PawshPaws

Keeping your furry friends away from your beautiful Christmas tree is not always easy. In fact, some trees can eventually be whittled into a Charlie Brown-like tree if you’re not careful.

As if you don’t have enough to do in this time-crunched holiday season, here are some tips for protecting your Christmas tree from pet catastrophes:

Shiny and Bright

Lots of holiday decorations can issue a siren call to curious animals. Tinsel, crinkly wrapping paper, glitter-covered ornaments-all can cause serious problems if chewed or ingested. Keep them out of reach. Similarly, never underestimate a dopey puppy’s inclination to want to chomp on holiday lights or extension cords.

Distasteful scents

Cats have an innate dislike for citrus scents. Try putting an orange- or lemon-scented room deodorizer near the tree, even attached to the trunk. Other home remedies that cat owners have tried: clove oil, peppermint oil, Tabasco sauce (for branch nibblers) and black pepper.

Remember, though, that cats have sensitive nervous systems, and exposure to essential oils can cause serious neurological problems. So make sure your cat does not have direct contact with potpourris, perfumes or any other substances you are using to keep them away from your tree.

Timber!

Dexterous cats are sometimes inspired to climb Christmas trees. Secure your tree to the wall with nearly invisible fishing line.

Dogs can inflict their own special brand of destruction on Old Tannenbaum, from leg lifts to branch tugs. Desperate owners sometimes surround the tree with a metal exercise pen or baby gate.

Zap away

Indoor training mats such as ScatMats use low-power electric pulses similar to static electricity to startle animals and keep them away from areas their owners have deemed forbidden.

If zapping isn’t your idea of kinder and gentler, the SSSCat is a training device with a motion detector that, when activated, beeps and releases a scentless, ozone-friendly spray from an aerosol can. An adjustable nozzle lets you position the direction of the spray.

You can find both of these at Amazon.com, and at many online pet retailers.

Help in a pinch

Here is a low-tech solution that can work for cats and dogs alike, particularly those sensitive to touch: Go to your local carpet or hardware store and buy a length of clear plastic carpet runner-the kind that has little plastic grippers on the underside. Place the runner wrong side up around the tree; the pointy surface should deter the patter of little paws. (It also works on chairs and couches that you want to declare no-snooze zones.)

Fence me in

gates or exercise pens placed around the tree can keep furry intruders out. Cherrybrook (found at http://cherrybrook.com) sells a number of different size pens in gold, silver and black finishes.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

Just as you would with young children who can’t keep their hands to themselves, invest in plastic or nonbreakable ornaments. Position the keepsakes on the highest branches closest to the trunk, or, better yet, pack them away until your critters develop better holiday manners.

Still stumped on what to put in that holiday basket for your cat? Here are some quick and easy fishy recipes that your cat is sure to devour!

Tuna Crackers

• 6 ounces of undrained tuna
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into treat sized pieces.

Place on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.

Let cool.

Give to your cat and watch them gobble it up.

Kitty Treats

• 1-1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup tuna oil, chicken or beef bouillon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix all ingredients into a dough.

Dust hands with flour and form small, 1/2-inch-thick, round “biscuits”.

Set on greased cookie sheet.

Bake 30 minutes (or until biscuits are slightly browned).

Cool 30 minutes before serving.

Tuna Pops

Drain liquid from tuna packed in spring water.

Freeze liquid in small ice cube trays (cocktail ice cube trays work nicely, as well as little square pill boxes

available at most drug stores – only fill these half full).

Give no more than 2 cubes at 1 time as a treat.

Reuse your can of drained tuna by placing in it an airtight container and covering with filtered water overnight

for a second batch of tuna-pop water.

Tuna Treats

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup nonfat, dry, powdered milk
• 1/2 can tuna, in oil
• OR 1/2 cup cooked chicken, chopped into small pieces
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil OR cod liver oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup water
• Catnip (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mash the tuna(or chicken)into smaller pieces.

