BLOG: Adopt a Friend - Alice The Itty Bitty Purr Machine

ADOPT A FRIEND

“ALICE” The Itty Bitty Purr Machine  (A374825)

HISTORY:  A Good Samaritan happen see this adorable kitten outside with its mother.  Not knowing where they came from or how many kittens there were, she watched in the hopes of finding out if they had a human companion.  Then one day, the mother cat disappeared, and was not seen anymore.  When its home could not be found and it was evident the mother cat was not returning for her kitten, she took this frightened baby in but unfortunately could not keep her.  “Alice” was brought to the Prince George’s Animal Facility in Upper Marlboro on August 3 where she presently lives waiting for a wonderful FUREVER home. 

NAME:  “Alice”

COUNTY ID#:  A374825

AGE:  3 months

GENDER:  Female

BREED:   Domestic Short Hair

WEIGHT:  Slim and Trim

COLOR:  Tortie

HOBBIES:   Cuddling up for a great nap, sitting by a window watching the birds outside, eating, purring.

PERSONALITY:  Shy and quiet.  Still getting use to being loved but responds with loud purring very quickly to a gentle touch.  Loves to have her cheeks scratched.

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting the wonderful pet featured this week, please call the Prince George's Animals Management Facility in Upper Marlboro at 301-780-7201 to check on the availability. You may also visit www.pgamd.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com to see many more precious pets that are available for adoption.

ASK FOR ALICE - ID #374825

Cat Proofing Your Home

Get "Down and Dirty"

Put on some old clothes and get down on the floor at a cat's level. You'll spot
tempting hazards you may never have noticed from your human point of view.  

Protect Valuables

Cats are inquisitive and curious (some might say "snoopy"), so you
won't want to leave Great-Aunt Pearle's hand-painted china vase sitting on the
coffee table. It will otherwise undoubtedly be the first sacrifice to your new
kitty's exploration.

Breakables

Put away any other breakable treasures that are remotely accessible to your
cat. Remember that adult cats can, and will, jump onto shelves and counters, so
put yourself into the mind of the cat, and look around, and remove anything you
value. Cats will get into everything, as the above photo demonstrates.

Other Destroyables

Kittens will climb your furniture and drapes. Consider covering cloth furniture
with a purchased cover, or even with a blanket or bedspread. Drapes should be
confined to off-limit rooms, or at the least, tied up and out of reach for the
time being.

               
Poisonous Plants

Kittens and adult cats love to play with plants--the motion of leaves moving in
a draft is irresistable. Unfortunately, part of their play involves biting and
tasting--eating some plants can be fatal, so get rid of those, or hang them
safely out of reach. Check with you vet for a list of plants that are poisonous
to cats.  You might even want to consider
artificial plants and flowers as a substitute--just make sure they don't have
easily detachable (and ingestible) berries, small twigs and such.

        
Hanging blinds cords

Kittens will love to bat around cords from hanging blinds, but can also get
tangled up in them with disastrous consequences. Either anchor the cords firmly
or, better yet, tie them up out of reach.

         
Electrical and phone cords

Kittens' insatiable curiosity often leads them to one of the most dangerously
temptable objects in the house: electric cords. Computers are a particular
hazard with their numerous cords dangling temptingly. Invest in a cord
management system or tape the cords together and fasten them out of reach.
Those that don't manage easily can be sprayed with Bitter Apple, a very
unpleasant tasting, but harmless substance. Do the same with long phone cords.

         
Pest Poisons

Remove any ant or roach traps from accessible areas. If your cat will be an
indoor-outdoor pet, also scour your yard and remove any left-over ant stakes or
snail bait.

         
Small Hazards

Rubber bands, paper clips, thumb tacks, broken balloons, Christmas tree tinsel
and other small articles are irresistible play objects for kittens, but pose a
choking hazard. Put them away in containers, and leave the tinsel off the tree
this year. A good rule of thumb is to put away anything that you would not want
a toddler to get his hands on--the same reasoning goes for your kitten or cat.

         
The Garage

It's probably better to label the garage "off-limits" to your cat.
Too many poisonous/hazardous materials are stored there. Anti-freeze is
particularly poisonous and is attractive to animals because of its sweet taste.
Make sure that any spilled anti-freeze is cleaned up immediately, and the
garage floor thoroughly washed. Store all caustic and poisonous materials in a
closed cabinet.

You've done your homework and progressed along
your journey toward your final goal: bringing your new kitty home. You will
soon be rewarded for all your hard work with joy you simply can't imagine, when
you bring your new cat home.

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