Auditions going on now!
SPOTs Annual Calendar Photo Contest Call for Entries!
Get famous. Become a calendar pet.
THE TOP 24 FINALISTS:•
Receive a limited edition 2010 Calendar of Stars Calendar •
Will be featured as a monthly Calendar Pet Star•
Photos will be used on post cards in SPOT’s 2010 marketing campaign
THE TOP 100 FINALISTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN SPOT’S 2010 CALENDAR OF PET STARS
ALL PHOTO ENTRIES WILL BE POSTED ON SPOT’S WEBSITE
Winning entries are selected based on originality, personality, overall appearance, and quality/composition of photo. ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMSSPOT, a 501c 3 not-for-profit organization, helping people with pets with low cost spay/neuter!
Mission: to offer low cost spay/neuter and education so everyone can afford to spay/neuter their pets and every pet can have a home.
See CONTEST RULES. Enter as many photos as you like.
Entry fee of $10 per photo.
Application deadline is April 30th. Help support the Humane Solution to Pet Overpopulation and make your pet a star!
What’s going on in your area? Please send via comment or email.
This is how your final lost pet poster should look. From Missing Pet Partnership.
We live in an ever-changing world which means people and pets travel everywhere. They move anywhere. Sometimes they get lost. Timing is everything!
Just because you live in Maple Grove, MN, in a housing development that spans the equivalent of 40 blocks, your lost pet may not stay in your immediate area. What if you send a notice to your friend in Miami, FL. You have no knowledge of his vast list of friends, but he has 3 friends in Minneapolis. He forwards the information to his internet world and email contacts, and they send it to their contacts. Someone lives within a 10 mile radius of your house, receives the info originally sent by the Miami guy, and forwards it on to his friends and neighbors. One of those people knows where your lost pet is!
The first thing to do after picking up your lost pet: Write to the guy in Miami and let him know. Something like “We Did It!” in the subject line of your email will make him feel great, and he can pass it on to all those friends you haven’t met yet. It’s a movement! Life is good.
Missing Pet Partnership offers thorough, easy to follow information for making posters. fliers, and PDF pages for internet use.
The good people of Brevard County Florida are a perfect example of what happens when people get together to help other animal lovers. I encourage you to find similar sites in your area.
Feel free to add me to your list of “get the word out” contacts (askfisher at gmail.com). I would love to get a “We Did It” email back!
Your friend,
Fisher
Hi Fisher,
I’m so glad I found you. Mr Hey U and I live in the same house, but we are definitely NOT friends. He doesn’t like to play and complains to the human every time I go anywhere near him. I was here first, but he thinks he should sleep right next to her. I don’t think this is fair as he was just a street kid that the human felt sorry for..He tries to get real snooty but he can’t pull it off. I am wondering if he is just jealous because I have a name of royalty and he is just Mr. Hey U. Is this possible?
Your friend
Gussy
Dear Lord Gussy,
You indeed have a royal name! It appears you already held court and sent down a ruling on which one of you is the most worthy of the best spot on the bed. Mr. Hey U has become your subordinate, although he may not see it that way at all. The inherent personality of all cats includes a touch of aristocracy – even in one you refer to as “just a street kid.”
Your royal name suits you well. One can only wonder which came first – the name or the attitude. Little research is done on the tendency of a pet to take on certain characteristics implied by their public name. For instance, Brutus may be a large burly cat with an attitude, but no one will ever know for sure if he would have turned out small, easily intimidated, and somewhat whiny had someone named him Chump.
In truth, a cat’s public name is most likely a reflection on the human who presented it. Names of pets are often taken from human memories of a favorite movie, a cartoon character, or sometimes even a favorite cocktail. Humans are usually very thoughtful in their choices. For example, a pure white cat is not likely to have the name Merlot…or Hangover. Some will need to observe a kitten or cat for a few days before they decide on a name. There are others who can look in a cat’s eyes at first meeting and instinctively know what to call them.
A few things for the humans to consider – maybe even before their cat is found:
1.Remember that a cat can live for 20 years. Choose a name that will grow with him.
