We recently hacked an Ikea furniture, we made ​​something else out of it. I always wanted a dog house for our half breed dog Benno (size about knee high), but all I could find in stores was either very expensive or treated with wood preservatives or I did not like it. To build a dog house is not a problem for my husband (except time problem!) but it should go rather quickly and be done in an afternoon. So I looked for a small table where you just had to screw boards on it. I find it at Ikea.

Photo: IKEA.com

The SNIGLAR diaper-changing table is untreated and ideal in size. Left over from another project we had untreated wood panels that my husband properly cut and screwed on three sides. We skipped the lower shelf cause we inserted a wooden pallet which is Benno’s sleeping place for years. But it is no problem to move the lower shelf to the bottom and this is the base for the doghouse. Above we now have a practical storage and the cat basket has also space. Our dog Benno is overjoyed and was sitting in his house, while my husband was still screwing on the boards.

See the SNIGLAR dog house.

SOURCE: Ikeahackers.net

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I just bought cat food for Agent S and L and despite the slight increase in price, I wouldn't stinge on them but rather cut back on spending on myself. Sigh..the things we do for love.

Astro Awani reports:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Cat Club president Khalid Rashid said although cat lovers feel the impact of the new prices after the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), it will not stop them from spending for their cats.

One cat lover, Yusri Shaari, said he spends about RM3,000 a month for the 14 cats he has.

"Of the 14, 11 are Bengal cats. For their food alone I need three pounds of fresh meat a day, this cost as well as the additional food and medical expenses are also subject to GST."

"The GST will not dissuade me from continuing to shop for my cats who are my daily companions," he said when met at the Malaysia Fun Cat Club Cat Show and Animal Lover Fest in conjunction with National Craft Day 2015 at Laman Wau, Kompleks Kraf Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday.

His views were shared by Haziq Ahmad Hamid who spends about RM1,500 to RM2,000 per month, not including medical costs for his 15 cats.

"The GST does affect my monthly expenses, but it will not prevent me from continuing to take care of my cats, my favourite hobby since childhood.

"I personally would rather spend my money towards nutritious cat food and dietary supplements so as to reduce the cost of their medical bills," he said.

How much do you spend on your pets and does the GST affect your spending? Leave your comments below

Source: urgentpets.wordpress.com

I'm all for cats to roam freely but if it puts their lives or health in danger. It's not just other animals to worry about but also psychopaths who don't think twice about abusing them.

Dr. Ruth MacPete discusses the controversial topic of whether or not cats should be let to roam around freely outdoors. For more from Dr. MacPete, find her on Facebook or at www.drruthpetvet.com!

Did you know the average lifespan for an outdoor cat is just 3 to 5 years while indoor cats average 13-17¹? This huge difference in life expectancy should be a compelling enough reason for all cat parents to keep their feline friends indoors. Yet despite the perils of the great outdoors, many people allow their cats to go outside. In my opinion, cats should always be kept indoors in the safety of a warm and loving home. Like many veterinarians, I believe that the decision to keep your cat indoors is one of the most important actions you can take to promote the health and longevity of your feline friend. Here are the outdoor dangers you can avoid by keeping your cat indoors. 

Cat Fight Wounds
Cats are solitary animals by nature and they do not typically like to share their territories with other cats. With increased crowding, territories overlap and normally solitary cats are forced to face each other. Unfortunately, these encouters usually result in territorial disputes. Besides bites and scratches, cat fights can result in an abscess when a bite wound becomes infected. Abscesses are painful and cats with abscesses usually have a fever and do not eat well. Treatment requires a veterinarian and involves surgical drainage and oral antibiotics to fight the infection. 

Viral Infections
Even worse, cat bites can transmit infections like feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and, on rare occasions, rabies. Interactions with stray cats do not need to be unfriendly to transmit disease: feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can be spread by close contact alone.Some of these diseases do not have effective vaccines and unfortunately there is no cure for any of them. 

