"This Little Light of Mine"...is Shining for Orphan Pets #RemembertheRescue #RememberMeThursday

Hi every furry and human! It's Cody, and I am here to tell you that today is a most impawtant day. It is the day when we honor the millions of pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home, and shine a light on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption.


Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign that was created by the Helen Woodward Animal Center,  that unites individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world.  The combined influence creates  an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes and to  not die waiting for them.

I am a rescue kitty.

My litter mates and I were blessed to have had an amazing foster mother and I was adopted by my current Mom when I was only 10 weeks old. My Mom adopted me two weeks after her beloved kitty, Bobo, passed, whom she lived with for 18 beautiful years.  Bobo was rescued from the streets when he was about six months old. When Mom adopted me she had a broken heart.

Adopting ME Helped Heal Mom's Broken Heart

Adopting ME helped Mom in many ways. Mom always tells me adopting me was one of the most special days in her life.

I am a Lucky Kitty

 Things could have been different.

I never roamed the streets looking for warmth, water, food or shelter.

I wake up every day to a family who loves me. I have a full belly, sunny perches to sit on, toys to play with, warm beds to snuggle and sleep on. I have regular Veterinary care.

I am loved and I give love.

My Mom and Dad love me with all of their heart. I try to repay that every day by showing them my ample belly so that they may rub it. I sit with my Mom every night when she watches TV. I "talk" to my Dad at every meal. My Mom and Dad gave me a home where I am loved, I bring them laughs, love, cuddles and kitty kisses in return.

Today I want to acknowledge animals who weren't as lucky as me and pray for those who are still waiting to be adopted.

Our recent hurricanes and earthquakes have separated pets from their owners, some because their owners can no longer afford to keep them, some because the owners cannot be found, some because the animals were already homeless. Shelters across the country have warmly opened their doors to accept these thousands of displaced animals which add to the thousands already waiting for their forever homes.  All of these animals DESERVE LOVE, they DESERVE A FOREVER HOME.
It is my deepest hope that  they all find loving homes.

This is where YOU come in

Today, the entire world will share the importance of pet adoption and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2016, people using #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 340 million people on social media.

Animal lovers across the planet will honor these loving babies

 by lighting candles on the exact same day.

Help get the entire world talking about pet adoption!

 Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the lost pets who ran out of time and bring awareness to the pets we can still help by working together and using our voices.

"Let’s take social media by storm for orphan pets!"
I want every kitty and doggy to be 
as lucky and as loved as I am.

"Every animal deserves love,
Every animal deserves a forever home"

The LOVE Cat Tower Created to Help Hurricane and Earthquake Victims

To learn more, visit Square Paws

Meet The Mastermind Behind Square Paws: the most "Truly Unique Cat Furniture"

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: A few months ago I had the pleasure of discovering the MOST "truly unique cat furniture" that I had ever laid eyes on. In my opinion, "truly unique" doesn't begin to cover the genius and talent that is behind the most CREATIVE, as well as "unique" cat furniture I have ever seen. I immediately fell in love. Today, I am thrilled to present to you the owner/creator of 

his name is Mario Arbore.  Mario's philosophy is " Here at Square Paws, we’d like to think that your cat's play-towers should be part of your home environment and not a completely foreign object. That’s why our cat towers and other pet pieces are made to delight both pet and owner."  10% of net profits are donated to agencies dedicated to animal rescue and refuge.

I am beyond smitten with the furniture at Square Paws, so much so, that I asked Mario if he wouldn't mind writing a guest post to give us some background as to how Square Paws came about, and how he came to create what is, in my opinion,  the most endearing, unique and creative furniture that exists in the cat world! I am thrilled that he accepted! Now, I proudly present, Mario Arbore

CLICK HERE TO VISIT
the above picture is a sponsored ad on our sidebar

In early 2014, I had come to a fork in the road in my career as an architect.  Having completed several long-term projects in New York and in Florida, I found myself with some extra time on my hands and asked a friend what she thought I should do next.  “Why not build cat towers?” she asked.

I scratched my head, wondering how I might approach the subject of cat towers.  I had purchased several of the garden-variety cat trees from the big box pet store chains in the past and had even tried my hand at making a small cat perch many years ago.  But this was different.  This occurred for me as an opportunity to “say something different” about cat furniture.  I pondered for a few days what I might do and what kind of design vocabulary I might bring to the subject.  In those early days, I began to take visual notes and sketch the various habits of my three cats, often measuring them while they slept or watching how far they would jump.

