Happy Sunday everyone! Hope that you are all enjoying your weekend, especially with your pets!  Just the other weekend, we shared some fun dog quotes we found, so this weekend, it’s time for some fun cat quotes! If you know some good cat quotes as well, we would love to hear them! You can do so by leaving us a comment below!

• “Thousands of years ago, cats were worshiped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.”- Anonymous
• “One cat just leads to another.” -Ernest Hemingway
• “Cats always seem so very wise, when staring with their half-closed eyes. Can they be thinking, “I’ll be nice, and maybe she will feed me twice?” – Bette Midler
• “There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast.”- Anonymous
• “Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.” – Mary Bly

A few weeks ago, I came across this great article from South Carolina’s local news, WMBF about pet diseases that can make you sick.

Though humans and pets don’t typically pass illnesses to each other, it’s important to be aware of those few diseases that we may be able to share.

• Hookworms – These can be transmitted by both dogs and cats. The larvae get under your skin (literally!) and develop into half-inch long worms. They are typically found around the foot or leg area. If afflicted, you may notice skin inflammation and lesions.
• Roundworms – These are small worms that can be found in a dogs’ intestines and cause the parasitic disease toxocariasis. Toxocariasis doesn’t produce symptoms in most cases, but in serious cases (usually with children) there are some that can damage tissues and even cause blindness.
• Bacterial infections – Dog and cat bites can easily spread infection. Cat bites can infect you with pasteurella which may cause fever, swelling, inflammation of the bone and sometimes even death. Dog bites can transmit staphylococcus.
• Cat scratch disease – A cat’s scratch or bite can transmit the bacteria Bartonella henselae. This may cause infection as well as swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache and fatigue.
• Toxoplasmosis – This is caused by a parasite carried by cats and can be transmitted to humans through contact with eggs passed in the cat’s stool (as well as by eating undercooked meat). Toxoplasmosis is rare and has little to no symptoms in adults, but can cause severe defects in the fetus if a pregnant woman becomes infected.

This blog post comes from Caren Gittleman from Cat Chat!

Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?

This week’s top 10 has a little twist. We’re featuring the top names of pets that are related to things that our pets should not eat!

1. Lily – this is a very popular pet name, and it should also be known that Lilies (the flowers) can be toxic to cats if eaten. Contact with any part of the plant can cause vomiting and lethargy to your cat and may ultimately lead to kidney failure.
2. Sugar – our pets should not be eating sugar as it can be a big contributor to obesity and also cause dental problems or lead to diabetes.
3. Whiskey – pets should not be consuming any type of alcohol. It can poison your pet and lead to coma or death.
4. Brownie – brownies contain chocolate and sugar.
5. Bones – keep cooked bones away from your pets! Try to avoid feeding your dog bones from a cooked turkey or chicken as they can splinter and cause damage to your dog’s internal organs. 
   
6. Coffee – our pets should never consume any type of caffeine. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea and damage the nervous system.
7. Raisin – raisins and grapes contain a toxin (which is yet to be pinpointed) that causes kidney damage to dogs and cats.
8. Tulip – these can cause stomach irritation, vomiting and diarrhea.
9. Chocolate – chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which are both toxic to pets. It can damage the heart and central nervous system and lead to death if consumed in large amounts.
10. Sago – this is a type of palm tree plant that you may find in your yard and is very toxic to pets. It contains a chemical called cyasin which can cause permanent liver damage, seizures, coma, and death.

What’s in a name shouldn’t always be in your pet’s tummy, so keep this in mind as a reminder to keep your pet healthy and safe!

We are loving the fact that pet insurance is popping up in the news more and more these days. Is it because more people are realizing how expensive veterinary treatments can be? Who knows.

Anyway, I recently read an article provided by the Chicago Tribune titled “Tips for buying pet insurance” and decided to provide a few of my own tips.

• Get free quotes. I know it sounds simple, but this is a simple way to quickly determine the price range for how much your pet(s) will cost per month. Once you have a good ballpark, you can determine which add-ons and adjustments you want to make.
• Look for rate increases. Does the plan increase your rates each time you file a claim? Do the rates increase every time your pet has a birthday to keep up with his age?
• Look at exclusions. All policies exclude pre-existing conditions, but most have other exclusions as well. Does the plan cover hereditary and congenital disorders? Does it cover cancer?  What else is excluded?
• Look at limits. Most plans have some sort of limitations, such as $X per claim, $Y per year, or $Z per incident. Find out what these limits are and if they will be enough should your pet come down with a chronic condition and require extensive treatment within the first year.

