Very cute parrot story

Parrot can solve puzzles faster than humans!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10500421

I just received this letter forward to me from the Boston area. Is anyone looking for a new kitten? If so, email us, and I'll send you the email address of this person.


"Couple months ago, a little black cat began visiting us looking for love, food and attention. These visits continued for over two months. Most were late at night when the temperatures were in the mid teens or even below. He looked cold, seeking for a warm place, but unfortunately I couldn’t let him in because Tico (my other cat) was going crazy. I gave him some food and hoped he had good owners.

Two weeks ago, the kitty visited us again on a Sunday late afternoon, but this time something was wrong. He looked in pain and seeking for help. I discovered a big infected cut in one of his front legs. I took him to Angel Memorial Hospital where I had to give him up to the Shelter.

The cat is still there, in a cage and miserable. He is in quarantine because we do not know the source of the cut and we don’t know when he has his last rabies shot. My guess is that the cat is fine, but per Massachusetts law he must be in quarantine to make sure he is not contaminated with rabies. I have been in contact with the Shelter, and they keep telling me how sad he is.

I am desperately seeking someone who would at least foster him until he is eligible for adoption. If I don’t find a foster home, I am afraid he would be destroyed (I am not kidding about this). If you cannot take him, please help me to find a good foster home.

A little more information about the cat I believe he is about over a year old and was either abandoned or his owners do not take a good care of him. You just don’t leave a cat out every night when the temperatures are below 15 degrees. Every time the cat would show up he looked cold and lonely. He is very friendly and cute, and I can guarantee he would be a good companion. Please be his foster parent. HE NEEDS YOU!!! The best place is a home with no other pets so he can get better without distressing.

Please help me to give this cat a chance."

Today's quote of the day

"Women might scale back their own fashion purchases, but that doesn't mean they're going to let their dogs down."

- Time Magazine, in an article about retail stores in the current recession

WWF Earth Hour Event

I just found out about this event where millions of people around the world are joining together to make a statement about climate change by turning their lights off for an hour. It's called Earth Hour and I just signed-up to participate-I thought it might be something you'd want to sign up for too. Earth Hour is on March 29 from 8 - 9 p.m. local time, and it looks like it's going to be really big. So far 25 cities around the world are taking part, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco in the U.S.

Sign up for Earth Hour by visiting www.earthhour.org/sign-up and join the movement!

And remember - Lights Out on March 29!

Another "Funny Animals" clip from YouTube

Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9GOvR3Ynw

Thursday the 13th

I had Fiona, one of the Scottish folds, back at the vet yesterday. This poor little thing. She has a foot infection between two toes on a back paw that has returned, and I have her back on antibiotics now. She's also been struggling with an ongoing eye issue. First the doctors thought it was an infection, then an allergy, then a herpes virus infection (which she had as a kitten, and therefore will always have in her system).

She's on eye drops four times a day now (YOU try to catch a shy little cat four times a day and put drops in her eyes!) and antibiotics twice a day, and, as perhaps the largest indignity, she has had to tolerate my soaking her back paw in an antibiotic solution for five minutes a day, three days in a row.

Is is any wonder that she runs whenever she sees me now?

Nora the cat plays the piano

A very fun YouTube video going around...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0zgQAp7EYw

Duncan and the tie

Duncan decided to claim a tie that was left on the kitchen table yesterday. He obviously is trying to both sit on the tie and find a way to get warm in the sun patch. Every day the sun patch moves across the kitchen, and a cat follows it from place to place.

Eye drops

I've been treating one of our cats with eye drops for the past few weeks for herpes infection. She had been blinking her eyes for weeks, never really opening them completely. At first the vet treated her for conjunctivitis, then suggested allergies. But a second opinion led to the herpes diagnosis, since she had the virus as a kitten. The drops are really helping...but catching her to give them to her FOUR TIMES A DAY is no fun!

Our new content is now up

Hello again,

If you're in New England, I hope you're enjoying this brief warm-up in the weather. What a relief after so many cold days and nights. But I have a feeling winter isn't over yet...

What is over, or at least now online, is our new March content! Visit www.ourplacetopaws.com and click through our pages to see a new product review, columnist, feature story, kid's corner project, Reader Photo Winner and Cats vs. Dogs essay winner. There's plenty to check out on the site, and we hope you'll continue to read our content, write in your own and encourage your friends and family to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter.

Our friend Lilla, mentioned below, is doing very well! The last word is that Lilla is getting better everyday and returning to her old self.

Please write, comment, send in photos and essays...join us on Paws!