That’s right, there’s a whole month dedicated to the love of our furry feline companions. It is widely believed that cats domesticated themselves by recognizing the abundance and ease of catching prey near human agricultural developments. They essentially chose us, and we are better for it. 

Studies have shown that cat owners may experience better mental health than individuals without pets. Cats are great stress reducers. Just 15 to 30 minutes of quality time with a cat can calm your nerves and boost your mood. When you spend time with a cat, your production of serotonin (a chemical that boosts feelings of well-being) goes up, and your cortisol levels (a buildup from stress) go down. Adults and children alike report feeling happier and having more positive feelings if a cat is part of their family. How could you not feel better with a purring ball of fur curled up beside you? And, if you adopt from an animal rescue or shelter, you will feel extra warm and fuzzy that you just saved a precious little life. 

If the prospect of warm fuzzies isn’t enough, the Humane Society of Loudoun County has laid out five more reasons cats make great pets. 

5. They’re Fairly Self Sufficient

Remember, they chose us. Cats have remained fairly unchanged genetically, meaning they are still capable of living in the wild (but we do discourage allowing domestic cats to roam outside). Cats are still incredibly low maintenance, and very independent, and self-sufficient. Cats also groom themselves, so they don’t need frequent baths. We do, however, recommend they have their teeth and ears cleaned regularly. 

4. Small Space, No Problem

Cats are also perfect for apartments or city living. They don’t need a huge backyard or tons of space to play and explore. They are content with nosing their way through the nooks and crannies of your home. As long as you give them plenty to do and have toys available to keep them entertained, cats are happy. A living space and a basic feather toy might be all you need to make playtime a breeze.

Cats can often adapt easily to smaller living environments if you give them a lot of vertical space to move around in, such as cat trees and cat “shelves” that are mounted on the wall.

3. Housebreaking Made Easy

Cats are really good at learning potty training on their own. They like to have their own space and privacy so provide one litter box per cat, plus an additional box, and kitty litter, and they will be happy.

2. Shhhh

Worried that bringing a pet into your home might disrupt things? No worries! Cats are relatively quiet animals; they are almost always in stealth mode. Yes, they’ll meow every now and then, but you don’t have to worry about them barking or even making much noise when they walk. 

1. They Bring the Love

The main reason people become pet owners is because of an innate love or affinity for animals. Cats bring tons of love and joy into a household. They are wonderful pets and companions. 

If you want to take part in National Cat Lovers Month, please consider adopting through the Humane Society of Loudoun County. There are plenty of cats available for adoption so make sure you take the time to read through all the available information on our website in order to make a fully informed decision. Your future cat companion may be just a click away! 

Bonus Way to Celebrate National Cat Lovers Month:

FOSTER

While fostering is still a commitment, it is a more temporary way to help out an animal in need. Your individual attention will give a cat a boost of confidence until it finds its forever home. And if you are interested in fostering, consider fostering a senior cat, a special needs kitty, or an orphan kitten. Follow this link to learn more about fostering through the Humane Society of Loudoun County.

By Madeleine Devost

“He’s as happy as a clam!”

These were Diane Rice’s words after deciding to adopt Rebel (“Reb”) – a senior dog she had been fostering for two months through the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC).

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Diane, one of HSLC’s board members and foster parents. Over the past few years, Diane has fostered seven dogs 8 years old and up, two of them with HSLC. She offered some insight on how rewarding it is to foster and adopt senior dogs.

Diane and her husband, Mike, began to take in older dogs as they grew older themselves.  Although senior animals sometimes come with health problems, HSLC covers all necessary medical expenses when fostering, including spaying and neutering. They found joy in giving these dogs the best lives they could for as long as possible.

Rebel was rescued from an abusive household in which he was neglected and threatened by his owners. The Rices offered a safe and caring home where he could heal both emotionally and physically.  They didn’t change his name which is important when taking in older dogs as it helps them to adjust more readily to their new environment.

