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Happy Birthday Abby!
Abby turns 3 years old May 4
Abercrombie II (AKA Abby) celebrates her third birthday with tuna and new cat toy! Of course, Baby and Lance get tuna too and Momma Jan will see that Abby shares her new toy. Abby enjoys smelling the pretty spring blossoms through the screened window to celebrate her birthday and spring. Mewsy News
Cat and Other Pet Topics
A few interesting links and important current event links.
- FDA Pet Food Recall Info
- Even if you visited the FDA site before, visit it again because more pet foods are being added on a regular basis!!! This link to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) addresses the current pet food recalls. The web page has links to FAQ's, how to file a complaint, and other information.
Wheat gluten, a common ingredient in the recalled pet foods, is still suspected to be the contaminated ingredient. Initial news reports stated that aminopterin was the toxic substance identified in the wheat gluten, but now the suspected culprit is melamine, a fertilizer and also a component in plastics. However, toxicology experts are puzzled about the sudden onset and severity of illness which are not known to be symptoms of melamine ingestion. The wheat gluten in question was imported from China by Nevada-based ChemNutra.
Senator Richard Durbin (IL) announced that the U.S. Senate will hold an oversight hearing on the ongoing investigation and the regulatory mechanisms that govern the pet food industry as the widespread recall of contaminated pet food continues. The press releases from Durbin's office is posted online at the next two links.
If your pet has been harmed by this tragedy, we want you to know that our hearts go out to you and that you are in our prayers. We are crying with you and share your feelings of anger and disbelief. - DURBIN FOOD SAFETY AMENDMENT APPROVED BY SENATE
- Congratulations Senator Durbin on Senate passage of the Durbin Amendment regarding food safety (both human and pet)! We are proud of you in the Land of Lincoln!
- Senator Durbin Champions Pets' Health & Safety
- Our gratitude to Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois for holding the FDA accountable for this tragedy over the poisoned pet food. Durbin is urging the FDA to take action in three specific areas:
* Delay in reporting. Menu Foods, Inc. first noticed a potential problem on February 20, 2007 but did not contact FDA until March 15, 2007. In the meantime, other companies were selling tainted product and the supplier wasn't aware that it had provided wheat gluten contaminated with melamine. Durbin wants companies that delay reporting to the FDA and endanger human and animal health to face penalties.
* Lack of inspections. The Emporia, Kansas Menu Foods facility where many of these products were made had never been inspected by the FDA. The agency has been relying on the states to conduct inspections, but the FDA has jurisdiction over all pet food manufacturing facilities and the ultimate responsibility to ensure facilities comply with FDA standards. Where there should be federal regulation, there is instead a patchwork of state inspection systems and voluntary guidance. Durbin wants to require the FDA to work with the states to establish a standardized set of regulations and inspection requirements.
* Incomplete data and reporting from the FDA. Blogs and nonprofit websites have filled a gap and become the most efficient way to share information on contaminations. Durbin wants to direct the FDA to create a similar information sharing system that would allow state veterinarians, pet owners and others to alert the FDA of possible contaminations. - Feline Chronic Renal Failure
- Our beloved Tiger recently succumbed to Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). He was an incredibly smart, loving, cat with a purrfect personality. We miss him so. Here is a link that helped us cope with being a caregiver to a cat with CRF.
- Feline CRF Yahoo Group
- An excellent online support group is available for families with a CRF cat. Click this link to learn more.
- Pet Central with Steve Dale
- WGN radio in Chicago (720 AM) has an excellent pet talk show on Sunday evenings from 8 to 10 pm Central time. You can listen live on the net through a link on the WGN website. Pod casts are also available.
- Good Grief
- Search this link for resources on grieving after the loss of a pet. Topics include explaining loss to children, signs of grief in other pets, spiritual support and many more related subjects.
- Morris the Cat and Li'l Mo
- Read all about Morris the Cat's Million Cat Rescue! See pictures of Morris' adorable companion Li'l Mo. This awesome web site also gives Morris' biography, including his runs for President on the Finicky Party platform. This site also has lots of fun pictures and videos.
