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A special cat: the Devon Rex

3/18/2024

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The social nature of the Devon makes them unsuited to spending long periods of time without human companionship. Kitty in NY has some Devon Rex clients. Our caregivers have the time they need to keep your Devon Rex happy while you're away. Contact us with more details about your cat boarding service, we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Devon Rex are human loving and have some dog-like qualities. If you decide to have a Devon Rex you must be prepared: A Devon will follow you everywhere: eat with you, sleep with you, and perch on your shoulder. They enjoy human company!

You should not be surprised to find a Devon in bed with you or another family member, underneath the covers or settled on your pillow. Devons remain kittens all their lives. They have a precious connection with every person in the household.

The look of the Devon Rex is far from ordinary: long necks, odd heads and big ears, and a curly coat that can range from wildly curly to soft suedelike. They are rather small cats (between six to nine pounds). Devons are quite low maintenance, wash-and-wear companions although Devons are not hypoallergenic (as some believe). They do shed, although their unique coat may make the shedding less obtrusive than that of many cats.

Mother Nature created this feline oddity. They originated in Devonshire, England, in the late 1950s when a Miss Cox found that a stray cat in her care had given birth to a rather odd looking curly-haired kitten.

Man had no hand in the mutation, but man made it possible for the mutation to survive and flourish, providing cat lovers around the globe the opportunity to meet, love, and be loved by a Devon Rex cat. Colors include a wide array of solid, shaded, smoke, tabby, bi-color, and pointed patterns.
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Plastic, Ceramic, or Stainless-Steel Cat Bowls? Why Stainless-Steel Cat Bowls are Safest!

3/6/2024

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A healthy diet is crucial for your cat to live an active and long life. However, your feeding efforts may go to waste if you ignore the safety and hygiene of feeding containers.

Your pet’s health depends on the kind of container or bowl you use and how frequently you clean them.

Feeding bowls come in a variety of materials, from plastic and ceramics to stainless steel. Which one of them is the best for use as a feeding bowl?

This article gives an in-depth guide that will help you to choose the right material for your cat’s feeding bowl.

Stainless Steel Bowls

Advantages
  • Sturdy and can’t be broken into small harmful pieces, making it safe to chew on for your pet.
  • Can also be reused several times, reducing the need for buying multiple bowls for long periods.
  • Stainless steel is non-porous. This means that there are no tiny holes on its surface, where tiny bits of food can seep into and become stuck. Thus, the material acts as a shield, preventing the buildup of harmful bacteria on its surface. 
  • The steel bowls can be easily sterilized by placing them in boiling water, killing germs. After use, you can clean them easily with dish soap and water or place them in a dishwasher. However, stainless-steel bowls shouldn’t be cleaned with rough materials such as steel wool, as it can create scratches, making a breeding ground for bacteria.
  • Stainless-steel bowls don’t release toxic chemicals.

Disadvantages
  • Come in a variety of models, which can make it a bit difficult to buy a stainless-steel bowl of good quality. Some steel bowls even consist of lead which makes them toxic for use as a feeding container.
  • Luckily, We Love Doodles has enlisted high-quality stainless-steel bowls at a reasonable price that pet owners can use as a feeding bowl.
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Ceramic Bowls

Advantages
  • Are heavy, making it easier to feed pets who can easily knock out lightweight bowls when eating.
  • Can rinse ceramic bowls easily with dish soap and water.
  • Ceramic bowls with properly polished surfaces are recommended as they don’t consist of crevices or cracks where bacteria growth is prominent.

Disadvantages
  • Bowls made of ceramic material are delicate, making it easy to break them, creating a choking hazard. Your cat can accidentally swallow a small broken piece while eating, which can damage its digestive tract or cause other digestion problems.
  • Some ceramic bowls are polished with lead-based paints. Such ceramic bowls can’t be used for food consumption as they can cause lead leaching into food items. Lead is a toxic chemical for all living things. If consumed in small amounts, it can inhibit the development of the nervous system in kittens. Large amounts may result in damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and even the digestive tract. Lead poisoning can cause your cat to show anaemia-like symptoms, including lethargy.
  • Ceramic material is brittle and can easily get cracks and crevices on its surface. These features serve as a breeding ground for bacteria, where they can easily multiply and spread. Even proper washing and rinsing won’t be able to exterminate all of the bacteria as it only occurs at the surface.
  • The material is also porous, meaning tiny food particles can seep into minute holes, increasing the likelihood of bacterial growth on the surface of the bowl.

