Music Therapy for Animals

Part of my morning routine includes turning on the radio for my cats.  They really like to listen to NPR when I am out of the apartment. More on that later.

My Bachelors and Masters degrees are actually in Music Performance, so these stories are a great mix of two of my great loves, animals and music. I know how music heals the soul, and it does so with animals too.

A lot of the articles I've read about 'Music Therapy for Animals' drone on and on about the science and psychology behind music therapy. I don't really care that much about that. Does it work or not?

The proof is in the pudding. I want to share my personal experiences and success stories with you:

Success Story 1: Stewie the Hamster

About 11 years ago, I got Stewie the Hamster. When I went into Petco that day I no intention of leaving with a furry friend, but the clerk told me he'd been there for a long time.  He was gorgeous and crazy cute, but the devil in hamster form...he had never been socialized and was a biter. No parent or hamster-loving kid was going to take him like that, but I was confident I was the one to turn him around, so of course he came home with me.

I can't find any old photos of Stewie but he looked like this little guy.  He was crazy cute, but so mean!

He bit me really good a couple of times while I was trying different things to socialize him.  Hamster bites are like two razors coming into your skin. After a couple of days of trying to handle him, I was frustrated but still wasn't going to give up. Everything I was reading just said to just get your hamster used to being handled, but he'd bite every time!  I finally came to the conclusion that handling him repeatedly just wasn't going to work, not right away anyway.

So one day I had the idea to turn on the radio before I left for work. A light rock station with some chatter mixed in, on low volume. 

I came home 9 hours later and instead of him buried in the corner like he usually was, he was standing toward the front of his cage looking at me.   I carefully put my hand in and he let me pat his head with my finger - no blood involved! I didn't want to push it so I just opened the cage enough to see if he wanted to crawl into his exercise ball and he did (without my hands). He always loved the ball, but not hands.

The next day I did the same thing again and he was even better! I could actually hold him, incident free! I couldn't believe the complete 180 he made in his personality. I told everyone about my miraculous hamster experience, I couldn't believe it!

From that day until the minute he died, Stewie was the most cuddly and loving hamster I've ever had. He loved to be held, was gentle, adored his ball, and always wanted to be out with me exploring. He never bit anyone ever again and was very happy.  He was a wonderful little buddy.

Success Story 2: Maya the Cat

Maya is not my cat, but my parents'. Our family cat of 15 years had died the year before, and my parents' house was feeling very barren without any furry family members. So when a friend's barn cat had kittens, and once they were fully weaned I sprung at the opportunity.  Maya was the only one who didn't immediately run away, so she came home with me. She was a very sweet cat, beautiful dilute calico, who for a few years was the only cat in the house.

We didn't know much about cat behavior at the time, and Maya seemed normal and content, so when a second (and shortly thereafter, a third) cat came to be a part of the household, we didn't understand why Maya became a recluse to the basement. The new cats were a few years younger than her, and we quickly learned that they would sometimes bully her with their rough play, so she'd retreat to her safe hiding places in the basement. 

Maya prefers string and mousies to roughhousing.

She gradually reverted into a very insecure cat. Each time I'd visit instead of being head butted with purrs, she would hide, and if I tried to pet her she might even hiss and spit at me. It was sad, and my parents didn't know what to do.

So, remembering my success with Stewie a few years earlier, I suggested the music therapy.  We set up a radio in the middle of the basement and put on the classical music station.

Maya's transformation wasn't as immediate or as revolutionary as Stewie's was, but it absolutely did help. She started spending a lot more time upstairs. She stood her ground more against the other two cats. They don't fight, she's just made it clear she wasn't going to run away from them. She stopped acting like the victim, stopped acting like "prey" (as Jackson Galaxy puts it) and they stopped treating her that way!  She was getting her self-esteem back.

Evidence of her progress!
Here is Maya (right) begrudgingly sharing a chair with one of the ruffians, Rocco (left).
I love her expression here, it's like "Ugh...it's you."

Now she purrs more and hides less. She is still passive to the other two ruffians (as I call them), but those two largely leave her alone now and just tumble around with each other. She wants nothing to do with that play-wrestling, and much prefers chasing a catnip mousie down the hall.

She still has the radio playing classical music 24/7 downstairs. There are quiet places she can get away from it if she so chooses, but the places she likes to sit to look out the window or watch everyone else is within earshot of the music.

Success Story 3: Oliver the Cat

Now back to my choice of NPR for my three cats.  My two females, Pretzel and Meatball, absolutely love strangers and welcome visitors with head butts and cuddles (whether the visitors want them or not!). 

Oliver on the other hand, would always hide for as long as he could. If he did get the gumption to come out from under the bed, he'd plaster himself to my side, every muscle as tense as can be. He would never hiss or anything, but I didn't like seeing him so insecure in his own home. 

He's generally a relaxed and happy cat, but not when he hears strange voices in the apartment. Plus he's all black so I think he knows he's invisible under the bed!

Sweet boy loves the piggies. And boxes.

