The Kitty Sheet Holiday Issue

Dear fellow kitty lovers,  

Happy Holidays from The Kitty Sheet! Did you know December is National Cat Lovers month? Get your kitty a special treat, spend extra time with them and donate to kitties in need if you can! Also in this issue: our Kitty Tested and Approved Holiday Gift Guide. which includes gifts for your favorite felines both indoors and out! Also, the benefits of adopting an adult cat, along with our Kitties of the Week!

We can’t close out 2024 without acknowledging what a challenging year it’s been for the feline population and all those who care for them. An exploding pet population and a high number of pet adoption returns has stretched rescues and shelters to their limit. Skyrocketing pet food and vet care costs are impacting rescues as well as pet owners, and are likely a factor contributing to pet returns and kitties who find themselves abandoned.

The Kitty Sheet sends a special thank you to the nonprofit rescues doing all they can to help kitties in need despite the many challenges they are facing and also thanks all those who’ve adopted a kitty or rescued a kitty and given them a safe, loving home where they are well cared for daily. We also say thank you the countless number of community cat caregivers that TNR, feed and care for homeless kitties every day, no matter what the weather, and even on holidays.

We also send a heartfelt THANK YOU to you dear reader for joining our journey this year and for being part of The Kitty Sheet community!

As always, thank you for reading and sharing The Kitty Sheet!

-TKS

It’s not too late to grab some of these gifts for under the tree! These are some of our favorite products, kitty tested and approved! We’ve shared our top picks for both house kitties and those who call outdoors home. These are not paid endorsements.

For Under the Cat-Proof Tree!

• Trixie Fun Board Strategy Game - This turned out to be a great idea. It’s highly engaging for younger kitties, just be careful if you have a pup, they are likely to come steal the treats off it, too! It’s a really great way to give your kitties mental stimulation by working for the treats. Amazon

• Petlibrio Auto Cat Feeder - The version we recommend has WiFi, a camera and a microphone. You use an app to disperse the food and see your kitties from wherever you are. You do have to buy replacement filters. Two thumbs up from The Kitty Sheet! Amazon

• K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Heated Cat Pad - These are just wonderful for both indoor and outdoor use! The heating element is great. Amazon

• Smartcat Ultimate Scratching Post - This has withheld the test of time for The Kitty Sheet cats, and they love it so it’s seen a lot of use. It looks great, it’s durable and it’s well-built. Amazon

• PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Jumbo Cat Lounge - This, too has been a HUGE hit for The Kitty Sheet cat crew and has really withstood the test of time. Amazon

• PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge - This is a smaller version of the Jumbo cat lounge, but equally as great! Amazon

• Play on Cat Furniture 3 Story mod Lounger - An instant hit! It also not only looks great in the living room, it’s also large enough to accommodate an 18-pound cat on the shelf. Pet Supplies Plus

• Whisker City Cozy Pop-Open Play Tunnel Cat Toy - This is a big hit for kittens. Petsmart

• Bedsure Indoor Large Cat Hideaway -  All your kitties will love this, it’s a cat bed on top and a cat cave underneath. It’s also large enough to fit an 18-pound kitty in the cave! Amazon 

• Cat Litter Deodorizer Jar -This is really a gift for the whole house. It really works in multiple cat households! Amazon 

• Pretty Litter - This is a great crystal litter designed to alert you of any urinary health issues which can become serious quickly for kitties. The Kitty Sheet uses the non-clumping variety. Pretty Litter

• Feliway Optimum Diffuser - Give the gift of cat pheromones that calm kitties in a multi-cat household when sometimes there are personality conflicts. It’s not a cure-all but it is pretty amazing and we highly recommend! Amazon 

Gifts To Keep Your Outdoor Kitties Warm!

• Outdoor Clawsable Heated Cat Houses - These are fantastic heated cat houses that are well-built with insulation and heated pad . Amazon

• K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Heated Cat Pad -These are wonderful for both indoor and outdoor use! Amazon

• K&H Heated Thermo-Kitty Cafe, heated water and food bowls - These are wonderful to keep water and food warm in the cold months.  Amazon

• K&H Amazin Kitty Pad (Heated and Unheated available) - Outdoor kitties love these. We’ve tried the 2-pack unheated, but the heated would be even better. Kitties seem to really love the material and its self-heating properties. They typically last one winter season. Amazon

• K&H Heated Extreme Weather Outdoor Kitty Pad. Amazon

• Arcadia Trail Navy Bolster Cot - This was an impulse buy and a great one! The outdoor kitties love it. Whether its on your patio, under a carport, or anywhere outdoors protected, this provides a great place for outdoor cats to get off the ground. You can even put a heating pad on it in the winter. Petsmart

• Vetoquinol Viralys L-Lysine Supplement for Cats and Kittens -This is a must-have gift for kitties who live outdoors all the time. It helps their immunity, which can be especially compromised during the colder months. It’s a powder you sprinkle into their food. Amazon

Stocking Stuffers!

