December 26 is National Whiner’s Day–Do I really have to finish this calendar with a whiny thought? I think a nice Riesling is a better idea.
Dusty in Guideposts Magazine
Dusty Rainbolt’s story about her foster kitten named Maynard appeared in the December, 2013 issue of Guideposts. Feel free to read “A Feline Farewell“.
Guideposts is one of the first magazines Dusty read as a child. Of course, she always liked the animal stories best. When her mom, Alta Grace, learned about the article, she exclaimed, “You’ve really made the big time, haven’t you?”
Yes, indeed.
Antifreeze Manufacturers to Yucked Up Their Products in the Future
That Doesn’t Mean Your Pets are Safe from antifreeze poisoning
Prestone ethylene glycol was a boom for the car industry, but a bust for the 10,000 to 90,000 animals that die every year.[/caption]
Last year, after countless pet and wildlife deaths by ethylene glycol poisoning, the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) and Consumer Specialty Products Association jointly announced on December 13, 2012 an agreement to voluntarily add the bitter flavoring, denatonium benzoate, to antifreeze and engine coolant manufactured for consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the U.S. denatonium benzoate is frequently used in common household products and as an anti-nail biting formula.
Ethylene glycol antifreeze has been saving car radiators, but killing pets, wild animals and even kids since 1927. That’s when Prestone® first sold pure ethylene glycol antifreeze in cans to car owners. Unlike contemporary alternatives (honey, sugar, molasses and, the most popular, methyl alcohol), ethylene glycol wouldn’t boil away or burn. And it was odorless.
People have long complained that the sweet smell and taste makes the antifreeze attractive to children and pets. That may be true, and the industry should be congratulated for this life-saving move. But owners of outside pets shouldn’t feel too comfortable yet.
According to a 2005 study, cats lack the receptor likely necessary for detection of sweet stimuli. In the research domestic cats, as well as tigers and cheetahs , showed no preference between sweetened and regular water, as opposed to other animals who, like humans, prefer sweet. So, theoretically cats shouldn’t be at risk, but they are.
Outside animals may consume spilled ethylene glycol because in cold weather it could be the only drinkable liquid available. HSLF estimates between 10,000 to 90,000 animals die each year after drinking the chemical. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, only two ounces can kill a dog or a child. As little as one teaspoon can prove lethal to a cat. (Younger animals may be even more susceptible). In records from the early 1990s, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported about 3,400 people per year suffered from poisonings related to ethylene glycol. About 20% of them were children under six.
According to the Merck Veterinary manual, the widespread availability of antifreeze, its sweet taste and small minimum lethal dose, and the lack of public awareness of the toxicity (i.e., improper storage and disposal) contribute to the frequency of this intoxication.
In some cases, nuisance animals are intentionally poisoned antifreeze-treated food. Cats can also suffer from the chemical by simply walking through it and absorbing through the skin.
TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY IF HE’S ACTING ODD
Keep an eye on your pet for strange behavior. A change in behavior is often the first symptom of a legion of health concerns. If you’re worried your pet may have come in contact with antifreeze, go to the vet immediately. Getting medical attention as soon as you notice something’s wrong could mean the difference in your pet (or kid) surviving or not. Animals who receive prompt veterinary treatment can recover, but every minute you delay decreases the likelihood he survive.
is YOUR PET ACT DRUNK?
In as little as 30 minutes after first drinking ethylene glycol, an animal will appear lethargic or disorientated and he may expose his third eyelid. He may look drunk, suffering from a loss of coordination. He may drink and pee more than usual. Eventually he’ll begin to vomit. You may see ulcers around his mouth or on his tongue. His kidneys will fail. His heart may race and he’ll experience difficulty breathing . He could slip into a coma, or die.
In one nationwide veterinary survey, two out of three veterinarians reported that they treat at least one case of antifreeze/engine coolant poisoning each year.
PROTECTING PETS & WILDLIFE
Switch to antifreeze containing propylene glycol. It’s less toxic and also has a bitter taste.
Make sure outside animals have drinkable water. Provide a heated water bowl manufactured by K & H Manufacturing.
