Cats Comfort Breast Cancer Patients

People and Pets HomeSafe

When the words "pink" and "cat" are used in the same sentence, it's usually referring to a kitten's nose. But this October, "thinking pink" and talking about cats takes on a whole new meaning, thanks to the folks at Purina Cat Chow!

Recognizing the remarkable bond between cats and breast cancer patients, this October, Purina Cat Chow is making a contribution to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for every specially-marked product sold. The target goal is $100,000. 

According to Susan Molenda, vice president of marketing for Nestle Purina PetCare, "The support and comfort cats provide during these difficult times reinforces the important role pets play in our lives and to society, and we are pleased to lend our support to this worthy cause."  

An iPad App for Pets? You bet!

O.K. ... we know this has nothing to do with lost and found pets ... but at PetLynx Corporation we like to encourage pet families to have fun and strengthen the bond they share with their animal companions!

Own on iPad? Share your home with a lap cat? Then here is something fun you can try to keep your cat occupied on a cold winter night! (Not sure if many dogs would be willing to get in on the action!)

DolfBall is a straightforward, addictive, time-killing game you can play with your friends - OR - your pets on your iPad! Yes, there is actually a "Pet Mode" - the first of its kind for an iPad app. And it's free on iTunes and already getting a bunch of chatter. 

The game was invented by a guy named Dofl Y.H. Yun - a senior developer at one of NY's top digital agencies, Firstborn.  Pretty hilarious.  Especially if you have a cooperative pet.

Click here to view a kitty playing DolfBall on an iPad ... even though he (or she) is a little camera shy. :)

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Focus Group on Feline Behaviour

Friskies brand cat food finally answers an age-old question that many cat owners have: What does my cat do when I am not at home?


The pet food company recently announced the results of a first-of-its-kind "focus group" that reveal there's more to life than a cat nap for our feline friends! Friskies had 50 roving "repurrters" to go on the job to reveal the magical world of cats through examining their sensory experiences in their home environments.

In the cat "focus group," cats from across the United States wore tiny digital cat-cams that took pictures of their surroundings every 15 minutes. The resulting photographs uncovered where cats go, what they do, and specifically, what they experience when their owners aren't home.

Purina animal behavior scientist, Jill Villarreal, Ph.D., analyzed the photos to determine what they revealed about the playful days and sensory experiences of cats when they are home alone. "Many people under-estimate the richness and sensory stimulation the home environment provides for our cats," said. Dr. Villarreal. "The photos shed light on the home from the cat's point-of-view and, for the first time, we can better understand what gets our cats' attention and provides them with opportunities for play and adventure when we are away.

According to Dr. Villarreal, cats of all ages need play time to help maintain a healthy body weight and keep their minds active. Through their photos, they gave us a personal look at their social lives by stalking playmates and toys, climbing on structures and exploring their home.

Other key findings include:

• Several cats took pictures of computer and television screens. This is likely due to the cat's natural prey instinct to focus in on moving objects.
• The cats' photos revealed that screened-in porches are a rich oasis filled with sensory stimulation. This includes sights, sounds, textures, and smells with grassy patches and non-toxic plants that provide tactile (touch) and olfactory (smell) stimulation for the cats.
• The photos also showed that cats were greatly interested in water, be it in the sink, bathtub, or swimming pool. This may seem counter intuitive, as it is commonly believed that cats dislike water. However, these photos reveal that cats like water, but on their own terms.

View the full report in the Scratchington Post!

'Failed' Service Dog Takes up Surfing

'Ricochet' is a Golden Retriever who is now better known as 'Rip Curl Ricki!"

She was born to lead a life of service.... but, despite receiving the best possible training from the Puppy Prodigies Neonatal & Early Learning Program in San Diego, California, her penchant for chasing birds resulted in elimination from the program.

Rather than focus on what this dog couldn't do.... her trainer decided to focus on the dog's strengths and turned disappointment into a new direction. Ricki is now a surfing dog who not only helps the disabled, she also helps raise money for charity!

If you need inspiration to help you set new directions for the New Year, this video of Ricki riding the waves in the California surf is sure to bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes!

Salute to Soldiers Who Help Homeless Dogs

It's called "Operation Baghdad Pups" and it is a story sure to warm your heart!

A new show on the Military TV Channel highlights the efforts of American soldiers who have befriended homeless dogs in war zones. The program started after one soldier contacted SPCA International for help in bringing home a dog he had rescued in Baghdad.

Enjoy this 'Salute to Soldiers' on CNN!

A heart-warming story for a cold winter night

'Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

In the spring of 2005, author Ingrid King met Buckley. All it took for King, a long-time veterinary hospital manager, was one look at the small homeless cat, and she fell in love. Hard.
And fast. Soon, her life was transformed. In King's warmhearted memoir, Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, she shares the story of how -- rather unexpectedly -- one tortoiseshell cat touched her life forever.

Buckley's presence in King's life leads the author to make major changes in her own life, inspired by the lessons this little cat taught through her joyful spirit and huge heart -- universal lessons that readers can apply to their own lives. But after only a few years, Buckley is diagnosed with
advanced cardiac disease.

In the following chapters of Buckley's Story, King tells of the sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes joyous, final months of Buckley's life. The human-feline bond is an unbreakable one, and King retells the story with poetic grace. This book is a celebration of life and a reflection of the never-ending love that anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet can surely relate to.