Feeding Station 101

This is our outdoor feeding station. My boyfriend built it with some simple pressure treated plywood and used a pallet for the base. It has two openings so multiple cats can eat without disturbing one another. You can see one opening on this end and the other is on the opposite end. Our outside kitties have a few bowls of food (wet & dry) and a water bowl each day. I did some weeding around the box so I have a clear path to both sides without clearing away their tall grass. This box works great and is a good sample for others who have outdoor kitties. Andy also built two winter shelters out of large tupperware tubs and straw. I will post those pictures another time.

And here is Monroe, one of our outdoor kitties! He waits for us every day. He even has a mockingbird friend who follows him and signals our arrival. We have named him Simon. The two are very cute together. I will have to get a picture of Simon one of these days. Monroe has been fixed, given a rabies shot, and is a very happy outdoor cat. He is too feral to bring inside. I love seeing him every day after work.

Choosing the Purrfect Pet Sitter

CHOOSING THE PURRFECT PET SITTER By CATMAN MARK BLANCHARD of The Cats Meow Services in Hudson County NJ (My AMAZING Cat Sitter!)

You take extreme care when finding the right caregiver for your children. The same care should be taken when finding the purrfect person to provide love and care for your fur children:

*Do your research. Consider several local pet sitters and look at their records and reviews on sites like Kannekt.com or yahoo groups like the Hoboken and Jersey City Moms Boards. Ask your friends who are pet parents whom they use.  A sitter who has a lot of clients or the fanciest web site may see caring for your Cat or other loved pet as a job, not as a joy.

*Call and pre screen the sitter. Ask them questions like:

     *How long have they been sitting.

     *Can they provide CURRENT  references you can contact to ask questions.

     *Are they bonded and insured in case something horrible happens.

     *What makes their services stand out from others. Can the sitter administer medicines? Can they come care for your pets last minute and on weekends or holidays (Remember pet sitting is NOT a 9-5 job)

*Make sure the sitter is upfront on rates (do they charge extra for holidays, do they charge extra for giving meds) and other policies like cancellation fees and payment methods.

*Many sitters have associates work with them. Ask if the person you are interviewing will come to care for your pet or will they send another person. A good service will have ONE person dedicated to the care of your pet rather than "musical sitters." Sitters should also be upfront if they will use a second person and make sure you get to meet that person.

*Do an in home interview with the sitters you are considering. Here's a trick  I use when I meet clients and their fur children. A good sitter will go directly to bond with your pet within 30 seconds. See if the prospective sitter sits on the floor with your pet and allows your Cat or other pet to sniff them and check them out. Sitters should know it's the PET they will deal with more than not the human owner.

Once your settle on a sitter consider a trial run. Let the sitter come for a weekend or a visit or two. See how your pet is doing when you come home. If the pet is at ease and happy, then you have a winning pet sitter!

Lost Pet?

http://petdetectiveusa.com/
I recently met a woman whose sister lost her two cats. They escaped through the screen door and were lost in the neighborhood with coyotes and snakes. Her sister was extremely upset and willing to do anything to get her cats back. She contacted Carl, the Pet Detective. With his help, she has already captured one of her two kitties and hopes to bring the other one safely home soon. She said Carl was very helpful and his charges were resonable. She was so happy that she contacted him. I hope I don't ever require his services but if I ever do, I will absolutely reach out to him. He has been featured on CNN, Fox, etc. If you know someone who has lost their pet, Carl may be very helpful.