Cat & Dog Politics Turn Deadly in Talkeetna, Alaska
Mayor Stubbs, mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, struggles to live after suffering an attack by a large mixed-breed dog in front of his office at Nagley’s General Store.
The 17-year old town official suffered multiple life-threatening injuries in the Attack: including a punctured lung, fractured sternum and a five-inch gash to his side. While the Mayor is still hospitalized a week later and is still confined to a oxygen box, he’s at least breathing on his own and his chest tube has been removed. Stubbs has run up $2000 in veterinary bills.
You can help with rising expenses by donating to a fund at Nagley’s General Store. Concerned cat lovers can mail the donations to the store at P.O. Box 906, Talkeetna, AK, 99676. Any donations beyond the cost of Stubbs’ care will go to the Mat-Su Animal Care Facility.
Articles/Short Fiction
How An Abandoned Cat Changed My Life
Appearing in The Cat in the Window and Other Stories of the Cats We Love, edited by Callie Smith Grant
Revell 2013
$12.99 (Kindle $7.99)
You may have heard of The Accidental Tourist. I was The Accidental Cat Lady. I lived with my first cat, a sweet black Siamese-mix named Houston. I had no plans to increase my feline family, but Someone Else had other plans. A pregnant cat, abandoned in the snow at a Dallas apartment complex, unleashed kitty chaos and turned my world upside down, forever. She and her little wrecking crew also gave my life new purpose that continues even today.
One Spoiled Rotten Cat Lives Here
The Mystical Cat: An Anthology of All Things Feline, edited by Dusty Rainbolt
Sky Warrior Book Publishing, 2013
Kindle only $4.99
Meet Fluffy, an average farm cat. This Maine Coon-mix is normal in every way except he stands 12 feet tall. Forget the “Beware of Dog” sign. At the Bagley ranch, trespassers need to watch out for the cat.
This other-worldly collections includes the award-winning story, Cat Out of Time by Dusty’s dear friend, Bev Freed.
Other authors include Bev Freed, Lyn McConchie, Dana Bell, Mary E. Lowd, Karen Comming, Janiss Garza, Connie Wilkins, Karen Pullen, Frog and Esther Jones, Robert D. Brewer, Pat Sachs, CJ Ruby, Cynthia Ward, Sam S. Klepfield, Bryan Fields, Livia Funicci, S,A, Bolich, Alma Alexander.
Crocodile Reenacts Scene from Jurassic Park III
Remember the scene in Jurassic Park III when the ravenous Spinosaurus (translated to mean Big Ass Dinosaur with bad breath and Enormous Appetite) ate Nash, the guy holding the satellite phone? Later the dopey ringtone began to blare across a field from inside the Spinoasurus internal regions. Of course, said phone still managed to work after it made its way all the way through the digestive track (along with the byproducts of Nash’s digestion) and out the body in the world’s largest pile of poop. It was a fun movie even if it did stretch the bounds of believability past Jupiter.
In December 2011, a Nile crocodile in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine recreated the scene by chomping down a cell phone dropped in his enclosure and went on a month-long hunger strike. Unlike Spinasaurus, nature has failed to take its course, Ukrainian vets said.
Instead of simply saying “I vant to be alone,” the 15-year old croc named Gena (perhaps should have been named Greta or Garbo), Gena gnoshed down the cell phone of a tourist trying to take his picture. Witnesses said the ringtone could be heard from inside Gena for several days. Unfortunately, Gena’s condition is deteriorating.
To stimulate a little bowel action, vets offered Gena a quail injected with laxatives and vitamins. Nobody’s fool, he refused the evacuant-spiked bird. If things don’t start moving, vets may have to consider surgery, which would be risky.
The tourist says she doesn’t expect to get her phone back, but she’d certainly appreciate retrieving her SIM card with her phone numbers.
Sterling is a Rare Maine Coon Jewel
sterling needs a home
Sterling came to me in February. One frigid afternoon I received a call from Lisa, who had adopted a hard-to-place kitty five years earlier. I was so relieved she didn’t want to return my grumpy former foster cat, Tessa, I would have done anything for her. Lisa, it happened, had a kitten problem. On several occasions she had caught a glimpse of a “beautiful” silver “kitten” in her garage trying to escape the twenty-something degree nights. “He’s really young,” she assured me.
