RIP Moneypenny

I knew she was on the downhill when she started losing weight.

In retrospect I should have known something was wrong when her left eye showed signs of discolouration.

It was the saddest day of my life.

RIP Moneypenny, my beautiful, proud, loving, Tabby Tiger. My gorgeous Asian Silver Ticked Tabby.

August 1997 to May 26, 2012.

Former Alley-Cat

Who'd have thought. Female cats have two uteruses.

You might ask how I discovered this fact, and if you did, I would tell you a professional told me. Dr Carrie, a vet at Nate's Place, was relating the story of Sophie, a cat looking for a home.

Sophie was semi-feral, meaning that she wasn't part of a feral cat community, and was being fed by a human. Someone noticed that Sophie was pregnant, but didn't ever give birth.


Caught by the folks at the Honor Sanctuary, the Doc had to conduct an emergency c-section. The result was the birth of one kitten (Samson, since adopted) and the removal of Sophie's infected uterus.

(Sophie, by the way, had been quite busy, having at least five litters of kittens to her name. No longer. She's been a mother for the last time.)



All in all, Sophie is fortunate to be alive, and luckier still to have received the first-class veterinary treatment that saved her and her kitten's life. But she needs just a little more luck - someone to take her home and keep her off the streets.




As you can see, Sophie is a very pretty white and silver tabby. Still somewhat shy from her life outside, I can see her reciprocating human love very quickly. In the thirty minutes I spent with her, she was purring and nuzzling with abandon. She's a beautiful little cat.

So if you live near Tampa Bay, and are looking to give a sweet cat a home, please think of Sophie. And if you are interested in keeping your house safe from the bad effects of mass-market cleaning products, have a think about changing to a more green lifestyle. Even if it's only for your pets. And hopefully, Sophie.

Black and Beautiful

Once upon a time there were four black cats. Their names were Bigboy, Kitty, Blacky and Blacky II.

They were all rescued by Sally and the folks at the Honor Sanctuary in December of 2008, which makes them the longest-staying guests there. If any of the cats deserve a nice home of their own, it is these four, because this isn't their first stay at an adoption home, it is their second. The first one just couldn't cope.



Apart from being young, healthy, and all-around wonderful cats, these four come fitted with extras - extra toes, to be precise. They're all polydactyl, meaning that they have more than the standard number. Another name for them is Hemingway Cats, after the author's famous brood on Key West.


The four of them are well looked after at the Honor Sanctuary, but if you live on the Suncoast of Florida, and are looking for a housecat (or more!) please consider the four Black Beauties.



And if you are interested in doing the one percent things that make the smallest, and sometimes most important differences in our lives, then consider turning your household green by changing to more natural products. For your cats.

It is easier than you imagine.

cleanfloorsforyourpaws@gmail.com

Creamello

Vacuum cleaners and cameras are the two mechanical items cats hate most, at least that's what I thought until recently. Maybe it's just my girls.

Meet Flop. Flop is not at all camera-shy, but his reaction to the dreaded vacuum-cleaner is unknown. What we do know about Flop is that he was rescued by Lilia of the Honor Sanctuary in Sarasota, and he's now looking for a home. If you're looking to adopt a calm and happy cat, Flop's your guy. (Even though he's not a full guy any more, if you know what I mean.)

Flop is so named because his first action upon being taken to the shelter was to flop down in the entrance-way and greet everyone arriving there with....a big lie down. That's so unlike a cat, right? So it's Flop by name, and flop by nature.



The folks at the adoption agency keep an eye on some feral colonies around the place, and that's where they found Flop. He was obviously not a feral cat by his looks, and his manner around people. So rather than leave him fend for himself, they took him in, hoping to find more caring owners this time around.


Have a heart. Adopt a cat. And look, when he's not flopping, he fits into a very small box!

If you already have pets, please consider keeping them safe from household toxins, by making your place a Green Place. It's simpler than you might think. I can show you how.


Thanks to Flop for his patience being photographed, and thanks to Lily and everyone at the Honor Sanctuary.

No Homeless Pet Community

There's no escaping it, cats are wonderful.

Which makes it hard to believe how people can give up their pets after years of them being part of the family. I would give up everything before I gave my two cats away.

Which brings us to Snickers. I found Snickers at the Honor Sanctuary Animal Rescue facility in Sarasota. The Sanctuary does noble work looking after abandoned and unwanted cats and dogs, doing as much as possible to make our town a "No Homeless Pet Community".

Walking into the Sanctuary is a slice of heaven for a cat person like me. This morning when I was there, over seventy cats were in residence. But this isn't a cage-and-feed kind of place. The cats are free to walk about, there's furniture (cat and human) on which they can lounge, and visitors are encouraged to be affectionate. With the animals, not each other.

And so I was introduced to Snickers. Snickers is an altered long-haired female around four years old. Her story is that she didn't fit her owners' life any more, and she's looking for a home. The pictures tell you everything you need to know.





If you live anywhere between Bradenton and Venice (in Florida) and are looking for a sweet pet, please visit the Sanctuary, and consider Snickers. She will only be an adornment to your home, elegant beauty that she is.

And if you have enough pets already, consider doing the entire household a favor by going green with your cleaning products.

Being the best parent you can be

Is there anything as good as knowing that your pet is happy and healthy because of your care?

Peace of mind comes from being mindful of your pet's needs - good food, regular exercise and quality veterinary care. I went one step further by changing my household over to a family of low-toxicity, more natural products. They don't cost me any more than other brands, but the peace of mind I get from knowing my girls are in a safer house is immeasurable.

Protecting our babies from harm and doing the right thing by them is a big job, but a rewarding one. If you're interested in learning how I make that job easier with the right pet-friendly products, email me. Or click on the links in the margin to the left for more information.

Tim

Want to watch a YouTube video on this?

The Neighbors' Dogs

Time to take Clean Floors for Your Paws to the world. I think I'll start small, and begin locally by meeting as many neighbors' dogs as I can.
 
Here is My Neighbors' Dogs #1.

I don't know where he lives. I don't know his name. I don't know if he's a he. 

But he ain't heavy, he's my neighbor. 



The way he was bouncing around, it's possible he's half rabbit.

I might call him Thumper.







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