Wellness TruFood Tasty Pairings with Chicken, Pumpkin, & Turkey Review

This month, we had the great opportunity to try a second product from Chewy - Wellness TruFood Tasty Pairing with Chicken, Pumpkin, & Turkey Grain-Free Cat Food Trays.  Since this recipe contains pumpkin, and Carmine and Milita really like pumpkin, I thought this would be a great food for them to try.  Additionally, I really love the nutrition Wellness provides in its cat food line.

Benefits of Wellness TruFood Tasty Pairings with Chicken, Pumpkin, & Turkey include:

• Grain-free recipe.
• Contains no corn, wheat, or soy fillers.
• Has natural superfoods and pure protein.
• Contains vital antioxidants for cats.
• Has no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.
• Contains no meat by-products.

I've given this food to Carmine and Milita a couple of times so far.  The first time I gave it to them, neither one seemed interested in it.  They both tried a few bites and then walked away.  I was rather disappointed as I thought they'd really like the pumpkin in this recipe.  

The second time I gave it to them, Carmine still refused to eat it, though it should be noted that he is not eating much these days and turns his nose up at even his favorite foods lately.  Milita, on the other hand, gobbled it right down!  So she may actually like the food after all.  

Wellness TruFood comes in six different flavor combinations:

• Chicken, Pumpkin, & Turkey.
• Chicken, Carrots, & Chicken Liver.
• Carrots, Tuna, & Turkey.
• Chicken, Carrots, & Crab.
• Peas, Cod, & Shrimp. 
• Pumpkin, Beef, & Salmon.

You can find all of the Wellness TruFood Tasty Pairings at Chewy.  They are all on sale right now, and you always receive free shipping on order of $49 or more.  

FTC Disclosure: We received a case of Wellness TruFood Tasty Pairings with Chicken, Pumpkin, & Turkey Grain-Free Cat Food Trays from Chewy for our fair and honest review.  Receiving the trays of Wellness TruFood did not influence my (or my cats') opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my and my cats' own.  Chewy is not responsible for the content of this post. 

Jewel's Journey

It's been a while since I've written a Jewel's Journey post.  I remembered something this week I thought you all might like to hear about.

When Jewel was diagnosed with CRF, I immediately went online to do some research to find out what we were dealing with.  I sent some information to Jewel's former owner, not expecting that he would actually read any of it.

One day when he was visiting, he made an egg for Jewel.  I was a little confused.  Then he told me that eggs were good for kitties who didn't feel like eating.

I don't know if this is actually true or not.  In any case, Jewel wasn't impressed!

I thought it was very sweet, though, that her former owner made the effort to do something loving for her.  It was rare that I saw him do things like that.

Opt to Adopt Cora

Cora

MaxFund

Denver, CO

Photo from Cora's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Isn't Cora gorgeous?  She is a mediumhair orange ladycat waiting for her forever home at MaxFund.  

Cora came to MaxFund in 2003, and she was adopted right away, not surprisingly.  She lived with her people for 8 years before they returned her to the shelter because their landlord didn't want Cora there anymore.  

Cora loves to sit in laps to keep her favorite humans company.  She also enjoys playing with feather toys.  She currently lives in foster care, and her profile says she gets along well with kids, dogs, and other cats.

Doesn't Cora sound like an awesome senior ladycat?  If you'd like to meet this sweet girl, please call to set up an appointment at 720-266-6081.  

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Mes bets yous can guess where mes is going in my carrier.  That's right, the Mom made mes go see Dr. Stabby again.  

They wanted to check my weight since mes keeps losing.  The Mom put mes on the scale, and it said mes weighs 9 pounds, 14 ounces.  The Mom was NOT happy about that at all because mes lost 5 more ounces in the two weeks since mes saw Dr. Stabby.  

Dr. Stabby came in to feel my tummy, and mes kept trying to get away from hers!  Mes was not happy about something, but Dr. Stabby couldn't figure out what exactly.  Mes is usually a ragdoll at the Stabby Place so seeing mes trying to get away really worries the Mom.  

Now mes will let the Mom tell yous about what the plans are.  
The Mom here: Carmine's continued weight loss is very worrisome to me and our vet.  The higher dose of Prednisolone clearly did not help Carmine.  So we decided to lower his Pred dose back down to 5mg a day.  We will likely get him off of it all together and change him to Budesonide if he has lost any more weight this week.  He will go back tomorrow for another weight check.