So I'm sure you can guess what I did...a couple of months ago I set up a radio in the kitchen (the middle of the apartment) and chose NPR for the nice variety of low voices calmly prattling the news mixed with all types of music. Voices seem to be his sensitivity, so I wanted to make sure he heard strange people talking on a regular basis.

The proof is in the pudding: a couple of weeks ago, after we've been doing the NPR experiment for a little while my dad came to visit for the weekend. Oliver did not hide...not for even a minute!  He trotted right out, jumped up on the couch next to him and waited for pets, just like he does with me when I come home. 

I was so proud of him and happy that the music / radio therapy had worked yet again! He was completely relaxed and content hanging out with us. He'd never done that before with visitors.

The next weekend my mom visited, and he did the same thing. He even gave her head-butts, purrs, and licks. No hiding.  I think his days of being insecure and skittish around strangers might be over for good!

We're going to continue the NPR therapy in our apartment forever, as I don't want any relapse. It works, and we're sticking to it.

As you can see, this has really worked wonderfully for me and my pets.  If any of my stories sound like something you are struggling with for any of your pets or animals in your life, I suggest trying radio / music therapy!**

**Disclaimer: I am not a vet, I only speak from my personal experiences with my healthy animals. There can be a lot of reasons why an animal might behave strangely, and only a vet can tell you if there are any physical reasons for why your pet might be acting in a certain way.

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Read More about Music Therapy for Animals:

Music Therapy Helps Soothe Humans and Animals Alike

Harpist Soothes Cats at a Troubled Minnesota Shelter

Music Therapy for Cats

Music Therapy for Dogs

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Even cows love music!

Fashion Friday : Frozen (Cute Kitten Version)

It's Friday, WOOO. This post is not quite as fashion-forward as the last "Fashion Friday", but it's a lot more TGIF! (Thank God It's Frozen).

See what I did there...yep.

Dressing up your pets doesn't get much cuter than putting kittens in costumes with a little girl narrating and singing.  This pretty much combines two of my favorite things, Disney and KITTENS!!





And, because it's Friday and I can't get enough of kittens wearing homemade Disney costumes, here's Toy Story.





Have you ever made homemade costumes for your pets?   Tell us about it in the comments!

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Ignorance Breeds Hatred: The Kendall Jones Controversy

I need to take a moment to discuss something that is vitally important for all animal lovers and activists to remember, but too often forget: there are two sides to every story. 

Americans seem keen to forget this fact, or pointedly reject the idea altogether.  Whether you agree with the other side or not, it is still incredibly important to at least read about different viewpoints before getting on your soapbox.

How else can we ever achieve any goals when everyone is constantly raging and demonizing everyone else? Fox News teaches everyone that in order to be heard, you just need to yell louder than the other person. Ugh.

We need to all take a deep breath, and a tip from hostage negotiators. Hostage Negotiation Techniques That Will Get You What You Want.

Now, just in case you decide to not click on that article above (and I really hope you do), here are 5 of the key steps:

1. Active Listening: Listen to their side and make them aware you’re listening.
2. Empathy: You get an understanding of where they’re coming from and how they feel.
3. Rapport: Empathy is what you feel. Rapport is when they feel it back. They start to trust you.
4. Influence: Now that they trust you, you have earned the right to work on problem solving with them and recommend a course of action.
5. Behavioral Change: They act. (And maybe come out with their hands up.)

The first step is Active Listening. This is the most commonly skipped step, therefore negating steps 2 and 3 through its omission. Nobody listens or takes the time to understand nowadays, but everyone wants to be heard. It's like everyone's just screaming at the top of their lungs while holding their hands firmly over their ears and eyes.

If you really want to enact change or get what you want, then try asking legitimate questions (without attacking the other side), listen or read their response. Do not respond when you are emotional, try to engage in a calm non-judgmental conversation if possible. Collect the information as they see it, not how you interpret it.

Ignorance is defined as 'a lack of knowledge, understanding, or education'.  We pride ourselves on believing that we, as westerners, believe we know better than the rest of the world. We believe that we are not ignorant and that we are well-educated. But is it really true?

Stephen Spielberg "Controversy"

Let's start with Exhibit A:  "A Whole Bunch Of People On Facebook Thought Steven Spielberg Killed A Real Dinosaur"

Clearly that's an extreme example of the screeching ignorance that the internet breeds. People are extra stupid when they have an emotional response to something and the immediate mouthpiece to preach their disgust and disdain, as irrational or blatantly incorrect as it may be.

Now let's move on to a more real example not based in satire, but from the recent news, a topic about which many of us (justifiably) feel very strongly:

Kendall Jones & Trophy Hunting

Exhibit B: "Kill Kendall Jones" Facebook Page Killed by Facebook

Now to clarify, I am in no way supporting Kendall Jones or trophy hunting.  However I have to wonder what sort of sick, ignorant people would create a page dedicated solely to the notion of killing another human being?

People call Kendall a monster and she's received many death threats. Does anyone else see the irony here? People hate her for killing, so they want her killed. Isn't that the American way today, though?  "She did something I disagree with, so she must be killed."  