I noticed how two of my three cats preferred sleeping at the highest spot they could find, whereas the other cat preferred to hole up in a more cave-like setting.  Drawing upon my knowledge of architectural history, my first thought was to one of my favorite building types: a lighthouse.  It had the verticality most cats desired, while still allowing for a place to “cave.”  I found images of a lighthouse in Nova Scotia that I liked very much and immediately went to work designing the form and inner platforms for a kitty lighthouse.  Within a week, I had created the working drawings, then cut, painted and carpeted my first cat tower.  And, after watching my cats quickly take to climbing within its walls, I knew instantly I had stumbled upon an intriguing approach to making cat habitats!

The lighthouse opened up a wellspring in my mind of building typologies and iconic items that could be tailored to serve as jungle-gyms for curious felines.  Nautical themes led me to creating various lifeguard chairs.  The concept of a chair led me to creating a Royal Throne. 

Photo Courtesy of Square Paws
"Royal Throne"

Common household items like grandfather clocks and coffee pots became inspiration for new cat tower designs, all the while challenging me to fit a cat’s natural curiosity to climb and sleep safely atop their domain paired with a piece of sculpture that could enhance a person’s home rather than appear like an afterthought. 

Photo Courtesy of Square Paws
"Hickory Dickory"

Use of bold colors and different carpets became fun to experiment with, to see how various cats of different stripes and fur color might appear against the different backdrops.

Photo Courtesy of Square Paws
"Espurresso"

Indeed, one of the greatest joys I got in the process was the joy and wonder experienced by PEOPLE as much as cats!  The sheer idea of fashioning something such as a collection of musical instruments into a cat condo took many people by surprise and sparked their imaginations towards new possibilities.  And cats, being the sensitive animals that they are, are quick to react to a person’s loving, doting energy, and that’s good for both feline and human alike.

Photo Courtesy of Square Paws
"Musicat"

Photo Courtesy of Square Paws
"Ferris Wheel"

From an oversized stiletto shoe to a kitty Ferris wheel, from a cat-friendly potted flower to a peering giraffe, the journey thus far to explore and create new ways to enhance the lives of cats and their human custodians has been very rewarding, and we are looking forward to creating new Square Paws wonders for folks to marvel at!

Mario Arbore

Fun Friday Video:"Squirrels in Autumn"

Autumn officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere on  September 22, 2017 at 4:02pm. Autumn is my absolute favorite season! I love everything about it.  The vibrant colors, the cool, crisp temps, (except for the next few days in Michigan where it will be in the mid 80s),  football, Halloween, and so much more.

Along with my love of cats, I have always loved watching squirrels. Cody does too and I bet many of you kitties enjoy watching them as well!

So furiends, today, Cody and I are sharing a video we found on YouTube that we feel is a fun way  for you to celebrate the first day of autumn with us! Enjoy!

Wishing You Sweetness and Peace

FROM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES:

Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest holidays in the Jewish religion. The two-day holiday begins at sundown and celebrates the Jewish New Year. During the celebration, Jewish people take the time to appreciate and accept God as their king.

The Jewish calendar, which runs on the lunar cycle, determines the date of the holiday each year. The celebration begins at sundown and the following day marks the first full day of the celebration. Jewish calendar dates end at nightfall, which means this year's Rosh Hashanah celebration will begin at sundown on Oct. 2 and end at nightfall on Oct. 4.

In Hebrew, "Rosh Hashanah" means “Head of the Year” and it's also known as the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the day that God completed the creation of the world and highlights the relationship between God and humanity.

While Conservative and Orthodox Jews observe the holiday over the course of two days, most Reform Jews celebrate Rosh Hashana for one day.

An important tradition during this holiday is Tashlich, which calls for Jews to go find a body of water, be it the ocean, river or stream, and cast away their sins. This is done symbolically by throwing bread into the water and the act allows people to reflect and correct themselves so they can focus on a new year.

At home, families gather for dinner prior to attending service the night of the holiday. They recite blessings over candles and wine. Families also indulge in challah bread or apples dipped in honey.

This year it is extra special that the

 FIRST FULL DAY of

 Rosh Hashanah coincides with:

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution 36/37, the General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

May peace be around you and inside of you.

It's Talk (Meow) Like A Pirate Day!!

WANT TO KNOW

HOW INTERNATIONAL

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY BEGAN?

READ ABOUT IT HERE!

It would not be right on

International Pirate Day

for me NOT to repeat the

catabulous photo made for me by

Mr.Puddy !!!

We be so glad you stopped by on International Talk (Meow) Like a Pirate Day! We be goin' t' have so much fun goin' around visitin' all o' you! Can't wait t' see what fun you be havin' today! Are thar certain games that you like t' play today?

 Tell me

about them!

 Love, Pirate Cody 

Thanks to Ann from Zoolatry 
for this great graphic!

Join us over at Speedy's for MORE PIRATE DAY FUN!!!
 Don't forget its Speedy's  Pirate Party on Tuesday 19th September right through to 22nd so send in your photos of you in your best costumes either by Email  to rachel.dejong28 at googlemail.com or direct to Speedy's  Party event on Facebook

My New Name

Today my woofie brother, Dakota is taking my place in the "Picture Me This" Photohunt!! Go on over and check it out, he did a SUPER good job!! 

