Cat's Meow Mailbox #12
Cat's Meow Mailbox is inspired by the great weekly recap book memes (Mailbox Monday, Waiting On Wednesday, It’s Monday! What are you reading? and Sunday Post)
Please stop by tomorrow for our Cyber Monday post if you're shopping for that special fur baby in your life. Truffles and I are very excited about it ;)
Last week on Mochas, Mysteries and More:
* Book Review: The Trouble with Turkeys by Kathi Daley
* 2013 Santa Paws Drive
* Adopt a Truffle of Your Very Own!
* Q&A with Catherine Lloyd, Author of Death Comes to the Village
* Truffles & Her Prize Packages
* We Give Thanks
* Ebook Bundles & Stocking Stuffers for the Bookish Cat Lover
* Caturday Cinema: Santa Claws - Simon's Cat
My Christmas Gift to Myself:
Barnes & Noble:
Ebooks Bought:
Barnes & Noble:
Ebooks Bought:
NetGalley:
Ebook Bundles & Stocking Stuffers for the Bookish Cat Lover
Hey everybody, Christmas Truffles here to wish you a happy Black Friday Morning! You're not going shopping today, are you? We're sure not! As a matter of fact as you're reading this Mommy and I are most likely still lounging in our bed nursing a turkey hangover!
Since online shopping is the only way to go on a day like today when people that hit the malls go completely insane, we've been hard at work putting together a list of a few goodies for the Bookish Cat Lover. You can pretty much go through our blog and find plenty of ideas for the cat and book lover in your life, so we decided to spotlight a few books that are perfect for holiday gift-giving: (with commentary by Mommy)
E-book Bundles:
Purchase here
*Choosing, training and communicating with your kitten
*Cat legends, myths, fun facts--and kitten care and products online resources
*Behavior, food and grooming considerations
*Recognize and diffuse cat-to-cat aggression
*Settle disputes over territory, potty problems and mealtime woes
*solve common pet peeves: meowing, clawing, countertop cruising, door dashing
*Understand weird cat behaviors: phone attraction, mirror fear, "elevator butt" and toilet pests
*Learn to keep your aging cat living longer and happier
*Find out what changes to expect--what's normal, and what are warning signs
*Know home nursing care tips that save you money--and kitty angst
Winner: Cat Writers' Association Purina Kitten Chow Award
Winner: Cat Writers' Association Muse Medallion--Best Book and Best Kitten Photos
Winner: Cat Writers' Association Muse Medallion--Best Cat Behavior Book
Winner: Cat Writer's Association Hartz Award for Best Entry on Aging Cats
Winner: Cat Writer's Association Merial Human-Animal Bond Award
Four pet care books from one of America's best known and award-winning authors provide home care and advice at your furry fingertips. Learn all the must-knows about dog behavior and puppy training, WOW-medicine advances like kidney transplants and cancer therapies, and aging dog nursing care tips in this collection:
*Deal with doggy aggression
*Soothe separation anxiety and fearful dog/cat problems
*Learn about proper pet nutrition
*Understand how to "talk dog" and learn "cat communication" with easy training tips
*Find insight from 100+ veterinary specialists on cutting edge medical care
*Understand how to provide home care to save $$ and doggy angst
*Enjoy chicken soup -icity stories of successful WOW medicine and aging dogs
Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant (dogs and cats) and the award winning author of two-dozen pet care books. She also writes "dog viewpoint" THRILLERS with Bite!
Mystery/Thriller:
This mystery certainly isn't the cozy I usually read, but I found it to be a gripping, chilling thriller. A little birdie told me that the sequel, Hide and Seek, should be released before Christmas and I can't wait!
Purchase here
Read my review here
Stocking Stuffers:
I always find stocking stuffers to be such fun to shop for. These two gift books were recently sent to me for review and they fit the bill just perfectly. Full reviews are to come, but these books are beautifully illustrated, adorable little morsels certain to make any cat lover purr.
Purchase here
Cat-lover and humorist Allia Zobel Nolan has the inside scoop--the purr-fect answer--to the question, "Which are better, cats or dogs?"
After scampering around the world and pattering through neighborhood sandlots, Allia has captured those expressive felines in crazy photos and paired each one with a hilarious one-liner. Cat lovers near and far unite to applaud the proof of the truth...
Purchase here
Felines have many secrets they want to reveal, if only someone would ask them. Well, Allia Zobel Nolan has, and this clever kitty tell-all is filled with their hilarious confessions paired with photographs of cats caught in acts of mischief.
