The Cat Sitter - Seattle

22/06/2025

That's not often I see these two in close proximity without fussing.

22/06/2025

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to enroll with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

21/06/2025

If you have a young, healthy pet please consider blood donation the next time you're at the vet's office for a normal check up. If your pet is social, please consider donating on a monthly basis.

Oakley made a poor choice and decided to eat his owner's melatonin. While melatonin is fairly safe, this formulation of melatonin also contained XYLITOL. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is safe for people but can be deadly to dogs. Oakly ended up in fulminant liver failure which led to severe clotting issues. Luckily, we were able to treat Oakley with fluids, medications to support the liver and with plasma transfusions. Blood donors Darcia, Russell, and Chole provided the plasma that saved Oakley's life. Happily, Oakley's liver is much improved and he is home with his family!

Xylitol can be found in sugar free gums, in some peanut butters, in some vitamins, and in other surprising places. Please make sure to keep any food that contains xylitol up high and out of reach of dogs.

21/06/2025

As animal lovers, I am assuming that you also care about our ecosystems and environment. Please watch the documentary below. It's about 15 minutes long. Next month I'm going to Oregon Country Fair outside of Eugene, where the story begins. You will learn about the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species of beetle from Asia, that is killing Oregon Ash trees. Oregon Ash trees line most rivers, and when they are gone, the shade that they provide will damage habitat for salmon, which will also endanger animals that feed on salmon. It's important to understand how one change in our environment can make many consequential changes down the line. Everything is connected. And if these beetles are killing Oregon Ash trees, you know they're coming up to Washington soon after. You might want to check your yards and surrounding area to see how your Ashes are doing.

Oregon Country Fair Land Stewardship; Emerald Ash Borer Invasion

20/06/2025

That quiet time between breakfast and lunch when I can either go back to sleep since they woke me up at 5 AM, or get something done. This morning, it was having the Cat Mom on text from London, because I noticed a medication was running low… and trying to get the Chewy compounding pharmacy, the local compounding pharmacy, and the veterinarian to work together to get Venus's amlodipine refilled. It was on a delivery schedule, but the prescription had expired. (Did you know Chewy has a compounding pharmacy?!) The local Veterinarian refuses to make a PHONE CALL to Chewy… They will only do it by mail, which doesn't help. So we had to find an alternative and then try to put a rush on it, so I will be picking up personally if the rush works. Everybody has their little processes, but they never take into account special cases, so I have to get pretty assertive trying to get Medical things taken care of on a timely basis. But that's my job, and I don't care if Customer Service people are put out when they actually have to service customers. Know what I mean, jellybean?

20/06/2025

Friends - the work our sister nonprofit, the Rainier Animal Fund, does would not be possible without their amazing donors and the dedicated volunteers who help provide such essential veterinary care. That is where you come in. The Rainier Animal Fund could use help at many upcoming veterinary care opportunities. Are you a veterinary professional? Interested in lending a hand? Even for a couple hours? They could use your help. Visit rainieranimalfund.org to learn more and to send an email to the team. You never know whose life you can change today!

19/06/2025

Hatbox catbox.

18/06/2025

When I'm in the Bothell/Kirkland area, I take walks at Bothell City Park and the former Wayne Golf Course. The golf course is being transformed into a park. There are workers with WhaleScout and University of Washington-Bothell doing soil analysis in areas where they intend to restore the riparian zone around the Sammamish River. I think reclaiming golf courses should be done more often… making the land more accessible to many more people (even Dog People 😉).

18/06/2025

Omg! Portland's Moshow The Cat Rapper is on America's Got Talent!

15/06/2025

I am now in Kirkland with Venus, Chanel, and Bella… Bella woke me at 0530 for breakfast… It's not quite 7 o'clock, but Venus thinks it's time for her daily treat hunt. "The Stare" is in full force. I'll hide a handful of Greenies around the house and they all have so much fun finding them. But I think it's a little early. The other two are sleeping and I haven't had my breakfast yet, so she's going to have to wait.

14/06/2025

Giorgio knows Mom and Dad are coming home tomorrow. He's being a little clingy tonight.