The vet thinks it would be wise to get blood work with a GI panel done on Carmine as well as a tummy ultrasound.  These two things together are *very* expensive, and if we need to go that route, I am going to have to set up a fundraiser for Carmine as I don't have those kinds of funds at my disposal on my fixed income.  I think it would be wise to get these tests done, especially seeing as Carmine reacted when the vet was trying to feel his tummy.  I am really worried about him.

We are more or less starting from scratch again.  The vet gave me some Prozyme to put on Carmine's food to see if he might have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, but since it didn't help the first time around (over a year ago), I'm not too hopeful that this will solve the problem.  The vet also wonders about pancreatitis, but she and I both think that if he had this, the Prednisolone would be helping him, so this is unlikely.

As some of you saw on Facebook yesterday, Carmine ate nearly all of his breakfast the other morning.  Carmine will eat a lot one day and then he'll hardly eat anything for the next several days, and the cycle repeats.  I don't understand why this is.

The vet FINALLY gave me permission to give Carmine Cyproheptadine for his appetite if we need to.  I need to go pick up his prescription at the store so we have it on hand for him.

Your continued purrs and prayers are much appreciated.  I will keep you updated on Carmine's condition.

Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! Review

This month, we received Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! Dog and Cat Food Supplement Pouches from our friends at Chewy to try.

Pumpkin has many benefits to cats, and Weruva has come up with a convenient way to serve it to your kitty.

Benefits of Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! include:

• Supports stool quality.
• Is pureed for easy mixing.
• Contains soluble and insoluble fibers.
• Is gluten and BPA-free.
• Contains two ingredients - pumpkin and water.
• Supports healthy gut motility.

I mix the pumpkin supplement into Carmine and Milita's food, but you can also feed it plain as a treat.  

As you can see, Milita is thoroughly enjoying her dinner with the pumpkin supplement in it!  

Carmine also really enjoyed the pumpkin in his dinner.  

I feed pumpkin to Carmine and Milita everyday to help with their digestion.  I was buying them plain canned pumpkin at the store, but Weruva makes giving the pumpkin so much more convenient that I will likely be purchasing these pumpkin pouches from now on.  

A box of 12 Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! typically retails for $8.28 on Chewy's website, but you can purchase them for $7.44 right now.  Chewy always offers free shipping on orders of $49 or more.  

FTC Disclosure: I received a 12-count box of Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! Dog and Cat Food Supplement Pouches in exchange for a fair and honest review.  Receiving Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! did not influence my (or my cats') opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my (and my cats') own.  

Halloween Safety Tips for Cats

Halloween is fast-approaching.  Whether you like to celebrate by handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, throwing a Halloween party, watching scary movies, or going to haunted houses, it's important to keep your cat's safety in mind during your celebratory activities.

Keep Cats Indoors: It's unfortunate, but there are cruel people in the world who steal, injure, or even kill cats during Halloween.  While black cats are most vulnerable during this time of year, it's best to keep your cat inside, no matter his coat color.  Don't just keep your cat inside on Halloween night - keep him confined to the house several days before and after Halloween to ensure his safety.

Provide a Safe Space: If you're planning to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, it's advisable to keep your cat confined to a bedroom with the door shut during trick-or-treating hours.  While your kitty may not typically try to escape through the front door, the chaos of strangers coming to your home may prompt her to slip through the door.  If you think the disruption of having strangers come to the door will bother your cat, play some soft music for her in her safe room.

Likewise, if you are throwing a party at your house, confine your kitty to a safe room.  Be sure to provide her with comfortable places to sleep, food, water, litter box, and toys.  Do not allow guests to go into her safe room during the party unless your kitty is already comfortable with them.  You may also want to play soft music in the room to calm her if she is nervous having house guests over.  Additionally, if you can slip away for a few minutes, visit your cat periodically throughout the party to check in on her and provide her reassurance.

Please ensure your companion is wearing a collar and ID tag on Halloween in case she accidentally escapes outdoors.  If your kitty is microchipped, take a moment to ensure your contact information is up-to-date as well.

Halloween Decorations: It's fun to decorate your home with festive decorations for the season.  Pumpkins and decorative corn are typically considered to be safe plants to have around pets, but they may cause digestive upset if your cat snacks on them, according to the ASPCA.  Pumpkin is actually very beneficial to a cat's digestive system.  Instead of letting your kitty chew on your pumpkin decorations, though, purchase some unsweetened, plain canned pumpkin for him to eat.  You can feed a teaspoon of it to him plain or mix a little into his canned food.

