 
|
|||||||||||
Receive notification of new issues of Fanc-e-Mews.
ORDER your copy of the CFA YEARBOOK now!
|
"Cats really are America's number one companion," said Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager of industry relationsfor Pfizer Animal Health and chair of the CATalyst Council. "Our goal is to recognize and celebrate why cats are such popular companions. We applaud the efforts of these major metropolitan areas for providing a wealth of resources for cats and their owners along with their earned accolade of being one of America's Top 10 Cat-Friendly Cities." The CATalyst Council also noted for honorable mention, Ithaca, N.Y., home of the Cornell Feline Health Center, which educates the public about felines and their health. Education is key in understanding cats. By and large, each community has the tools and resources to properly care for cats. Too often, though, cats can hide symptoms so owners do not realize any health problems exist. This makes it even more important for cat owners to visit a veterinarian on a regular basis because many of these illnesses are preventable. "Cats outnumber dogs by nearly 10 million among the pet-owning public. This list clearly shows cats are loved by many," said Steve Dale spokesperson and a CATalyst Council board member. "However, in my work as a journalist, I've spoken with animal control officials, welfare organizations and veterinarians across the country and often hear that cats are more likely to be neglected than dogs, more likely to wind up in shelters and less likely to be seen by veterinarians. Obviously there is room for the nation to improve the overall status and care of cats, but these cities are overcoming the current standard." Dogs have long been called man's best friend. Recent data suggests that cats truly are America's number one companion. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2007 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, the number of cats owned (81.7 million) outnumbers that of canines (72 million) by nearly 10 million among the pet-owning public. In addition to the rise in cat population, the AVMA reported cat visits to the veterinarian fell some 11 percent between 2001 and 2006. A 2006 survey by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) also showed that overcrowded animal shelters are seeing more cats given up than their canine cousins. "There is a higher number of cats than dogs surrendered to shelters nationwide, increasingly so in these economic times of financial strain and home foreclosures," said Jan McHugh-Smith, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) secretary, president of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and CATalyst Council board member. "We are eager to showcase these cities that demonstrate outstanding compassion and resources for cats and their owners in order to elevate the status of the cat." The CATalyst Council is also continuing its outreach to educate the public and the veterinary industry through the It's All About the Cat campaign. Initiated by the CATalyst Council, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are partnering to develop feline life-stage wellness guidelines for veterinary professionals. The Winn Feline Foundation will coordinate the writing of a consumer version of the guidelines with the assistance of writers on its media committee. Once adopted, the CATalyst Council will work with other animal organizations to share this information with consumers. "We are reaching out to all parties - the pet healthcare community, shelter and welfare organizations, government and the public - to ensure that cats receive the proper care and attention they need and deserve," said Dr. Jane E. Brunt, executive director of the CATalyst Council. "It truly is all about the cat." About the CATalyst Council
The CATalyst Council is a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations and corporations to champion the cat in light of troubling statistics released by the American Veterinary Medical Association that show an increase in the cat population coupled with a decline in veterinary visits for cats. For more information, visit www.catalystcouncil.org
The CFA FoundationThe CFA Foundation was established on June 22, 1990 by the CFA Board of Directors as a forum to educate the general public about the existence and history of the cat. THE COLLECTION
Late 1800's Scrapbook
The scrapbook was purchased and donated to the CFA Foundation by Peace Bridge Aby Fanciers. NEEDSThe Foundation, like it's counterpart The Dog Museum of America, has as it's mandate "the collection, preservation and exhibition of works of art and literature related to the cat." Each passing year sees more material destroyed because breeders and their heirs do not consider it as having value or interest. We welcome the opportunity to make that determination. What are we looking for? Many of us have collected cat memorabilia over the years. Some valuable, very valuable only to us. Works of art, paintings, sculptures and other cat collectibles (ceramic cats, cats as toys, cats at Christmas and other festivals, wooden, metal, glass cats, and cats in advertising are a few examples) are all needed to build a comprehensive collection of cat artifacts. In each future issue of Fanc-e-Mews, we will showcase a particular piece from the foundation's collection. If you are interested in contributing to the history of the cat fancy maintained by the CFA Foundation, please email CFA at info@FelineHistoricalFoundation.org
Visit our website at FelineHistoricalFoundation.org!