• Meowijuana Lollies With Catnip - Amazon

• Vitakraft Purrsticks (Chicken and Salmon) - Amazon

• Churu Skin and Coat Lickable Treat - Amazon

• Catit Superfood Lickable Treat Amazon

• Cat Dancer Wand - Amazon

• KONG Teaser Curlz Cat Toy - Chewy 

It’s been a challenging year for nonprofit rescues in North Texas and beyond. The need for these cat welfare organizations is greater than ever, yet donations and adoptions are down. Here are ways you can make the holidays merrier for some nonprofits in the DFW-Area:

• The Buddy Memorial Fund - Help Maricats Rescue fund emergency medical care for kitties its care in honor of Buddy, a special blind kitty who recently crossed the rainbow bridge. How to donate.

• Sponsor a Cat Colony. Help the Grand Prairie Cat Crew feed hungry kitties by sponsoring one of its cat colonies in 2024. Learn more.

• Help outdoor feral, sick and senior cats with no where else to go. Support Cupid Animal Haven’s mission to provide a lifelong sanctuary for kitties in need.

• Help Scruffy, a feral tom cat who is being treated for multiple health issues by the Grand Prairie Cat Crew. You’ll find a link to their Facebook fundraiser for him here.

There are many other ways to help kitties as well wherever you live, not just over the holidays, but in the year ahead,:

• Foster a kitty over the holidays so they can spend their holidays surrounded by love. Contact your local rescue organizations to see if they need temporary fosters. Supplies are typically provided.

• Volunteer at a shelter or with a rescue. Some have adoption centers at pet stores and they need volunteers to play with the kitties and provide food, and cage cleaning.

• Learn how to become a kitten bottle feeder and support your local shelter and rescues in urgent situations. You will save lives. Supplies are typically provided.

• Volunteer to TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) in your community. Join a local group of seasoned TNR advocated who scan provide guidance and a trap. You will help control the cat population, save lives and prevent suffering.

• When you see a cat in need, reach out to local rescues for help.

There are so many benefits to adopting an adult kitty, yet older and senior cats are often passed over for younger kitties. They are also at high risk of euthanize in shelters. Here are some reasons to consider adopting an adult kitty:

1. Older cats need less supervision. They’re less likely to get into trouble, i.e. won’t tear up your paper towel roll!
2. They’re great snugglers and companions!
2. You’ll have a sense of their already developed personality. Their likes, dislikes, fears. If they like other cats or dogs. Rescues or shelters can share their insight.
3. You may have something in common with an adult or senior cat who’s likely been through a lot. It can be a healing experience that provides comfort to you both.
6. Older cats often lose their senior owners and family members are unable to take them in. Thus, they find themselves in shelters with little hope of adoption. Adopting a senior cat who’s lost their person will save their life and bring a smile to their guardian angel now in heaven.
7. Cats kept indoors with annual wellness exams and vet care can live to be 15-20 years old!

This week our FIV+ Kitty spotlight shines on Mr. Toad. Wonky Whiskers Rescue writes: “He is looking for an adopter (or foster) where he can take lots of naps, get tons of snuggles, and be the old soul he is. Toad is not very old though, but he has had a very hard life. He is FIV+ and has chronic breathing issues. He needs a good home that will care for him well. “ We hope this sweet boy finds his forever home soon! Contact Wonky Whiskers Rescue.

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is an immune deficiency disease that sounds scary, but it’s really not. Cats diagnosed with this illness, through a blood test, can live long lives with the proper vet care. Transmission is typically through deep bite wounds that occur when cats fight outdoors. FIV+ cats can in fact live with other cats in non-aggressive situations.

This great FIV+ explainer and thorough guide to caring for an FIV+ kitty is a must-read for all cat lovers:  Mar Vista Animal Medical Center   

The Kitty Sheet believes every kitty matters. It strives to connect a community of cat lovers who want the best for the felines in their lives. Its mission is to promote adoption, rescue and fundraising efforts, along with the compassionate care of community cats and all the things that help kitties live their best, healthiest lives in the environment in which they call home. Thanks for joining us on our journey!