Jack-o-lanterns are one of my favorite Halloween decorations, but they certainly can pose a danger to our beloved furry friends.  Cats are particularly curious and run the risk of burning or singing their paws and whiskers on lit jack-o-lanterns.  Please keep lit jack-o-lanterns and candles out of your kitty's reach for his safety.  Alternatively, purchase LED candles, which are safe to use near your companions.

Some Halloween decorations have electrical cords.  For your cat's safety, please protect electrical cords with cord covers or spray them with a deterrent like Bitter Apple.  Cats who chew electrical cords can suffer cuts, burns, and/or life-threatening electrical shocks.

Candy is Not for Cats: I'm sure you've heard about the toxicity of chocolate for cats.  While dark and baking chocolate are the most toxic to cats, all types of chocolate are dangerous for kitties to ingest.  Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, found in some candies is also toxic to kitties.  If you believe your furry friend has ingested xylitol or chocolate, please call your local veterinarian, emergency animal hospital, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for immediate assistance.  You can reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.  Please note that a $65 consultation fee may apply.  

Candy wrappers also pose a danger to kitties.  Please keep all candy out of your pet's reach and promptly throw all candy wrappers into a covered trash can.

If you'd like to get your companion a treat for Halloween, purchase her favorite cat treat or try a new one.  Carmine and Milita absolutely love ProPlan Savory Bites in chicken flavor.  If your cat hasn't tried these, we highly recommend them!

Costumes: Please do not dress your kitty in costume unless you know he loves it.  Dressing up a cat who doesn't enjoy it causes him distress.  He may even end up hurting himself trying to get out of the costume.  Most cats don't enjoy being dressed up.  Instead of a costume, you could purchase your cat a bow-tie that slips onto his collar.  You can see Carmine's bow-tie in the photo to the right.

If you know your furry friend loves playing dress-up, be sure to try his costume on him before the big day.  If he starts acting abnormally, seems allergic, or looks distressed, it's best to let him celebrate Halloween in his "birthday suit."

Thoroughly examine the costume to ensure that there are no small or dangling parts your cat can chew off, choke on, or swallow.  Additionally, make sure your pet's costume fits well.  Clothes that are too loose can get caught on objects, which can potentially injure him.  Your kitty's costume should not restrict his breathing, ability to meow, or ability to hear, see, or move.

Utilizing these Halloween safety tips for cats will ensure a safe and happy holiday for everyone in your home.

Do you have any plans for Halloween?  Please share them with us in the comments section. 

Luta Wants to Love YOU! (Opt to Adopt)

Luta

MaxFund

Denver, CO

Photo from Luta's Adopt a Pet profile page. 

Isn't Luta adorable?  He is waiting for his forever home at MaxFund!  Luta absolutely loves attention and wants your affection.  Several of the MaxFund staff and volunteers have fallen in love with him but are unable to take him home themselves.  This is good news for some other lucky human - maybe you!  

Luta doesn't like being locked in his cage.  He cries for attention when he's stuck in his cage.  He will make a wonderful and loving companion in his new home.  He seems to get along with the other kitties at the shelter, so he would probably be fine living with another cat.  

Luta was found near MaxFund, but the shelter isn't sure if he was dumped there without a carrier or if Luta happened to find his way there himself.  In any case, he would really like to find a human companion to love.  

Luta is a senior boy who eats a special food for his digestion.  This is no big deal, and the food is easy to find.  

Please stop by MaXfund, located at 720 W. 10th Avenue in Denver, CO, to get to know this handsome and affectionate mancat.  You can also call the shelter at 303-595-4917 for more information about him.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.  I know it's supposed to be the orange one's turn to post, but we decided to trade weeks because I had a scary experience over the weekend.

Let me start off by saying that I am okay now.

On Thursday night, the Mom noticed I was having a bit of....(whispers) diarrhea.  She thought that was a little odd since I don't have any digestive problems like Carmine does.  She said she'd keep an eye on me.

Then Friday, I vomited three times before the Mom went to the heart doctor.  The Mom didn't want to leave me alone at home, but she had waited two months to see the heart doctor, so she went to her appointment as planned.