Ignorance breeds hatred.

Doesn't that sound familiar?  Mass Murderers: 'Some People Deserve to be Killed'

Whether it's a mass murderer shooting down innocent victims in cold blood (an action which is justified in their mind) or people publicly calling for the death of Kendall Jones, it's clear this thought process is not limited to psychotics and psychopaths, but rather a cultural phenomenon exacerbated (in this particular case) by the internet and social media.  "She did something I disagree with, so she must be killed."  

Does anybody else see this line of self-righteous justified and extraordinarily ignorant thinking as a cultural mental health disease? It's really sad and disturbing. Vigilante justice has become the American way.

I will try not to focus on the negative here, and for me to demonize those less educated would be to only perpetuate the stereotypical thinking I am trying to address.

Thinking beyond Kendall specifically right now let's think about captive hunting and learn the other side of the coin for half a second. Specifically, where captive hunts came from and why they exist today. It's a complex situation involving sociological, cultural, and economic issues in Africa, but it all boils down to money. 

According to Wikipedia: A canned hunt is a trophy hunt in which an animal is kept in a confined area, such as in a fenced-in area, increasing the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill. According to one dictionary, a canned hunt is a "hunt for animals that have been raised on game ranches until they are mature enough to be killed for trophy collections."

These animals are tame. Kept in an enclosure. Then shot by rich people for fun.

The fees paid by hunters for a canned hunt range from the thousands up to 6 figures.  The trophy hunting industry from Africa alone brings in $91.2 billion annually, based on a study by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa.

Kendall defended herself online as one might expect a 19 year old girl who's grown up surrounded with lots of money, never been told "no", and the inevitable self-righteous ignorant thinking that such an upbringing spawns. "This is a conservation effort!" she exclaims next to photos of her face, plastered with a textbook cheerleader grin, sitting alongside various dead and bloodied endangered animals.

Why Killing a Lion is the Most Cowardly Thing You Can Do

Congratulations, Kendall. You have fallen for the brainwashing that so many rich, white Americans hold as their central belief system. That everything you do should be revered and praised by everyone, and that you can do no wrong.

Read more about Captive Hunting here.

While we do not have to agree with her viewpoint or her actions, we do have to recognize that Kendall is a product of her environment and upbringing, just as any of us are.

Yes, of course she could have made different life choices as some people do, rejecting family traditions and spurring her social circle to go a different direction. She could have done a lot of things, but she didn't.

Not everyone has the strength of character, maturity, and bravery it takes to choose their own path or do the right thing.  It's unfortunate, but we know it's true.

Kendall is even 'gunning' for her own reality TV show (pardon the pun). I can hold out hope that she might use her new-found fame to spread true awareness about conservation efforts, endangered species, and the sociological situation in Africa that has led to the popularity of trophy hunting.  But I won't hold my breath.

One final point about Kendall Jones.  Does anyone else find it interesting that trophy hunting has gone on for years, but the public only now really cares because a pretty blonde teenage cheerleader has become its champion?

What about all the other photographic evidence that has existed of old fat white guys sitting next to a dead elephant or giraffe?  Strangely, those did not get the massive onslaught of media attention that Kendall has received. But Kendall's pretty little face is the only one all over the news.

I'm just going to leave that out there.

So next time you hear of an extreme viewpoint that opposes your own, try the 5 Steps above to learn a little bit about the other side of the coin.  Your blood pressure will thank you.

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Cats in the House of Mouse: Disneyland's Feral Cats

Disneyland hosts about 16 million guests annually. Over 600 custodians work around the clock 365 days a year to keep the 85 public acres of Disneyland looking spotless.

Even with such intensive care, 16 million guests is still a lot of people, and with a lot of people comes a lot of food. With a lot of food comes a lot of food waste and litter. With food and litter comes VERMIN. Disneyland was certainly the "Mouse House" - in more ways than one.

You know where I'm going with this.   I spy with my little eye...kitties!

The story goes that shortly after Disneyland opened in 1955 the cats migrated in, presumably from a local trailer park.  At first they were chased off and treated as a nuisance, but when the mouse population noticeably declined shortly after their arrival, Walt decided the cats weren't such a bad idea after all!

The cat colony quickly became an integral part of the park's daily operations and maintenance crew. Still to this day, they are considered Disney's feline employees (or as Disney calls them, "Cast Members")!

Disneyland is the perfect stomping ground for cats, it provides safety, shelter, community, and food - four major factors for any successful feral cat colony.

Are the Disneyland Cats Feral or Stray Cats?  

Feral cats and stray cats are not the same thing.

Stray cats are cats who have been socialized to people at some point. These are lost or abandoned pets.  They can usually be successfully rescued and adoptable, however as their time in the wild increases and their human interaction decreases, they can become feral.

Feral cats are not socialized to people. They are fearful of people and survive on their own, usually never to become indoor pets.  However, kittens born to feral cats can be socialized at an early age and adopted to homes.  The cats at Disneyland are feral cats.