Momma Jan and Morris the Cat have something in common - both came from the same hometown of Lombard, Illinois! - Save-A-Pet Adoption Center
- Check out our local no-kill shelter where Momma Jan volunteers. View photos of our fellow felines and canines who are looking for forever homes. Special needs kids are also looking for special forever homes that can commit to life-long care.
We are family
Momma Jan and Her Fuzzy Kids
Momma Jan is a 40-something gal who chose not to have a traditional family with bi-ped children. Instead she adopts the 4-legged variety with tails and whiskers. She would like to introduce us now:Baby (AKA Baby Boy Tiger) is the oldest. We think he was born in 1995. Before arriving at Momma Jan's, he was adopted from the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, IL. Momma offered Baby a loving home complete with other feline playmates, Tiger and Punky (who are now angel kitties). Baby is like a puppy-dog and follows Momma all over the house. He is a faithful companion and can be found cuddling next to Momma every night.
Abby (AKA Abercrombie II) came into the world in 2004 as a gift from a friend (Auntie Cindy). Momma took in Auntie Cindy's elderly Himalayan cat (Abercrombie I) and cared for her in the last couple of years of her wonderfully long life (17 years). Abby is a gorgeous Himalayan seal point, just like her namesake. She is a very lady-like girl and she sits with her front paws crossed in front of her. She loves playing tag with her little brother Lance.
Lance (AKA Lance Pawstrong, Lancelot, or Lance Underpants) has unique physique - he has four legs but he is missing right rear foot. He is the youngest and was born in late spring of 2005. He is a black and white (tuxedo) domestic shorthair. (Lance says he wears the colors of his favorite team - the Chicago White Sox). Momma adopted Lance after fostering him for a local foster program. He is a vocal cat who walks around the house chatting about everything. You would swear he is human when he looks directly in your eyes and "talks" to you. He loves wrestling with his big brother and chases his sister around in a game of tag. He is often a clown and is especially good at making Momma Jan laugh after she has had a bad day at work.
Baby, Abby, and Lance would like to mention our beloved Tiger who recently passed at age 13 after a long battle with failing kidneys. We also fondly remember our Grandpa George who loved animals and was a wonderful, gentle man. We lost him in early 2006. We also must mention Crombie, Annie, Punky, Goldie and Wimpy who have all crossed the Rainbow Bridge. They were all wonderful and were dearly loved.
Feline Factoids for Humanoids
Your Cat's Health
Did you know...?
- Each of your cat's eyes has a third eyelid. If your cat's eyes are open but his or her third eyelids are exposed, have your cat checked at your vet because this can be a sign of high fever and serious illness.
- Your cat's normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (F). Temperatures lower or higher can be a sign of illness. A temperature of 105 degrees F or higher is very serious and can be fatal so take your cat immediately to the emergency vet (or to your usual vet clinic if during normal business hours).
- Neutering and spaying not only prevents unwanted litters (and homeless pets) - it can reduce your pet's risk of certain cancers? In a female cat, spaying can reduce the chances of her getting uterine, ovarian, and mammary cancers. Do not wait until her first heat cycle!
- Kittens have baby teeth before cutting their permanent teeth, just like us bi-peds. We normally don't realize they have lost a baby tooth because they usually swallow them. (Too bad: they're missing out on gifts from the tooth fairy!)
- It's the saliva that carries the allergen - not the dander itself. When kitty grooms herself, the allergen is transmitted to the dander in her saliva. If you love animals as much as Momma Jan and can't live without feline or canine companionship, try allergy shots. They worked pretty well for Momma Jan! She's not 100% allergy free but she is comfortable with very few allergy symptoms.
Say hello!
Tell us about your pets.
Thank you for visiting us. We would like to hear more about you, even if you are a dog.
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- Grammy Grammy Mar 20, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
- We're a dog lens!! Ha-ha!! But, we wanted to say hi to you and tell you we like this lens!! Very nice pictures, too! (Franklin is afraid of cats, and always has been.) Thanks for creating a lens to help support the ASCPA.
by Baby_Abby_Lance
We're Baby, Abby and Lance. We are Momma Jan's 4-legged adopted kids. We live in our house in Wauconda, Illinois. For our health and... (more)
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