When she came back, she saw I was doing very poorly.  She had called the vet while she was out to see what she could do for me over the weekend, and they told her to not let me have any noms for 12 hours.  She said she felt bad about that, but I really didn't mind.  I was refusing to eat anything anyway, which you all know is very unlike me.

I stayed curled up on the Mom's bed all night.  I didn't even come out when it was her dinnertime like I usually do.  The Mom tried to give me some slippery elm bark for nausea in a little wet food, but I wouldn't eat it.  Then she tried putting it in tuna water, and I wouldn't even touch that!  Finally she had to have her friend D syringe me some Pepcid, which I did not appreciate.

The Mom kept poking at me, which was annoying, but she said I looked like I was at death's door.  I sure felt like it, too!  The Mom said she was afraid to go to sleep.

The next day when the Mom woke up, D told her I was running around demanding food again!  I still wasn't 100% on Saturday, but now I am back to normal.  The Mom still has no idea why my tummy was so upset, but I sure am glad to be feeling better!

I also have an update about Popsicle for those who aren't on our Facebook page.  The Mom went to the shelter again on Saturday to check on Popsicle, and she said she held him for almost another hour.  She says Popsicle wasn't as curious this time around - he seemed pretty sleepy.  She said that the vet tech told her Popsicle has been eating prescription a/d food (a high-calorie food) and that it felt like he might have put on a few ounces.

Please continue to purr and pray for our little friend.  We appreciate it very much!

Six Ways You Can Help Feral Cats #FeralCatDay

Today is National Feral Cat Day.  There are so many things we can do to help feral and community cats, and they certainly deserve the same love and care our indoor felines do.

Who Are Community Cats?

Though there are differences between stray and feral cats, the two can be difficult to tell apart.  Stray cats may have been abandoned by an owner when they moved or tossed from their homes due to any number of circumstances.  These cats are usually friendly, though they may be afraid of strangers initially.  According to The Humane Society of the United States, stray cats will typically eat food in your presence when you offer it to them.  The ASPCA states that dirty and disheveled cats are most likely strays.  Recently abandoned kitties may have difficulty finding food or may be driven away from food and shelter by local feral kitties.  The recently abandoned cat may stop grooming himself because he is so stressed.  

Feral cats are unsocialized cats.  They are afraid of humans and likely won't eat any food you've provided them until you walk away.  You may be helping a feral cat if he or she refuses to approach you even after you've been feeding him or her for several days.  Feral cats often live in groups called colonies, but if food is scarce, ferals may travel on their own.  Colonies typically defend and occupy a specific territory where food and shelter are available.  Some common places colonies reside include near restaurants or dumpsters, in barns or abandoned buildings, and under porches.  

How You Can Help Community Cats

Whether you're trying to help a stray or a feral cat, there are several things you can do to make their lives better.

TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return): Help control community cat overpopulation by getting involved in local TNR efforts.  TNR involves trapping feral cats, having them vaccinated and spayed or neutered at a veterinary clinic, and returning them to their territory.  If you believe you've found a stray cat, you may be able to get her into a carrier and to a veterinarian easily.  There they can check for a microchip as well as spay or neuter the kitty.  Any medical issues or injuries can also be dealt with at this time.  If the cat doesn't have a microchip, you might want to contact local shelters to see if they will help the stray cat find a new home.  

For feral cats, you'll need to set traps, which can be tricky because many ferals learn how to avoid them.  You can find an organization that helps feral cats in your area here.  A feral that has already been spayed or neutered will have an ear tip or notch - a small piece of one ear will be missing.

Educate Others: There's a lot of misinformation about community cats out there.  Print out some educational materials or order some of Alley Cat Allies' brochures to hand out.  Alley Cat Allies offers a wealth of information about community cats.  If your local library or bookstores allow it, leave some informational materials there for people to pick up.  I find out about a lot of interesting events and programs through the brochures people leave at our local library and Tattered Cover bookstore.  

If you have the knowledge and/or experience, hold a Community Cats or TNR workshop to educate others in your community about outdoor kitties.  Be sure to compile a list of local organizations that help feral cats and vet clinics that offer spay and neuter surgeries to these cats.  

Provide Food: If you know of a feral cat colony, provide it with some food.  Try to feed the colony at the same time and place everyday so they know where to come to get nourishment.  