Love, 
Cody

Our Hearts Are Broken For Our Dear Friends

For those that don't know, our friend Sharon writes the blog:

Bill has been ill for a while now. Our hearts are hurting and we wish we had words of comfort but we are just too sad right now. Please visit their blog to leave condolences. 
Comments have been disabled.

Enter the #RememberTheRescue Contest That Helps Orphan Pets

From Remember Me Thursday creator and Helen Woodward Animal Center CEO, Mike Arms, "Unnecessary euthanasia of pets has to stop. And the only way it's going to stop is showing the public that we, collectively, can do something to make a difference."

While Cody WAS adopted, he was luckier than many other cats. He had an incredible foster Mother who loved and nurtured him, and helped influence the loving cuddle bug that he is today. Millions of other animals aren't as lucky as Cody was. Many are waiting in shelters for days, months, years and even their entire lives, to find their forever homes, and MANY NEVER DO.  Now, after the devastating hurricanes in Texas and Florida, even MORE ANIMALS are going to be faced with the prospect of dying in shelters!!  Remember Me Thursday® is right around  the corner! It's time to start preparing!! 

Do You Have An Adopted Pet?

Enter NOW

by sharing their Photo!

The #RememberTheRescue Challenge is a social media photo contest where rescue pet parents tweet and post pics of their beloved adopted pets. Participants then nominate their favorite pet adoption organization or facility to win one of three awesome prizes!

The entire month of September, when you post or share, your rescue pet’s story for the #RememberTheRescue Challenge, you'll be entered to win incredible prizes!

Tag your rescue pet’s photo with

 #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday on Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win life-saving funds and food for a pet adoption organization you love.
 
Not on Twitter or Instagram?

You can post your pet's photo right to the #RememberTheRescue Photo Wall.

And don't forget, adoptable pets need your help to get the whole world talking about pet adoption on September 28, Remember Me Thursday.

Never Forget

I Took this photo late in 2016
when I was at La Guardia Airport
it was on the wall

Help Free Tony the Tiger #TinyTigers4Tony

I was contacted recently by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) asking if I would help share information about a Siberian-Bengal Tiger named Tony.  Tony is cruelly being held in a cage at a gas station parking lot in Louisiana, surrounded by diesel fumes and the roar of the adjacent highway. Tony has lived there for MORE THAN A DECADE! This is wrong kitties, JUST WRONG!

 The Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting for Tony for seven years, and  are waiting for a court decision that could finally grant Tony his freedom to be relocated to a reputable sanctuary, where he can live out the rest of his life getting the veterinary care and environment he deserves.

WANT TO HELP TONY?

To participate, simply print out the “Free Tony” sign, snap a photo of your tiny tiger with the sign, and post it on social media with the hashtag #TinyTigers4Tony.

Unfortunately, Cody wasn't in the mood to cooperate, and when I printed my sign the ink came out too light, so, I just inserted it in another photo. I am sure you can do a better job than I did!

All felines, whether they are large or small deserve protection from abuse, so be sure to help!

Follow The Animal Legal Defense Fund on:

Instagram: @animallegaldefensefund
Facebook: @animallegaldefensefund
Twitter: @aldf

Hand Blown Memorial Glass Pendant Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away!

Huge concatulations to the

 lucky winner listed below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


We are so happy that Ellen was randomly selected! She is always so generous with so many kitties (including ME) that it is nice to be able to give back to HER! For those that may not know, Ellen has a blog, click to visit!

Disaster Planning for Humans and Pets #NatlPrep #PlanAhead

Watching the scenes  of devastation that are coming out of Texas is heartbreaking. We feel helpless, we want to give and somewhere deep within us, we are grateful that what we are watching is not happening to us. There are MANY types of disasters than can occur. Some are weather related some are not. As much as we do not want to think about it, a DISASTER CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT. YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A SECOND. ARE YOU PREPARED? If you are like me, you probably are not, but we CAN BE.

September is National Preparedness Month. On the heels of Harvey,  and with another storm (Irma), threatening, with the terror situation and the lunacy taking place in Korea, preparing for a disaster, ANY type of a disaster is something we all need to take seriously. The National Preparedness Month website has information divided by categories for each week of the month. of September.

WEEK ONE-SEPTEMBER 1-9
Make A Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area.  Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Build a kit. Include enough food, water and medical supplies for your needs in your emergency kit to last for at least 72 hours. Ready.gov/myplan.

PLAN FOR HUMANS

Make an Emergency Plan.

Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.

Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.

Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide.
Plan financially for the possibility of disaster

How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?

What is my shelter plan?

