First, let me remind you that today is the last day you can download Book 23, A Christmas to Purr About FREE to your Kindle or other reading device. Order your copy at Amazon.com. Did you know that you can buy an Amazon gift card for those on your gift list? If you know someone who loves cats and enjoys light mysteries, give them a gift card and the link to the Klepto Cat Mystery series.
Saving Your Cat From a Fire Emergency
I’ve covered this topic in this blog before. But in light of what’s been going on in California for over a week now, I want to bring it up again. Did you know that oxygen masks for people don’t fit animals? So when a dog or a cat is overcome by smoke in the event of a fire, for example, human oxygen masks often fail in an attempt to resuscitate the animal. That’s why many humane organizations and other animal activists throughout the world have worked to raise funds for special masks for large and small pets. I just saw a news clip on TV last night showing firemen resuscitating a small dog that had been overcome by smoke. The specially designed oxygen mask fit the dog’s face and he was saved.
Here’s a story out of Taylor, Pennsylvania. This fire department had received a donation of oxygen masks for animals the day before a particularly devastating house fire in that city occurred. Because of this, they were able to save all five cats they rescued.
To learn more about the need for oxygen masks for pets and how to participate in supplying them to your local fire department, go to: http://www.petoxygenmasks.org/
As you will see, they provide three different sizes and shapes of oxygen masks to include those for even the smallest of pets, such as birds, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more.
Here’s another site you can use to make sure your local firefighters have the equipment it takes to keep your pets safe in case of a fire: https://www.invisiblefence.com/why-invisible-fence/project-breathe
Here’s an interesting site listing many fire departments that have received donations of oxygen masks. http://petoxygenmask.blogspot.com/2010/12/departments-that-received-pet-oxygen.html
As some of you know, last week was chaotic for most of us who live in Ventura County and horrendous for many as a wildfire raged through our area burning hundreds of homes and displacing many families. Thousands of people were evacuated and many of us did so with pets. (The fire continues to burn now in Santa Barbara County and there are still flareups occurring in the Ojai area.)
or south in winter, for example—have dogs and cats who probably take the car or plane ride in their stride. Some cats are naturally more relaxed in any situation. I’ve written about cats who go sailing, cats who live on boats, cats who travel abroad with their families, cats who have traveled on their own back to a home their family left or to the new home, etc. But Lily and Sophie came directly from the streets to our home and the only time they leave here is for a veterinary visit. So this evacuation experience was rather difficult for them. I can tell you that they’re practically giddy now that they’re home. It’s as if they’re constantly saying to us, “Thank you! Thank you!!!”
The Kindle version of A Christmas to Purr About is FREE until December 12. If you haven’t read this heart-tugging book, this would be a good time to do so. Here’s the description:
Sorry there was no post yesterday. We were dealing with fire here in the Ojai Valley. So far, it’s close, but we’re within the small section of the west Ventura County that (so far) has not been affected other than by smoke and our anxiety. Many friends and family affected in various ways. Some have lost everything. Everyone safe.
to help you with your multi-species household. Too often I see animals displaced when a new type is brought in. Cats turned out for the first time to accommodate a dog or vice versa, dogs crated or penned or tied up when a cat or lamb or pony becomes part of the family and so forth. It’s often difficult to maintain peace even among animals of the same species—like when you adopt a kitten and expect an aging cat to be happy about it.
This is a guest post from Kaylin Stinski at Pet Wellness Advisor (
and once that seems easy, go on a walk around the back yard, and then eventually down the street. Once your cat seems comfortable consider taking them to a local park and then work your way up to a trail. Don’t forget to bring all the essentials you would need for yourself as well as your feline friend.
It’s December first. If you have an advent calendar, you get to open a window or choose a gift from a pocket. We used to give our mother an advent basket of wrapped lotions, soaps, kitchen trinkets, costume jewelry, holiday ornaments, treats and toys for her cat, and so forth to open each day of December. And, of course, my children and grandchildren had advent calendars filled with gifts so they could count down the days until the biggest gift-giving day of the year.
Have you read any good Christmas stories, lately? What is it about sappy stories and movies that draw us in around this time of year? It’s a tradition in this family.
Most of you are familiar with my Klepto Cat Mystery series. You’ve probably noticed that I use cat-related titles for all my books. “Cat-Eye Witness,” “Sleight of Paw,” “Mansion of Meows,” “By Cat or By Crook,” Merriment, Mayhem, and Meows,” “Cats in Cahoots,” and so forth.
I found this article quite interesting and thought you might, too. It deals with the concept that anyone who spends much time around a cat, typically will attempt to understand her. 