I’ve been at this a long time. Terms are relative. “Beautiful” means the cat doesn’t have too many patches of missing fur. “Young” kitties are any feline under 14 years old. “Sweet” implies you won’t need stitches after handling the cat. I dreaded to see Lisa’s version of pretty and young.
Just 15 minutes after I set my cat trap, Lisa called me. We caught a kitten. To my surprise, the silver-colored kitten really was around three months old. When I arrived Lisa already had already named him Sterling. So, Sterling he was.
Once I got the terrified kitten home, Sterling presented me with a few surprises. First, beneath all that lush Maine Coon fur lurked a girl, not a boy. Fortunately, the name Miss Sterling easily suited her. The second surprise was more unsettling. Her front let leg had protruding tissue that resembled an engorged gray tick. What the heck?
In the morning we’d dash off to the vet, but first things first: a bowl of food and a soft bed. That night, for the first time (maybe ever) little Sterling slept in a warm room with a full tummy. Poor thing was scared spitless. She cringed whenever I walked in the bathroom to check on her. I didn’t know what she’d been through, but clearly people hadn’t been her friends.
The next morning I showed my vet, Cassie Epstein, the “tick”. That gray fleshy growth was the result of a bone infection. And even more disturbing: Sterling had enduring a self-healed compound fracture. Dr. Cassie sent us home with a gallon of antibiotics. We’d watch the leg. Any surgical treatment would have to wait until Sterling had conquered her infection.
It took months of twice daily doses of antibiotics to control the infection. Unfortunately the elbow and bones had healed in such a distorted configuration, our only option was to amputate. It’s been a week since Sterling’s surgery. Two days after waving goodbye to her leg, she’s doing almost everything she did before her date with the scalpel.
Now that she’s pain free and no longer must tolerate frequent pillings. It’s hard to build trust when the kitty knows your foster mom is going to poke something down your gullet. I hope she’ll soon look forward to human contact rather than dread it. She loves chin scratches, but every time I approach her I have to re-earn her trust, as if it was our first meeting.\r\n\r\nWhen I hold her, she places her head under my hand and gives me head bumps. She wants to be loved. I just need to court her. Sterling needs a quiet home with no little kids. She gets along great with the other cats and the dog, but would do fine without four-legged companionship. Let me know if you are interested in becoming Sterling’s forever home.
If you’re interested in giving Sterling a forever home, go to Animal Allies of Texas and fill out an adoption application.
Elvis has Left the Building and Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
Elvis was too young when he passed, that Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love. When I say “hunka” I’m talking about one massive, sexy feline. Everywhere the handsome heartthrob went, swarms of females swooned in his wake. On July 13, a little over a month before the 36th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, Elvis the nine-year-old Savannah cat lost his fight with an aggressive cancer of the sinus cavity.
Like his unfortunate namesake, The King (of Cats) was single at the time of his is death (according to his Facebook page). But as we all know, Facebook profiles don’t share the entire story.
Elvis left behind a loving cat mom, Sue Bowden of Duchess County, N.Y, and a 17-year old brother, Sparky. Elvis moved in with Sue, prenamed, when he was eight months old. They’ve been a happy family ever since.
Elvis’ handsome visage often appeared at cat shows, in magazine ads and on fashion catwalks. During one of his personal appearances, he captured the eye and heart of Matilda, a pedigreed Ragdoll and the gracious feline hostess of the historic Algonquin Hotel in New York. Matilda developed a “thing” for Elvis, and it was known that he was fond of her as well. Elvis began appearing regularly at Matilda’s annual birthday celebrations.
The zenith of the soires was a feline version of New York’s famed Fashion Week. The Meow Wear Cat Fashion Show spotlighted the sensational creations of Westchester Feline Club.
Decked out in Elvis Presley-inspired apparel, the Savannah shook up the babes, hounded the dogs and meowed his burning love. The formal affair helped raise money for North Shore Animal League. Some years, the young handsome Elvis, clad in a black leather jacket, provided a little feline eye candy. At other events he appeared as the more mature King in a white jumpsuit.
