This is Tito Collier, the latest addition to the family of David Collier, one of my former baby boys. Well, actually, I guess David will always be my baby boy no matter how old he gets. :)

Anyway, I am using this picture ~ with his permission (thanks, David!) ~ to highlight my wish for all little animals to have happy endings. Friends repeatedly tell me that I can't save them all, but I surely wish I could. Even good intentions can't bring uniform happy endings, however ~ a fact emphasized to me when I arrived home from school yesterday to find a dead kitten on my doorstep. He was one of those born to one of the strays that hang around Elly's home and mine, and the little guy had been having some problems lately. I *planned* to start dosing him with Albon, if I could catch him. However, a killer-busy week kept postponing those best-laid plans, and look what happened. He had wrapped himself around my angel statue to take his last breaths, so I like to think he had a divine escort to the Rainbow Bridge.

I surely have learned a painful lesson about procrastination.

Ironically, today's e-mail from Petplace.com's Dr. Jon dealt with kitty lifespans:

People often ask me, "How long will my cat live?"

Recently, I saw a client with a 22-year-old cat. If I didn't know how old this cat was, I would have guessed that he was 10 years old.

Today cats live longer than ever. Just 20 years ago the life expectancy of a cat was four to six years; today they live 14 years or more.* Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether the cat is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.

The life expectancy of an indoor cat is generally 12 to 18 years. Many indoor cats may live to be in their early 20s. The oldest cat in reported history was 28 years old at the time of death.

Outdoor cats generally live to be around four to five years of age. Their deaths are typically due to traumas like being hit by a car or attacked by a dog. Outdoor cats are also more susceptible to several deadly viruses that are spread by fighting or prolonged intimate contact with an infected cat.

Keep your cat healthy by feeding a high quality diet, and providing routine vaccinations and physical examinations....

I hope your cat lives a long and healthy life. That is one of the reasons why I take the time and energy to write this newsletter and why I started Petplace. My goal is to share practical information that will help keep your cat happy, healthy and alive longer!

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

Hey, Dr. Jon ~ I hope to accomplish the same goals with my blog! Happy endings for everybody! :)

With only a couple of weeks until Halloween, people are planning costumes, candy, and ~ unfortunately ~ carnage. I am one of those grumpy old people who don't like Halloween. In fact, it's my least favorite time of the year, and I am always so relieved when we are past it. People use it as an excuse for meanness while others show extreme disrespect to our blessed dead. Why would a graveyard be an evil place when loved ones are buried there, y'know?

As the mommy of two black kitties and two other almost-black kitties, I also worry about black kitties at this time of year. Many of the strays that Elly and I feed are black, and each Halloween season, I pray that they all will stay safe from those who might have other ideas for them.

Dr. Jon's recent e-mail from PetPlace.com had this advice for kitty mommies and daddies at Halloween:

With Halloween just around the corner, many cat owners are gearing up to dress themselves, their children, their dogs, their homes and sometimes even their cats in Halloween attire. Including our pets in fun festivities is like second nature to cat lovers because our cats truly are part of our family.

But when it comes to Halloween, do our cats really enjoy wearing costumes? Well, this can all depend on so many things, like their temperament and even more so, the type of costume you choose. But to be honest - most cats don't like to be dressed up. In fact, I think Halloween is one of the least favorite holidays to most cats.

To keep your cat safe this Halloween, here are some tips:

1. If your cat is an indoor-only cat, consider keeping him or her closed in one room during trick-or-treat so he or she doesn't accidentally get out of an open door.

2. If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, it is safest to keep your cat inside during trick-or-treat night and Halloween nights.

3. Don't force your cat to wear a costume if he or she doesn't want to. Halloween is supposed to be fun for everyone and you don't want your cat to be miserable. There are also other ways your cat can enjoy the festivities [meaning extra treats and toys!]

4. Keep your cat away from burning candles (like those in the jack-o-lantern). Their swishy tails can easily knock candles over and create house fires or cause injury to your cat.

5. Keep your cat away from candy, strings, candy wrappers and any other loose objects on the floor and tables - if cats eat these things, it could make them sick.

May you and your furry loved ones have a *safe* and happy Halloween. However, I can't help looking forward to November 1 when it's all over!

[The graphic in this post is courtesy of Art.com.]

At 6:30 this morning, I was cuddled in bed with Trey, who was purring, kneading with his paws, and sucking my finger, as he does when he is supremely content. At 7:30 as I signed surgery papers at the vet, he and Deuce were glowering at me quite unhappily.

Today is their doodle surgery, y'see. So besides getting no breakfast and being stuffed into a carrier during their primo romp time, they will be facing surgery today. I try not to feel too guilty since neutering a kitty will only prolong his life and health. However, I do have a low guilt threshold, and I can't help wondering if my baby boys will still love me when I bring them home this afternoon.

As if in response, today's e-mail from Dr. Jon linked to an article asking can pets really love? Here is the kitty part of that article. I was happy to note that my fuzzy half dozen have often displayed *ALL* the signs of affection listed! :) Now I will be hoping for some of the same signs from my baby boys later this afternoon! :)

Love of a Cat
By Dr. Nicholas Dodman

Cats are said to be independent, aloof, and not in need of company except on their terms. This is true only of some cats; certainly not all. Cats raised by people from an early age either think they are almost human, or that the human is almost a cat.

In fact, throughout a cat-person bond, the two may switch roles without realizing it. On occasion, a cat will bring home a dead or half-dead animal as a token of her love and respect (a touching, if gruesome, method of confirming the bond).

Bringing home "love offerings" of this type is a sign of attachment and belonging. There are others that require less clean up. When the bond is strong, a cat will:

# Tend to follow you around. She may not follow immediately, but after a moment or two she might casually saunter into the room where you're sitting (as if she's trying to play the whole thing down). Your cat may jump in your lap or may just find a chair nearby. Either way, she prefers to spend time with you.

# Become slightly depressed when you leave, and greet you enthusiastically upon your return. She may learn to recognize the sound of your car pulling up and run to the door, expecting your presence.

# Send subtle cat signals of affection to you throughout the day. These often take the form of classic "cat kisses" – staring at you adoringly, then squinting or slowly closing her eyes.

# Send not-so-subtle signals, such as rubbing her head upon you (marking you with her scent), and of course, purring.

# Lying on her back, with her stomach exposed. This is a sign of trust, because your cat is now in a vulnerable position. Many owners mistakenly think this is a request for a belly rub. It usually isn't.

This is a cat's affection at its most intense. They can't hold your hand, and they are not given to jumping up and kissing you. There's no difficulty to describe this sort of relationship as love.