It behooves Disney to not allow the cats to become too socialized. As feral cats, they are excellent mouse hunters, independent and wily, hiding during the daytime and rarely seen by guests (which is the key).  Cast members are instructed not to pat or interact with them.  If one of these cats becomes too socialized, Disney will adopt it to a loving home. The same goes for any litters of kittens that are found.

In 2007, reportedly at the urging of longtime animal rights activist Bob Barker (we all remember how he ended every episode of the Price is Right with "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."), Disneyland instituted a preventative health program of Trap-Neuter-Return for their resident feral cat colony.

Aided by local organizations including FixNation and Best Friends Catnippers, Disneyland developed a successful protocol for continuous care of the cats.  This care includes TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), adoptions, regular shots, and good food.

The cast members at Circle D Ranch (who also take care of the park's horses and goats) also help look after the cats. They provide food and shelter for the cats with 5 discreet permanent feeding stations and well-concealed cat houses around the park.


Walt Disney used to say that Disneyland was "all started by a mouse", but cats are the ones doing all the work!


Read more:

Differences between Feral Cats and Stray Cats

The Feral Cats of Disneyland

TNR at Work - Disneyland Finds Balance with Feral Cats

The Cats of Disneyland

After Dark, the Dirty Work at Disneyland Begins (LA Times)


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Bottle-Feeding & Care of Orphaned Kittens: Part 2 - Feeding & Weaning

Last night I attended a class by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals called Bottle-Feeding & Care of Orphaned Kittens. It was hosted at the ASPCA's lovely midtown offices. I learned so much in those 2 hours, this will require a couple posts to cover the topics. Click here to read my previous post on Kitten Supplies.  

This topic: Feeding and Weaning!

The first step after finding a young kitten is to determine its age.  Kittens develop at their own speed based on environmental and genetic factors. These photos and descriptions should help you determine how old your kitten is:

First Week

When kittens are born they are blind and deaf. They cannot urinate or defecate on their own (until 4 weeks). The umbilical cord may still be attached (up to 4 days).  A one week old a kitten's eyes are still closed, ears are folded over. It cannot walk. It sleeps 90% of the time, nurses 10% of the time.

Feeding 1-2 Weeks:

• 1 part KMR Formula + 2 parts Pedialyte (or water).
• If kitten gets diarrhea increase the Pedialyte. If diarrhea persists more than 2 days, contact the vet!
• Kittens can be fed every 4 hrs but schedules vary. Keep them on a steady schedule.
• Burp and stimulate after every feeding. Sometimes they'll eat more after that.
• Always test warmed formula on your wrist before feeding!

Second Week

Kittens gradually become more aware of their surroundings and interact with each other. Their eyes will open around 10 days. By the end of the second week their sense of smell is developing, they will hiss at unfamiliar scents, and interact with each other. Their ears will uncurl during this time, and they will begin to crawl and knead.

Feeding 2-3 Weeks:

• 1 part KMR + 1 part Pedialyte (or water)
• Same as above but kittens may go longer between feedings.
• Note: Kittens will be much more active at this stage and climb out of everything. Their claws cannot retract.  Make sure your box has a cover, or better yet use a carrier.

Third Week

By now you can clearly determine if kittens are boys or girls. The teeth start coming in, and their walking becomes more confident.  They are just beginning to play and develop fine motor skills, and their eyesight improves.  By the end of the third week formula can be supplemented with solid food.

All kittens have blue eyes for at least the first few weeks.

Feeding 3-4 Weeks:

• Time to start weaning and litter training!
• Continue bottle feeding, but supplement with baby food - chicken or turkey baby food mixed with formula can be spoon fed to kittens 2 or 3 times a day. Baby spoons are great for this.
• Place kitten in litter after each feeding and move their paws to demonstrate digging. Soon they will use the box on their own.
• Kitten's stool will start to get more solid after a few days of baby food. Continue to stimulate if kitten does not use the litter.
• Tip: Once a kitten starts chewing a bottle rather than suckling, it's time to give up the bottle.

Fourth and Fifth Weeks

By now most kittens will eat and use the litter on their own, although you should still place them in the litter box after each feeding. They will play with their littermates, explore, learn to dig, and can roll over and get back up.

Feeding 4-5 Weeks:

• Some kittens may still want the bottle, but most will be eating and using the litter on their own.
• This is a good time to start regular pate cat/kitten food.
• If you have more than one kitten a Frisbee is great for feeding since it is low, easy for them to access, won't spill, and keeps most of the food off the floor. They will crawl through it though!

Important Tips

• NEVER feed a kitten that is too cold. Temperature should be 98-101 degrees. Warm a cold kitten immediately using a heating pad wrapped in a blanket, or wrap and hold against your chest.
• Never feed a kitten cow's milk.
• Never feed a kitten on its back, like you would a human baby. Kitten should be upright or on its stomach and leaning forward. 
• If you pull the bottle away a tiny bit, this may encourage suckling.
• Resist the urge to overfeed at one sitting to avoid diarrhea.
• Any lack of eagerness to suckle and failure to gain weight require IMMEDIATE veterinary attention!
• Track your kitten's weight: a 4 week old kitten should weigh around 1 pound. A 12 week kitten should weigh around 3 pounds.