What is my evacuation route?

What is my family/household communication plan?

Purchase I.C.E. Wristbands (In Case of Emergency) for your entire family. ($1 of each sale will go to organizations helping with the Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort).  Bracelets will start shipping late September.

It is far too often while watching scenes of devastation on television, that we see and learn of large numbers of pets who were not planned for in the event of a disaster. It is our duty as responsible pet owners to

PLAN FOR OUR PETS

Our pets depend on us. Late last year we had what thankfully was a small fire in one of the units of our apartment/condo building. The entire downstairs filled with smoke. Was I prepared? Barely. I became full of anxiety. The ONLY things I managed to do was to grab Cody and Dakota, put Cody in his carrier, grab my cell phone (and my husband) and GET OUT.  All turned out fine, but what if it hadn't been?

PREPARING MAKES SENSE!!!
Be sure you have:

Important documents. Registration information, adoption papers and vaccination documents. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database.

First aid kit. Our dear friend Denise Fleck features pet first aid kits for dogs and cats. (Dakota has blogged about them in the past)  Denise also has a book on Disaster preparedness  and a Disaster Preparedness Kit . Her First Aid Kits are featured below:

CAT FIRST AID KIT
Photo used with permission from www.petsafetycrusader.com

DOG FIRST AID KIT

Photo used with permission from petsafetycrusader.com

Cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution are musts! Including a pet first aid reference book for cats and dogs is a good idea too.

Collar or harness with ID tag, rabies tag and a leash.

Crate or pet carrier. Have a sturdy, safe crate or carrier in case you need to evacuate. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.

Sanitation. Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.

A picture of you and your pet(s) together. If you become separated, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you. Add species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics.

Familiar items. Familiar items, such as treats, toys and bedding can help reduce stress for your pet.

 MORE TO PLAN FOR

Remember, during a disaster what’s good for you is good for your pet, so get them ready today.

If you leave your pets behind, they may be lost, injured – or worse. Never leave a pet chained outdoors. 

Create a buddy system in case you’re not home. Ask a trusted neighbor to check on your animals.

Identify shelters. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets.

Find pet friendly hotels along your evacuation route and keep a list in your pet’s emergency kit. Our friend Paris at Cat Tipper lives in Austin, Texas, and due to the possibility of her creek flooding, they chose to be pro-active and evacuated. Paris shared her experience in a fabulous blog post (Evacuating With Your Cat) that if you haven't read, it is a MUST read. 

If you are like me, you probably only consider taking your pet to your current Veterinarian or animal hospital. During a disaster, you may not be able to do so. It is important that you locate a veterinarian or animal hospital in the area where you may be seeking temporary shelter, in case your pet needs medical care. Add the contact information to your emergency kit.

Microchip your pet! Dakota  is microchipped (Cody is not and I must change that!), and make sure that you not only keep your address and phone number up-to-date, but that you also include contact info for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.

Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get advice and information.

If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Find out where pet boarding facilities are located.

Most boarding kennels, veterinarians and animal shelters will need your pet's medical records to make sure all vaccinations are current.

If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger!

Download the FEMA app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips

ONE LAST POINT

We can't live our lives in fear, but we can't bury our heads in the sand either. Disasters CAN and WILL continue to happen, even in the most unlikely places. The advice offered in this post could save YOUR life and the lives of your pets.  It is our deepest prayer that NONE of us will ever have to use this information, but in the event that we DO need it. We will be READY!!

We were not compensated for any products/info shared in this post.
Acknowledgements:Pet video courtesy of fema.gov
Graphics, logos and other videos from ready.gov
Information is encouraged to be used from the ready.gov website

A Cat's View of Labor Day

Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement, and love without penalties.---- W. L. George

Happy Labor Day to those celebrating!

Labor Day in the United States is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country. Wikipedia


For everyone else, Happy Monday!

Love Cody's tie? So do we!! It's from Mirage Pet Products . Dakota  will be featuring some adorable products of theirs this October and November! (Cody might be also!)

Back to School: The Ratio of Cats to College Students in Each State Provided by Educents

From the Educents Blog:"No, we know that cats can’t actually read. But they’re the perfect companion for stressed-out students! College is full of long nights of studying, stressing, and speed-writing overdue term papers. It’s all about the grind, and nobody knows how much hard work pays off better than college students. The answer may have been stalking in front of us all along: perhaps college students should own cats!"

The folks at Educent "created a map comparing the number of students enrolled in college to the number of cats registered in each state. Is your state highly educated but low on cats? How many households own cats in your state? What does it all mean? Check out our map below to see the ratio of cats to college students in your state."

Click on your state to check it out!

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FOR MICHIGAN:

Michigan

3.91 cats per university student

21,802 cats per university

2,420,000 total cats

31.3% of households have cats