Hold a Supply Drive: If you actively take care of a feral colony, hold a food and supply drive.  This will not only help you save on food costs for the colony, but it's the perfect opportunity to educate others in your neighborhood about outdoor cats.  If you don't know of any feral cat colonies, donate the food and supplies you collect to an organization that helps community cats.

Provide Shelters: Build shelters for feral kitties in your neighborhood.  The Humane Society of the United States offers instructions on how to make a simple cat shelter here.  

Alternatively, leave your garage door open about 6-8 inches so that community cats can come inside during particularly cold nights.  My dad used to put blankets in boxes for the outdoor kitties that lived near us.  We have some friends in the Cat Blogosphere who have built nice heated cat houses for their community cats.  Any shelter - simple or fancy - will be much appreciated by feral cats on cold nights.  

Donate: Make a donation to Alley Cat Allies or to a local organization that helps community kitties.  

Feral cats deserve our love and care.  I hope these ideas have inspired you to do something for your neighborhood felines!  

Sources:

The Humane Society of the United States: Outdoor Cats.

ASPCA: Stray and Feral Cats. 

The Humane Society or the United States: Simple Cat Shelter Design.

Alley Cat Allies

Vet Tech Appreciation Week

This week is National Vet Tech Appreciation week.  Vet techs are awesome people who work diligently to care for our precious furry companions.  It's often a thankless job and one that doesn't pay much.  Vet techs do their jobs because they love caring for animals, and they deserve to be appreciated for all that they do.  Here are some easy ways you can show your vet techs how much you appreciate all that they do for your cat.

Send a Card: Who doesn't like getting something nice in the mail?  Send a card to your vet tech at her clinic.  She'll be pleasantly surprised and feel appreciated.  Write a heartfelt message in your card, letting your vet tech know that you appreciate her for all that she does.  You can even personalize your card with photos of your cat.  Personalizing cards with pet photos is really easy to do these days, and many retail stores with photo departments offer this option.  Wal-Mart and Walgreen's are just a couple of places that offer personalized cards.

Bring Lunch or Baked Goods: Vet techs can be so busy that they don't get a chance to sit down and enjoy lunch.  Bring your veterinary technicians lunch one day and encourage them to take a break and enjoy it.  Alternatively, bring them some cookies, a pie, or cake to show your appreciation.  If you're good with decorating cakes, you could draw cats and/or dogs on the cake.  If you don't have time to personally bake a cake, you can always order one to pick up.  Bakeries have talented cake decorators that can make an animal-themed cake for you.

Give a Gift: Getting your vet techs a special gift will definitely let them know that you appreciate all that they do.  The gift doesn't have to be anything big or fancy.  Coffee mugs, coffee or tea, chocolate, tote bags, T-shirts, travel mugs, and keychains all make great gifts.  You can use sties like Zazzle or Cafe Press to personalize your gifts.

Say Thank You: The next time you're in the clinic, thank your vet techs individually for all that they do for your cat.  If you don't expect to be in the clinic anytime soon, pick up the phone and thank them.  Vet techs don't get a lot of thank you calls, and it will make their day to get one from you.

We have a great veterinary technician at the cat-only clinic I take Carmine and Milita to.  She always makes me laugh.  She always has an answer for my questions when I call her.  She does her best to comfort my babies when they are nervous in the clinic.  She even tries to make giving medications as easy as possible for me by marking syringes with big black lines so that I can see them.  She was the one who taught me to give Jewel subcutaneous fluids and did some creative problem-solving to work with my serious vision limitations.

Veterinary technicians do so much for our furry friends.  They deserve to be recognized and appreciated for all that they do on a daily basis.

What do you appreciate about your veterinary technician? 

Urgent Purrs and Prayers Needed for Popsicle

Hi everyone,

Popsicle is a very special little kitten.  All kitties are special, of course, but you know how some kitties just stand out in your mind and heart?  Popsicle is one of those for me.

He is a very sick little baby.  I sat and held him for more than an hour yesterday at the shelter.  He sat in my arms and purred.  He was quite curious and alert, but content to sit and let me hold him, which is a huge difference from even two weeks ago when he wouldn't sit still for five seconds, let alone five minutes!  He was the door darter - the one who always escaped from the Kitten Room and was up by the front desk before they caught him to put him back.

Anyway, this little precious baby needs urgent purrs and prayers.  Maybe, just maybe, if all of our kitty friends send rumble really hard and put their paws together in prayer, he will pull through?

