Marlin, a Shadow Cat, on his way home from the SPCA!
Shadow Cats Can Now Be Adopted at the SPCA!
(And in case you didn’t hear –
the ADOPTION FEE IS WAIVED!)
By Melanie Rushforth, Vice President of Veterinary Services
The SPCA Serving Erie County is proud to expand upon our new initiative that shines the spotlight on a unique population of animals in our care. An initiative of 2022 has been the SPCA’s Shadow Cat effort, which works to meet shy or fearful cats where they are behaviorally to assist them in navigating the journey to becoming adoptable pets living out the rest of their lives in long-term homes. We are seeing a positive response regarding the acceptance of these shy cats just the way they are, so we are expanding the adoption opportunities and housing of these cats to colony settings within the SPCA’s physical shelter as well. And the adoption fee for Shadow Cats is waived!
Fear is common and a perfectly normal, innate, and adaptive behavior in all animals. However, if fear isn’t addressed appropriately, it can develop into serious behavioral and health problems and result in deterioration. Our goal with Shadow Cats is to be proactive in managing a cat’s fearfulness or shyness should a cat surrendered to the SPCA present those behaviors while being assessed in the shelter. We strive to accurately and appropriately describe these animals to potential adopters to allow interested parties to make an informed choice when adding to their family.
Transitions and big changes are hard for many cats, even ones who are not identified as fearful. In preparing to introduce a cat into the home regardless of their confidence level, it is very important to set the cat up for a successful experience by making some small, but important adjustments. The intent of Shadow Cats is to offer a comfortable environment, be that a foster home or a familiar colony setting within the shelter with previous housemates to allow the cat to gain confidence, relax, become familiar with human interaction, and build trust.
Introduction to a new home can be very challenging for a fearful cat. Fearful cats usually do best in relatively quiet homes or quiet areas of the home. Many fearful cats slowly become more confident as they get used to their living space and daily routine. The foster, behavior and veterinary departments of the SPCA Serving Erie County will assist new and experienced pet parents with whatever information and tactics they may need to help a Shadow Cat acclimate to their home. Time, patience, love, and food are some of the ingredients that will help a Shadow Cat step into the light a little bit at a time.
It is a special experience to build a relationship and bond with a fearful cat, and it is deeply rewarding. The journey may be long, but patience is a true gift to a nervous cat in need. Just like people, cats can have vastly different personalities. Some of these Shadow Cats may blossom into lap cats, while others may remain the quiet roommate that is grateful for love, attention (from a distance) and a safe place to call home. Whatever the end result, we are grateful to have the opportunity to showcase these special cats in an effort to save more lives.
Do you have room in your life for a Shadow Cat?
March is Pet Poison Awareness Month
By Melanie Rushforth, Vice President of Veterinary Services
The month of March is designated as Pet Poison Awareness Month. It was established to help raise awareness and prevent illness and injuries for pets. Realistically, we need to focus on poison prevention all year long as veterinary professionals treat cats and dogs year-round for this type of emergency. The veterinary industry is still experiencing staffing shortages nationwide, and taking some simple precautions could save you, and your pet, the stress of hours-long waits at crowded emergency clinics.
Pets may become very ill after ingesting many common household foods, products, and plants; a thorough inspection of your home, to include outdoor patios and gardens, can help reduce the risk. Instinctively, pets are curious creatures (you’ve probably heard that age-old phrase about curiosity and cats) and if a partially empty container with cleaner, alcohol, or medication is left out, your pet may view it as a toy to be inspected, knocked around, played with and likely ingested. It’s not hard to imagine that when a spilled toxic fluid gets on a cat’s paw, she will clean herself with her tongue, ingesting something harmful. Unfortunately, with our pet’s smaller bodies and weight, just a small amount could be fatal.
Some poisons will result in an immediate reaction for your pet while others may take several days to manifest symptoms. While there is not one set of exact symptoms to indicate a pet has been poisoned, there are some general symptoms to look for, including:
– Drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea
– Lethargy, weakness
– Pale or yellowish gums
– Excessive thirst or urination
– Nervousness, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, coma
If you witness your pet ingesting something the pet should not be, please gather up the materials involved. When seeking veterinary care, bring the product’s container with you as this can be helpful for veterinary professionals treating your pet.
Medications, cleaning products, oil or gasoline spills are easy to assume as toxic materials to keep away from pets and children. However, things like chocolate, raisins, glowsticks, and paint are things that don’t seem as obvious, but can be deadly if ingested. The ASPCA maintains a comprehensive list of foods, household products and plants known to cause problems to pets. That list can be found here.
Undoubtedly, pet parents want our pets around for as long as possible. Work poison prevention into your spring-cleaning ritual to make sure your four-legged friends aren’t at risk of any kind of accidental ingestion. They will repay the favor with kisses and wags and all the slow blinks we can handle.