In the NYC area and want to attend the next Bottle Feeding workshop? 

Click here to sign up! (next one is on 10/7/14): http://bit.ly/BFK1410

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Sergeant Frank Praytor looks after a 2 week old kitten (named "Miss Hap") during the height of the Korean War in 1952.

Bottle-Feeding & Care of Orphaned Kittens: Part 1 - Supplies!

Kitten Season is in full swing. It starts in spring, peaks through late spring and summer, and ends in the fall.  Shelters around the world are currently inundated with kitten orphans, many of whom are younger than 3 weeks old, also known as "Bottle Babies".

Last night I attended a class by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals called Bottle-Feeding & Care of Orphaned Kittens. It was hosted at the ASPCA's lovely midtown offices. I learned so much in those 2 hours, this will require a couple posts to cover the topics.

This topic: Kitten Supplies!

Click here to read my post on Kitten Feeding and Weaning.

A woman named Iris taught the class. She is a very knowledgeable volunteer and longtime cat/kitten foster at Animal Care & Control of NYC.  She said she elected to volunteer there 8 years ago, because she knew they needed the most help. (Click here to learn more about volunteering at the AC&C).

She told us that the AC&C used to get 40,000+ animals through their doors each year. Now thanks to TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) efforts in the city, particularly by the NYC Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, that number is down to a little over 30,000 per year. Still an incredibly high number, but at least it's better than it was.

Iris set up this display of everything you might need if and when you ever find or foster a baby kitten.

The brown thing in the lower left corner is a wool sock stuffed with uncooked rice, and tied shut.  You heat the rice-sock in the microwave for 1-2 mins, and it becomes a great homemade heating pad! Kittens snuggle it.

The items in the display (starting in the upper left side):

• Scale - the most important thing is that your kitten gains weight EVERY day. You can find cheap small kitchen scales such as this one, at places like Target.
• Pedialyte - mix Pedialyte with the formula mix for kittens. Also good if you have a sick cat of any age, especially with diarrhea.
• KMR Kitten Formula - available at pet stores. Mix with Pedialyte, put into bottle, and warm.
• Dawn soap - blue Dawn eliminates fleas in kittens. Do not put any chemicals on babies! Can bathe kittens, but don't douse the head. Iris also says a ring of Dawn around the neck and tail area helps.
• Funnel - for transferring mixed formula into the baby bottle.
• Wet Ones wipes - can help wiping down the kitten and small messes.
• White Faux wool blanket - do NOT use this! Some sites and videos suggest using these, but kittens can suffocate because they can't turn their heads among the large chunks of fluff.
• Yellow blanket - an example of a good blanket to use for kittens. Since kittens can't retract their claws even towels aren't the best option, they get caught up in the little loops of fabric.
• Hand Sanitizer - this is for your hands, especially if you have sick kittens you have to be very clean.
• Canned cat food - mix canned (pate) food with formula for weaning, spoon feed if necessary.
• Pee pads - for the kitten's enclosure.
• Baby spoon - helpful with weaning kittens, spoon feed a mixture of wet pate cat food and formula.
• Baby bottles - Iris likes these, they come with extra nipples. Available at pet stores.
• Yellow Duckie - for the kittens to cuddle up to.
• Frisbee - good for feeding weaned kittens wet food. Nice and low, can't spill it, can feed multiple at a time.
• Mederma - good for cat scratches (for your skin, not them).
• Thermometer - Kitten's temperature should be between 98 - 101 F.
• Small Whisk - good for mixing formula.
• Baby nail clippers - for clipping little claws. Good practice to get them used to nail trims early!
• Small syringes, eye droppers - can be used for feeding or giving medicine.
• (Human) Baby Food - chicken or turkey flavors are also good for weaning kittens. Also good for an older cat that isn't feeling well or isn't eating.  Make sure there's no vegetables or anything else in there. Plain chicken or turkey only.
• Rice Sock - I described this above in the caption. Really handy!
• Measuring cup - for measuring formula.

Here are a few of the tips, tricks, and facts I jotted down in my notebook:

• Chicken and turkey flavored baby food for weaning or sick adults. I never would have thought of that before.
• Pedialyte for sick cats and kittens. Another handy item that's easy to get!
• 101 degrees is the usual temperature for a kitten. Any cooler and they probably need to be warmed up (rice sock to the rescue) and any warmer they are running a temperature.
• Mederma is great for cat scratches. 
• Mineral Oil is great for treating ear mites.
• Blue Dawn Soap is great for treating fleas in kittens.
• At 3 Weeks the weaning begins. A kitten should be introduced to a Formula + Baby food (chicken or turkey) + Pedialyte mixture, spoon fed (or your finger) to start the weaning process.
• At 4 Weeks the litter box process begins.  Non-scoopable clay litter is what kittens need.
• You can supplement a pregnant or nursing cat's diet with KMR and Pedialyte.
• Keep cats (outdoor, feral, cord chewers) cool in the summer without using electricity by freezing gallon jugs of water and leaving out for them.