Parasites
In addition, outdoor cats are more likely than exclusively indoor cats to become infected with internal parasites, like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, heartworms and toxoplasma.

Cars
Automobiles are one of the deadliest hazard to outdoor cats. Most car injuries are fatal. The lucky ones who survive usually have severe injuries that often require surgery. Many people believe that their cat is smart enough to avoid being hit by a car, but even the most street-savvy cat can be a victim. Like people, cats can become distracted: they could be chasing after prey, they might be running away from a dog, or they could be pursuing another cat in play. The fact is, all free-roaming cats are at risk of being hit by a car.

Poisons
Besides automobiles, poisons are another very common danger facing outdoor cats. Cats can encounter poisonous chemicals like insecticides, rodenticides, and fertilizers. Pesticides are the most dangerous because they are sweetened or scented to attract pests and cats are often the unintended victims. In a single day, an outdoor cat may come across a neighbor’s lawn fertilizer, snail bait, rat poison, ant bait, antifreeze and even fresh paint. 

Wild Animals
Predators have always been a threat to cats, but as suburbs encroach on natural habitats, encounters with native wildlife have increased. In many states, coyotes, foxes and similar predators claim many cats, and in the South, alligators pose a major danger. 

The Price of Being Wild
Once your cat is outdoors, there is no way to protect them from all of these dangers. In addition to endangering your cat’s health, being outdoors can have an impact on your wallet. One of the largest veterinary pet insurers in the US reported that treatment of cat bites and wounds are among the top ten reasons for veterinary visits annually. Fights and injuries require veterinary attention, and since they can occur in the evening and on weekends, it can also mean a trip to the emergency clinic. Depending on the severity of the injury or illness, the visit could require surgery, hospitalization, medication and other treatment. Instead of spending your money on emergencies, wouldn’t it be better to save your money for routine veterinary visits? 

Living Healthier, Longer Lives
As pet parents, besides loving our pets, it is our responsibility to care for them and protect them from harm. So what can you do to insure that your cat lives out his nine lives? Take advantage of the excellent veterinary care available in this country and make sure your cat has regular veterinary check-ups. Keep your cat out of unnecessary danger by keeping him safely indoors. We all want the best for our pets, so next time you think about letting your cat outside, think about all the dangers an outdoor cat faces in a single day.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Resources:

1. Millburn, Naomi, and Demand Media. "What's a Normal Indoor Cat Lifespan?"Pets. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.

SOURCE: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/

Source: BoredPanda

Some cat- owned owners get so creative when it comes fulfilling their cats demands.
Every Friday, Agent S and L will sniff out Pet Hacks using materials that can be found easily eg from IKEA

Materials required
Cat, suitable window, Billy bookcase, squares of non-slip rug underleys (gray squares in pics), cushion with ties on one side (colour MUST complement cat’s colour!) sheet wood for penthouse platform about 400 x 400 mm, wood spacer to lift outside of penthouse platform to about level – I used 75 x 50 x 800mm,
6 50mm selftapping wood screws, 6 tacks to fix platform sheet wood to spacer & window sill

Tools needed
Drill, hole saws to cut rounded corners of step holes, Jig or saber saw,

Find a suitable window or unused glass door. The hack does not block the view.

Planning

You will need 3 to 5 shelves plus the top and base for most cats. Mr Pluto is 80cm long not counting his tail so as he grew we discarded shelves. Store discarded shelves on the base. As cats age or put on weight, they may need an extra “gentleman’s or lady’s step”

Plan the step holes from top down – alternate left to right to left etc.
Note that the top hole should be opposite the spot where Mr Pluto’s red cushion is to be placed.
Leave half of the shelf width for strength when cutting the step holes. For 300m deep shelves, leave 150mm. This gives a step hole of 300mm x 200mm if the bookcase is 50mm out from the glass. If you can’t have the bookcase out 50mm, just have the step holes on the room side of the shelf. (Mr Pluto has the step holes on the glass side)