Written as though the cats are speaking, each admission presents a comical revelation. As the cats come clean, they admit to everything from playing tricks on the family dog to secretly hating milk. The result is a fun, great gift for cat lovers...and dog lovers who want the inside scoop on life among the litter crowd.
Tramadol for Cats, What’s the Dose?
What is Tramadol used for?
Tramadol is an oral medication that helps cats with pain from- Abscesses
- Arthritis
- Incisions & recovery from surgery
- Dental work
- Cancer
On its own, Tramadol is not a very effective pain reliever, so please don’t take your cat home from the vet clinic following dental treatment, spay or neuter surgery, declaw surgery, or abscess treatment with just Tramadol.
If your cat is in pain, request Tramadol and another pain medication or pain therapy. For example, take home Tramadol and a drug like meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). If your cat can’t have an NSAID with its Tramadol, then it might be prescribed Gabapentin or Amantadine.
How does Tramadol work?
Tramadol acts on the brain in 2 ways, it promotes wellbeing and it acts like morphine. The most significant of these actions is the promotion of wellbeing. Tramadol promotes wellbeing by blocking constant routing of pain signals through the brain, which means it blocks “windup.”
Tramadol also promotes wellbeing by increasing the feel-good neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. Maintaining a cat’s feel good neurohormones helps prevent the depression that often accompanies pain.
The second way Tramadol acts is as a direct pain reliever, similar to morphine but Tramadol has only 5% of the effectiveness of morphine. Because Tramadol by itself is not a good pain reliever, cats that are in pain should not be prescribed only Tramadol.
How often can Tramadol be given to cats?
Tramadol can be given from once or twice a day. This is different than in dogs when Tramadol can be given up to four times a day. What dose of Tramadol is used for cats?
Cats can have 1-2 mg/kg of Tramadol. For example, a 4 kg cat can have 4-8 mg of Tramadol up to twice a day. This is also different than for dogs as they can have 1-5 mg/kg.
What if the maximum dose of Tramadol doesn’t provide pain relief for your cat?
Signs of pain are: withdrawal, reduced appetite, irritability, restlessness, etc. If you’re not sure if your cat is in pain, use common sense—if you just had a similar surgery or injury, would you be in pain?
If your cat is painful, and is receiving the maximum dose of Tramadol (2 mg/kg twice a day), don’t use more Tramadol; change what you’re doing. For example, use additional drugs and therapies (acupuncture, soft laser therapy, salt water therapy (Yes cats can benefit from swimming), massage, joint supplements, gabapentin, SAMe, or maropitant (Cerenia). A multimodal approach to pain in cats is always more effective than a single approach.
Cautions with Tramadol for Cats
Don’t’ give the combination drug with Tramadol and acetaminophen (Ultracet) to cats!!. Cats can receive Tramadol but not acetaminophen (Tylenol). Generally, Tramadol is a very safe medication for cats, but side effects may occur especially in very young or old cats or those with liver or kidney disease:
- sedation,
- anxiety,
- nausea & vomiting,
- loss of appetite, or
- itching.
Don’t give high doses of Tramadol to cats with epilepsy without discussing this with your veterinarian. Epileptic cats may be better off with lower doses of Tramadol and high doses of Gabapentin.
Don’t give human sustained release Tramadol to cats (or dogs).
What to do if your cat has side effects
If your cat is taking Tramadol and has any of the signs described above, ask your veterinarian what you should do before administering the next dose. Your vet may suggest a lower dose, decreased frequency such as giving it every other day rather than once a twice a day, giving supplements to support the liver, or using anti-nausea meds like Cerenia (approved in Europe and Canada, but not the US). Cerenia also has the benefit of being a pain reliever.We Give Thanks
TRUFFLES: ♫ Turkey, turkey, turkey. Turkey, turkey, turkey. ♫
MELISSA: Truffles! Come here, sweetie. What's all the commotion for?
TRUFFLES: Mommy! Grandpa's in the kitchen getting the turkey ready for Thanksgiving dinner. It's gonna be soooo good. I can hardly wait!
MELISSA: Come sit on my lap for a minute. I want to talk to you.
TRUFFLES: (bounces up) What's up, Mommy?
MELISSA: Turkey sure is a special part of Thanksgiving, I agree. But the real meaning of the holiday is to think about our blessings and all the things we're thankful for.
TRUFFLES: What are you thankful for, Mommy?
