A year ago today I adopted a 10 year old tortie named Arabella. Adopting a cat was not on my agenda that day. I scarcely knew if I even wanted another pet. It had been a year since I had to send my previous companion over the Rainbow Bridge. I had adopted Pepper, a long-haired, part Maine Coon kitty, at the tender age of 8 weeks, 2 months after the passing of my father. He was with me for 20 years. I was devastated at his passing. The day I came to HSHV I was supposed to have a hair
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Delaney donated a variety of items from HSHV’s wish list for her birthday. When asked to describe what inspired her, she replied “I love animals. They are cute. Animals are kind and generous.” Thank you so much Delaney for your amazing donations and generosity!
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My roommate and I absolutely love animals. We had recently moved into a condo, but something was missing. We wondered down to HSHV to look at the little kittens in hope to find an addition to our little family. There was this tiny 2 lb. kitten, all grey, looking at us with piercing green eyes. We instantly knew she was the one. We played with her for the good part of an hour and the feisty little girl kept escaping our arms. We took her home that day, and, man, is she spoiled. We like to call her “our little
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[print-me] Why Are Some Cats Fearful? Fearful behavior in cats can be caused by various factors. Insufficient exposure to humans and/or a variety of stimuli during kitten hood as well as traumatizing events in their lives can teach them to react fearfully towards people or new situations. Cats can also be genetically predisposed to being fearful. How to Introduce a Fearful Cat to a New Home Fearful cats usually do best in relatively quiet homes. They are often not suitable for young children as children can easily scare them with loud noises or sudden movements. Many fearful cats slowly become
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[print-me] Many of us have had the pleasure of petting our cat, when all of a sudden; the cat bites your hand and runs away. This is called petting induced or overstimulation aggression. It’s a common behavior in many cats, and is something that can be both frustrating and frightening until you learn how to manage this behavior with your cat. What causes this behavior? Cats are normally not as social as dogs, nor do they have as much physical contact with others of their species. They may groom each other and sleep close to each other, but have few
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[print-me] What Does “Fearful” Mean? A fearful kitten is generally one that has not had full socialization. If a kitten does not have much contact with people when it is between the ages of 3 weeks and 7 weeks, it is likely to be scared of strangers it meets. Depending on the individual temperament of the kitten, what it has observed from its mother, and how old it is, it may hiss, spit or strike out – or may simply attempt to run away. Some fearful kittens learn to trust people quickly, others can take a long time. This depends
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[print-me] Why Do Cats Like to Climb? Cats climb for several reasons. They seek out high vantage points, like countertops and shelves, to survey their territory. They can leap onto bookshelves or scale curtains to escape from another household pet or from something that scares them. Tables and the top of the refrigerator often provide warm, sunny places to snooze. Cats can learn to patrol or “surf” countertops, stovetops and tables in search of tasty tidbits left behind. Alternatives to Climbing on Countertops and Tables It’s best not to stifle your cat’s normal jumping and climbing behavior. Your cat will
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[print-me] Cats are the most prevalent family pet in the United States and it’s no wonder. They’re quiet and easy to care for—a perfect match for busy families with kids. Raising children with pets provides many benefits. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, pets can: Teach empathy and compassion Provide love, loyalty and affection Foster self esteem Promote physical activity Teach responsibility Provide valuable life lessons Provide a connection to nature What cat lover wouldn’t want to share these wonderful values with their children? Children are naturally drawn to cats, but it’s important to lay some
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In honor of her two cats adopted from HSHV, Allison asked for animal toys, blankets, food, towels and gift cards for HSHV instead of gifts for herself. She loves her cats and wanted to pass the love on to the homeless animals of HSHV. Thank you Allison!
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Christina recently started volunteering at HSHV and wanted to help make some different types of dog enrichment for the dogs to enjoy. She is a board member on her after school Key Club group, and she suggested they make braided dog toys. It was very successful, and now the dogs of HSHV are going to enjoy some fun new toys. Thank you so much Christina and the PCEP Key Club for your awesome donation!
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