Missed this one? They are offering many more workshops of all types, especially TNR and Kittens in the coming months. Check out the list and RSVP here!

In the NYC area and want to attend the next Bottle Feeding workshop? 

Sign up here (next one is on 10/7/14): http://bit.ly/BFK1410


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Read More Here:

Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Animal Care & Control of NYC

NYC Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals

ASPCA

Bottle Feeding Orphan Kittens

Taking Care of Bottle Babies

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Controversy of Captivity : Behavior Problems

When we think of animals in captivity the first thought is usually animals in zoos. However, there are many more types of abusive captivity out there in which animals are currently living:  puppy mills, aquariums, marine mammal parks, pet stores, factory farming, gestation crates, circuses, and the list goes on.

Animals that live in human care are in captivity.  Dogs were domesticated as early as 15,000 BC, but throughout history not only pets and livestock were kept in human care, but also wild animals in menageries and zoos.

The menagerie at Versailles, constructed by Louis XIV in the 1660's.

Most modern zoos make great efforts to create a habitat as close to the animals' natural environment as possible. However due to the nature of traveling circuses, factory farming, and puppy mills, animals in those situations are trapped in tiny enclosures and abusive environments. Those enterprises use animals for profit, so to maximize profit, they minimize expenses (at the animal's suffering).

Occasionally these captive animals, particularly those non-domestic wild animals, develop repetitive and purposeless behaviors called stereotypical behaviors or zoochosis. These behaviors include pacing, self-mutilation, over-grooming, swaying, head bobbing, and bar biting, to name a few.

If you have been to a zoo, pet store, or circus, then I guarantee some of these will look familiar to you:

Pacing

This is very common, I'd be very surprised if you haven't seen this before.  This usually causes well worn paths in the ground, and is often seen with big cats and wolves in captivity.

There can be a few reasons why an animal might pace, some theories include pre-feeding anticipation, checking on or marking territory, or an old habit ingrained from a previous small zoo enclosure.  However, as in the example in the video below, the enclosures are very small, with no behavioral enrichment opportunities (more on behavioral enrichment further down):

Bar biting

Includes licking, biting, chewing the walls or bars. Often seen in giraffes and primates.

Swaying, Rocking, Head Bobbing

Standing in one place and repetitively swaying back and forth. Seen in many different animals, particularly bears and elephants.





See more Stereotypical Behavior patterns here.

How to combat stereotypical behavior? Behavioral Enrichment!

So, now that we know what to look for, what is the best treatment?  The answer is Behavioral Enrichment.  I give the Sea Lion narration for feedings and enrichment sessions at the Central Park Zoo, and the way we explain Behavioral Enrichment is as follows:

"If you've ever played fetch with a dog or given a cat a scratching post, that is all behavioral enrichment. It encourages animals to do behaviors that are good for both their physical and mental well-being. Behavioral enrichment gives animals at the zoo something active to do and something intellectual to focus on."

Excellent buffalo enrichment for the lions at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
The buffalo was built so keepers can attach meat, rawhide, and play sounds from it, to further enhance the lions' enrichment experience.

Adorable example of behavioral enrichment for a captive juvenile Giant Panda. SO CUTE.

Puzzle feeders, such as the one these Polar Bear brothers are enjoying, are very popular enrichment items.

Most enrichment stimuli can be divided into six groups: Sensory stimulation, feeding, manipulation (by the animal, ie toys), environmental (habitat enhancement), social (interacting with other animals), training, and puzzles.  Enclosures in modern zoos work very hard to facilitate all means of environmental and behavioral enrichment.

Behavioral enrichment in pets

This practice of stimulating animals to prevent boredom and behavioral issues goes well beyond animals in zoos.

An example of enrichment toys for a captive macaw.

As I've learned from Jackson Galaxy on My Cat From Hell, and Cesar Millan on The Dog Whisperer, a host of behavior problems in pets can be resolved through play, exercise, and "Catification" (Jackson Galaxy's term for creating feline-friendly environments in your home to accommodate a cat's natural instincts).  In other words, enrichment.




In this video Cesar talks about how to select the right rescue dog for you, and demonstrates his best dog-walking tips and tricks:



Abusive captive environments lacking enrichment and appropriate husbandry can have long-reaching effects for its former captives, even once they are freed from their prisons.  For example, dogs or animals that originate from puppy mills or pet store breeding-mills have many more behavioral problems than those that come from breeders.

Just another reason to "ADOPT DON'T SHOP"!


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Save Me Sunday: Greasy Pigeon Rescue

I currently volunteer at the Wild Bird Fund, an amazing nonprofit in NYC which provides emergency care for wild birds and animals in NYC.

This (below) is a pigeon I found a few weeks ago in NYC. He was so covered in grease he was all black, and even couldn't fly. What happens in NYC is that when it rains pigeons might seek shelter under a hot dog cart, then they get grease on them and the dirt sticks to the grease, making a real mess that they can't clean on their own.

