The Best of Two Worlds: The Catio

in Barks and Blooms / cat / cat nip / indoor cat / outdoor cat / ratio  by November 25, 2013
What’s a Catio?  A hybrid of cat & patio and it’s the coolest thing for active cats in the country, suburbs, or city.  Of course it’s too cold for much outdoor time right now, but if you start planning now, you can have a Fabulous Catio by spring!  Take a look at these inspirations:




A Catio can be as simple as this portable pop-up:
A Catio can be an efficient, tidy box attached to a window.  You can DIY or purchase.
This Catio is like the one above, just fancier!  What a lucky cat!  (I saw a similar one while at the beach in North Carolina this summer.)

Look at this!  Exercise steps, ramps…and…is that catnip I see?
More happy cats experiencing freedom AND safety.  Perfection!
The Cottage Catio.  Sweet shade and the kitties can keep you company while you garden
Limited space?  How perfect is this?
Does your home have a catio?  Share your thoughts and your pics!!

Cat People

in ancient Egypt / Barks and Blooms / cat / cat people / domesticated cat / Sylvester  by July 9, 2013
People have lived with cats for hundreds…thousands of years.  These artifacts attest to human interest in cats in Ancient Egypt.
Some scientists speculate that cats  were first domesticated about 12,000 years ago and were descended from a Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis Sylvestris, which means “cat of the woods”.  

(This is what I think of when I see the word Sylvestris)


 Of course, we use the word “domesticated” loosely, because as every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.


Maybe cat and human relationships began when humans settled down to farm and store their produce.  Cats were drawn by the easy abundance of mice and other critters and humans were delighted by free pest control.  
In the United States today, cats are popular house pet with 30.4% of households gladly owning (serving?) around 36 million cats–that’s an average of 2 per household.

Tell us about your cats!




Do You Live in a Dog State or a Cat State?

in AVMA / Barks and Blooms / BuzzFeed / cat / cat state / dog / dog state  by June 13, 2013
Illustrated here is the difference between the percentage of households that own dogs and the percentage that own cats. Orange colors indicate a higher percentage of dog owners while blue colors indicate a higher percentage of cat owners.

In Maryland, it looks like we’re leaning more towards the Meows than the Woofs, which makes us in line with the top five cat-lovin’ states of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.  
The top dog states are Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arizona.

So, which are you?  A Meow or a Woof?

Happy National Hug Your Cat Day!

in Barks and Blooms / cat / hug / hug your cat / June 4 / National Hug Your Cat Day  by June 4, 2013




Hug Your Cat Day is one of those pleasingly straightforward holidays. Quite simply, it is a day in which cat owners everywhere are encouraged to hug their cats. The more dedicated amongst them will not need this encouragement, of course, but it is always good to be reminded of our feline friends.
The obvious downside to the day as that people without cats may be left out. This need not be the case, however – it should be straightforward enough to simply adapt it into “Hug Someone Else’s Cat Day”.
So, whether or not you are the proud housemate of a purring kitty, Hug Your Cat Day is the perfect excuse to put a bit of warmth and companionship into your life. No matter what’s going on around you, no matter how bad or troubling things get, you can always count on your furry friend to be there for you.


Want to Live with a Cool Cat This Summer?

in Barks and Blooms / cat / cool / summer  by May 21, 2013

When the days get long and hot, you can strip down to shorts and a tank top, but your cat has to wear a fur coat all year long. So what can you do to keep your feline friend comfortable during the summer?


1. Ice Ice Baby

If you’re going to be away all day and you know it’s going to get warm in the afternoon, drop three or four cubes into kitty’s water bowl before you head out.

2. Ice Ice Baby, Part 2

Fill a small soda bottle with cold water and leave it in the freezer overnight. In the morning, wrap the bottle in a towel and put it in your cat’s favorite lounging spot. If she gets overheated, she’ll appreciate the kitty cooling room.  (A word on those gel cold pack–don’t recommend it–kitty could claw and and eat the gel–ick.)

3. Elevate the Bed

Cloth-covered plastic frames with short legs will allow your cat to sleep in comfort, and the air passing under her bed will help to keep her cool.

4. Number One Fan

Get a small box fan and set it on the floor near your air conditioner or an open window. If your kitty gets too hot, she’ll appreciate the breeze blowing through her fur. For extra cooling power, put one of those frozen water bottles in front of the fan.

5.  Do the Dew

Take a damp washcloth or paper towel and stroke your cat with it. Most cats don’t mind a little bit of moisture on their fur, especially when they notice how it can cool them off. In fact, one of the ways cats cool themselves down is by grooming, which is nothing more than wetting their fur with saliva rather than water.

6.  Call It Curtains

Close the curtains or blinds in your south- or west-facing windows. Not only will it keep your kitty cooler, it’ll save you money on your a/c bills as well.

7.   Postpone the Playing

Even if your cat loves a rousing game of Chase the Mousie, it’s best to wait until the end of the day, when it’s cooler. Cats can get overheated pretty quickly by strenuous exercise on hot days.

