save the date!

it's that crazy time of year again when the streets are filled with returning students, fall leaves and drag queens. of course that means the Willy St. Fair is just around the corner! this year's events are scheduled for the weekend of sept. 19th and 20th with the big parade on sunday. come on down and enjoy the festivities with gabby and the rest of the madcat crew and enter the raffle for a chance to win a new cat tree.

today is labor day, the last day of summer. while some may be a little mournful about the impending lack of sunshine and warmth the dogs sure are enjoying themselves over at goodman pool.

san francisco has made the news again for being a pet-friendly city, this time it's for a proposed ban on declawing. surprisingly, there has been opposition coming from an unlikely source - the san francisco aspca. their argument is that more cats will be given up if fed-up owners are not allowed the option to declaw. where do you stand on the argument?

roomba zoomba

this one goes out to our old pal, joe, a roomba and kitty enthusiast! gabby would really get a kick out of a ride like this - she's our shoulder/tree/shopping basket-riding enthusiast. a real wild child (when she's not sleeping, that is)!

me want food!

you know how they say people and their animals tend to look alike? well, as our nation's number of obese continue to rise, so does that of our cats. in this cornell study on feline obesity finds that nearly 25% of the 2,000 cats tested were more than just over weight. this is a frightening number considering that cats who are even a few pounds above normal weight are at a higher risk for diabetes, joint issues, hepatic lipidosis and a range of other chronic conditions.

an interesting part of the article linked carb-heavy presciption diets to obesity, giving proof to what we've been saying all along, that carbohydrate-rich foods are not only inappropriate for carnivores but are also dangerous. this is why it is so importnat to understand not only how food works with a cat's digestive system, but also what cat food is really made of.

when it comes to putting cats on diets we should look at it as a 3-legged approach. first, we must change the diet to a higher quality, meat-rich, low-carb food. second, the portion size should be decreased (calories in should not exceed calories out). third, exercise. this is where all those food calories should be going - to running, jumping and playing. using a fishing pole-type toy to lure your fat kitty into playing even fifteen minutes a day will help get him onto the path of health.

for some kitties who are highly food motivated, multivet has created the slim cat ball, that acts as an interacitve food dispenser. just fill it up with your kittie's favorite kibble, adjust the dispensing holes to fit the level of difficulty you're looking for, and let your cat spend an hour rolling it around and eating its meal piece by piece. (this also works really well for the scar-n-barf kitties who eat too quickly and vomit it all up). gabby madcat loves hers!

rescue gabby!

being that we just got dumped on by a foot of snow we would like to extend an offer of "help" to anyone who may be stuck in the snow or who may just need a little pick me up.  all you have to do is call for.....RESCUE GABBY!  she will come through rain, sleet and snow to bring you a little comfort and a warm nuzzle.  you can even wear her over your shoulders like a high-fashion, cruelty-free stole!  so remember, when in need just give a little whistle or shake a food bag and furry help will come to the rescue!

*offer void anywhere in the real world.