We saw him in the park one day, saw that he was trying to fly but couldn't (dangerous for a bird!). So we gently caught him using my light jacket, and brought him to the Wild Bird Fund on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

General tip: If an ADULT bird is able to be easily caught, then it is likely it needs medical help in some way. A healthy animal will almost always be able to get away from you!

After a couple of weeks at the Wild Bird Fund, and a few baths (we use Dawn soap), he was all clean, able to fly, and ready to go back to his flock. The whole process takes a couple of weeks because pigeons should only get a bath every 3 days, so their natural oils are not too depleted.  It took him about 4 or 5 total baths, he was so filthy!

BEFORE: Getting his final bath!
We use Dawn soap and a soft toothbrush to get the grease and grime off.

This video below is him getting blow-dried after his final bath. Pigeons are sensitive to the cold, so the water must be 105 degrees (matching their body temp), and then we help them dry by using a hair dryer on low.

You can see he likes it. He is not tame, but we don't even have to hold him. He could fly away if he wanted, but it feels so good!

AFTER: A couple of days later, in his box in a cab, on the way back to his flock.
Lookin' good Mr. Bird!

This is his release! I love how he runs right over to his buddies, he's so happy to be back with his family!

I hope everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to volunteer at their local animal rescue. Be it domestic or wild animals, it is an amazingly rewarding experience!

Find your next volunteer opportunity:

Volunteer with the ASPCA

VolunteerMatch Animal volunteer opportunities

Not into the dirty work of handling the animals directly, but still want to help? Other Ways to Volunteer at your Local Rescue

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Teach Me Tuesday: "Sit" (for Cats)

Yes, it's possible to teach your cat to "sit" on command.  I've done it with two out of three of mine. Meatball is simply not food-oriented enough and so stubborn, even when I know she's hungry. She's a few years older than the other two, and simply refuses to do anything she doesn't want to do. Or do anything you want her to do. You know how it is.

Meatball will not sit on command but will sit in any box, anytime, anywhere.
To Infinity and Beyond!!

I'm not a professional cat trainer. Few of us are, we take our "wins" when and where we can get them when it come to cats!

But anyway. Yes, I taught them to "sit".  It works best when they're hungry already.  I started teaching Oliver when he was a baby kitten. Then Pretzel learned when she was about 1 year old, from watching him, since he was so good at it already.  She's a smart schmoozer and knows how to get what she wants!

I use Greenies, since my cats really like them and they're healthy treats. They REALLY love cheese. NY Extra Sharp Cheddar to be exact. Meatball even sat for me once last night for a small bit of cheese!

I found a few and helpful fun videos online that we used, but everyone's cats will be different:





The only thing for us is, to get them to sit more than once requires me sort of scooting around the floor. We do "sit", they get a treat, and then I scoot a few feet away and he gets up and follows. I tap the floor with the treat, hold it up above his head a little and say "sit". He sits, give him the treat, and I scoot so he stands up again.

That's what we do. I don't know how else to get him to stand up in between treats without picking them up. If you have any ideas, let me know in the comments.

We haven't learned "Stay" and "Come".  I have tried to teach Oliver to high five, but instead he grabs my hand with both paws and licks it. Oh well :)

My pretty boy Oliver. He also likes boxes.

ASPCA tips for teaching cat to sit

WikiHow Teach Cat to Sit

Catster Teach Cat to Sit in 4 Steps

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Controversy of Captivity : Orcas

I visited Sea World Orlando for the first time in 1993.  Free Willy had just been released, and it was one of my favorite movies. (Let's face it, any movie with animals was my favorite movie!) I remember feeling very conflicted while watching the 'Shamu Show' because of what I had learned from Free Willy.

During the show, Sea World repeatedly lauded itself on its wonderful care of its animals, but even 10 year old me could see signs of unhealthy Orcas.  I wanted to believe what the performers were telling me, that the animals were healthy and happy, but I just couldn't.  It broke my heart.

The most noticeable is the collapsed dorsal fin. All captive adult male Orcas have collapsed dorsal fins. Sea World claims this is natural, and while there are many theories as to why this happens, the truth is it is actually very rare in the wild.  This excellent scientific paper goes into greater detail about "Flaccid" Fin Syndrome.

I have provided a list of links at the bottom of this page that can supplement additional information with more sanguinary images and descriptions of abuses in captivity and health issues of such animals, if you are so interested.

Blackfish

The controversy of Orcas in captivity has had a resurgence in the media recently with the tragic story of Tilikum, a captive Orca who is the main subject of the documentary Blackfish.  Among other many other reactions and protests, response to the film prompted many high-profile bands and musicians to cancel their 2014 concerts at Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, raising awareness of the controversy to a fever pitch in the media.

THANK YOU to Heart, Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, .38 Special, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, The Beach Boys, Trace Adkins and Trisha Yearwood for your efforts.  Your actions and outspoken activism has had a huge impact on the awareness of the plight of captive animals around the world.