After just a few weeks, they decided that Reb belonged with them for whatever time he had left.  We can only imagine how thankful he was for their care.

One of Diane’s fondest memories of Rebel was when he would burrow under the blankets and towels in the house. Taking this cue to heart, she bought him a cave bed. Late one night, Rebel was sleeping peacefully in his new bed and it looked like he was wrapped up in a taco shell!

Recently, Reb passed away with Diane and Mike by his side. Diane shared the sad news on Facebook:

This dear little old man left us tonight for the Rainbow Bridge. Rebel was 14 and the sweetest Beagle ever. Although he had only been with us for a little over a year, we enjoyed every day of our time together. He was a real Momma’s boy and LOVED belly rubs and food food food! We will miss him so very much!

You can’t change a senior dog’s past.  But, you can give them the care they deserve in their golden years. In return, they will reward you with boundless affection, devotion and love.

 

By Heather Nokes (aka Your Neighborhood Vet Assistant)

UPDATE: As of July 1, 2024, both Virginia and Maryland have outlawed declawing in most cases.

Scratching and clawing behavior is one of the reasons cats are often rehomed or not adopted. While declawing can seem like a viable solution, this controversial procedure actually creates more problems than it solves.

Why do cats scratch/claw?

• To “sharpen” their nails. Like any other animal, cats’ nails are constantly growing. This means that the outer husk of their nail dies off as the new nail emerges underneath. Often, cats scratch things in order to shed this husk. Not only does scratching “sharpen” the nail, it makes the cat feel better.
• To stretch their muscles. If you have ever witnessed a cat scratching or clawing something, you can attest to the fact that they often stretch out their front legs as far as they can go. Like the downward dog pose in yoga, this opens their body up and feels good.
• To mark their territory. When a cat scratches something, it leaves its scent behind on that object. Other cats can smell this and are warned of their trespassing. This is often comforting to the scratcher, especially the insecure ones, and makes them feel more at home.

What is declawing?

• The declawing procedure is referred to as an onychectomy. Per Merriam-Webster, this procedure is the “surgical removal of a toenail or fingernail”. However, the surgery itself involves using either a sterile nail trimmer, surgical blade, or laser to literally cut through the bone of the third digit of the toe, which is the bone from which the claw grows.

Why is the procedure so harmful?

• It is very painful. Imagine getting the last digit of your toes or fingers cut off. It would be difficult for you to walk or use your hands and feet for a while after the procedure.
• It can cause complications, diminishing the cat’s quality of life. A cat without claws is unable to defend itself and may become a biter because they no longer have their claws for defense.
• In addition, even when the procedure is done with great precision, it can leave the cat with an altered way of walking which can lead to the development of arthritis.
• For several days after surgery, shredded newspaper is typically used in the litter box to prevent litter from irritating declawed feet. This unfamiliar litter substitute, accompanied by pain when scratching in the box, may lead cats to stop using the litter box.

What are the alternatives?

• If adopting a young cat or kitten and a scratching problem is noticed, it is important for the owner to train their cat where it is appropriate to scratch, and where it is not. Scratching posts, boards, and furniture are available for sale almost anywhere pet products are sold. Because clawing and scratching is a natural behavior, kittens and young cats that have access to the appropriate scratching tools will use them.
• There are some cats that will just scratch whatever they see first, whether it be a scratching post or your grandmother’s antique chair. There are products that are meant to deter or attract cats from scratching. For example, something as simple as sprinkling cat nip on the scratching post can entice the cat enough for them to scratch there. There is also tape that can be applied to vertical surfaces of furniture. This tape is meant to be safe on furniture but uncomfortable for the cat when they attempt to scratch.
• Nail Caps. Talk to your veterinarian or local pet store employee about nail caps. These are made to fit over your cat’s nails and stay on with glue. Often made of soft plastic, the cat cannot do as much, if any, damage when scratching with them on.
• Frequent Nail Trims. As stated before, cats’ nails are constantly growing. By trimming them every week or two, the cat will not feel the need to scratch as much.

