Pets don’t
have the same dietary requirements as their
pets, and studies have shown
that
table feeding and too many treats can lead to
obesity. Too many fats and oils can lead to some
diseases as well as obesity. Carbohydrates can
lead to fat cats, because cats are geared to eat
meat. They don’t digest wheat and grains the way
we do. Pet food is scientifically measured and
balanced to give your pets what they need to
eat. Human food is not.
Hazardous Human Food
Many foods
we love are dangerous for pets. Chocolate,
onions, garlic, mushrooms and sugarless
sweeteners are some of the dangerous foods on
the list. They can bring problems to pets that
range from indigestion to fatal
illnesses—another reason to ban table feeding.
Dogs & Bones
We know
Rover likes a good bone to chew on, but some
bones can be very dangerous. When chicken
or turkey is cooked, the bones become very
brittle. When Rover eats a chicken bone,
the bones splinter and may get stuck in his
mouth or throat. Even if Rover gets the
splinters down, he's not out of danger.
The bones can pierce the stomach, intestines, or
form a hard blockage that can be life
threatening. It's best to keep cooked
chicken or turkey bones far enough away from
Rover that he can't get them out of the trash
either. If Rover does get into the bones,
keep a watchful eye on him. Don't hesitate
to take him to the veterinarian if he shows
signs of discomfort.
Presidential Pets
The most famous Scottish
terrier was Fala, President Franklin Roosevelt’s
dog. Fala and the President were inseparable.
Fala once was accidentally left behind when
Roosevelt was visiting the Aleutian Islands. The
President sent a ship back to rescue his dog.
Some of
the presidents had less traditional pets.
Herbert Hoover had two pet alligators along with
his nine dogs. Calvin Coolidge had a real zoo:
many dogs, two raccoons (they were leash
trained), a donkey, a goose, a bobcat, two lion
cubs, a
pygmy hippo, a wallaby and a duiker (small
antelope).
Andrew Johnson fed the white mice
he found in his bedroom. John
Quincy Adams was fascinated with his silkworms
and alligator.
Abraham Lincoln kept goats, a couple of dogs, a
turkey, a horse and a rabbit. The turkey, Jack,
was pardoned by Lincoln when his ten-year-old
son Tad begged for Jack’s life. No other turkeys
received a pardon until John F. Kennedy said he
couldn’t eat a turkey he knew.
Occasionally gifts from world leaders went
straight to the zoo. James Buchanan received a
herd of elephants from the King of Siam (now
called Thailand). The Sultan of Oman once gave
Martin Van Buren a pair of tiger cubs.
Cats have
absolutely no problem understanding other cats.
They have subtle ways of speaking with one
another, but they mostly rely on body language.
They exist in a society where words are not
necessary. Cats can determine other cats’ moods
just by looking at them. Are the ears back or
forward? Is the tail swishing? Do they touch
noses or bump heads? Posture, tail movement,
eye contact and scents all send signals to other
cats.
What do
you think they're saying?
The Meaning
of Meows
Cats have
taken pity on humans so they can communicate
with us by meowing. We understand some of the
body language, but we haven’t caught on well
enough. Each meow may differ in meaning by the
tone, pitch, rhythm and pronunciation. It’s up
to us to figure out what they are saying.
Meow.
Urgent calls sound
unpleasant, demanding attention. “Where is my
food?” Angry meows tend to be longer in duration
and have a lower pitch than friendly meows.
Friendly meows are higher pitched and shorter.
Low-pitched rumbling growl.
Warning! Danger or
some other threat imminent.
Howl.
Danger is there in the
form of an unfriendly cat, or you’ve stepped on
her tail. Pain, sadness, extreme fear or stress.
Low-pitched meow or howl accompanied by purring.
Pain discomfort,
stress or fear.
Purring.
Comfort, happiness and
security. Some cats will purr when they are in
pain, perhaps to comfort themselves.
Warble.
Little short meows
most often used to display affection.
Trills.
A way they show even
more affection. Mother cats may trill at their
babies to call them closer.
Chitter.
A clucking noise when they are watching birds or
other prey.
The
Silent Meow
If we have
been fortunate enough to have a cat look at us
with narrowed eyes, ears comfortably pointed to
the top and a relaxed body posture while opening
the mouth slightly and making no sound, we have
received quite an honor. The Silent Meow!
The Silent
Meow is special and should be received with the
importance and care in which it was delivered.
It is a high form of compliment, a way of saying
thank you for the things you do for your cat. It
is her way of showing all the love and affection
your cat feels for you.
If you are
gifted with this special honor, remember to
return the favor and thank your cat generously
for being such a loving companion.
Teach Your Dog
How to Shake Hands
Once your dog
knows the “sit” cue, you can easily teach
another fun cue: SHAKE!
When your dog is in a sit
position, say “shake.”
Gently take her paw in your
hand and lightly shake it up and down.
Say “good dog” and give her a
treat.
Do this a few times each day.
Then try saying “shake,” but
not taking her paw. If she begins to raise
her paw by herself, praise her and give her
a treat.
If she doesn’t, just keep
trying by taking her paw in your hand,
shaking it gently and giving her a treat.
If you keep doing it,
eventually she’ll get it.
Humane Society of the
High Plains 2050 East US Highway 40, P O Box 311,
Hays, Kansas 67601 Comments? Contact webmaster@hshponline.org
that
table feeding and too many treats can lead to
obesity. Too many fats and oils can lead to some
diseases as well as obesity. Carbohydrates can
lead to fat cats, because cats are geared to eat
meat. They don’t digest wheat and grains the way
we do. Pet food is scientifically measured and
balanced to give your pets what they need to
eat. Human food is not.