Then add flour and milk. Mix well.

After all is mixed pour in water and oil. Mix well again.

Now, beat egg in a separate dish until egg gets a foamy texture. Add to mix. Mix well. The dough mix will be

sticky, so don’t worry.

Using your fingers shape dough into small bite size balls, about the size of a marble. Put balls on greased

cookie sheets. Flatten.

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove treats from oven wait five minutes and turn treats over so other side will cook.

Bake 10 more minutes or until golden brown in color.

Place treats on cookie rack to cool. Cool for 15 minutes.

Sardine Cookies

• 7 oz mashed sardines
• 1/4 cup dry non-fat milk
• 1/2 cup wheat germ

Mix ingredients.

Roll into 24 small balls.

Placed on greased cookie sheet.

Flatten with a fork.

Bake at 350 degrees until brown.

Sardine Surprise Treats

• 2 flat cans of sardines in oil (Do not drain)
• 2/3 cup cooked rice
• 1 tablespoon pureed liver
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Shape into balls of desired size or simply spoon into cat’s dish and serve.

These treats may be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, and may also be frozen.

Precious Kitty Treats

• 1 12-oz can salmon with liquid
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup instant oatmeal, ground in a blender

Combine the salmon and egg in a blender; mix until smooth.

Add the oatmeal and blend well.

Spray cooking spray on a 9-by-13inch pan and spread the mixture in the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Cool, then cut into bite-sized squares.

Store in the freezer.

Mackerel Cat Munchies

• 1/2 cup canned mackerel, drained
• 1 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon brewer’s yeast, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium-size bowl, mash the mackerel with a fork into tiny pieces.

Combine it with the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Drop mixture by 1/4 teaspoons full onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Here are some great ideas to treat your cat with during the holidays:

CATNIP TREATS…

Catnip Cookies

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp catnip
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup powdered milk
• 2 tbl butter or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup Soy flour
• 1 egg
• 2 tbl Wheat germ
• 1 tbl Unsulfured molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients together.

Add molasses, egg, oil and milk.

Roll out flat onto oiled cookie sheet and cut into small, cat bite-sized pieces.

Bake for 20 minutes and let cool.

Store the cookies in a sealed container.

OTHER TREATS…

Kitty Kisses

• 1 Can (or bag) of cat food
• Ziploc bag with the corner cut
• cat nip (optional)

Put cat food and optional cat nip in A blender or food processor and mix until it looks to be like frosting.

Put the mixture into the Ziploc bag and squeeze little droppings, or “kisses” onto a cookie sheet and bake at

300 degrees F.

Time depends on how big the kisses are.

Small are about 15 minutes.

Mini-Cat Cakes

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup soybean flour
• 1 cup skimmed milk or water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon Canola or Sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Mix dry ingredients.

Add liquid and honey.

Mix and let the dough rest in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Add oil and allow to sit another 1/2 hour.

Take walnut size portions of dough and flatten into small cakes.

Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 1/2 hour.

Natural Crunchy Cat Treats

• 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/2 Cup Nonfat Dry Powdered Milk
• 1/4 Cup Wheat Germ
• 1/4 Cup Cornmeal
• 1/2 TBS Brewers Yeast
• 1/2 of a beaten egg
• 1/2 Cup Chicken Stock (or Can Chicken Broth)
• 1 to 2 TBS Catnip (optional)
• 5 OZ of any of the following meats Choose ONE:
• Canned Tuna, packed in oil
• Boneless Mackerel
• Cooked Chicken, finely chopped
• Cooked Liver, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small glass bowl, mash up either, canned tuna, mackerel, cooked chicken or cooked liver and set aside.

In a medium glass bowl, mix all dry ingredients together well.

Add egg, oil and chicken stock and mix well.

Add meat mixture and blend together well to form a sticky dough.

On a floured surface, pour out dough onto it and knead dough well to get a smooth texture.

You may want to add more flour to achieve this.

