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CANINE CATS

     For cat-lovers who are looking for a unique cat with lots of personality, the Pixie-Bob is definitely a breed to consider.

     Many have described the Pixie-Bob as having a “dog-like devotion, intelligence, and trainability.” Fans claim that they are unique in developing very strong bonds with their human family.

     The Pixie-Bobs look very much like the North American Bobcat. Although the bobcat has been around for centuries, the Pixie-Bob is relatively new. This unique breed was developed in the Puget Sound area in 1985.

     An amazingly gentle feline, the Pixie-Bob communicates easily, mostly with a series of chirps, guttural sounds, and chittering noises. You will also hear an occasional raspy meow from these little cats.   

     Did we say “little”?  That is probably not a very accurate description of this feline. The male weighs 12-22 pounds. Females weigh 8-15 pounds.

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WORKING HARD

     The summer is the best time to admire a wonder of nature, the hummingbird. A simple bird feeder with a mixture of four parts water to one part sugar and a little red food coloring will attract these tiny birds.

     The ruby-throated hummingbird beats its wings at 50 to 70 times a second.  If a 170-pound man expended energy at the same rate of the hummingbird, he would have to eat 285 pounds of hamburger or twice his weight in potatoes each day in order to maintain his weight.

     The brilliant colors in a hummingbird's feathers are created by tiny platelets that resemble a pancake filled with air bubbles. Called interference colors, they are much like the shimmering colors seen in a soap bubble or in a drop of oil.

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SUMMER PET SAFETY

     Hot summer months can create health risks for humans as well as animals. The American Animal Hospital Association encourages pet owners to follow some basic summer pet safety tips:

     Never leave your pet in the car.  The sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120ºF in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down. If you need to run errands, leave your pets at home.

     Water, water everywhere.  Whether you are indoors or out, both you and your pet need access to lots of fresh water during the summer. Also, bring plenty of water with you when you both go for a walk.

     Pets need sunscreen, too.  Though all that fur helps protect your pets, they can get still sunburned, particularly if they have light skin and hair. Keep your pets out of the sun between 10 am

and 4 pm. When you do go out, rub a bit of sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of their ears, the skin around their lips, and the tip of their nose.

     Watch out for antifreeze.  Hot weather may tempt your pets to drink from puddles in the street, which can contain antifreeze and other chemicals. Antifreeze can have a sweet taste that animals like, but it is extremely toxic.

     Make sure your pets do not overexert themselves.  Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps them stay cool, overdoing it can cause your pets to overheat.

     Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure they have plenty of water. If your pets are panting a lot or seem exhausted, it’s time to stop.

     Take it easy on pets that cannot deal with the heat.  Elderly and ill animals have a hard time regulating body temperature. Make sure they stay cool and out of the summer sun.

     Bring them inside. Animals should not be left outside on hot days, even in the shade.

     Keep an eye out for heatstroke. If your pet is panting excessively, has a rapid heartbeat, vomits, seems weak, has warm dry skin, or collapses, his body has overheated and needs to be cooled down. Cool your pet off with cool, wet towels and take him to your veterinarian immediately for emergency treatment.

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FELINE FACTS

     * A cat can jump five times as high as it is tall. This is usually accomplished from a standing position.

     * Cats always walk on their toes. If you check their footprints in the sand, you will rarely see imprints of their nails, however, because most cats retract their claws while walking.

     * He also uses it for balancing and as a rudder in long leaps.

     * A lucky cat varies by country or culture.

     In folklore, the tri-colored Tortoiseshell was believed to bring luck to his family.

     In England and Scotland, the cats that bring luck are the black cats. In China, it is believed that having an “old and ugly” feline will bring you luck.

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GROOMING GUIDELINES

     Grooming pets is a great way to help keep them healthy and allow you to bond with your animals.

     Not all animals need a daily brushing, especially very short-haired dogs and cats. Vizslas, Greyhounds, and Weimaraners are three

canine breeds that have little need for brushing. There are also many short-haired feline breeds that fall into this category.  Brushing these cats and dogs helps to control the fur you find around the house as they shed, and is a great method for quality bonding.

     It is important to brush your pets with long fur. The brushing helps to remove loose fur to prevent it from matting. This also helps control shedding.

     Regardless of the animal’s length of fur, be sure to brush all pets who have been in the woods or other field areas. This helps get rid of burs and debris, as well as allowing you to look for ticks.

     Experts recommend that you not bathe your pet more than once a month unless you are treating him for fleas or your veterinarian has directed otherwise. Too much bathing dries out the animal’s skin, causing flaking, itching, and potential skin problems.

     When that bath day comes, be sure to use an animal shampoo. Those products which are formulated for humans are inappropriate for animals and often too harsh for your pet.

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TELLING TIME

     A cat’s sense of time differs from human’s because it is not based on a clock but rather on daylight, darkness, and seasons. Their timing for getting up in the morning, eating, and playtime are also based on your routine.