Plastic Bowls

Advantages
  • Are very cheap, making it easier for pet owners to use, dispose of, and buy new plastic bowls for their pets.
  • Plastic bowls are sturdy. They won’t break easily even if they fall from a height or are kicked by your pet.
  • Are safe to be washed in a dishwasher.

Disadvantages
  • With rough handling, scratches can appear on the surfaces of plastic bowls over time. These scratches provide enough space for bits of food to get stuck into them. Such conditions provide a robust environment for bacteria to multiply on the surface of the bowl.
  • Even thorough washing with soap can’t help to eliminate all the bacteria that hides within these cracks and scuffs. Placing your cat’s food in such bowls can rather induce a negative impact on its health. Germs can spread within the food and can cause food poisoning if eaten by your cat.
  • The buildup of germs on plastic surfaces can cause allergic reactions on your cat’s chin. If you notice swelling or black dots on your cat’s chin, take it to the vet for getting diagnosed.
  • Several plastic materials consist of a dangerous chemical called BPA (Bisphenol A) which can leach into food items. Even in small quantities, it can cause your cat’s health to deteriorate. The toxic chemical can disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine and reproductive system. This creates adverse impacts on the brain and the circulatory system of mammals and has the potential of causing cancer.
  • Plastic material consists of phthalates, a group of chemicals used for increasing the durability of plastic items. Phthalates are harmful to animals and can result in abnormalities in their reproductive system. It can leach into food items when placed in plastic containers.
  • If your cat tends to chew on its feeding bowls, small bits of plastic can break off and be swallowed by your cat while eating. This can lead to intestinal blockage.

Conclusion for Cat Bowls

When it comes to selecting a feeding bowl for your cat, choose the material type that is safe for chewing, is durable, and doesn’t host any kind of harmful chemicals.

While plastic bowls are cheap and can’t break easily, they pose a risk of tiny bits being swallowed by your pet that can come off while chewing.  Ceramic bowls are heavy to move and can work for pets that are playful with their food bowls. This makes stainless-steel bowls the safest option as they have a non- porous surface, making it difficult for the buildup of bacteria.

Courtesy of Myrah Abrar MBM Blog Article Author
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Why does my kitten sleep so much?

3/5/2024

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While kittens have a reputation for being little curious yet adorable pets, as a new owner, you might be amazed by just how much time they spend sleeping. You will be shocked to know that much like their ancestors, these feline creatures, especially in their younger stages can spend nearly 20 hours  a day snoozing!

How much sleep is considered normal?
If you are a new pet owner, one important piece of advice to go by is that the younger the kitten, the more sleep that is required. A new-born cat will spend up to 90% of their day getting sleep while as it grows older, this duration gradually reduces.
This makes it nearly 22 hours of a new-born’s day. However even at around six months of age, they would still continue getting around 16 to 20 hours of shuteye!

What is the reason behind their prolonged hours of sleep?
While it may seem that your new pet is taking a lot of time off, the truth is far from it. When the kitten is asleep, it’s body is in full work mode. Development of the brain and the central nervous systems are dependent on these frequent periods of sleep.
The time spent napping helps to strengthen the muscles that give this species the athleticism it is known for. Additionally, cat naps help in keeping the immune system efficient and running in top shape. Without it, the feline is likely to grow irritable and stands at higher risk of illness and infection. 

This kind of extensive sleep pattern has evolutionary roots. Like its feline ancestors in theAfrican plains, these cats too have some of its genetic traits still intact. They slept for most of the day and hunted for short periods of time to conserve energy.
Your kitten’s sleep patterns are reflective of this. As wild cat cubs, sleeping would keep these defenseless beings quiet and away from any lurking predators.