Use a spoon or your fingers and form dime-sized balls of dough.

Place onto a greased cookie sheet.

Press with a spoon to flatten, you want to keep these treats small so that cat will enjoy.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the cooking time of your oven, until golden brown, turn treats once.

Let treats cool for at least 20 minutes before giving to cat.

Store extra treats in foil for three days. After three days, place remaining cat treats in an airtight container and store in the freezer for no more that two weeks.

Makes up to 70 treats.

NOTE: If you do not wish to purchase the Wheat Germ, you may substitute rolled oats (uncooked oatmeal) instead. If you do not wish to purchase the Brewers Yeast you may substitute ¼ tps. garlic powder instead

Looking for that special gift for your cat or for your cat-owner friends this holiday season?

Well, here are some great ideas…

1. Bags of Homemade Treats

• Make some of your favorite kitty treats (I’ll give you some great recipes in future blog posts)
• Put the treats into cellophane bags, and tie with colored ribbon
• Decorate the bag with cute kitty stickers
• Attach a gift card to a pet store

2. Variety Boxes

If you’re making gifts for several cats, make a variety of different treats, and place them in a tissue lined box or tin.

Put a bow on the top and add a gift card.

3. Gift Baskets

Fill a wicker basket with a selection of cat items, such as:

• Crunchy Cat Treats (homemade or bought)
• Catnip
• Balls
• Squeaky Toys
• Stuffed Animals
• A Pretty Collar
• Brush / Comb
• Small Cans Cat Food

Whatever you chose to put in the basket, make it unique to the cat lover you are giving it to – it will be appreciated and cherished.

When you’ve finished filling the basket with goodies, wrap clear cellophane around the basket and tie it off with large ribbon and a bow.

Whether it’s a Persian or Pomeranian, pet owners believe their pets are members of their family.

According to results of a Harris Poll of 2,455 adults surveyed online, almost nine in 10 (88%) pet owners say their pet is a member of their family with just seven percent saying no. Women are more likely than men to believe this (93% versus 84%). Dog owners are slightly more likely (93%) than cat owners (89%) to consider their pets members of their family.

What People Do with Their Pets

If pets are members of the family, then they are entitled to certain things and pet owners make sure their pets get these things. Over two-thirds (69%) of pet owners let their pets sleep in the bed with them, with women more likely then men to share their bed with their pet (72% versus 64%). Gen Xers are also more likely to share their bed as almost three-quarters (74%) let their pet sleep with them. Also, cats are more likely to get on the bed then dogs (78% versus 70%).

Pet owners are also present buyers. Almost two-thirds (65%) have bought their pet a holiday present and over one-third (37%) have bought their pet a birthday present. Dogs get presents more than cats do. Seven in ten (71%) of dog owners have bought their pet a holiday present compared to 63% of cat owners. The same is true for birthday presents as 42% of dog owners have gotten a present for their pet compared to one-third (33%) of cat owners.

Further down on the list of what people do for their pets is cooking especially for them (23% of pet owners have done so), dressing them in some type of clothing (18%) and being taken to work (10%). Cooking for your pet is something one does as they get older as three in ten (31%) of Mature pet owners have cooked especially for their pet compared to just 14% of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-30) who have pets. While dogs may get more presents, cats may get the last laugh. Only 14% of cat owners have dressed their pet in some type of clothing compared to almost one-quarter (23%) of dog owners.

So What Does This Mean?

Pets bring happiness to so many and, so often, many pets, particularly dogs, bring unconditional love. In return, they may not ask for much, but it seems like they get much from their owners. Pets are members of the family and they get presents and, in some cases, they are cooked for, just like any other family member. That’s probably not too much to give for that feeling of joy when the front door is opened and that Cocker Spaniel or Calico is waiting there to greet you after a hard day.

With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to start thinking about what present to get for your special pet. In the next few posts, I’ll suggest some homemade options for your cats, so stay tuned!