Declawing is illegal in over 40 countries and counting. Several cities in the U.S. have banned declawing. And, last year, New York became the first state to ban the procedure except in rare cases when it is medically necessary. The American Medical Veterinary Association (AMVA) “discourages the declawing (onychectomy) of cats as an elective procedure and supports non-surgical alternatives to the procedure.” HSLC does not condone declawing and will refuse an adoption if the candidate plans to declaw.

By Heather Nokes

What day is it? Those of us who have been at home for weeks on end are having trouble keeping track. But you know what we are doing? Spending more time with our pets! This means paying more attention to them, their behaviors, and their health. Luckily, veterinary clinics and hospitals are deemed essential businesses. As a seasoned veterinary assistant, this author (see photo) and her colleagues want pet owners to know a few things in this uncertain time.

Our hospitals are just as busy, if not more so, than usual: With people having more free time on their hands, they are able to bring their pet in for routine visits. This is fantastic! However, some veterinary clinics and hospitals are reducing their business hours to protect their staff from exposure. And those hospitals that are running at a normal capacity are filling appointments quickly. It is also important to keep in mind that most of us are doing telemedicine and curbside service which often take up more time than normal office procedures.

We WANT to see your pet… if they are sick: Because of the above listed adjustments, your veterinary hospital may be prioritizing sick visits. This means routine vaccinations and preventative care exams are being put off for weeks or even months.

We act different when you are not around: When we take your pet from you, we understand that it can be nerve-wracking for both you and your fur baby. We take this into account and tend to baby your pet more than you would expect behind closed doors. Not many jobs allow you to use baby talk and cuddles but your veterinary staff is well versed. We do this because we genuinely care for animals and always treat our patients like our very own pets.

At this point, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19: According to the CDC, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. CDC is working with human and animal health partners to monitor this situation and will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.

Of course, if you have concerns or questions about your pets in this uncertain time, your veterinary hospitals are more than happy to speak with you over the phone. And as always, in an emergency, take your pet to the nearest emergency clinic ASAP!

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED.  WE WILL UPDATE OUR WEBSITE WHEN WE KNOW ARE NOTIFIED OF THE NEW DATE.

FREE EVENT!

Saturday, April 25 Sign-up for Volunteers and Fosters:

Join Claude Moore Park and other local organizations for a celebration of our favorite wild and domestic animals. Discover different animals that are in need of good homes while learning about the wild animals that have one outside!

Since wild animals can’t be pets, staff will help you craft your own “wild” animal to take home.

This event is a place for adoption and wildlife conservation. Currently we are expecting A Forever Home, the Human Society of Loudoun County, BREW (beagle rescue), Pet Connect & Rescue, and the Nirvana Ridge Ferret Rescue will be here. There will be animals here to view and adopt. NO VENDORS will be present.

 

Cancelled for March 21.  Check back for a new date!

HSLC’s 2020 Spring Fundraiser is out at Bear Chase Brewing – Casino games with live music by Mark Cullinane and Andrew O’Day along with the Artisans of Loudoun vendors.  Raffles and 50/50 Card games add in the fun!!

Check out the event information and purchase tickets by clicking the View Event button below:
View Event
Interested in being a sponsor or making a donation?  Check out the Donation / Sponsor Page for the event.

 

THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and, of course, classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

Partial box office proceeds benefit our community partners at the Humane Society of Loudoun County

HSLC has partnered with Harpers Ferry Brewing for a fun night of Bingo!! Bring your family and friends to this event where the Bingo Card donations go toward the saving of animals in Loudoun County and the surrounding areas!

Packets are available for a suggested $15 donation for all 8 games or suggested donation of $2.00 per regular game and $3 for the final game. We will start calling at 7:00pm sharp!! Prizes given for each game and are donated from Harpers Ferry Brewing, HSLC and other local business!

The Humane Society of Loudoun County THANKS Harpers Ferry Brewing for their support!!