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When is there a problem?
Long hours of sleep should usually not be a cause of concern as a pet owner. However, sometimes this sleep can be indicative of other problems. While we agree it is hard to keep track of just how long your kitten spends sleeping, two things to look out for are as follows:

a) Whether he/she has low energy when they are awake and
b) if the amount of time increases noticeably. 

This can be a sign of anemia--a condition when the body is starved on red blood cells and can be very fatal; especially for kittens. If you are worried that your kitten might have it, check if its gums are pale because it paleness is a sign of the illness. 

While it is uncommon for kittens to get less hours of sleep, it can still happen. Rare seizures and sleep disorders can prevent them from getting the sleep they need. If there is a noticeable reduction in nap time, it is advisable to visit the veterinarian to get a more detailed diagnosis.

How to improve your kitten’s sleep life?
Adults have the ability to adapt their sleeping patterns according to routine, or at least to a certain degree. Kittens usually will take some time to learn this. If your kitten wakes you up prior to you waking up, which they are most likely to do in the initial few days, it is for either of the three reasons-- to eat, to play or to be adored.

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However, here are 5 important tips to make sure that your new pet establishes a healthy sleeping pattern while maintaining your own.

1. Designate a proper sleeping place for it. Whether this is in your bed or in another room with a designated cat bed, a quiet and safe place to rest and call his own will help your kitten sleep at night. Make sure all adults and children are aware to not disturb a sleeping kitten.

2. If dinner is hours before its bedtime, the nightly purrs may be due to hunger. Kittens tend to sleep better with a full belly, so  make sure you schedule dinner right before your bedtime and leave a small amount of cat food accessible for the night.

3. Incorporate more play and enrichment throughout the daylight hours. As long as your kitten is 7 to 8 weeks old and up, take advantage of his waking hours to expend his energy.

4. Unless you suspect your kitten is waking you due to illness of injury, don’t get out of bed and tend to him. Kittens learn what works, If you end up tending to them, there is a high chance that it might become a habit as they learn what works to get your attention.

5. Give it time. Kittens wake more at night than adult cats tend to do. Though it can be an exhausting time for their sleep-deprived owners, kittenhood passes quickly and will give you abetter night’s sleep!

Conclusion
Kittens usually sleep for long durations of time and is not a sign of concern. If however, there are noticeable changes in their sleep pattern, it is advisable to consult a doctor for a closer look.

Guest post by Anoop Nain proud father of four rescued dogs and two Flemish giant rabbits. Besides being a full-time dog father, I am a freelance content writer and an educationist, with more than 6 years experience in the field of content writing. In the span of six years, I wrote for various industries but one project that remains closest to my heart is my stint with People for Animals as their social media page manager. It was while working with them I got an opportunity to educate people on animal rights, pet healthcare, animal welfare and various other issues pertaining to animals. My Blog:- https://www.flemishgiantrabbit.com/

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Larry provides cat boarding services in Inwood

3/5/2024

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We would like to introduce you to some of our caregivers. KITTY in NY has selected over the years some outstanding people who have one thing in common: they LOVE cats!

Hi – My name is Larry and I am a life-long lover and aficionado of cats. I have always had at least one as a companion all through my young years, school, college, and my time here in New York. There is a picture of me at 9 months sitting on our very first cat, Tommy (he didn't mind). One of my favorites, Pip, lived to the grand age of 23.

I love all animals but have a special affinity for cats. I am very attuned to each one's unique personality as well as their particular wants and needs. I know when they want that extra play time as well as when they would like to relax alone.

I have a large apartment in Upper Manhattan with lots of space for running around and exploring, as well as several different cat condos and beds. Every kitty that stays with me would get the very best attention and care.
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Larry would enjoy taking care of your cat/s while you're away. You will receive periodic updates during the service. In-home boarding is recommended for your long term needs, your cat/s live at the caregiver's apartment where they will be the only pets. Contact us and send more details about your cat/s and the service you need.

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REVIEWS

John - by survey 03/04/2024
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Larry was already knowledgeable so the caring for cats which is why we chose to have him care for Oliver while we were away for nearly two weeks. Larry sent us period updates with pictures, and Oliver was almost always cuddling with Larry in the pictures - which Oliver loves!
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