I had several opportunities to hang with The King. When the Cat Writers’ Association held our conference in Westchester, NY, I enjoyed the honor of not only meeting Elvis, but also feeding him turkey. I was awed by this massive cat and his sweet nature. I know “Gentle Giant” is a term used to describe Maine Coons, but Elvis truly was a gentle giant and an admired ambassador for Savannah cats. Elvis was a third generation Savannah, a breed created by crossing an African Serval with a domestic cat.
As if saying goodbye to Elvis wasn’t enough for Sue Bowden to endure, less than 24 hours after his passing, Elvis’ 17-year-old feline brother Sparky also died. The world has lost a very special cat (two really) and Sue has lost two wonderful companions. I know she would appreciate a kind note of condolence. She needs our love and support. It’s safe to say Sue will be lonesome tonight.
Sue wants her cats to be remembered for helping homeless cats through their fundraising. That memory will remain. But the most enduring image will be that of sexy young Elvis flashing The Look at the ladies in the audience. He was a cool cat.
Goodbye Elvis. We will “Forget You Never.”
Don’t Let Your Cat Become a Tragic Statistic This Independence Day
19:04:34′,”,1525,’http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/?
p=1531′,0,’revision’,”,0),(1536,1,’2013-07-04 13:48:45′,’2013-07-04
07:48:45′,’
<ahref=\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/?attachment_id=1534\” rel=
\”attachment wp-att-1534\”><img class=\”size-medium wp-image-1534\” alt=
\”Dusty with her foster kitty Edwina, who miraculously survived a July 4th knife
attack. \” src=\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/wp-
content/uploads/2013/07/DustyEdwina-199×300.jpg\” width=\”199\” height=
\”300\” /></a> Dusty with her foster kitty Edwina, who miraculously survived a
July 4th knife attack.
\n\nThe Fourth of July brings families and friends
together for picnics, barbecues and parties, parties, parties. Adults “ooohâ€
and “ahhhh†and kids squeal at the sight of a spray of shimmering fireworks
accompanied by the inevitable boom. But what we humans look forward to with
such anticipation, sends our cats and dogs face with great trepidation.\n\nThe loud
noises and flashes of light can cause your cat or dog to cower under the bed in
terror, or even worse bolt from your house or yard to escape what he’s sure is
certain death.\n\nAnimal shelters across the country brace themselves for the July
5<sup>th</sup>, one of the busiest days for picking up strays. 30 percent more
pets disappear between July 4 and 6<sup>th</sup> than other time of the year.\n
\nAccording to is Robert Meyer, a pet detective with PetAmberAlert.com, â
€œWhen pets hear the loud explosions and celebrations they can become frantic
and run away, trying to find a safe haven.â€<a href=
\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/?attachment_id=1537\” rel=
\”attachment wp-att-1537\”><img class=\”alignleft size-full wp-image-1537\” alt=
\”Paw\” src=\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/wp-
content/uploads/2013/07/Paw.jpg\” width=\”40\” height=\”36\” /></a>\n\n
<a href=\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/?attachment_id=1538\” rel=
\”attachment wp-att-1538\”><img class=\”size-full wp-image-1538 \” alt=\”Give
your kitty or dog a quiet, safe sanctuary, as far away from the noise as possible.\”
src=\”http://www.dustycatwriter.com/WPDusty/wp-
content/uploads/2013/07/fireworks.jpg\” width=\”244\” height=\”207\” /></a>
Give your kitty or dog a quiet, safe sanctuary, as far away from the noise as
possible.