1. Make sure bookcase will fit window.
2. Remove back from bookcase. This provides bracing so when assembling, you will need to attach the bookcase to the window or doorway frame.
3. Mark out step holes as rectangles. Mark where the hole saw’s drill needs to go inside of the corners.
4. Cut holes, sand down the cut edges.
5. Cut hole in top of bookcase as last step hole to penthouse.
6. Put bookcase in place.
7. Put one or two screws through bookcase upright into side of window sill/ door jam to secure and brace bookcase.
8. Add shelves.
9. Add spacer timber and penthouse platform.
10. Tie pillow to nails driven into top side of upper window sill.
11. Add the non-slip rug underlays to shelves.
12. Add cat.

Source: Ikeahackers.net

Grumpy Mama – NATALIE!

1 Year Old

Female

Neutered

Vaccinated

Mother of Angelica & Frendy. Always looks grumpy.

Very independent, doesn’t really love cuddles. Try to scratch her head and neck, she’ll show you her complicated grumpy but comfy face.

She could be the Malaysian Grumpy Cat!

Anything For Food - MIMI!

4 Years Old

Shih Tzu

Female

Neutered

Vaccinated

Absolute food lover, excellent at being cute for food.

Cute handbag dog, doesn’t bark much. Very suitable indoor dog.

Looking for a treat dispenser

CAUTION: cutest puppy eyes you’ll ever see !

Adoption

Adoption Procedure

• Visit the SPCA E.R.A Centre in Ampang Jaya and see the variety of animals available.
• You will be briefly interviewed by the SPCA staff to find out more about your experience with animals, residence & housing arrangements for the animal.
• Choose a pet suitable for your family, lifestyle and living environment.
• Enquire about the adoption fee and conditions for adopting the animal.
• Fill in the adoption form at the Front Desk, make the donation and take your pet home.
• For puppy and dog adopters, following the adoption an SPCA Animal Inspector will pay a friendly visit to your residence in the next few weeks to see how your new pet is settling in.

​

Note:

• No animal can be reserved over the telephone or via email.
• SPCA Selangor reserves the right not to approve an adoption.
• SPCA Selangor may need to check the premises of the potential adopter before giving approval.
• Adoption of an SPCA animal cannot be processed for anyone who is below the age of 18, or students who are not residing with their parents.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees range from RM100 above for cats, and RM150 above for dogs.

The adoption fee is inclusive of one vaccination, one de-worming and the neutering operation.It is SPCA’s policy to neuter all the animals that pass through our doors to help curb the overpopulation problem.

If your animal is under the age of 6 months, you will be briefed on when to bring him or her back for the operation.

Contact SPCA

No 2, Lorong Kolam Air Lama 2, Ampang Jaya, 68000 Ampang (A bungalow house just next door to the animal shelter!)

Tel: 03-42565312 (9am - 4pm Daily)

Fax:
03-4252 8382

Email:
enquiries@spca.org.my 

In an article in Time.com today, it was revealed the kind of music cats would prefer when being neutered. Heck! I don't think I myself know what kind of music I would prefer when going to see a doctor whether it be for a cold or something else.



Come to think of it, clinics and hospitals are usually void of music perhaps considering the fact that different people prefer different kinds of music.

In an experiment detailed this week in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, veterinary clinicians at the University of Lisbon studied how 12 female pet cats responded to different genres of music, while undergoing neutering.

To gauge the animals’ responses, the clinicians recorded their respiratory rates and pupil diameters, which are an indication of their depth of anesthesia.

During the experiment, the cats were fitted with headphones and then exposed to two minutes of silence — as a control — before listening to portions of Barber’s “Adagio for Strings (Opus 11),” Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

“The results showed that the cats were in a more relaxed state (as determined by their lower values for respiratory rate and pupil diameter) under the influence of classical music, with the pop music producing intermediate values,” reports Science Daily.

And perhaps unsurprisingly, listening to AC/DC while being spayed induced “a more stressful situation.”

But this study is based on female cats- the more sophisticated gender. Perhaps male cats would still prefer AC/DC.