MELISSA: Oh, so many things. A wonderful home and family, especially the best parents a girl could ask for. My health, a job I enjoy, our blogging family. I'm thankful for the years I had with Tara even though it wasn't nearly long enough. Oh, and a certain little tortie that's in my life now that puts a smile on my face every single day. (kisses Truffles)
TRUFFLES: Oh Mommy, I love you too. (Purr...) A few months ago I was homeless and now I have so much - yummy food and treats, warm beds, toys, and most of all a Mommy who loves me so, so much.
MELISSA: I guess we're pretty lucky we found each other, aren't we?
TRUFFLES: You know what I'd like to do after dinner, Mommy?
MELISSA: Take an extra long catnap?
TRUFFLES: No, I'd like to take a big bowl of extra turkey to all the kitties and doggies in the shelter that are still waiting for their forever home.
MELISSA: I think that's the best idea I've heard in a long time. Why don't we go out to the kitchen and see what we can do to help out?
TRUFFLES: ♫ Turkey, turkey, turkey. Turkey, turkey, turkey. ♫
Truffles & Her Prize Packages
It's official...Truffles is now getting more mail than I do. Here's an update on her most recent hauls:
Back in September we were the winner of the BlogPaws International Pet Blogger Month Photo Contest. (Coincidentally, at the same time, I won a $25 gift card from them for my 3 Social Media Tips for Animal Shelters post. You guessed it, that money went towards loot for Truffles!!!) Here she is with her Cat Bloggers' Delight prize pack:
We recently signed up with a website called Klout, which measures social media influence, and they give out perks to "influencers". We were offered a perk to receive a Halloween treat package from Hill's Science Diet including Grain free treats and dry food, a $2 coupon and more fun surprises. In addition to the food we received a cute pumpkin backdrop for taking fall photos and cool kitty stencils. It came too late for this year's pumpkin carving but we'll definitely be using them next year!
reade more...
Back in September we were the winner of the BlogPaws International Pet Blogger Month Photo Contest. (Coincidentally, at the same time, I won a $25 gift card from them for my 3 Social Media Tips for Animal Shelters post. You guessed it, that money went towards loot for Truffles!!!) Here she is with her Cat Bloggers' Delight prize pack:
We recently signed up with a website called Klout, which measures social media influence, and they give out perks to "influencers". We were offered a perk to receive a Halloween treat package from Hill's Science Diet including Grain free treats and dry food, a $2 coupon and more fun surprises. In addition to the food we received a cute pumpkin backdrop for taking fall photos and cool kitty stencils. It came too late for this year's pumpkin carving but we'll definitely be using them next year!
Last but certainly not least, we won a Hill's Ideal Balance gift basket from Hound Girl. On Monday I arrived home to find a gigantic box on my back step. It contained a 2 pound bag of Grain-Free natural Chicken & Potato Recipe Adult (which Truffles loves, and she's not a big fan of kibble), a wet food variety pack, Crunchy Naturals with Real Tuna treats, and most amazingly, a Drinkwell Pet Fountain!!! (Thank you, thank you, thank you for such an amazing prize!)
Truffles was so eager to get into the box as I was opening it that she jumped on top and when I pulled the fountain out, she fell in! It was totally hilarious and I wish I had caught it on video :) Here she is posing with her haul...
Truffles is by the front door eagerly awaiting her next mail or UPS delivery!
Q&A with Catherine Lloyd, author of DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE
Welcome, Catherine! Thank you so much for joining me. Could you tell us about your new Regency-set mystery, Death Comes to the Village?
Thank you for having me! Death Comes to the Village is set just after the Napoleonic wars, and involves the unlikely pairing of a bed-ridden high handed war hero and a spinsterish rector's daughter who come together to solve a mystery in their small quiet village. It's rather like a young Miss Marple meets “Rear Window”. You also write erotic historicals as Kate Pearce. Did you find it difficult or a nice change of pace to write a genteel historical mystery?
They are very different beasts. The erotic historicals are character driven and based around a strong romantic arc and sexual conflict whereas the mysteries are more factual and are like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. The mysteries also take a lot more plotting up front or they don't make sense. :)What are some of your favorite authors, books, genres to read?
I read everything. My favorite authors include Dorothy Dunnett, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Rosemary Sutcliffe, Diane Gabaldon and Linda Howard. I will have a go at reading anything apart from horrors and thrillers because my imagination is too vivid to stop the nightmares.Do you have any pets for writing companions?
I'm in transit from California to Hawaii so my dear old dog, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel was too old to make the trip and stayed with my son. My Maine coon cat, George, is currently in quarantine, and we've adopted a new cat in Hawaii called Jennifer who is technically my daughter's cat. She's asleep under my desk at the moment and I keep inadvertently poking her with my toes. What is a typical writing day like for you?