Jigsaw PuzzlesSelect a puzzle, which will zoom to be solved. (You may need to turn off your popup blocker in order to see the puzzles.)
Turkish Van
Abyssinian
Oriental
The Poet's Corner
Betsy Stowe is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer. Betsy is a member of the Cat Writers' Association and the Dog Writers Association of America. She is the author of CALICO TALES AND OTHERS, a collection of her poems and photos of her beloved adopted stray cats, who have lived with her on farm and in town.
Southwest Airlines Welcomes Fluffy and Fido OnboardSouthwest Airlines Introduces New Pet Policy
"We know from Customer and Employee feedback that our new 'pet' Customers will be a welcomed addition to any flight," said Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly. "Our enhanced boarding process has opened the window, allowing us to accommodate small pets comfortably on a Southwest flight - without impacting our efficiency." The new pet policy is one of several programs and processes that Southwest Airlines is implementing in an effort to enhance the service the Carrier provides, and at the same time, create opportunities for incremental revenue growth. Read more on these programs and processes in a blog post by Kelly at www.blogsouthwest.com. "These new programs and processes are just the starting point with additional initiatives planned for later this year," Kelly said. "It is always our goal to be upfront with our Customers and to set the right Customer expectations. Our changes today associate a charge for items that are truly an extra service." Q: How many pet carriers is each Customer allowed? Customers will be permitted to travel with no more than one (1) pet carrier per person. Each pet carrier can have no more than two (2) of the same species of small cats or dogs per pet carrier. Q: What types of pet carriers can Customers bring? Customers may bring a soft or hard-sided pet carrier that is leak proof and well ventilated. The pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of the Customer and be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The dog or cat must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier with ease. Q: How big can my pet carrier be? Your pet carrier must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. The under-seat dimensions are as follows: Q: Will pet carriers count as a carryon bag or personal item? The pet carrier will count as the Customer’s carryon bag. Q: Are reservations for the pet required? Yes. To make reservations for a pet, the Customer will need to call Southwest Airlines at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and the Customer Representative will gladly create a booking for the pet. Q: Do pets require any type of vaccinations or documentation? Southwest does not require a health certificate or any other documentation from the Customer’s veterinarian for pets to travel. For additional information on Southwest's Pet; Unaccompanied Minor; and Bag Policies, visit the www.southwest.com/pets. You can also check out the Company's blog at www.blogouthwest.com.
Just for Laughs
 ABOUT THE CARTOONIST: Stephanie Piro is an award winning cartoonist, designer and illustrator. She is one of King Features' "Six Chix" team of women cartoonists, and author of "My Cat Loves Me Naked". Her cartoons appear in newspapers, magazines, books and on greeting cards. Her popular cat designs are available on t-shirts and other gift items through her Strip T's Design Company website . E-mail Stephanie for info about using her cartoons or illustrations. See Stephanie's ad in the Fanc-e-Classifieds!
 ABOUT THE CARTOONIST: Steve Langille, a resident of California, is the creator of a hilarious, single panel cartoon called "STRANGE BREED". Steve's cartoons are published regularly in the Sierra Star and Santa Cruz Mountain Times newspapers and he is doing the cartoons for a new book by Thomas Peacock. To see more of Steve's cartoons, visit his web site at www.strangebreedcartoons.com
ABOUT THE CARTOONIST: Award-winning cartoonist Jerry King is one of the most published, prolific and versatile cartoonists in the world today. His work has appeared in thousands of greeting cards, magazines, Web sites, books, newspapers, newsletters and children's books. His client list includes Disney, American Greetings, The United States Golf Assoc., and many others. Visit Jerry's web site at www.jerryking.com.
