SouthernA nimalFoundation is proud to serveasafull-service veterinary clinic andno-kill rescue, providingcompassionate, af fordable care to pets across ourcommunit yand beyond. From fir st puppyvisit stolifelong wellness,rescues,and
adoptions -we're honoredto be part of your pet'ss tory.
This season, we thankour incredible client sand supporter sfor making ourwork possible andfor trus ting us with your furr yf amilymembers.
Your continuedsupport allows us to keep doingwhatwelove -c aringfor pets in need and thefamilieswho love them.
HappyHolidaysfromall of us at SouthernAnimalFoundation!
Chat Chat Cat
with
Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws AND Stanley
For this addition of Cat Chat!, We are handing it over to the newest edition of Our Royal Entourage, Stanley. For reasons We will never understand, Our humans decided to bring this three-legged canine home one day, and he never left. Whilst exceedingly annoying, We do f nd his presence amusing.
Stanley is also a credit to his species: Unlike the rest of the slobbering maniacs, he can actually form complete sentences.
Merry Catmas, Happy Meownukkah and a Healthy Katza to all who celebrate!
— PPPMMJJ
GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS, NEW ORLEANS!
First, allow me to extend my most heartfelt and humblest thanks to our illustrious sovereign, Princess Jawsy. Without her, New Orleans’ non-bipedal residents would surely be lost. Also, I wouldn’t have someone to chase up and down the house at all hours of the night and day. This past spring, some humans found me alone in a f eld. My front right leg was badly injured, my fur was a matted mess and I hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time.
They took me to Take Paws Rescue, where I got fed, my coat tended to and, most importantly, surgery to remove my leg. After a stint in doggie rehab with a very lovely foster human, I eventually ended up with my family.
Like any new living situation, it took some time to get comfortable, a process which has taken longer than anybody probably expected. But that’s the thing about a serious trauma like being abandoned and injured: It makes everything a little bit harder, and take a little bit longer.
Thankfully, my humans aren’t the impatient types. They still don’t always understand that when I stare at them in a certain way it means I need to see a man about a tree, so there have been ... mistakes. But they’re learning.
My new sister Nova is great, if a bit much. She’s just so big and full of energy and love, it can be a little scary. Luckily, the humans keep an eye on her and (mostly) keep Nova from knocking me down.
Then there’s Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws. We’re still f guring out our relationship, and the humans have been great at making sure she has plenty of high spaces to hang out on and bolt holes to hide in when I get a little ... worked up, shall we say.
It’s hard because she’s just so damned herdable, I just want to corner her and take her from room to room and maintain order. COME ON KITTY, LET’S GO ... sorry, sometimes my working dog pedigree gets the best of me.
As we enter the Barkmas season, I am thankful for the Take Paws bipeds. While they may be mostly hairless and look silly walking around upright, they work tirelessly to help and support petkind in our darkest times. And while I know things are tight these days, consider having your human make a donation to them in your name to help them continue their important work.
Stanley with his sister, Nova PHOTO BY EMMA WALKER
On the
Move Move
Relocating with a pet
BY SARAH RAVITS
IN THE FEW YEARS since I adopted a neighborhood stray cat, Buddy, he had become the uno f cial mayor of our block in Mid-City.
Not one to be contained indoors, he adored our neighbors — and their lavish praise for his handsome tuxedo — and would frequently go visit them on his daily adventures, steal food o f their counters and chill on their porches. He was such a f xture, in fact, that when I started packing up to move to a new house across town last July, several neighbors asked me incredulously if Buddy was coming with.
I knew it would be an adjustment for the little guy, but that was an understatement. He was beyond distressed. For the f rst few days in our new house, he wouldn’t stop howling, crying, throwing tantrums and generally making existentially sad noises from the depths of his soul — usually from underneath a bed or the back of our closet.
But experts say that pets can adjust better to new homes when they are introduced to one room or a small area at a time, and this kind of advice did prove to be helpful for our disgruntled animal friend.
I put all his food, toys and even a covered litterbox in the same room so he wouldn’t have to go too far to f nd anything. It took a few days (and sleepless nights), but he f nally started to return to his old, adventurous self, and was soon ready to explore the other parts of the house.
This logic applies to a variety of pets, not just cats. Brooke Defore of The Dog School says
it’s a good rule of thumb for dogs and cats who are getting used to new spaces to take it one room at a time.
“Limit freedom at f rst. Controlled access to the home prevents overwhelm and helps with structure and boundaries,” she says.
It’s also helpful to get them set up with something familiar. A blanket, crate or even a sweatshirt that smells like your old house to nestle up on can do the trick.
“Give them a safe space — a designated crate or quiet area provides comfort and reduces stress during the transition,” Defore says.
She also says to make slow introductions to other aspects
of your move. Even if you want to have a housewarming party, consider waiting until your pet has fully adjusted.
“Go at the pet’s pace to build con f dence,” she says.
Keeping a regular schedule can also be helpful to newly relocated pets, especially for dogs.
“Consistent feeding, walking and sleep schedules help dogs settle in faster,” Defore says.
Above all, be patient and keep in mind that you will one day sleep again. Because eventually — like Buddy did — all pets get used to their new environments. And who knows? They might just go on to become the next uno f cial mayor of their new block.
PHOTO BY VIOREL KURNOSOV / GETTY IMAGES
A Yuletide portrait of Buddy in his new house
PHOTO BY SARAH RAVITS / GAMBIT
PHOTO BY IRINA GUTYRYAK / GETTY IMAGES
ZOZO
TIPPER
PENNY
GRIMMY
OPIE
LUNA MAE
SAMMY
GINO
PENNY
BEIGNET
MIGNON
RUBY DOOBY DOO
TACO
SADE
Holiday Treats
$20 from Octavia Books (513 Octavia St., 504-899-7323; octaviabooks.com) PHOTO PROVIDED BY OCTAVIA BOOKS
PRIDE DOG COOKIE |
$4.95 from Petcetera (3205 Magazine St., 504-269-8711; petcetera.com)
GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO
SOAP FOR CAT PEOPLE |
$12.95 from Fleurty Girl (Areawide; feurtygirl.net) PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLEURTY GIRL
Fleurty Girl
SCRIM STUFFED
Alice & Amelia
GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO
TULANE DOG COLLARS |
$16.99 each from NOLA Gifts & Decor (5101 W. Esplanade, Suite 1, Metairie, 504-407-3532; nolagiftsanddecoronline.com)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NOLA GIFTS & DECOR
DOG BOWL |
$36.93 from Mutt Mama (muttmama.com).
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MUTT MAMA
WHO DAT BIB |
$30 from Nola Tawk (nolatawk.com)
PISSED -
OFF
CATS CALENDAR |
$19.95 from Fleurty Girl
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLEURTY GIRL
HAND TOWEL |
$15 from Alice & Amelia (4432 Magazine St., 504-502-6206; aliceandamelia.com).
GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO
PO - BOY CHEW TOY |
$9.95 from Southern Paws (633 Toulouse St., 504-510-5324; southernpaws.com)