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

As you know, last week the Mom took Carmine to the vet, and you can read his update here.  A few days later, Carmine started eating more.  The Mom doesn't know if it's the higher dose of Prednisolone or the B12 injections finally kicking in, but she is happy he wants to eat more than he has been.  The humans don't always feed me a snack when Carmine gets one.  I don't think that's very nice of them, but I guess I have to give them some credit for giving me snacks sometimes.

I am doing fine.  No wheezing or coughing or anything.  The Mom and I are very happy about that!

Tomorrow the apartment management and maintenance are coming to inspect our floor's units, so the Mom says Carmine and I have to come with her to the shelter and hang out while she pets other cats!!  Isn't that awful?!  She promises a special treat afterward, but I am not happy that I have to ride in the car and hang out by Dr. Stabby while the Mom volunteers.  The Mom says Carmine and I can't just stay here because the management and maintenance teams here always leave the apartment door wide open while they are here, and she doesn't want us accidentally sneaking out.

The Mom says she has to go to the dentist later today.  I think it's only fair that if I have to be tortured with a car ride tomorrow that she be tortured at the dentist today.

Have a great week, everyone!

Someone Died - Now What?: Book Review

When I was invited to read and review Someone Died - Now What?: A Personal and Professional Perspective on Coping with Grief and Loss, I thought this book may be able to help me with my own grief journey.  I was right - this book did, in fact, help me along my journey.

About the Book: In her book, Someone Died - Now What?, Corrie Sirota provides support, validation, perspective, and guidance on how to cope when someone you love has died.  She also provides information on how to support a grieving family member or friend.  Additionally, she discusses how to support grieving children, how to cope with feelings of sadness, guilt, and anger, and how to cope with non-death losses, such as the loss of a job.

My Thoughts: Corrie Sirota provides some very practical solutions on how to cope with feelings of grief as well as practical suggestions for supporting a grieving loved one.  She emphasizes just how uncomfortable grief makes many people and reminds the reader to try not to take it personally if their family and friends distance themselves from them while they grieve.

Had I not recently gone through my own loss with Jewel, I would have been skeptical about how uncomfortable grief makes people.  As someone who worked in the field of social work, I faced grieving individuals often.  However, in our society, grief is often avoided at all costs.  Most of us don't want to deal with our own grief, l;et alone watch someone we love hurt so much.  This book reminded me that friends and family members often have good intentions by trying to distract me from my sadness or by telling me to focus on the good times.

I really love that Sirota included an entire chapter in this book on how to support a grieving loved one.  Many of her practical suggestions are things I wish that more people had done or offered to do for me.  She suggests things, such as just listening to a grieving person's memories of their loved one, offering to help with everyday household chores, running errands for the grieving person, and identifying ways in which the mourner can honor the deceased loved one.

Sirota emphasizes throughout this book that grief is a process - not an event.  I believe this is such an important point for mourners as well as their loved ones to understand.  Each person grieves in his or her own way and will not necessarily grieve for the same length of time.

The author also includes a chapter on things that need to be done immediately following the death of a loved one, which I believe is especially helpful, as the loss of a loved one is incredibly overwhelming.  She lists documents that need to be collected, things that need to be cancelled, and services that need to be transferred.

This book is incredibly validating.  Sirota provides support for the mourner throughout the book while encouraging her to move forward in her own time.  She tackles the complicated feeling of guilt and provides strategies for dealing with it as well.

I highly recommend Someone Died - Now What? to anyone who has lost a loved one.  While this book focuses on the death of family or friends, I found it helpful in moving forward with regards to Jewel's loss and would recommend the book to other people who have lost a beloved animal companion.  I would also recommend this book to people who want to help a grieving loved one.

Giveaway

You can enter for a chance to win one of five copies of Someone Died - Now What? using the Rafflecopter widget on the iRead Book Tours page HERE. 

About the Author: Corrie Sirota holds a Masters degree in Social Work as well as a Graduate Certificate in Loss and Bereavement from McGill University (Montreal) where she has been teaching as a lecturer in the School of Social Work for over 20 years.  Corrie is a licensed psychotherapist who currently maintains a private practice specializing in Loss and Bereavement, Parenting Issues, and Relationship Issues.  She is a well-known lecturer who regularly presents at conferences and workshops, both locally and abroad.  Working in the Montreal community for over two decades, Corrie has developed numerous prevention and intervention programs for families, children, professionals, students, and various community agencies as well as Day and Residential Camps.

