On behalf of World Animal Day which was on October 4th, I challenged myself to think of 10 ways in which we can be a friend to animals. We may think that only going vegan or adopting a pet from the shelter count as ways to help animals, and although these are two great ways to help them, they are not the only ways. After some careful thought, here are my 10 direct and indirect ways to help animals. 1. Drive slower-  Based on a study done by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, it’s estimated that between one to two million large animals are killed eac ..read more

Being Honored By Feedspot I’m grateful to have been included onFeedspot’s Top 100 Animal Websites and Blogs for Animal Lovers earlier last week. Feedspot, thank you for acknowledging this blog’s contribution to animals and to animal welfare across the world. Feedspot’s list of 100 animal websites and blogs includes blogs from major websites including The Dodo and The Humane Society of the United States, to charitable organizations such as Animal Aid Unlimited and YouTube channels that I watch including Vet Ranch and Happy Tails. To be included on such a list is truly an honor. Why P ..read more

The percentage of cats over six years of age has nearly doubled in just a decade, according to the Cornell University Feline Health Center. This seems reasonable because just as humans are living longer lives, our cat’s indoor environments combined with advances in veterinary medicine may be contributing to longer lives for our furry friends.  An older calico cat can comfortably reach her bed on the floor without having to jump or climb Through my work as an assistant at a sanctuary for older and special needs cats, I’ve seen firsthand how endearing and deserving of our utmost attention ..read more

Did you know that 33% of Americans own a cat? And that there are 86 million owned cats in the U.S. (more than the 78 million owned dogs, since 52% of cat owners own more than one cat). (source) Over the years, my family has owned many cats. Combined with my own two and my experience working at a cat sanctuary, I feel well qualified to present my list of 10 products that every cat owner should own and use regularly to have happy and healthy felines. My two cats on their scratching post 10. Catnip Spray I only recently discovered catnip spray and it’s changed my world. It’s much less me ..read more

Pet Loss Sucks An animal’s death can be the toughest thing for us. Many of us identify as their caregivers and just as losing a close family member, pet loss or the loss of a special animal can be devastating.  After losing my best friend when I was a teen, I experienced my first encounter with depression. Her name was Mew-Mew, she was a beautiful long-haired calico cat who passed away suddenly and in front of me from what I believe was a heart attack. Her loss left me shattered for weeks and forever changed. I had my first encounter with death and lost my best friend from when I was 5 year ..read more

What makes your cat so unique compared to your dog or pet bird? Cats are evolutionary works of art. Sleek predators who can also become our lovable companions. Anyone interested in cats would love “You and Your Cat” by David Taylor. He explains the basics of cats in easy-to-read language with lots of photos. It’s easy to digest for a reference book and is where I got the majority of my notes for this post.  A dilute tabby looking out the window Here are a few evolutionary characteristics cats share that makes them so perfectly designed as cats. A long and flexible spine with strong ..read more

How many of us have experienced pet loss before? And, I’m not referring to grieving over a pet who has passed away (this is terribly sad too, see my post on losing a pet here) but has had a pet who has run away or disappeared. It’s a terrible feeling to be helpless and unable to find your friend.  An orange tabby hiding in the bushes Despite the research and stories that animals have an innate homing ability or the ability to navigate back to their original location if they find themselves in an unfamiliar area (due to a variety of reasons), we can’t always rely on them to do this. This ..read more

My saga of traveling with cats went pretty smooth At the end of May, I traveled from California to Washington state with my two cats in hand, ready to introduce them to their new home. It would be a 2.5-hour flight from Los Angeles, CA to Portland, OR and thankfully traveling with cats went better than I could have ever expected. My cats had grown up in a small apartment in Southern California and were now going to live out their lives in relative peace and freedom in a more rural, Pacific Northwest environment. I was really excited for them but nervous about how their first plane trip would g ..read more

New markets go meatless Last month, I had my first Beyond Taco from Del Taco as well as my first Beyond Burger from Carl’s Jr. Primarily a vegetarian since my teens, the “meat” was so realistic that I felt like I was cheating on my veggie burgers with these new meat alternatives. My first Beyond Taco from Del Taco Really good! Recently, we’ve seen a new wave of meat-alternatives enter the market. This shift towards using technology to produce alternatives to industries that are polluting the air, water, and environment while creating pain and suffering for billions of land animals and ..read more

“Can he who has discovered only some of the values of whalebone and whale oil be said to have discovered the true use of the whale? Can he who slays the elephant for his ivory be said to have ‘seen the elephant’? These are petty and accidental uses; just as if a stronger race were to kill us in order to make buttons and flageolets of our bones; for everything may serve a lower as well as a higher use. Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine-trees, and he who understands it alright will preserve it’s life than destroy it.” – Henry David Thoreau, The Maine Woods Duck ..read more