Microchipping: The Chip That May Save Your Pet's LifeAs a pet owner the fear that my dog or cat will one day slip out the door unnoticed is always at the back or my mind. Unfortunately, as a veterinary student I am also well aware that the majority of those runaway animals are never returned to their original owners. Proper identification is the best way to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if your pet is ever lost or stolen. Dr. Gary Brummet, a private practice veterinarian and adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, explains that identification for pets can come in many forms such as tags, tattoos, embroidered collars, and microchips. However, few of those identification forms are as permanent and tamper-proof as the microchip. "A microchip is an electronic device about the size of a grain of rice that is encoded with a number unique to your pet," explains Dr. Brummet. "The microchip is implanted under the skin and muscle of your pets cervical (shoulder) region and, if implanted correctly, should stay in that area for the rest of your pet's life." According to Dr. Brummet, the needle used for microchipping is incredibly sharp, which means microchip implantation is actually relatively painless and should only cause your pet about as much discomfort as a vaccine injection. However, Dr. Brummet does offer a quick word of warning to all those needle-phobic owners: the needle and syringe used to implant the microchip are much larger than what you may be used to seeing. Some pet owners opt to step out of the room, or at least close their eyes, while the microchip is put in place. Once the microchip is in place, your pet's identity can be confirmed by animal shelters and veterinary offices around the country by simply running a microchip scanner along your pet's back. The microchip scanner can be equated to the device a cashier uses to scan the barcode on your grocery items. When the scanner recognizes the microchip, your pet's unique number will come up on the scanner screen. This number can then be given over the phone to the microchip company's hotline and is linked in the database to the contact information for the shelter or clinic that implanted the chip and to your personal contact information if you have paid to register. It is important to update your pet's microchip account if you have moved, changed phone numbers, or have any other changes to your contact information since the microchip in your pet is only as good as the information associated with it. There are a wide variety of microchip brands available on the market today and as a result issues of microchip compatibility may exist between different brands of microchips and microchip scanners. Although the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working to develop a method of universal microchip reading ability between the brands, some compatibility issues may still exist today. Your veterinarian and local animal shelter should be able to provide guidance about which microchip would be best for your pet. Despite the compatibility issues, the use of a microchip can be a valuable tool if your pet were to run away from home. There have even been cases where microchips have even been used to prove the identity of a purebred pet that was stolen out of a yard or home. Microchipping has become commonplace for owners of dogs, cats, exotic pets, horses, and even some valuable cattle and swine. In fact, the benefits of microchipping are such that the majority of animal shelters and humane societies around the country microchip every animal that is adopted out of their facilities. "Every clinic has their success stories of reuniting owners with lost pets. Each year at my clinic we see on average six to eight stray animals, the majority of these have no visible means of identification," says Dr. Brummet. "There is always a big sigh of relief from us all at the clinic when a number pops up on the scanner; that number means that at least this one pet will be brought home again." The Cat Fanciers' Association is now in partnership with AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR)! Author: Sarah Dowling
| ||||||||||
| Updated: Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 9:53:09 AM | |||||||||||
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AND CAT FANCIERS’ ASSOCIATION LAUNCH WEBSITE DEVOTED TO
WORLD’S LARGEST SHOWCASE OF DOG & CAT BREEDS
Pets will now have the "Freedom to Fly" on Southwest Airlines. Southwest will soon allow Customers to bring along small cats and dogs in the aircraft cabin for a special low "pet fare" of $75 each way. All pets must be in a carrier that fits under the airplane seat, and the carrier will count as the Customer's carryon bag. Customers can begin purchasing tickets for their small cats and dogs on June 1, 2009, for travel beginning June 17, 2009. For more information and a video on Southwest's new pet fare, visit