Corrie has also written numerous articles and blog posts and is regularly interviewed on local radio, news, and TV programs to consult on issues relating to loss and bereavement, child development, and parenting.

Connect with the Author: You can connect with Corrie Sirota on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of "Someone Died - Now What?: A Personal and Professional Perspective on Coping with Grief and Loss" for an honest and fair review.  Receiving the free book did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Mancat Thursday?: An Update on Carmine

I'm afraid you're stuck with the Mom today.

Carmine went to the vet yesterday.  He lost two more ounces (10 pounds, 3 ounces now), and that did not make any of us happy.

We kept Carmine's carrier on the examination table, and after the vet tech left, he kept nudging the top of his carrier to try to crawl back in.  So I lifted the top up for him so he could get back in.

The vet and I discussed where to go from here since Carmine's Prednisolone at 5mg clearly isn't working.

We decided to raise his Prednisolone to 7.5mg once a day for two weeks and to give him B12 injections once a week for now.  He will go back in two weeks for another checkup.

I am getting discouraged by the lack of progress we are making.  I asked about the appetite stimulant for Carmine, but the vet said that Prednisolone is an appetite stimulant (but it's clearly not for Carmine).  He is still being very picky about what canned food he will eat.  It often takes a lot of convincing to get him to eat at least some of his canned meals.

The vet taught me how to give Carmine B12 injections in the scruff.  It's just like giving subcutaneous fluids - except easier because there's no IV line or anything to mess with.  The needles are very small - 25 gauge.

We discussed switching Carmine from Prednisolone to Budesonide if the increase in dose doesn't help him.  Budesonide is three times more expensive than Prednisolone, and that really stresses me out.  Please pray that the increase in dose helps Carmine and that he stabilizes again.

I don't understand why his treatment stopped working or why he is having such a bad flare or why his IBD isn't stabilizing like it did the first time.

All Sales Final: Book Review

When I read the back of All Sales Final (Good Buy Girls) by Josie Belle, I thought it was the perfect Halloween cozy mystery.

About the Book: Maggie and her fiancee, Sam's, wedding is fast-approaching, and Maggie doesn't even have a wedding dress picked out yet!  On top of all the wedding planning she has to do, she and Sam purchase a new home.  They believe they've found their dream home, but Maggie quickly notices that their cat, Marshall Dillon, acts strangely in the house.  He seems quite scared in the new home and hisses at things that aren't there.  

Then Maggie discovers a skeleton in their basement!  As she tries to help Sam and the rest of the police force discover the identity of the body as well as what happened, she quickly realizes that someone doesn't want her unraveling these mysteries.  

My Thoughts: This is the first book I've read in the Good Buy Girls mystery series, and I had no problem following the storyline or getting to know the characters.  You can definitely read this book as a stand-alone.

I really enjoyed this book.  It left me guessing until the very end.  The ending really surprised me.  I love the cozy feeling this mystery provided.  I felt like I was trying to solve the case with a bunch of girlfriends I had always known.

I would have loved to see more of Marshall Dillon in the book.  We didn't get to see much of him, and that was disappointing to me as I always love cats in mysteries.

I loved the mix of the character's personalities.  The Good Buy Girls are similar in some ways, but they are also a diverse group of women, which makes their gatherings and conversations interesting.

I found Sam's skeptical attitude about the ghost in their new home a little frustrating because he seemed to be making light of Maggie's fears.  I also found Maggie's unwillingness to make decisions about her upcoming wedding a little frustrating, but it does eventually fall into place.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable book.  I would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries and haunted houses and ghosts.

I am disappointed to have learned that this is the last book in the Good Buy Girls mystery series.  However, there are four other books in the series I haven't read, and I look forward to reading those in the future.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of "All Sales Final (Good Buy Girls)" free of charge for an honest and fair review.  Receiving the free book did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions shared on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Opt to Adopt Zara

Zara

MaxFund

Denver, CO

Photo from Zara's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Zara is a beautiful and loving ladycat seeking her forever human at MaxFund.  She has beautiful short white fur and stunning green eyes.  She loves to be pet and to receive attention.  Shelter life really stresses Zara out, though, so she can become overstimulated easily and will swat you when this happens.  MaxFund believes that she will be even more loving and affectionate when she is in her own home where she can relax and won't become overstimulated as easily.  The other cats in the shelter really scare her and stress her out, so she may do best as the only cat in her new home.