\n\nPanic may drive your pet into the path of an oncoming car or
too far from home to find his way back. Meyer says cats go missing most
frequently, followed by dogs then birds.\n\n“Cats disappear more often
because their owners let them go outside,†he says.\n\nBefore she learned her
hard lesson, Mary of Lewisville, Texas let her cat, Tabby, outside one
Independence Day and he never returned. Despite the fact that Mary checked the
animal shelter daily, put up signs and called all the vets in the area, she never found
her companion.\n\nFear isn’t the only thing that prevents pets from returning
home. Twisted people use the night of revelry for an excuse to main and kill
helpless animals. Edwina, an eight month old cat abandoned in east Dallas, was
found on the morning of July 5, 2009 partially skinned. She survived the knife-
wielding Freddy Krueger, and was adopted into a wonderful home, but her
mutilation illustrates that no pet should be allowed to roam around July
4<sup>th</sup>. (Personally I’m for letting kitties outside only under strict
supervision.)\n\n<b>To keep your dogs and cats safe this Independence
Day:</b>\n<ul>\n <li>Â <b>Get ID.</b> Have your pets microchipped so
shelters can contact you should they show up. If your pet is already chipped, make
sure your contact information is current.<b>\n</b></li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n
<li><b>Let your pets stay at home.</b> Picnics and fireworks displays are a
disaster waiting to happen. Even an outgoing dog won’t enjoy the
commotion.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n <li><b>Keep them inside.</b> A few days
before July 4<sup>th</sup>, start keeping your cats in the house. Don’t leave
the dog in the yard unsupervised.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n <li><b>Make them
feel safe.</b> Confine your pets to a quiet room. If you’re having a party or
company, put a Keep Out sign on the door to prevent escape. Play music to help
mask the sound of the fireworks. Place a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy on
your pet’s ear. If your little buddy is troubled by thunder, get him a
ThunderShirt or AKC Calming Coat. Comfort Zone (with DAP for dogs or
Feliway for cats) also helps reduce stress. Your vet may recommend antianxiety
medication.</li>\n</ul>\nFollow these simple steps and you won’t have to
worry about your cat or dog becoming one of the tragic missing 30 percent.\n
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It’s Time for a Real Independent in the White House
With luck and a good turnout, candidate Morris the Cat will earn the title Mayor Morris
I’ve heard that more and more vet schools and medical labs are moving away from lab rats in search of more humane alternatives. After an intensive investigation, a viable option has been found: politicians. After all, unlike rats, the lab techs don’t grow attached to baby-kissers, and politicians will do anything for a vote.
Add to that the fact that in popularity polls politicians land somewhere between amoebae and E.coli, it may be time to enlist a different species to hold political office. Tired of political corruption and governmental chaos, office worker Sergio Chamorro has drafted an unemployed candidate, who admittedly sleeps all day long, to run for mayor of Xalapa, the capital of the Mexican Gulf coast state of Veracruz. The nomination of the dark horse has even spawned a catchy campaign slogan, “Tired of Voting for Rats? Vote for a Cat.” Candidate Morris the Cat, an orange-eyed, black and white kitten, has attracted worldwide support, as well as 175,000 Facebook Likes.
The move gives those of us who are disgusted with two-legged politicians hope. The July 7 election in Mexico is not without precedent. Stubbs, a 16-year-old buff tabby, has been the elected mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska since July 1997.
In the ultimate homeless-makes-good story, Stubbs, along with his siblings, were abandoned in a cardboard box in the parking lot of Nagley’s General Store. Store manager, Lauri Stec, discovered the kittens. She kept Manx-mix and named him “Stubbs” because he didn’t have a tail.
In a 2012 interview with CNN, Stubbs’ campaign handler and Nagley’s manager praised the mayor’s achievements. “He doesn’t raise our taxes – we have no sales tax. He doesn\’t interfere with business. He’s honest. What more could we ask for in a leader?”
Over a decade and a half ago, Talkeetna residents rejected the humans listed on the ballot and wrote-in the name of the Manx-mix. Rumor has it that Stubbs’ mayoral title is only honorary, “not because he’s a cat, but because the 900-person town is a “historical district.” Regardless of whether Stubbs was duly elected or honorary, he is well-loved by his constituents and adored by tourists.
Some cats aspire for higher office. Last year, Hank the Cat ran an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in the great state of Virginia. He was vying for the office occupied by James Webb (D). Hank placed third for the seat. Not bad considering the strength of his opponents’ name recognition: Former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) beat former Sen. George Allen (R). According to his Facebook page, Hank the Cat rounded up an impressive 7,300 write-in votes.
Sadly, our unenlightened government has decided that as a non-human, Hank was not actually eligible to hold federal office. We will have to work on this.
So Gentle Readers, it’s time to get our priorities in order and get serious about the state of our country. Let’s throw all those rats in Washington out of office and send them to the medical labs where they can actually do us some good. It’s time to elect truly Independent candidates. Next step, the White House! Rock on Morris the Cat and Hank. You have my vote