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Pet Facts
FMCTAS operates on donations only!
Please help save an animal´s life! Click here to donate!
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| Top 5 household poisons |
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has listed some of the most common poison problems linked to pets, as fielded by the center's hotline:
1. Flea and tick preparations. Not all formulations are appropriate for all species of animals. Read directions carefully and check with your vet about what's best for your animal.
2. Chemical baits to eliminate insects. The toxic baits should be placed in areas that are inaccessible to your cats, dogs or other indoor pets.
3. Common cleaning products. Keep bleach, detergents and disinfectants away from pets at all times.
4. Lilies are highly toxic to cats. List of the top 5 poisonous plants in Houston:
- Sago palm
- Oleander
- Brugmansia (angel trumpets)
- Elephant ear
- Lantana
5. Human medicine. If your dog or cat seems to have an upset stomach, don't even think of giving her something out of your own medicine cabinet. |
| Benefits of Adopting a Shelter Cat |
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- Adopting a cat from a shelter rather than other avenues means you are helping and not contributing to the pet overpopulation problem.
- The cost of adopting a pet at an animal shelter is usually much less expensive than buying one from a breeder or pet store.
- Breeders or pet stores sell pets with the incentive to make money, whereas shelters are focused on the animal's best interests.
- Often cats adopted from shelters have already been spayed or neutered. Most of them have also been wormed and vaccinated.
- Shelter cats are often used to being around other animals.
Many people express that adopting a cat from a shelter is extremely spiritually rewarding - knowing that they are saving a life (some shelters euthanize animals for population control) and giving them a new home.
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| Pet Summer Safety Tips |
At last, the season of "fun in the sun" is finally here! But with summer fun comes summer hazards – especially for your pet.
To make sure your pet's summer season is as fun and safe as possible, here are some important Pet Summer Safety Tips.
- Never leave your pet in a car! Parking in the shade and leaving the windows open is not an option. In a hot car, your pet's temperature can rise rapidly. It only takes minutes to reach dangerous levels leading to heatstroke and even death.
- Always make sure your pet has cool, clean water available. Dogs, and even cats, drink more on hot days, and water warms up quickly.
- Do not force your dog into the water if he/she is frightened. Some dogs do not like to swim. If your dog likes to swim, do not leave him/her unattended. Bathe your dog afterwards to remove all sand, mud, and chlorine. Also, be sure all pool chemicals are stored safely out of reach.
- Do not allow your dog to hang out of the window of a moving car. Objects such as rocks or tree limbs could seriously injure your pet, or he/she might fall or jump out.
- Do not allow your animals to ride in the back of a pick-up truck. They could be thrown out, or they may jump out.
- Take your pets inside if there is the possibility of a thunderstorm. Loud thunder may frighten them, or lightening could strike them.
- Do not walk your dog near fireworks. Besides the obvious danger, the loud noise can be very scary.
- Have your dog checked for heartworm, and administer a heartworm preventative.
- Check your pet daily for fleas and ticks. Talk to a veterinarian about preventing these insects from infesting your pet.
- If your pet likes to relax in the shade of a yard or deck, watch out for yellow jackets, bees, toads, and snakes. Bite or sting symptoms are usually swelling of the face or affected areas. Once stung or bitten, the pet’s skin may start to look wrinkly or bumpy. This is a first indicator and If not treated by a veterinarian could result in death due to toxins taking over and shutting down the animal’s body or causing airway swelling and suffocation.
Know the signs of heat stress. In these warm summer months it is best to be aware of the signs of heat stress by exposure to extreme temperatures. Check the animal for signs of heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.
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If Your Pet is Overheating:
- Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet's head, neck, and chest or immerse him in cool (not cold) water.
- Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
- Take your pet directly to a veterinarian.
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| Cool Cat Facts |
- Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw.
- A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for their mothers and their human care-givers.
- The domestic cat is the only feline species that holds its tail vertically while walking.
- A group of kittens is known as a "kindle," while a group of adult cats is called a "clowder.
- Felines are the sleepiest of all mammals, dozing about 16 hours of each day. At that rate, a seven-year-old cat has only been awake for two years of its life!
- A cat's hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.
- Ancient Egyptians so revered felines that when a man lost a cat, he shaved his head to show the extent of his grief.
- Both humans and cats have identical regions in the brain responsible for emotion.
- Cats have three eyelids and have the largest eyes of any mammal.
- A domestic cat can sprint at about 31 miles per hour.
- The cat's tail is used to maintain balance.
- Cats see six times better in the dark and at night than humans. They have a layer of extra reflecting cells which absorb light.
- Purring is not always an indication that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
- The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like a human’s fingerprint.
- A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just seven years, which is why spay/neuter is vital.
- Cats have about 100 different vocalization sounds while dogs only have about 10.
- Spaying/neutering your cat will increase its life span by three to five years.
- A cat uses its whiskers as feelers to determine if a space is too small to squeeze through.
- A cat can be either right-pawed or left-pawed.
- A cat can jump as much as seven times its height.
- In Asia and England, a black cat is considered lucky.
- A cat's tongue is scratchy because it's lined with papillae - tiny backwards hooks that help to hold prey in place.
- A 15-year-old cat has probably spent 10 years of its life sleeping.
- All kittens are born with blue eyes.
- Cats cannot break a sweat because they have no sweat glands.
- Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be acquired in pairs whenever possible.
- You should talk to your cat often. Cats love to hear the sound of their own name and your voice.
- Chocolate is poisonous to cats (and dogs).
- The life span of an indoor cat is anywhere between 12-15 years, while an outdoor cat's life span is only three - four years.
- Cats spend about 30 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves.
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Success Story!
Itty-Bitty was taken to a foster home, only 2 weeks old with her 5 siblings and mother. FMCTAS assisted with the many medical bills for months until they were healthy. She and two of her brothers were adopted to the same home.
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Saving Animals!
FMCTAS has helped many dogs and cats from the shelter!
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Success Story!
Momma was abandoned at the shelter with multiple injuries and two puppies after being hit by a car. FMCTAS assisted with the operation, recovery, and placement in a foster home.
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