Happy Halloween with Cats

I'm so happy to be able to share another Halloween with my two 13-year old cats, Topcat (TC) and Sweetie. I have gotten them a small bag of Feline "Greenies" for their Halloween treats, this year, as the Greenies are good for their dental health, and both of them love them. One caution, however, be sure to feed them in accordance with the feeding instructions on the bag, and don't give them too many at any one time. This can cause stomach upset, or even can cause more serious digestion problems, which would require a visit to the vet.

Another treat that they really enjoy are "Temptations". These treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. TC likes to eat these out of my hand, while Sweetie wants them put on the table so she can eat them at her leisure. Their favorite flavors are turkey and "free-range" chicken. I give them each a few treats at a time a couple of times a day, between their regular meals.

No costumes for my babies, as neither one likes to have anything around them, unless of course they are under the blankets on the bed, or on their thermal cat mat.

Topcat (TC) will hide if any trick-or-treaters come to the door and ring the doorbell, while Sweetie will sit at the top of the stairs and look to see if the visitors are for her. However, neither one of the cats enjoys loud noises or a lot of activity in the house, so sometimes, even Sweetie will retire to under the dining room table to get away from the hub-bub. TC will already be hiding under the bed upstairs.

While I know that the babies shouldn't be overfed, in some part, due to their age, I generally give them three small meals a day, rather than larger meals, to help with their digestion. One small can of Fancy Feast (3 oz.) can be divided into two separate bowls for the babies, and they feel like they are getting a nice meal every eight hours or so. This only becomes complicated when both of the babies don't like the same flavor, but as the years go by, I'm finding that the cats like variety, just like people. Some days, TC likes Sweetie's food rather than his own, and vice versus for Sweetie. She would rather eat his food than her own.

I've found that when I give the babies a small snack before bedtime, that they are more likely to settle down for the night and ready to sleep, with less nocturnal wandering around the house. Of course, part of that might be their age, as they both love to sleep many hours of the day as it is.

I didn't get special Halloween toys for them this year, but did get some extra furry mice in orange and black (for my Halloween theme, rather than their preference), and will give them a sprinkle of catnip for some fun. In addition, an extra play session with the FroliCat Bolt toy is always appreciated by the babies, as they both get to chase the red laser light, and the toy stays on for 15 minutes automatically. This is one of their favorite toys, and I'm so glad that I found it. The FroliCat Bolt also received the 2009 Editors' Choice Award by Cat Fancy magazine, and would make a great present for a special cat this holiday season. Our friend, Jack, took a FroliCat Bolt toy home to the Northeast, to give to his feline buddy, Blob. We are waiting to hear how Blob likes the new toy.

Please keep your babies indoors during Halloween, as this time of year can be a hazard to cats, especially black cats.

Enjoy your Halloween, and we hope that both you and your special cats stay safe and have fun.

It's almost time to watch Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, on National Geographic Channel, and then a new show called "Rescue Ink" following that. We enjoy both of these shows, you might like them also.