     Days off from work can be precious to humans, but those days start out just like any other for your cats. If you plan to sleep in, let your cat know first! This may sound crazy, but studies have found that when people take a moment to explain to their pets that “tomorrow morning I get to sleep in, so please don’t wake me up,” many animals respond by sleeping in, too!

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TOP DOGS, BUT BABY IS FIRST

     A dog is often a family's "first child."

     When you are expecting your first baby, there are many adjustments you and your dog must make.

     The transition can be easier with just a little planning. Be sure that your dog will sit, stay, and lie down on command. This training is important with infants and small children in your home.

     Put a doll wrapped in a baby's blanket into a stroller. Add some baby powder to enhance the smell of an infant.

     Teach the dog not to jump on the stroller and not to take the blanket.

     Show him that it is okay to lie down next to the stroller. Before bringing your baby home, let your pet sniff the baby’s blanket so that the scent will be familiar.

     Animals need the security of routine. Keep your pet's meal and walking times on schedule. 

     Give extra attention to your pet when the baby is present, and withhold some attention when the baby is not around. The pet will soon learn to associate love and attention with the baby rather than rivalry, and will soon be eager to be with you and the baby.

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EMU PIROUTTE

     Experts describe the Emu’s unique defense mechanism against predators. 

     Cats are the usual enemies of the emu. An emu can only run at about 35 miles per hour, while some of its predators can run at close to double that speed.  Nevertheless, the emus still survive. A cat may be chasing an emu and gaining on it. The emu cannot escape by flying. Instead, it races along with its giant 9 foot long strides.

     As the cat is bounding full speed after it and just about to catch it, the emu, still running along at top speed, will raise one of its little stubby wings towards the sky and point the other towards the earth. This makes the emu swivel around almost 180 degrees, still at top speed, and the bird takes off in a different direction. The cat cannot turn as quickly. His momentum will keep him going for about another 30 yards, by which time the emu is far away.

     The emu can exhaust his predator before the predator can catch up with him.

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SUCCESS CAN DEPEND ON PETS

     School may not be in session, but during the summer, many children continue to read. It is a great activity for the expert reader as well as those youngsters who are just learning to sound out the words. Regardless of the level, there is a method that is proving to be a great asset in improving reading skills:  reading to a pet. Dogs, cats, and even birds make wonderful listeners. 

     And all pet owners know that their animals are not judgmental. If a youngster is self-conscious about his reading, he can read to his pet. If he makes a mistake, the animal certainly will not know the difference, and could care less! If he has to pause to sound out an unfamiliar word, the pet will wait patiently. And when the child finishes a story, the animal will celebrate with a pat on the head or a scratch on the tummy (the animal’s, not the child’s).

     Experts also use pet therapy for children who are upset, afraid, or have special needs. Most children feel at ease with a dog or a cat. 

     If they are having a difficult time communicating with an adult, allow them to share their feelings or thoughts with the animal. It is a way they can express themselves without the fears they may have when talking to an adult.

     Researchers have also found that people with pets tend to have a lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease. In fact, if they do have a heart attack, a pet owner is nine times more likely to be alive one year later than people without pets.

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LOVE TO PLAY

     Most cats love to play, but they play in their own style, on their own timeline. Regardless of how much their human family members spend for toys, cats will decide which are their favorites.

     Typically, cats will play with anything that moves. Static toys are not very interesting. In selecting safe, fun toys for your cat, there are some items to avoid:  plastic bags, string, small pieces of anything.

     Paper bags and cardboard boxes have continued to be favorite playthings for cats. They love to jump inside, hide and wait for something to pass by on which to pounce. This allows them to observe the world from their own domain.

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BUNNY DECISIONS

     Rabbits as pets are wonderful. When deciding which breed is best, many people prefer the smaller breeds. There are four ideal breeds to consider:

     The Netherland Dwarf is the smallest rabbit breed. A full-grown Netherland Dwarf weighs only about 2½ pounds. When it comes to colors of fur, this is the ideal breed.  There are over thirty different recognized color varieties.

     Dutch rabbits are bred in only six colors, but have very distinctive markings. When combining their appearance with their calm personalities, they become very popular as pets and for show.

     The Mini Lop name is not as descriptive as it may seem. This was the smallest of the lop breeds at 6½ pounds, but it lost

the title to the Holland Lop.

     Holland Lop rabbits weigh 3-4 pounds. The are bred in many colors in both colored and broken patterns, much like the Mini Lop.

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Bet you didn’t know

     Greyhounds are well-known for their tremendous racing speed. They are also very popular pets. Ask almost anyone who has adopted a retired greyhound, and they will tell you that all their friend really wants to do is relax!

     The National Greyhound Association requires that all racing greyhounds have identifying tattoos, and no two tattoos are alike. Each ear is tattooed.

     The left ear has the litter registration number, assigned by NGA. The right ear has a tattoo indicating the month and year of the dog’s birth as well as the order in which he was tattooed, not necessarily the birth order. 