I take my daughter to school and by 8 I'm either exercising, or sitting at my desk doing email. I spend a couple of hours every day doing all the social media stuff, and then I write for about 4 hours. I pick my daughter up around 3, and after that it's all homework, nagging and getting dinner. If I'm behind with my writing I'll go back and do some more work after dinner, but I try not to. What are you working on now?
I'm writing the second of the Kurland St. Mary mystery series, tentatively titled Death Comes to Almacks, which mainly takes place in London but features the same hero and heroine as book one.I'm also writing a few shorter pieces for my Kate Pearce brand including digital books and self-published books. I like to be busy.
In closing, what is one thing your loyal readers might be surprised to learn about you?
How very deeply boring I am in real life. :) Oh and that despite the fact that my 4 kids sound American, 3 of them were born in the UK and used to have the same English accent as I still have.
DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE is an Indie Next Selection!
“Lloyd’s delightful debut…Readers will hope that death returns soon to Kurland St. Mary.” – Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Askillfully crafted mystery that combines a wounded war hero, an inquisitive rector’s daughter and a quaint peaceful village with some sinister secrets. The details of village life lend authenticity to the story and the evolving relationship between amateur sleuth Lucy and Major Kurland provides great entertainment. Lucy’s internal struggles with family duties and wishes for her future create a compelling picture of a young woman trying to find the courage to stand up for herself." – RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, TOP PICK!
In closing, what is one thing your loyal readers might be surprised to learn about you?
How very deeply boring I am in real life. :) Oh and that despite the fact that my 4 kids sound American, 3 of them were born in the UK and used to have the same English accent as I still have.
Please visit Catherine Lloyd online:
DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE is an Indie Next Selection!
About the Book: A wounded soldier and a rector's daughter discover strange goings-on in the sleepy village of Kurland St. Mary in Catherine Lloyd's charming Regency-set mystery debut.
Major Robert Kurland has returned to the quiet vistas of his village home to recuperate from the horrors of Waterloo. However injured his body may be, his mind is as active as ever. Too active, perhaps. When he glimpses a shadowy figure from his bedroom window struggling with a heavy load, the tranquil facade of the village begins to loom sinister…
Unable to forget the incident, Robert confides in his childhood friend, Miss Lucy Harrington. As the dutiful daughter of the widowed rector, following up on the major's suspicions offers a welcome diversion—but soon presents real danger. Someone is intent on stopping their investigation. And in a place where no one locks their doors, a series of thefts and the disappearance of two young serving girls demands explanation…
As Robert grapples with his difficult recovery, he and Lucy try to unearth the dark truth lurking within the village shadows, and stop a killer waiting to strike again…
Adopt a Truffle of Your Very Own!
No, not my Truffles!!! This Truffle is up for adoption via PAWS in Norwalk, CT. She was recently featured on Animal Shelter Volunteer Life, one of my favorite blogs, and given the fact that she shares a name with my special fur baby, I felt compelled to share her here as well.
Truffle is 10 years old and has lived at the shelter for FIVE LONG YEARS!!! She's receiving wonderful care at PAWS, but don't you agree that it's about time she find a forever home of her own???
Just look at her...
Here's a little more about her via ASVL:
Truffle isn't exactly a lapcat, but she IS affectionate. All of the volunteers and staff have to be careful not to trip as she weaves happily in and out of our legs. She also enjoys being pet on the head and behind her ears, but will let you know when she's had enough. Her coloring and markings are strikingly unique, and her fur is extra downy soft. And she enjoys sunpuddles and playing!
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Truffle does have a condition called stomatitis - inflammation in her gums that flares up every so often. But she hasn't been on medication for a while, and is doing very well. She is also on a wet food only diet (but that's a good thing, as it helps her maintain her girlish figure ... MOL). Truffle is 10 years old, up to date on vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. She's also microchipped.
reade more...
Truffle is 10 years old and has lived at the shelter for FIVE LONG YEARS!!! She's receiving wonderful care at PAWS, but don't you agree that it's about time she find a forever home of her own???
Just look at her...
Truffle isn't exactly a lapcat, but she IS affectionate. All of the volunteers and staff have to be careful not to trip as she weaves happily in and out of our legs. She also enjoys being pet on the head and behind her ears, but will let you know when she's had enough. Her coloring and markings are strikingly unique, and her fur is extra downy soft. And she enjoys sunpuddles and playing!