We have a very comprehensive pet insurance comparison chart on our website – take a look to compare plans all in one place!

It looks like the American Curl breed began in June 1981 in California. Grace Ruga randomly had two cats appear on her front doorstep one day and she named one of them Shulamith (the other cat ran off). Shulamith gave birth to a litter of kittens. At first these kittens looked like any other breed of cat but as they got older and within a few days, their ears started to curl and become firm. After a few months, these ears will continue to harden and stay put the rest of their life.

Physical Characteristics: When it comes to the body, American Curls are slim and are somewhat muscular. Their known ears, have a curl that varies between an 90 degree and 180 arc. It is surprisingly flexible even thought it looks hard. It is difficult to not make eye contact because of their walnut-shaped eyes are so large and breath-taking. The coat lays flat onto the body and the texture is fine but yet silky.

Personality Characteristics: American Curls have similar characteristics to dogs. In fact, you are able to teach and play “fetch” with your cat! They are also pretty social and very involved in their owner’s life. They like to be playful and are a great breed for a family with other pets. They are pretty friendly towards to strangers and pretty energetic when there is a new person in the room.

Overall as a breed, American Curls are pretty healthy cats but that really shouldn’t stop you from enrolling them with cat insurance. You just don’t know when they will get into an accident or badly injured!

Check out the Trupanion Cat Breed Guide for other breeds!

Photo Courtesy of: All Breeds of Cats

Obesity leads to pet health issues.

We all want to show our pets how much we care about them. Unfortunately, many times we show it with food.

Pet obesity has become a huge issue in the last several years (no pun intended), and had led to an increase in obesity-related illnesses that can be prevented. The situation is ironic – as pet owners try to show their pets how much they care by rewarding them with high-calorie treats, they are actually leading the pet down an unhealthy path, lessening their quality and longevity of life.

The same problems that affect obese humans also affect obese pets. Studies show that pets with a little extra girth have a greater risk for developing osteoarthritis and other orthopedic problems, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases, reproductive disorders, certain skin conditions, kidney failure, and a number of cancers.

It can be difficult to understand how the treats you give are affecting your pet because of the small portions, which is why Dr. Ernie Ward, a lead researcher at The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, has developed some equivalents that may be more convincing. For example, Dr. Ward says that a single, small dog bone treat given to a 10-pound dog is no different than a person eating two chocolate doughnuts. Now think about how many of those dog bone treats you tend to feed your dog during the day. That’s a lot of doughnuts. 

The calories in those treats inevitably cause weight gain. Again, a small amount of weight gain for a pet may not seem like too big of a deal, but Dr. Ward explains that 3 extra pounds on a 15-pound Boston Terrier is like 30 extra pounds on a 150-pound person. Some other equivilants to think about:

• A 90-pound female Labrador Retriever is equivalent to a 186-pound 5-foot, 4-inch female.
• A 12-pound Yorkshire Terrier is similar to a 223-pound 5-foot, 4-inch female.
• A 15-pound cat is equivalent to a 225-pound 5-foot, 9-inch male.
• A 20-pound cat equals a 300-pound 5-foot, 9-inch male. 
• Each extra pound on a cat is equal to about 13 pounds on the average female and 15 pounds on a male.

So, before you reward you pet with another treat, remember what that treat may mean. Try rewarding him with verbal praise, or a tummy rub instead. Teach your dog that affection can be shown without food, and keep him happy and healthy for many years to come!

New articles are circulating the news about the potential dangers of dry pet food (yes, I said dry food) and salmonella.

Recently, several varieties of Eukanuba and Iams pet foods have been recalled due to salmonella dangers.

Pets do not display symptoms of infection, but can still spread the bacteria which can affect the elderly and young children. Those who feed their pets in the kitchen have a much higher risk of becoming ill from contaminated foods.

Bacteria will also multiply on dirty pet food dishes (hope this makes you think twice about how frequently you wash your pet’s dishes!).

To be sure that your household is safe, check the brands of pet food that you keep in your pantry versus the list of recalled pet foods.

Read the Business Week article for more details.

Pet insurance is still important in a down economy.

Pet health care still ranks important when money is tight.

Despite the economic downturn, spending on pets continues to increase, and veterinary care is at the top of the list. Pet owners are looking for ways to ease the financial burden of high veterinary bills, and are increasingly turning to pet insurance. Trupanion, a pet insurance (link to: Trupanion Home) company, has doubled in size each year for the last three years, as many pet owners start seeing pet health coverage as a necessity rather than a perk. Pet owners are looking for a simple plan that covers everything – accident, illness, medication, and lab work – and are finding it at Trupanion.

