For Pet's Sake Column

With the warmer weather and longer days of summer just around the corner, we can look forward to spending more time outdoors with our friends and family. Before you pack a picnic lunch or slather on the sunscreen, however, you need to be aware of a particularly nasty bug lurking in the bushes. No, it’s not the flu bug or the june bug for that matter; it’s something much more serious. It’s called the Kitten Bug.

A new report issued by People Obsessed with Pussycats (POP), a feline health organization, states that this little known disease is responsible for sending sufferers into severe fits of “oohs” and “aahs” at the mere sight of a fluffy feline and often causes spontaneous fits of laughter and an overwhelming desire to curl up in the sun for long naps. Those afflicted with the most serious form of the Kitten Bug spend hours wistfully thumbing through cat magazines and secretly maxing out their credit cards at Petco.com.

POP officials warn that the Kitten Bug is highly contagious and while there is currently no cure, new treatment methods are showing promise in human clinical trials. One such therapy, National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, has proven especially helpful in mitigating the symptoms of this dreaded disease. The annual event, which takes place each June, (just in time for kitten season) encourages cat lovers to visit their local animal shelter and adopt a cat or kitten. And to assist victims of the Kitten Bug select just the right feline friend, Dr. Rolan Tripp of AnimalBehavior.Net has “cat”-egorized kittens into five personality types to help make the decision process a little easier. They are:

1) The activity junkie: Look at that kitten go! These crazy kittens are in constant motion and will likely become cats who are also busy-busy. Choose one of these kittens and expect an explorer who’s always on the go. If you like an entertaining companion, this is the kitten for you.

2) The me-now meower: Look at me! Pay attention to me! As cute as these kittens can be, remember that if you like a quiet house, you might consider another baby. Cats are nocturnal, and the noisy, demanding kitten can become a middle-of-the-night alarm-clock cat. Still, many people love a cat who communicates.

3) The big-league batter: Your finger? It’s a kitten toy! These kittens will reach between the gaps in their shelter enclosures to grab your fingers. These lively youngsters will crave play time with you and will use all the kitten toys you can offer. If you can’t provide daily, regular play sessions with these tiny tigers, you may find these felines ambushing your feet.

4) The purr machine: Love and lap time are what these babies crave. Touch them or even look at them and their motors start instantly. As adults, they will be happiest when near you and not happy when left alone. This type is an excellent choice for the person who’s home a lot and wants an easygoing lap cat.

5) The socialite: These friendly, take-it-all-in-stride youngsters are a good match for homes with children and other pets. The socialite eagerly approaches the front of the kennel to meet and greet you – tail is up, ears forward, looking for a finger to sniff. These kittens should mature into cats who aren’t easily flustered by a busy household.

And pretty please, don’t forget that full-grown felines make fantastic pets too! Often overlooked at shelters during the rush of kitten season, the mature cat is often calmer, their personalities are more apparent, and they are already litterbox trained.

In summary, POP’s research has shown that the Kitten Bug is not considered life threatening, but it can be life changing—for both humans and felines. So, ask your doctor for a purr-scription for a shelter cat or kitten and rest assured, good health and happiness is just a whisker away.

SWITCHING GEARS FOR A MOMENT (and being less tongue-in-cheek), I’d like mention a few of the fantastic products (and pups) I discovered at the Big Dog Festival on Saturday:

BOWSER BEER. Made from pure malt barley and infused with a mouth watering beefy flavor (sans the hops or alcohol), this “beer” is a fun, low calorie, thirst quenching beverage for your canine friend. Though non-alcoholic, the company warns against allowing dogs to drive or operate heavy machinery when drinking BowserBeer. Learn more at www.3busydogs.com.

PINT-SIZED PUP WITH A POWERFUL PURPOSE. Little Kirby is a 7-week-old Yorkshire Terrier who was—are you ready for this?—born WITHOUT EYES. But you needn’t feel sorry for this wee pup; he was recently rescued by Yorkshire Terrier Club of Los Angeles Rescue (YTCLA) and is living in the lap of luxury with his foster family. Plus, Little Kirby has already found his calling in life: 1) to raise money and awareness for the YTCLA, to educate children about the capabilities of pets and people with disabilities, and 3) to develop Pups for Kids, a program of the Quietly Working Foundation for the Children of Fallen Soldiers. On his blog, Kirby asks readers to “keep your eyes on me…I may be blind, but I am going to help you see what an amazing dog I can be.” Visit www.littlekirby.com for more information on this courageous (and cute!) canine.

RUB-A-DUB-DUB WITH RECYCLED RUBBER. OK, that’s not really the name; it’s the Brush Buddy, but that was clever, no? Developed by Santa Barbara resident Dave Fortston for his dog, Roman, the Brush Buddy quickly and thoroughly brushes, cleans, and dries your dog (no more wet, sandy cars after a romp at the beach!), all the while providing a great massage for your four-legged friend. The Brush Buddy is good, clean fun and it’s environmentally friendly too. Visit www.thebrushbuddy.com or call (888) 752-1777 for ordering information.

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When Karen’s not visiting cat shelters or attending canine festivals, she’s writing her next column. Send your story ideas to her at karenleestevens@cox.net.