I can't think of anything more wonderful than getting Truffle into her forever home for Christmas. Please share her story on Facebook, Twitter, and all of your other social media.
Tramadol for Dogs, What Is the Dosage?
Tramadol, is an oral pain medication for dogs & cats (and humans). We focus on dogs in this discussion, but another Caring for Pets blog entry will discuss Tramadol and cats.
What is Tramadol used for?
Tramadol is an oral pain medication that helps dogs with pain including
- Arthritis
- Incisions & recovery from surgery
- Dental work
- Cancer
Use Tramadol AND other pain drugs or treatments not just Tramadol
On its own, Tramadol is not a very effective pain reliever, so please don’t take your pet home from the vet clinic following dental treatment, spay or neuter surgery, declaw surgery, or wound treatments with just Tramadol.
If your pet is in pain, request Tramadol and another pain medication or pain therapy. For example, take home Tramadol and a drug like meloxicam, that is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Some commonly prescribed pet NSAIDs that are used along with Tramadol are Aspirin, Meloxicam (Mobic) Etogesic, & Piroxicam. If your dog can have an NSAID with its Tramadol, then it might be prescribed Gabapentin, Amantadine, or Tyelenol.
How does Tramadol work?
Tramadol acts on the brain in 2 ways, it promotes wellbeing and it acts like morphine. The most significant of these actions is the promotion of wellbeing.
Tramadol promotes wellbeing by blocking constant routing of pain signals through the brain, which means it blocks “windup.”
Tramadol also promotes wellbeing by increasing the feel-good neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. Maintaining a dog’s feel good neurohormones helps prevent the depression that can accompany pain.
The second way Tramadol acts is as a direct pain reliever, similar to morphine. Unfortunately, Tramadol is far less potent than morphine—it has about 5% of the effectiveness of morphine. This is why dogs that are in pain should not be prescribed only Tramadol.
How often can Tramadol be given?
Tramadol can be given from one to four times a day. Some drugs, NSAIDs for example, can only be given once a day, but Tramadol can safely be given up to four times a day.
Although it’s convenient for us to give a pet medication only once a day, it’s better to give Tramadol at least twice a day to provide more consistent pain relief than a once-a-day dose provides.
What dose of Tramadol is used for dogs?
Dogs can have 1-5 mg/kg of Tramadol. For example, a 20 kg dog can have 20-100 mg of Tramadol up to four times a day. Your veterinarian may prescribe a schedule something like this for a 20 kg dog:
- start with 50 mg of Tramadol twice a day,
- if still painful give 50 mg three or four times a day
- if still painful, give 75 mg three or four times a day. etc.
What if the maximum dose doesn’t provide pain relief for your dog?
Signs of pain are: restlessness, irritability, no desire to play, reduced appetite, etc. If you’re not sure if your dog is in pain, use common sense—if you just had a similar surgery or injury, would you be in pain?
If your dog is painful, and is receiving the maximum dose of Tramadol (5 mg/kg four times a day), don’t use more Tramadol; change what you’re doing. For example, use additional drugs and therapies (acupuncture, soft laser therapy, salt water therapy, massage, joint supplements, gabapentin, SAMe, maropitant (Cerenia). A multimodal approach to pain in dogs is always more effective than a single approach.
Cautions with Tramadol
Generally, Tramadol is a very safe medication for dogs, but side effects may occur especially in very young or old dogs or those with liver or kidney disease:
- sedation,
- anxiety,
- nausea & vomiting,
- loss of appetite, or
- itching.
To help reduce these side effects, especially in very young or old dogs or those with liver or kidney disease, Tramadol is initially prescribed at the low end of the dose range (1mg/kg) and with less frequency (once or twice a day rather than three or four times a day.
Don’t give high doses of Tramadol to dogs with epilepsy without discussing this with your veterinarian. Epileptic dogs may be better off with lower doses of Tramadol and high doses of Gabapentin.
Dogs with liver disease may benefit from lower doses of Tramadol than do dogs with healthy livers.
What to do if your dog has side effects
If your dog is taking Tramadol and has any of the signs described above, ask your veterinarian what you should do before administering the next dose. Your vet may suggest a lower dose of Tramadol, giving it less often, giving supplements to support the liver, or using antinausea meds like Cerenia (approved in Europe and Canada, but not the US).
Tramadol and cats
Although cats can be prescribed Tramadol, don’t’ give the combination drug with Tramadol and acetaminophen (Ultracet) to cats!!. Cats can receive Tramadol but not acetaminophen (Tyelenol).