Pet industry spending grew 4.63% between 2008 and 2009 and is expected to grow another 5.53% in 2010, according to a report by the American Pet Products Association, showing that pet owners are still increasing their spending in categories like food, supplies, grooming, boarding, and veterinary care.

However, a report released by the Commerce Department Tuesday showed flat personal spending in June and the weakest income in nine months. A 9.5% unemployment rate adds to the lack of disposable income, and those who are employed are not making any more than they did last year, according to the report.

Yet, a study by BNResearch titled “Perceptions and Attitudes of Pet Owners: The Impact of the Bond” showed that 76% of pet owners would spend any amount to keep their pet healthy, and 52% of pet owners would always do what a vet recommends, regardless of cost. It seems as if pet owners are shelling out more for their pets than for themselves.

“In tough economic times, pet owners are searching for ways to bridge the gap between the increasing costs of quality pet care and their ability to pay, particularly when an unexpected major illness or injury occurs,” says Howard Rubin, Chief Operating Officer at Trupanion and founding CEO of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. “It decreases the financial strain and emotional stress a pet owner feels if the unthinkable happens.”

According to the APPA, dog owners spend an average of $219 on veterinary visits annually and cat owners spend an average of $175. Veterinary care is the second highest spending category behind food, with $12.04 billion spent in 2009.

Pet owners make up a majority of the population, with 62% of U.S. households owning a pet. If they continue to spend as they have been, this could be good news for the economy.

About Trupanion™
Trupanion™ pet insurance offers cat insurance and dog insurance in the United States and Canada. Trupanion™ is self-underwritten by the American Pet Insurance Company, allowing Trupanion™ to offer a simple, customizable pet insurance policy with no payout limits and 90% coverage of veterinary bills. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they get sick or are injured, with no incident, annual or lifetime limit. Trupanion’s mission is to deliver fast, simple and user-friendly financial support to pet owners. For more information about Trupanion™, call 800-569-7913 or visit http://www.TrupanionPetInsurance.com.

About the North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Trupanion™ is a founding member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).  Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of quality pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary community.  As an association, we are committed to high standards and transparency in all of our actions and products.  To learn more, visit the North American Pet Health Insurance Association website at http://www.naphia.org.

In-home animal care for your pet.

I remember when friends of my family would ask me to stop by and ‘check on their dog’ while they were on vacation. “Just make sure they have food and water, and take them out to go to the bathroom a couple times a day,” they would say. And they would rest easy while they took their vacation, feeling as though they had hired a decent ‘pet sitter’ to do the job. Well, lucky for their pets, I never followed those instructions, and used to stay with the dog for hours, playing and giving them all the attention they deserved.

Expectations for pet sitters have come a long way since then. As pet owners realize how important their family pet is to them, and realize how sad the pet feels when the owners are away, they are expecting a lot more out of their pet sitters, and many are willing to step up. Take Verado Home and Pet Sitting in Mesa, AZ. Debra Jensen is a dedicated pet sitter who does not hire out her pet sitting jobs to other employees – when you hire her, you get her (and her 4 years of solid experience). She is insured and bonded, and spends quality time with your pets in the comfort of their own home while families are away. She offers daily packages, which include walks, attention, and food and water; but she also offers overnight stays, where she spends the night with your pet to keep them as comfortable as possible.

For Paws Pet Sitting in New Haven, Connecticut, offers the same type of service, using the catchphrase “…because there is no place like home!” Carin Shillieto cares for dogs, cats, and other small pets in the comfort of their own home. She also offers a daily walk schedule, but distinguishes herself with overnight services.

Willa Reynolds of Road Runner Pet Nanny solely offers live-in services that can last from a week to several months. She lives with the pet while the families are away, keeping to the pet’s regular schedule, so as little as possible changes. “Pets are always going to miss their families,” she says, ”but I find they are most comfortable and least stressed when they are able to stay in the comfort of their own home when the family is away.”

Websites have even been developed that aggregate all pet care options within a family’s community. Sites like www.care.com, www.petsit.com, and www.petsitters.org to name a few have made it even easier to find quality care for your beloved companion. And more often than not, when you hire a pet sitter, you are also hiring a house sitter, as many professional pet sitters will water house plants, take in mail, and put out the trash at no additional cost.

What experiences have you had when hiring a pet sitter?

*Photo courtesy of Women’s Day