form once a day with his canned food ever since he had to have a lump removed from the back of his left leg a couple of years ago. Upon doing our research, we have read that this supplement (herb) has a lot of wonderful benefits for both cats and dogs alike. 

I have decided to share some information about it here which I had found on a couple of websites about using it for its' health benefits for cats. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a soft lump on Butterscotch's chin. As the vet had instructed me to do, I kept a close eye on it to make sure it did not get bigger. Now, it could well have been dermatitis (yes cats can and do get it) and I began giving Butterscotch turmeric again after I had given him a little break from it in his daily routine. Within days the lump on his chin not only had gone down, but appears to have gone away. Be that as it may, I will still continue to keep a watch on it. 

The following are links for further reading and an excerpt from one below:

Turmeric has become a household staple for many people, but this superfood has tremendous health benefits. Turmeric for cats helps support cats that may be fighting cancer, and also provides, arthritis support and also helps with digestion, skin issues, and is great for cardiovascular health.

Properties of Turmeric:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Anti-fungal
• Antibacterial
• Anticoagulant
• Antiseptic
• Astringent

Benefits of Using Turmeric Daily in the Diet

• Helps to scavenge free radicals
• Increases antioxidant enzymes
• Inhibits lipid peroxidation

Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause oxidative damage to cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA. The free radical scavenging properties of turmeric supports the body in processing and removing these molecules, minimizing the damage they can do.

Healing Properties of Turmeric for Cats

• Helps arthritic conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties and COX2 inhibitors
• Autoimmune disease support by improving the signaling pathways of immune cells
• Anti-cancer support due to its antioxidant properties
• Support for liver disorders through detoxification
• Heart condition support through improved circulation
• Helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) which cats are prone to
• Helps reduce the risk of blood clotting

At NHV, we only use human-grade quality products as plant-based remedies. They are vet-approved and are safe to be given long-term along with any vet-prescribed medications.

Other Herbs and Spices That Are Healthy for Cats

In addition to turmeric, there are a variety of other herbs and spices that you can offer to your cat occasionally that are thought to help support their health. Here are other herbs and spices that your cat can eat:

• Ginger
• Catnip
• Dandelion Root
• Chamomile
• Valerian

These herbs and spices should be used like turmeric: sparingly. Just a small amount added to a meal or included in a snack or treat a few times a week or under guidance from a veterinarian.

References:

https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/TURMERIC-for-cat-cancer-symptoms

https://petcareadvisors.com/cats/can-cats-eat-turmeric/

https://askmycats.com/is-turmeric-safe-for-cats/

Feline Funnies