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Virtually Pets
Kitten season has been the inspiration for featuring adoptable cats in the Virtually Pets section of Pet Projects. Today, Friday, from 11AM to 3PM, the office of Mayor Robert Garcia is presenting Kitty Hall 2, which will take place on the first floor of the Long Beach City Hall, 333 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach. Cats and kittens from Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) will be there to lobby for loving homes, and a few candidates are featured below (some may still be at ACS that day, but check out this great event first). Last year’s event saw 14 felines find forever homes, and this is a win for both the newly placed cats and the ones brought to the shelter, as more space is made for them.
When any particular cat strikes your fancy, or if cats in general send you into silly fits, it may be difficult to get past the urgency to take it home to cuddle and think practically. Adopting pets takes consideration, so here are a few pre- and post-adoption tips to make sure that everyone lives happily ever after, the cat in particular.
- Kittens are cute. Kittens also can be exhausting, annoying and wreakers of havoc on your house and your sleeping patterns. If a kitten can be too much, consider an older cat, not that they’re all slackers, either.
- If you do adopt a kitten, remember that kittens grow up to be cats. Adult cats as well as dogs and bunnies get dumped outdoors and in shelters when they stop being “cute.” I’m fostering an example of that now. Pets are lifetime commitments, not toys or accessories.
- Adult cats and sometimes kittens may be nervous in a new home. If they hide under the bed or won’t eat, be patient. Leave out food and water and a litter box. They’ll be out soon enough.
- Are there children in the home, and do they know to be gentle with a new pet, particularly a kitten? Are they old enough to share the responsibility of care.
- Are there other pets in the house, and will they be amenable to a new “friend”? Sometimes, an adult cat will need to be separated from another adult cat for a while before they at least tolerate each other. And if you have a dog, is he or she cat aggressive?
- ACS and most shelters as well as registered rescues will make sure that a cat is spayed or neutered. If you take in a cat that isn’t, please make that happen. Unaltered pets are the reason for kitten season, overcrowded shelters and euthanasia. Needless to say, get your cat microchipped and provide a collar and a name tag. Furthermore, Long Beach law dictates a license for cats.
- Will you provide food, toys, lots of water and a safe home? Remove any plants that may be poisonous, and keep food and water away from cleaning products.
- Cats don’t need to go outside—they’re perfectly content to be prisoners of love. They’re also safe indoors from coyotes, cars and nasty humans. Toys and scratching posts will provide exercise and claw shedding (declawing is painful and no one I know recommends it, although there’s debate over the effects on the cat’s psyche), and when they gotta go, there’s the litter box. Cats seem to be born housetrained. And if you think that the cat will be lonely when you’re gone, adopt two of them.
And will you provide veterinary care? Cats can’t tell you that they don’t feel quite right. They should have yearly checkups and vaccines; rabies shots are mandated by the city and county. ACS and area rescues check out and inoculate cats before they go, but cats from the street or a friend’s litter may harbor a serious illness. Celeste Clements, DVM, DACVIM, Medical Content Specialist at IDEXX Laboratories, a veterinary research and development lab corporation, has provided a set of tips for illnesses that cats may develop. If you’re not certain that your cat has been screened for these illnesses, or if you see any of the signs, make a vet appointment. Some of them don’t manifest until it’s too late. Make sure to follow up with your own vet—this information is provided not to diagnose but to provide information about these conditions specified by Dr. Clements:
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): FeLV and FIV are retroviruses that target cats and are the ones that should be screened for immediately if you took your cat home from a place other than a shelter or a rescue that vetted the animal. People often confuse the two conditions; Dr. Clements explains and differentiates them as follows: “Like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), [both illnesses] may weaken their host’s immune system and make them vulnerable to other infections and more likely to become sick. FeLV is spread in bodily fluids and is commonly passed on through behaviors like grooming, nursing, or sharing common food and water bowls. FIV is most effectively transmitted through bite wounds. Since FeLV and FIV are contagious only to other cats, you can safely give them lots of love and attention. Affected cats may have respiratory problems, inflammation of the mouth and gums, anemias, cancers, and a host of other conditions, leading to reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting and inactivity. The infections are progressive in many cases and not curable, but retrovirus-positive cats may live for years without related illnesses, especially if they move indoors.…All new cats or kittens should have a simple blood test at the time of adoption, before they are allowed to interact with any other cats in the home, and then ideally be retested one to two months later in case an early infection was missed. All sick cats should be retested, too. Vaccines for FeLV and FIV are available to aid in prevention, however, they are not 100 percent effective. Decisions about vaccinating should be discussed with your veterinarian. [Note: I’ve had veterinarians, rescuers and other cat owners tell me that FIV-positive cats can live a normal life with other household cats if all parties involved don’t engage in deep biting. FeLV cats, however, can transmit the virus far more easily, and it’s generally fatal. If you own a single cat and he or she is FeLV-positive, whatever days or years the cat has left will be the best of his or her life.]