     So, if you see a 67B in your dog’s right ear, he was born in June of 2007 and he was the second tattooed in the litter.

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FASCINATING FISH FACTS

     How many different species of fish can you name?  If you identified one every second, it would take you 7-1/2 hours to list them all. That’s because there are about 27,000 known species of fish. As they say on TV, “But wait! There’s more!” In fact, scientists believe that there are thousands of fish still to be discovered.

     The largest fish known is the Whale Shark, averaging 45 feet long and weighing up to 15 tons. The Stout Infantfish is the world's smallest fish, measuring only about one-quarter of an inch long when full grown.

     When a shark loses a tooth, a new tooth grows in to replace it. Unlike humans who have just two sets of teeth during their entire lifetime, some shark have been known to have as many as 50,000 teeth during their lifetime.

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ASK OUR VET

     Each month, Dr. Susan Neary presents a feature article about your pet's safety and health.  We invite our readers to email your questions for Dr. Neary.  Her email address is NtTAskOurVet@aol.com

      For this month's feature column, please click here.

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SENSITIVE EARS

     Dogs and cats are susceptible to ear problems. These problems include ear mites, allergies, and bacteria or yeast. Although both species can have problems, dogs are more prone to difficulties.

   **  Dogs with floppy ears develop  problems more often than dogs with erect ears. Covered ears are moist, creating a better growing environment for bacteria and yeast.

   **  Some breeds have narrow ear canals like the Shar Pei and Chow, inviting problems.

   **  Dogs with a lot of hair around the entrance to the ear canal.

   **  Canines that swim a lot or those that are bathed frequently.

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727 - 767 - 747 - DUCK

     Most birds are strong fliers.  They propel themselves through the air using on the same basic principle as an airplane. In the case of birds, their “propellers” are actually at the tip of their wings in the form of their primary feathers.

     The down stroke has the power to propel the bird against the air. The farther down the wing moves, the farther ahead the bird flies. At the end of the downstroke, the wingtips are turned slightly inward and upward to provide a little extra propulsion and to lessen the resistance against the air as the bird moves his wings back to the up position for another downstroke. It is a graceful movement, especially in calm weather with a powerful bird in flight. More frantic movement occurs on windy days and with birds that do not have the power to override many of the wind currents, regardless of the wind’s strength.

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LET US SEND IT

     Nose-To-Toes is also available each month in print.

     If you would like to receive Nose-To-Toes each month by first class mail, or if you are looking for a gift for a pet-loving friend or family member, we invite you to subscribe to Nose-To-Toes.

     The annual subscription price is $18.00; or save with a 2-year subscription of just $30.00.

     Please send check or money order to:

Nose-To-Toes

P.O. Box 6155

Lynnwood, WA 98036

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YUL BRINNER vs GRIZZLEY ADAMS

     They looked at photographs.  Their reactions were assessed, evaluated, and interpreted.  And after everything was done, the conclusions were drawn: Cats tend not to like men with long beards and they are indifferent to men with shorter beards.

     The official title to this study is Feline Reactions to Bearded Men. It was conducted by representatives from five major U.S. universities in an effort to determine how cats react to men with varying sizes, shapes, and styles of beards.

     The reactions of the cats ranged from total indifference to attacking the photograph. Some photographs elicited hissing, growling, and other agitated behaviors.

     Other photos generated everything from purring to licking the picture to no response at all. 

     Previous studies have been inconclusive in determining whether cats prefer clean-shaven men, whether they like men with shaved heads, and even their preference toward men in hats. 

     Scientists in this study indicate that the “interpretations are not categorical” and there are always exceptions, but the findings are definitely interesting to consider.

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CATCHING FOOD

     There are almost as many ways of catching food as there are birds. Depending on the environment, physical characteristics, and target food, birds have developed effective methods.

    The Swan tips itself upside down to feed on aquatic plants.

    Gulls are known as sea scavengers, eating fish, crabs, and bits of some ocean plants.

    Penguins fly, torpedo-like, through the waterto snatch fish.

    Brown Pelicans plunge headfirst into the ocean, filling their baggy pouch with fish.

    The Spoonbill will sweep its bill rapidly back and forth and from side to side to scoop up insects, fish, and small crustaceans.

    The Canada Goose nibbles the roots of plants that grow in lakes and marches.

    The Osprey is a bird of prey.  It will swoop over the surface of the water, catching fish with its claw.

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READER’S PHOTOS

Each month we receive notes and letters from our readers with great information about their pets. Some also send photographs of their favorite animals that they think we might enjoy. We invite our readers to send photos of their pets, cute, serious, funny, whatever you like, so we can publish some of the best photos each month to share with all of you! Here is a picture we received, just to give you an idea.      Email your photos (in PDF format, please) to NtTPetInfo@aol.com, or mail them to us at Nose-To-Toes. P.O. Box 6155, Lynnwood, WA 98036.      Please note that photos cannot be returned.

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