2.Choose a name the cat can easily recognize. 2-syllable names are best.
3.Pick a name that fits the full grown cat as well as the kitten.
4.Pick a name for your cat that preserves his dignity as well as yours.
5.There are many sites out on the Internet to help with cat names. I recommend Easy Cat Guide, the ultimate cat name guide.
The best answer for you, Lord Gussy, comes from the wisest cat lover of all, “But above and beyond there’s still one name left over…The name you will never guess. The name that no human research can discover,But the cat himself knows and will never confess.” – T.S. Eliot
Your friend,
Fisher
I'm innocent, I'm innocent!
Dear Fisher,
Help me, Fisher! My human brought a darn kitten home 4 months ago. Her name is Spice. Mom kept us separated and tried to introduce us slowly but I just don’t like her. She is pesky and always wants to play. She keeps jumping over me and playing with my tail. Last week she sat on my quilt! Can you believe it ? I thought she would mellow out but It has been 4 whole months. She usually plays on the patio so I can chill out in the house but it has been cold here in Florida so Mom has brought her indoors. When Spice is inside I like to go hide in the garage. I’m too short to reach the door knob so how do I get rid of her for good? Will she ever mellow out?
Sugar
Dear Sugar,
So the new upstart has gotten you frustrated. This is where the power of patience can play a major role in the quality of life for both you and your Mom. It is not uncommon for both humans and older cats to completely forget how annoying the escapades of little kittens can become. Of course they are adorable with their never ending antics, but does it have to be all the time?
It may help you to think about why you are in this predicament. Your loving human – the same loving human that invited you into the house – may well have wanted you to have a playmate and full time companion. Humans who are on-the-go these days feel bad when they have to leave their pets for lengthy periods of time. Or perhaps, she wanted a new kitten and was very sure you would be welcoming and happy about it. Or, it is possible that your human just thinks if one cat (you) is nice to have around, having 2 cats would be even better.
The thing I am trying to get across here is that inviting the darn kitten (Spice) to live with you is not meant as a punishment. Four months should be enough time for you to adjust, but since that has not happened, I would like to recommend an old and established procedure called “Go Back to Square One.”
- Re-establish separate space for you and Spice. Choose times during the day when one or the other is separated from the rest of the house.
- Toys, food and water bowls, and bedding should be separate. And, if you have undone it, re-do the separate litter box technique.
- Equal time and attention given to each by your human, preferably within view of each other should teach that you are both special.
- Whenever either one of you exhibits bad behavior toward the other, your human should gently place you in your space behind the closed door.
- Learn more about kitten wants and needs at West Hills Animal Hospital.
I have one last piece of advice for you, Sugar. If it looks like the Go Back to Square One option is chosen, start campaigning for the master bedroom. Good luck to you.
Your friend,
Fisher
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Mark your calendar: January 10, 2009
2nd Annual Live Like a Cat Day
Name: Live Like A Cat Day
Host: Everyone Everywhere!
Type: Party
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Time: 12:00am – 11:55pm
Location: Wherever you want
City/Town: Anywhere, The Universe
Description: It is your day all day long. You do not even need to BE a cat to celebrate.
Invite all your friends! Who wouldn’t want to live like a cat?
A few suggestions from the Pros:
- Sleep all day.
- Stock up on supplies – Whatever you think you might need.
- Have food delivered to you. (That reminds me of the great affirmation, “I want it all, and I want it delivered!)
- Watch pay per view movies – splurge.
- Do nothing. Don’t try too hard. This is a no-brainer holiday and it is for every critter on the face of the earth, and those tuned in from the otherworlds.
…and my favorite:
Visit them at Live Like a Cat Day for a wealth of information. They will even tell you HOW to live like a cat.
My favorite is from their FAQs Page:
Q: What are some of the benefits of Live Like a Cat Day?
A: Some of the benefits include increased self esteem, lower stress levels, reduced blood pressure, increased happiness, self awareness, creativity and more!
Celebrate Live Like a Cat Day and give yourself a license to do whatever you please!
Tell all your friends and if you have more suggestions, be sure to post them on their wall.
Gotta go get ready now.
