Sophie's World

I’m not one for made-for-TV items. My perception is that they are shoddy and often promise more than they deliver. You have to be skeptical when you hear that “But, wait, there’s more” tagline. For real?

I have to admit that now I’ve been proven wrong. We talked about getting a window perch for Sophie for some time. The layout of our rooms made it a bit difficult with space. That’s why when I saw the commercial for the Sunny Seat I took notice.

My fear was that it wouldn’t hold. Every now and then, she gets a hair and races around the house. I was sure the seat and her would come crashing down one time on her bolt through the house. Surprisingly, it held up. She loves her place in the sun, soaking up the morning light. It’s probably the best thing that I’ve ever bought for her.

Of course, there is a second one as promised. We have another location in mind, but we will have to set up this one with hooks and screws rather than relying on the suction cups because of its location. I’m sure that she’ll love it. I’m still a skeptic, but at least for this time I know that I did something good for my kitty.

Today is a day which deserves celebration by all pet owners. As if we need a day to celebrate it, but welcome anyway to Love Your Pet Day!

Originally known as Love Your Dog Day, we cat owners have made our voices clear for a celebration of all pets. Sophie is my treasure. She is sweet, vocal, and fun to be around. She’s very intelligent, having learned to wait for an alarm to be fed. She has personality. She is a great hunter when the need arises.

She entertains me and sometimes frustrates me. She has a vocabulary of dozens of sounds, each with its own meaning. She is a great cuddler even if she is a bed hog. She has her own set schedule, which heaven forbid, you deviate from. We’re alike in that respect.

Here’s to Sophie, my sweetheart of a cat! I appreciate you this and every day.

Sophie has been on her own weight loss plan for a few months now. Sophie, like too many pets, is overweight. In fact, 58 percent of American cats are either overweight or obese. At least she wasn’t alone.

I am happy to report that after a few months of a reduced diet, an added emphasis on activity, and perseverance that Sophie has lost 1 1/2 pounds.

She still has a bit to go yet, but the weight loss is evident. I can see it in her face. Sophie’s New Year’s resolution is to lose 1 1/2 more pounds to get her to the weight that her vet recommended. I’m sure as spring approaches and the birds return, she will have plenty to keep herself occupied with. At least it’s a start.

Photo by benipop

Sophie had the opportunity to earn her keep the other day. I was working home alone, getting ready to make lunch. Sophie had been acting strangely, sitting in the kitchen.

She never misses an opportunity for her precious afternoon nap. She typically sleeps from 9 a.m. to her 4 p.m. feeding time. Something definitely was up.

That’s when I saw it—a vole running away with a hunting cat on its tail. Sophie didn’t get it, but that certainly didn’t stop her from keeping on the job.

If you have a cat, I’m sure you understand the predicament. Poison is out of the question. A poisoned rodent is not as fast, the perfect prey for a cat. Unfortunately, the poison will likely do the same thing to her as it does the rodent—kill her.

Glue boards are the epitome of cruel, IMHO. So, we were left trying repellents. First we tried a sachet of peppermint and spearmint oils. The only good thing I can say about it is that it smelled nice. Otherwise, it absolutely did not work. In fact, the home invaders ate it!

Next, we tried sealing up what we found to be the hole. I first laced the whole with ground cayenne pepper with some hot sauce for good measure. Then, my husband sealed the hole with foam. This did the trick. No more voles!

I feel a bit bad. Sophie was enjoying the hunt. It was fun to see her in hunter mode, in touch with her inner cat. What worried me more than seeing her kill the rodent was the thought that she may make it a present for me. That, I could do without.

Photo by Juha Soininen

Many people buy or adopt a dog as a pet. Many of those individuals are not meant to be pet owners. Welcome to National AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day!

You have only to read stories like the mail carrier in Minneapolis being attacked by pit bulls to realize that some people should not own dogs. Ownership carries a serious responsibility. In no way was it the fault of the dogs, pit bull or not. This was the irresponsibility of  the dog owner alone.

Some people seem to forget that dog ownership is not unlike parenthood. You are responsible for a dog that cannot make wise choices on its own. It is up to you as the owner to do so.

So many of the euthanasias, the dog-people conflicts, and the pet cruelty cases could be avoided if the wrong people only sat down and considered their choice before committing a dog to their whims.

My Sophie was a rescue. I don’t know her exact history, but considering she was unwanted, I can only assume an irresponsible cat owner. Today is a day for all of us to remember that pets are not disposable. They are living creatures worthy of respect and proper care.

Photo by buqdog