/2017

Team Effort Helps Temple Cats

A Thai Buddhist temple in Ontario with a major homeless cat problem recently got some help from a diverse team of cat lovers – FixNation’s TNR expert Joe Federico, three volunteer trappers, the owner of a high desert cat sanctuary, a generous local veterinarian, and students and staff from Western University. Sometimes it takes a village!   The Thai Buddhist Temple in Ontario is known for its distinctive architecture, serene grounds, orange-robed monks and – most recently – a growing colony of several dozen homeless kitties, many of which were abandoned and somehow found their way to temple. With the [...]

2020-04-07T13:17:24-07:00 May 3rd, 2017|Happy Tails|

Going Outside the (Litter) Box – Part 2

Unlike spraying, urination outside the box is NOT a natural behavior for a cat –it’s a sign that something’s not right. If you have a cat that pees on one side of the box, on the bed or the carpet, the very first thing that you must do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions. Ninety five percent of urination outside the box has an underlying medical issue, such as FLUTD, Cystitis, Hyperthyroidism (older cats), diabetes mellitus, IBD and many more. In such medical conditions, the cat usually stops using the litter box because [...]

2020-04-07T13:20:08-07:00 May 3rd, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

4 Common Reasons Cats & Kittens are Abandoned After a Foreclosure

Written by Guest Blogger, Simon Campbell While cats continue to be the most popular pet in U.S. households, it’s a sad reality that cases of cat and kitten abandonment are underreported and often go unreported altogether. Compassionate pet lovers may be quick to point fingers at owners who leave their pets behind, but when it comes to those facing foreclosure, the reasons for abandonment can be complicated to unravel. Families with felines often feel like abandonment is their last and best option and typically exhaust other resources before taking this last, most drastic, step. Here we review the top four [...]

2020-02-07T14:01:49-08:00 March 15th, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

In the Can: Canned Food Options for Your Feline Friend

How many of cat owners love their pet’s peculiarities? Your cat might like a certain spot in the sun, for example, or may only want to drink water out of a certain bowl. It’s what makes them loveable. That specificity may also relate to food: Your cat’s wet food preferences may be hard to discern, but it’s worthwhile to figure it out. For one, not all cat food is the same when it comes to texture. Some are more uniform and shredded-like, while others resemble morsels—perhaps ones that remind you of dry food, too. If you decide to feed your [...]

2020-02-07T14:02:15-08:00 March 12th, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

Improper Elimination – Part 1 – Spraying

Written by Cat Behaviorist, Mirian Hassani With improper elimination, we have two categories: Spraying and Urination outside the litter box. It is very important to figure out which of the two we are having to deal with, as they are quite different and the solutions are too. Let’s talk about SPRAYING First and foremost, the act of spraying is a very NATURAL marking behavior for the cats. It is a communication tool. Of course, we as humans do not like it, as we have to deal with the odor and the cleaning. It is of interest to mention that the [...]

2020-02-07T14:18:32-08:00 March 8th, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

First Time Pet Owner? How to Be a Great Pet Parent

Written by Guest Blogger, Jessica Brody Photo courtesy of Unsplash by Jonas Vincent The first few days, weeks, or months after bringing home a new pet are a special time. This is a time of transition and bonding. Many pet owners develop deep bonds with their pets and think of them more as “children” than pets. Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that there are differences between children and pets and that there will always be some confusion for both you and your pet at times. Here are some tips that can help any first-time pet [...]

2020-02-07T14:16:45-08:00 March 8th, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

FixNation mourns the loss of co-founder, Mark Dodge

Mark Dodge, a corporate attorney, cat lover and co-founder of LA-based non-profit FixNation, passed away at his Topanga Canyon home on February 13th after a long battle with ALS. Karn Myers, Mark’s wife of more than 40 years and co-founder/Executive Director of FixNation, is determined to keep their state-of-the-art spay/neuter clinic open and to realize Mark’s ultimate dream—to promote humane practices for controlling the population of homeless cats, not only in Los Angeles but in other communities as well. “When we founded FixNation 10 years ago, Mark was the one who came up with the name. Not FixLA but FixNation. [...]

2020-02-07T14:14:30-08:00 February 16th, 2017|News and Events|

5 Easy Ways to Show Homeless Cats Some Love 

Put out fresh food and water for homeless cats on a regular basis.  Life can be hard when you’re living on the streets and don’t know where your next meal will come from. There are thousands of “feeders” throughout Los Angeles who are a lifeline for hungry homeless kitties. Join us! Learn about TNR and bring stray kitties to get fixed at FixNation. It’s free and super easy. Just fill out an application and register for a free training session. We’ll loan you a humane trap and provide lots of helpful information on how to trap and exactly what to do [...]

2020-12-28T07:43:13-08:00 February 13th, 2017|Caregiver Tips, Support Our Cause|

Separation Anxiety and Your Cat

Contrary to popular beliefs, cats can and do suffer from separation anxiety. When you’re away at work, doing errands or taking a vacation, your cat may become overly anxious and stressed. You know you’ll be back soon, but your cat doesn’t. How do you know if your cat is suffering from separation anxiety? Some signs include: Spraying Urinating/defecating on bed and clothing Scratching furniture Inappropriate chewing Damaging planters Excessive self-grooming Refusing to eat while you’re away Increased vocalization and clinginess before you leave and after you return Some guardians think their cat is mad and getting “even” or is mean-spirited. [...]

2020-04-07T13:21:03-07:00 February 11th, 2017|Caregiver Tips|

10 Questions for Michele Guzy, Animal Communicator

1. What exactly does an animal communicator do? Animal Communication is the ability to talk with an animal telepathically.  An Animal Communicator is a person that is able to send and receive messages to these animals through various methods such as creating images, feelings, thoughts and/or physical sensations. Many people call it a psychic ability. That is actually something very different. Animal communication is a direct form of communication with your pet that doesn’t involve reading body language or making assumptions based on current or past behavior.  Most animal communicators work with just a description or a picture of the animal instead [...]

2017-06-23T07:04:27-07:00 February 10th, 2017|Happy Tails|