Zara was found as a stray when she made her way to the shelter.  Therefore, not much is known about her past.  She is already spayed and up-to-date on her vaccinations.  

You can visit with Zara at MaxFund, located at 720 W. 10th Avenue in Denver, CO.  You can get more information about this beautiful girl by calling the shelter at 303-595-4917.  

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Mes wants to apologize for this photo the Mom took.  Hers did not do a good job of capturing my handsome mancatness this morning.  

Yesterday, mes spent a lot of time on the Mom's bed when hers was sleeping.  That made hers really happy and mes too.  Mes loves to sleep by hers on Lita's my fleece blankie at the end of the bed. 

Mes is still being very picky about what mes will eat for canned noms.  Mes did not eat much of my breakfast yesterday, but then mes ate almost all my dinner and mes had a little snack during the day, too.  

The Mom wants to type something, so mes guesses mes will be back when hers is done.

The Mom here: A couple of you asked about why Carmine isn't being allowed appetite stimulants.

He cannot take Mirtazapine because it affects him very negatively.  The one and only time he had it, he was running around crying a lot.  He seemed very disoriented and didn't seem to know what to do with himself.  He was really upset and vocalizing a ton more than he usually does.  It really scared him (and me).  After doing some research, I found out that other cats have had similar reactions to Mirtazapine, so it is not uncommon.

Carmine can tolerate Cyproheptadine, though.  We have used that for him in the past.  He is so sensitive to medication that he only gets 1/8 of a pill when he takes it.  It makes him hungry and really helped him gain weight when he was first diagnosed with IBD.

I assume the vet doesn't want him to have Cyproheptadine right now to see if the treatments we are using for his IBD are actually working, but in the meantime, he continues to lose weight, which isn't a good thing.

Carmine is going back to the vet on Wednesday.  If he has lost any more weight, I am going to push for the Cyproheptadine as I do NOT want him losing any more weight.  I don't see any reason we can't use it for a bit and then get him off of it to see how his treatments are working.  That's what we did when he was initially diagnosed.  I will keep you posted.

Thank you all so very much for the purrs, prayers, hugs, good thoughts, love, and friendship you've extended to me and my sweet baby.  We are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of caring friends pulling for us!

It's mes, Carmine, again.  Mes wants to thank everyone for all the purrs, prayers, hugs, love, and good thoughts yous are all sending mes.  Mes really appreciates it!  Mes is sure the Mom will let mes update yous about how mes is doing later this week.  Mes hopes you all has a good week!

Purrs and Prayers for Carmine

Hi everybody, it's mes, Carmine with Mancat....Friday?

The Mom said that mes could post a special update today because mes hasn't been doing all that well.  On Tuesday the Mom made me go see Dr. Stabby again.  The Mom said hers thought mes lost weight, but her friend D said hims thought mes had to gain weight 'cause mes was eating a lot of canned noms for a few days.

The Mom put mes on the scale, and it turns out mes lost weight like hers thought.  Hers wasn't so happy about that.  Mes was down another 3 ounces, so mes weighs 10 pounds 5 ounces nows.  The vet says that is not a "bad" weight for mes, but hers and the Mom are worried about mes weight loss trend and don't want mes to keep losing weight.

The Mom and Dr. Stabby had a discussion about what to do with my treatment nows.  Dr. Stabby said theys could raise my Prednisolone dose, but hers and the Mom don't really like that idea very much.  Theys decided to put mes back on B12 injections for nows.  I heard the Mom says that hers is bringing mes back next week so Dr. Stabby can teach hers how to give mes the injections at home so mes doesn't have to go all the way to the vet every week.  Mes is going to give the Mom very pathetic looks and meows so hers feels very guilty about giving mes shots.

Dr. Stabby says if the injections don't help mes, theys might have to switch my medication from Prednisolone to Budesonide.

The past couple of days mes has not eaten much at all.  If mes eats any of my canned food dinner, breakfast, or snacks, mes will eat a few bites and walk away.  The Mom is going to call Dr. Stabby and see what hers wants hers to do since Dr. Stabby doesn't want mes to have appetite stimulants right nows.  Dr. Stabby and the Mom wish mes would eat more.  The Mom says hers will try to get different canned noms at the PetSmart later today.  Hers says this reminds hers of trying to feed Jewel - never knowing what Jewel would actually eat from one day to the next.