Sea World has tried to address and dispute Blackfish's information, with minimal results. Just last week Sea World was voted one of the top 4 Most Hated Companies in America, right up there with Comcast, Monsanto, and WalMart.

Orca Facts

Last month, "Granny", the world's oldest Orca, was spotted again in the wild off the coast of Canada. She is 103 years old.  In a little over a week, Granny and her pod traveled over 800 miles. A far cry from the bathtub Tilikum and his captive counterparts around the world are trapped in.  

Sea World contends that "no one knows for sure how long killer whales live".  What great, pointedly vague non-information coming from such a self-professed source of knowledge of all things Orca!

You may notice I only use the word "Orca" when referring to these marine mammals.  

The name Killer Whale is a misnomer.  First of all, they belong in the oceanic dolphin family.  Their scientific name is Orcinus orca. Centuries ago, Spanish sailors observed their effective hunting techniques and dubbed them "Matador de Ballenas" (translated: "Killer of whales").   Somewhere along the way the name got shortened and mixed up, hence the resulting "Killer Whale" label. Wrong-o!

Success Story: Free Willy Keiko Foundation

One inspirational story of rescue and rehabilitation into the wild is Keiko.  I chose Keiko's story as he was the subject of the movie Free Willy, which had such an impact on me. 

His story demonstrates the power of the media to influence positive change. He was born in 1978 in the wild near Iceland, caught by a fisherman at a very young age, bought and sold as a captive performing animal, ending up in abhorrent conditions at a marine park in Mexico.  

The movie was released in 1993, and by 1996 he was moved to a rehab facility in Oregon where his health improved dramatically and was taught to hunt for live food.  Over the next couple of years, Keiko gained nearly 2,000 lbs (1 ton) of weight, his skin lesions healed, and he could feed himself.  

In 1998, 20 years after his traumatic capture as a baby, Keiko was re-introduced to his native Icelandic waters, where he lived freely until his death (by natural causes, acute pneumonia) in 2003.

Read Keiko's full timeline here

More Links:

Blackfish Movie

The Fate of Captive Orcas in 2014

Eight Facts You Need to Know about Killer Whales

Sea World of Hurt

The Keiko Project

Orcas in Captivity Wiki

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Save Me Sunday: Help! I found a baby bird!

Aw, I love Derek!! He always means well. We all do!

Do you know what to do if you find a baby bird?

It is currently baby bird season (spring and summer), so if you live in the city, country, suburbs, or anywhere in between, you are likely to come across a baby bird at some point.  They are so adorable and helpless-looking, if you're an animal lover like me, you will always want to scoop it up and help!

BUT SHOULD YOU?

Before you scoop up the baby, survey the situation and ask yourself a couple of questions (advice via my very good friends at the Wild Bird Fund):

OK so far so good. You've called a rehabilitator like the Wild Bird Fund who can be reached at T: 646-306-2862, and determined that yes this bird DOES need help, and you are just the person to do it!!  Now what??

You can download the PDF version of these tips and tricks for baby birds at the Wild Bird Fund site HERE.

I will definitely be posting more about bird (baby and adult) feeding, care, etc in the future!  Please let me know if you have questions. The Wild Bird Fund is an excellent resource, please check them out. Wonderful people doing amazing work in NYC and beyond!

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Star Power Saturday : Ricky Gervais, Animal Lover and Activist

Star Power Saturdays will feature a different celebrity who speaks out for animals and/or has rescued their pets instead of shopping (#adoptdontshop).

This first celeb I chose to feature is one of my favorites: Ricky Gervais.

It was also his birthday this past Wednesday (June 25)! HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY RICKY!  Thank you for all you do for animals.

An outspoken activist, animal lover, atheist, comedian, and actor, Ricky has used his star power to spread the word on social media (follow him on Facebook or Twitter) and any way he can, about animal rights and plights of animals of all types around the world.

He also posts a lot of fun videos and photos of his Siamese cat, Ollie.

Ricky and Ollie take a selfie for Twitter.

In addition to being a loving pet owner, he is an active supporter of Cruelty Free International, opposing animal testing for cosmetics.

Maddie's Pet Adoption Days

I live in NYC and recently there was a massive pet adoption event called Maddie's Pet Adoption Days, and Ricky was in the city that weekend.  So I dropped him a note on Facebook to let him know about it, particularly the massive outdoor event held in Union Square.

I didn't get any response (I certainly did not expect one), but shortly thereafter these photos started appearing all over Facebook!

Uncanny resemblance.

I love that he went over just to cuddle some homeless furbabies.  Good guy!

Derek

One more thing I'd like to feature about Ricky is his show "Derek".  If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest checking it out on Netflix. He has called it a 'cry-medy', a comedy that sometimes makes you tear up (in a good way). Not many shows have as much heart as this, it's really special.

"Derek" is set at a retirement home, and the main character, Derek (Gervais), is an animal lover. Here's a clip from Season 2.

These are just a few examples of Ricky's love for animals.  Check here for more posts featuring a different animal-loving celeb, every Saturday.

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