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Cat Pet Pet Holiday

Respect your Cat Day

Today is the day to celebrate you and your feline bestie! Today we acknowledge all the hard work your cat puts into being your loyal companion.

Did you know that:

37% of Americans say their cats “get” them better than most of their human friends. And it goes both ways—almost 80% of cat owners can understand what their cats are trying to communicate based on their meows alone.

2 in 5 Americans say they’d rather spend time at home with their cat than go out with their friends. And 1 in 5 Americans have taken it even further—they’ve used their cats as an excuse to get out of activities they don’t want to do.

Activities for the day

Spend some quality time with your cat

Schedule some time with kitty. Go ahead, actually put it in your calendar. Our lives get so busy, but it’s definitely worth taking some time to give your kitty some TLC. How else are you going to develop a strong bond with your best friend?

Get your cat a new cat toy

Sometimes showing your love is as easy as refreshing that catnip mouse or getting a new scratching post to replace the old beat-up one. You know she’ll love it when you wave that ribbon wand around.

Learn new ways to make your cat happy

You knew that kitty likes a good scratch behind the ears, but did you know she also likes to play peekaboo with you behind the curtain? Find fun new games or places your kitty likes to be petted today, even if it takes a bit of experimentation. It’s all in service of letting your cat know he or she is loved.

Why love the date?

Cats are intuitive

Cats are empathetic pets who can sense emotions in their owners. They can feel when you’re upset and show their love in many unique ways: following you around the house, being extra affectionate, or cuddling up more than normal.

Cats are great with kids

Despite some rumors, most cats are fantastic with kids. They let them dress them up, carry them around, and play with them to their heart’s content. Cats and small infants are an especially fantastic combination, as they both love to take naps. What better furry napping companion could there be than a warm kitty?

Cats are hilarious

Cats pretend that they are so poised and highbrow, but they’re just as silly as dogs. We think that’s hilarious—especially when they make a mistake and pretend like nothing happened. Your cat totally meant to fall off of that chair! Cats are so quirky and funny—you can count on them always adding some humor to your day.

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Cat Dog Pet Pet Holiday

National Animal Poison Prevention Week

This week educates pet owners on what can poison their pets, how to spot the signs of poisoning, and how to help pets if they exhibit such signs.

History of the day

In 1863, an American diplomat on assignment to Russia, Henry Bergh, prevented a carriage driver from beating his fallen horse. Upon returning to his hometown, New York, after his resignation, Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.). It became the first and only humane society in the Western Hemisphere.

Owners could not get information about pet care over the internet, so A.S.P.C.A. and other organizations’ pamphlets and articles came to the rescue.

By the 1990s, concern over animals had taken an upswing. People placed more value on the lives of animals. The next few decades saw organizations, even the Food and Drug Administration, taking more care to ensure every aspect of pet care — pet stores, pet food, and even pet toys — were safe.

The A.S.P.C.A., among other organizations, influenced legislation and legal proceedings, bringing to light animal suffering and highlighting our responsibilities in this regard. All these years later, we now view animal care very differently. National Animal Poison Prevention Week reflects our changing view of pet care and is a special event to protect our pet buddies from accidental harm.

Items that can poison your pets

Sweet food items

Many sweets contain a sweetener xylitol, which is toxic to animals.

Human drugs and medicine

Antidepressants, acetaminophen and many other drugs made for human consumption can cause serious health issues when ingested by pets. Make sure to ALWAYS check with your vet if your pet needs any medication.

Flowers

Some flowers may contain chemicals that are deadly, such as lilies to cats.

Chocolate

Chocolate made for human consumption is not safe to be eaten by any pets.