Kidney Disease: Healthy kidney function helps keep the body and blood healthy and functional. “However, as your cat ages, kidney disease can compromise his health significantly,” Dr. Clements advised. According to Dr. Clements, kidney disease is a sneaky invader. The disease has no visible signs until its later stages, and the tests utilized don’t detect the disease until 75 percent of kidney function has been lost. With the development of new tests, however (Dr. Clements cites the IDEXX SDMA, kidney disease can be detected earlier. of the disease. Veterinarians have traditionally relied on measuring blood creatinine to make a diagnosis, which typically does not detect kidney disease until up to 75 percent of kidney function has been lost. Once kidney disease is identified, vets and pet owners may be able to manage the disease by feeding kidney-friendly diets, increasing water intake or supplementing fluids, and by administering medications to control signs or complications like high blood pressure or urinary protein loss. Veterinary offices can have the blood test automatically added to every chemistry panel they order, and Dr. Clements suggested inquiring as to whether the SDMA test is available. Establishing a kidney health baseline for the new, and resident, pets that can be rechecked annually may identify problems early, before your cat appears sick. If you’ve ever had a cat with a kidney disorder, you’ll want to have the yearly checkup.
Heartworm: Heartworm is another one of those conditions that skulk around a cat’s system until it’s too late. Dr. Clements describes it as follows: “Cats may be infected by a heartworm called Dirofilaria immitis from a mosquito bite. Some cats may not show any symptoms of the infection, so it is important to screen them regularly. When signs of disease do appear, they can include coughing, asthma-like attacks with respiratory distress, lack of appetite and vomiting, with weight loss or lethargy. In extreme cases, a heartworm infection can cause sudden death. Keeping cats on preventive medication year round is critical because there are no approved treatments for this serious, progressive disease. That includes indoor cats, too!”
Most of all, actively love your cat to the moon. Don’t believe that baloney about cats not needing people—they so do.
And here are potential shelter candidates. If you didn’t make it to Kitty Hall, you might catch them at the shelter, unless someone saw them first and had a silly fit.
Betsie is 6 months old and could be a stand-in for Grumpy Cat or play his sister in a kit-com. As with the original, don’t let the face fool you—she’s playful and affectionate. Ask for ID#A573202.
Noah, 2 years old, is playful and affectionate. He’ll slink right into your life. Ask for ID#A573085.
Tess, age 5, is special. She’s a big girl at 15 pounds and needs a home in which her human will include a weight-losing diet in the loving and caring. Ask for ID#A573809.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
spcaLA FUNdraiser
spcaLA July Foster Class
Saturday, July 9, 10AM–noon, P. D Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street at the entrance to El Dorado Park, Long Beach
Free event; no parking fees for Village visitors
We can’t do it withouth you! spcaLA needs foster parents for their hopeful little guys. Submit an application (available here) and come to our class. All supplies are free—you just provide the love and TLC!
Paw-sitive Vibes Pet Expo and Concert in the Park
Saturday, July 9, 3:00PM–7:00PM, Wilmington Waterfront Park East Pavilion, 604 West C Street, Wilmington
Free event
Every dog has its day, and this time, it’s this Saturday! Bring your dog and join the Port of Los Angeles for a free pet expo at Wilmington Waterfront Park, featuring adoptions, vaccinations, demonstrations, live music and more fun! Don’t miss the best-dressed pet contest—make sure your dog is dressed to impress.
Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) 22nd Annual Theater Benefit for Animals
Thursday, July 14, 6:30PM–10:00PM, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach
$30 per ticket; raffle tickets $1 each or 6 for $5
Join the two-legged friends of our four-legged ones at Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) long-running traditional evening of great theater and entertainment. This year’s featured production isHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a satirical musical comedy about the slippery rungs of the corporate ladder. The evening begins with a reception featuring “paw food” and wine, show tunes and favorites played by pianist Ralph Brunson,the Dine-Out Raffle featuring gift certificates for local restaurants, a door prize, and a silent auction featuring merchandise and services generously contributed by local businesses.
At 7:30 p.m., FOLBA’s canine volunteer, Ruthless McKenzie, fittingly opens the show by drawing the door-prize winner without the benefit of opposable thumbs. The audience will then enjoyHow to Succeed’s chicanery-and-caffeine-fueled chronicle that relates how a window washer rises to corporate executive by following the instructions of a self-help book.