8.  And, of Course, Never, But Never, Leave Your Cat in Your Car

… not even for a quick errand. A closed car can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees in a frighteningly short time.
(This article excerpted from a piece in Catster by Jane A Kelley)

Wednesday Adoptables! Meet Spooky and Spanky

in Adopt / adoptables / Barks and Blooms / black cat / cat / F.A.R.M. / Fallston Animal Rescue Movement Inc. / Spanky / Spooky  by April 17, 2013

Spanky is a darling 10 month old little boy who has had a rough life so far, to say the least. He came to FARM with his mom Spooky after being in a deadly house fire. He was just a young kitten at the time. From there, he was at animal cont rol, and then went on to a foster home. To make matters worse, this little baby was missing an eye when we got him, and was suffering from an infection where his eye used to be. We had him neutered, had his eye socket flushed, and sutured closed to prevent further infection. He is current on all vaccines. As you can imagine, he is a bit shy, but such a little sweetheart! He is very bonded to his mom Spooky, so they must be adopted together. They are currently living at Feed Plus and when Spanky was in his foster home, he was able to come out of his shell. Please share, or if you think you can provide Spanky and his mom the loving, safe and stable forever home they deserve, come by and meet them at Feed Plus!

If you would love to give Spooky and Spanky a Fur-Ever home, please contact the Fallston Animal Rescue Movement at Fallston Animal Rescue Movement, Inc., Fallston, MD 410-557-6161

Cat Clawing Making You See Red? (Or, How to Avoid Cat-Scratch Fever)

in Barks and Blooms / cat / cat nip / cat scratching / cat toys / claw trimming / claws / scratcher / spray bottle  by April 16, 2013
Here are some great tips shared by one of our Fantastically Fabulous pet sitters, Jessica:


Cats need and love to stretch their bodies and paws by scratching. This helps keep their joints limber and wear down the claws. They will often have a good stretch-and- scratch session after a long nap. But how can you protect your home from becoming a shredded mess?

  1. 1)  Keep kitty’s claws trimmed. Get a good pair of claw clippers, I prefer the scissor style as the easiest to use. Trim off only the tip of the nail. Be careful not to cut the quick. If you do, apply a little stiptic powder or ordinary kitchen flour to help stop the bleeding.


  2. 2)  Provide an acceptable scratching item. Is your cat a vertical scratcher, leaning on upright items? Try a tall scratching post or mount a cardboard scratcher firmly on the wall. For horizontal scratchers, items that lie on the floor are best – cork, cardboard, a piece of upside down carpet, or even a log with tree bark on it. Anything they can really get a grip on will work. Make sure the item is firmly fixed so it doesn’t slide around. Put this item near a favorite napping spot since this is prime scratching time!

  1. 3)  Stack the deck by applying a little catnip on the scratcher if your kitty is partial to it. Try dragging their favorite toy over the scratcher to encourage them to dig in. This makes a great daily play session, as well. 







  10. 4)  Put aluminum foil sheets on the corners of your furniture. Cats don’t like the metal against their claws and will avoid it. Do NOT use foil with food residue since they may try to eat it! After a few days try removing the foil and see if they return to the item. 


  1. 5)  Some kitties like to scratch on audio speakers because they are sturdy and the fabric tears nicely. Try applying packing tape with the sticky side out. Fold over 3-4 inches on each end and stick it to the item. Kitties hate sticky paws. Don’t use duct tape as the adhesive will be hard to remove. 


  1. 6)  Consider a motion-sensor air sprayer, available online and at many local pet supply stores. These run on batteries and emit a loud hiss of air if kitty gets near a forbidden item. Highly effective and harmless. Tip: these also are great for training them not to walk on kitchen counters. 



  1. 7)  The good old spray bottle filled with water works beautifully. Set it on “stream” and give kitty a spritz JUST as she reaches up to scratch. Don’t yell, let her associate the act with the spray, and not with your voice. I’ve become an expert at the spray-over-my-shoulder technique when they think I’m not looking! 

  2. 8)  If you catch kitty in the act of scratching an unacceptable item, clap your hands loudly to interrupt them, then direct their attention to the acceptable item.

  4. 9)  Kittens are enthusiastic scratchers and their claws grow amazingly fast. Keep them trimmed regularly and confine kittens to one room until they have learned which items are acceptable to scratch. Don’t be surprised when they experiment on different items to test “scratchability”. It’s your job to be vigilant and watch them carefully as they explore. 

Two Cats + One Pug = Funny Friday!!

in Barks and Blooms / cat / cat toys / dog / flashlight / Friday Funny / laser pointer / Pug  by April 11, 2013
How many of you enjoy entertaining your dogs and cats with flashlights or laser pointers?  I admit it–I’ve done it.  It’s hilarious and the animals seem to enjoy it, too.  And while one should always be careful with the laser beams and our sweet fur-kids’ eyes, they get a workout and so do our abs when we chuckle and guffaw at their antics.  Enjoy! 



Cats vs. Laser Pointer

Kittens Can Catch?
Laser Pointer Pug