From the SPCA’s Wildlife Department: The best place for a baby squirrel is with their mom. Did you know that squirrels carry their babies back up to the nest if they fall out? Did you know that squirrels always have a back-up nest? Please don’t feed them!
If you need help re-nesting a squirrel, you can call our Wildlife Department at 716-875-7360 ext. 247. If the babies are orphaned, you can call us, and we can help raise them to be released back to the wild.
From the SPCA’s Wildlife Department
PLANT NATIVE SPECIES
Many people ask us what they can do for wildlife and the best thing you can do is plant native species.
Over the last 100 years or so, the continental United States has lost millions of acres of habitat due to our obsession with the perfect lawn. This monoculture of green carpet doesn’t support a functioning ecosystem. What does this mean? There are less and less healthy areas to support wildlife and a system that can support our very own human livelihood. Our future depends on supporting wildlife and a healthy ecosystem.
What can you do?
PLANT NATIVE SPECIES.
Native plant species have co-evolved along with certain native insects. The native insects support the native birds. This important relationship is the very thing that supports the healthy ecosystems that we need to continue to live in harmony with nature.
If you’re interested in learning more about this very humane approach to conservation in your own yard, please check out the book, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, by Douglas W. Tallamy.
Also, if you need help with choosing native species for your home or business property check out wnynativeplants.org!! They can help you with appropriate wildlife-friendly plants for your outdoor spaces.
And if you need help with sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, please don’t hesitate to call our hotline, available 7 days per week, 365 days per year, at 716-875-7360 ext. 247.
To support our efforts to help local wildlife, please donate here.
The SPCA Serving Erie County has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and Subaru through their Subaru Loves Pets program to help with adoption preparation for cats and dogs. Beginning on October 1, the grant funding will help the SPCA subsidize essential lifesaving services such as spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, initial worming, flea control medication, and microchipping which are crucial resources to the SPCA’s operations.
“We estimate that 30 cats and 19 dogs will be made ready for adoption using this funding,” said Chief Development Officer Jennifer Gurz. “We are continually inspired by the dedication and generosity of the ASPCA® and Subaru, who value pets as much as we do.”
Hot Dogs and Cats and What to Watch for During the Summer!
By Melanie Rushforth, Vice President of Veterinary Services
With the higher temperatures in the summer months, our dog walks might be a little shorter. When it is hot outside, it can be a struggle to get proper exercise, and when humans are too hot to exercise we can often overlook how necessary it is for your dog. There are several ways that your dog can still get some great exercise without overheating in the warm summer months.
Have a backyard? Put a kiddie pool out for him to romp around in, or a sprinkler for him to chase the water through. Near a lake, beach, or dog park with a pond? Let him go for a swim. This will help cool him off while ensuring he is still getting the exercise he needs to stay healthy. Remember to bring clean, fresh water and do not let him drink from the source.
With exercise comes panting. Panting is a perfectly normal way for your dog to cool down. However, sometimes panting is a sign that something else is going on. Any concerning behavior or condition should be a topic of discussion with your veterinarian, and this article will outline some of the top reasons your pet might be panting. You’ll notice this article is centered around dogs, and that is no accident. If you live with a cat, and notice that the cat has begun panting, contact your veterinarian right away. A cat’s normal breathing rhythm should be smooth and unlabored. Panting is usually a sign that something isn’t right with your cat. Cats only breathe hard with their mouths open when they are very stressed, extremely hot, or a disease process is occurring.
Overheating, or heatstroke, will cause heavy panting in dogs, which can quickly lead to dehydration and death if untreated. Treating heatstroke requires emergency veterinary care. Dogs who are overheated pant very heavily and will likely appear uncomfortable in some way. They could be restless, laid out flat, and/or not responding to you because they are so focused on cooling themselves.
If you see your dog panting, take note of their body language. Are their eyes wide and weary? Are they looking away and yawning? These are some common body language cues that indicate your panting dog is stressed. Panting should correlate with the outside temperature or activity. Healthy dogs usually don’t need to pant in the absence of exercise or excitement.
If you are ever concerned that the panting you hear is excessive, contact your veterinarian immediately. It’s never safe to take a guess when it comes to your dog’s health, and your veterinarian can help you determine if something is wrong or not. Your veterinarian can also help you create a plan on addressing heavy breathing if your dog has a medical condition. You want to enjoy your time with your dog and keep him healthy, so pay attention to those breathy pants, and your pooch will thank you. If you are a new pet owner and looking to establish a home veterinarian, keep the Lipsey Clinic at the SPCA Serving Erie County in mind. Please visit the Lipsey Clinic’s website to see what services we offer for cats and dogs. Like you, we want your furry friends to live a long and healthy life. Regular veterinary care and appropriate diagnostic tests will set everyone up for success.