All proceeds from ticket sales and auctions benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA), a nonprofit all-volunteer organization committed to saving the lives of animals through spay/neuter programs, the low-cost spay/neuter clinic opening at the shelter, the Spay/Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), humane education and the general welfare of our shelter’s pets.
Tickets for the play and reception may be ordered on FOLBA’s website at www.folba.org, by calling 562.988.7647 or visiting one of the local businesses below. Further information is available on FOLBA’S website.
Tickets available at the following businesses:
Belmont Pets & LaunderPet, 3429 E. Broadway
Bixby Animal Clinic, 3938 Atlantic Ave.
Bixby Knolls LaunderPet, 4102 Orange Ave.
Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital, 2665 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Go Dogs Go, 3440 Los Coyotes Diagonal
VCA Los Altos, 3080 Woodruff Ave.
Wags to Whiskers, 5505 E. Stearns St.
The Ark Pet Salon, Pacific Coast Hwy, #105
Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals
Saturday, July 16, 6:30PM, Los Alamitos Race Course, 4961 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos
$3 general admission; free admission to guests 17 and under
Who’ll cut the mustard this year? In one of the most delightful animal events presented, a full card of 11 races of long doggies will compete for the championship with their version of racing. Each race will take place between the regularly scheduled horse racing; the championship race will take place at approximately 9:15PM. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early at about 5:00PM to secure seating. No ice chests, outside food or pop-up tents are permitted.
Full details are available at the Race Course’s website.
Quiz with a Cause with Geeks Who Drink
Tuesday, July 19, 8:00PM–10:00PM, The Blind Donkey, 8171 East Wardlow Road, Long Beach
Prices vary per item
Enter this neat pub quiz, and even if you make a donkey out of yourself and don’t win the cash purse, it’ll be satisfying to know that the rest of the proceeds for this event will help spcaLA animals and support the programs that help them.
Long Beach Love Art and Photo Show, Benefitting spcaLA
Saturday, July 30, 7:00PM–10PM, Underground Salon, 149 Linden Avenue, Long Beach
$5 entry fee and bar menu prices
A truly hep-cat evening, with 10 percent of sales going to the spcaLA pets, features artwork from Outer Limits Tattoo Long Beach, and Photos from Krk Dominguez. The Record Truck record store on wheels will have vinyls; Master Droog (The SLOP STOMP) and DJ Polyester (The SLOP STOMP, Bad Reputation) will be spinning all night. Lots of raffle prizes as well as goodies from Delightful Crepes Cafe Pit Bull Bakery and Seal Beach Toffee. There will be items for sale from Lil Devils Boutique, LB Skate Co, New Flower Studio, Made by Adriane/Lucky Girl Handbags, and other local Long Beach businesses and designers.
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, August 6, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new best friend and everything that he or she could ever want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues will be bringing some wonderful dogs ready to go home with their new people. Everything is high quality at Pet Food Express, and that includes the adoptive pets! Check out the Cat Adoption Center while you’re there!
Ongoing
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS): Free Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics, once monthly; Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics, scheduled days Monthly. Locations vary.
See flyer on web page for pricing of services
Beginning this Sunday, February 21, the Society for California Veterinary and Vaccine Care (SCVVC) will offer free spay/neuter procedures and wellness services to residents of the cities served by ACS: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. During the remaining weeks of the month, Spay/Neuter Project Los Angeles (SNP/LA) will offer low-cost vaccines, nail trimmings and topical flea treatment for residents of the same areas. Click link for locations and times and click the links next to each event for vaccine pricing and other details.
Pet owners must be 18 years or older. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing service is provided for residents within our jurisdiction:. Microchips, flea treatment and nail trimmings also available.
BARK Therapy Dogs Library Appearances
Various area libraries (Long Beach events generally held on Saturdays)
Free event
Dogs love unconditionally. They don’t judge or criticize. And they love a good story. Bring your children to the library to read to these lovely therapy dogs, and watch their confidence in their reading ability grow.
BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is an all-volunteer group dedicated to increasing children’s reading skills as well as interacting with pets. Check the calendar page on the group’s website, and find out more about this terrific organization.
Reserve a Humane Education Presentation for Your Classroom, Scout Troop or Anywhere That Pets and Kids Come Together
spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp
June through August, Monday through Friday; Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach
Details on website
Paws down, it’s the best camp around! spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp™ is for kids 8 through 13 years old. At camp, kids learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training, all while making new friends on a number of legs! There are several sessions still available, each running Monday through Friday. Registration details and session schedule are available here.