From left to right: Porkie, Barry and Ted)

In line with the aim to educate the masses, there were several stage activities centred around responsible pet ownership. CWS took a two-pronged approach by giving a talk catering to adults on how to ensure pet cats have nutritious diets, foods to avoid at all costs, commonly found items that are poisonous to cats, the importance of keeping cats indoors and preventing accidents by meshing the house completely, and ensuring cats had sufficient entertainment. For the children, we conducted games to teach them about pet abandonment, the importance of sterilisation and even hoarding.

The need for education was palpable in some cases, when we had people come up to us saying they wanted to adopt a cat but would not even take the time to fill in an adoption questionnaire. One particularly troubling instance was a family who wanted to adopt a kitten, but whose 5 year old cat had fallen to its death because they had not meshed their windows. Despite repeated attempts by fosters and volunteers to explain why they needed to mesh before they adopted, they vehemently refused.

Thankfully most of the people we spoke to were receptive and we have even received queries on where to buy mesh and how to best prepare the house before adopting. The roadshows, while gruelling, are an excellent way to reach the masses and drive home the importance of responsible pet ownership.

From left to right: Bakers galore! One of our bakers feeding a kitten & the whole group! Photo credit – Attilio Rapisarda

20 dedicated bakers showed off their prowess at whipping up sweet treats, bearing the entire cost of their ingredients and taking home nothing but the joy of having raised funds for the Cat Welfare Society’s Spay Day coming up in October.

When you give from the heart, there’s no stopping the returns reaped in and sure enough, the Bakeoff came to a rousing close with a whooping $4535 raised and about 100 stray cats to be rescued and spayed.

So, missed out on all the cake at the Bakeoff? Yes, you should be sad. It was endless eating for a good cause, worthy of the tagline – We miaos, eat cakes and be jolly!

Note that none of the information below is a substitute for qualified veterinary care, and you should always clear the planned methodology with your regular vet before embarking on it.

Using a drop almond oil to clean out any debris in the cat’s ears is a useful tip – the oil helps loosen the debris and massaging the ear a little and removing the dirt with a cottonball will help keep the ears clean. This is extra-useful in helping clear out ear mites should an infestation occur. Ear mites will likely require additional medication to prevent re-infection so consult your vet as well. It has been said that adding about ? teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to cats’ daily meals should also help with fur balls by lubricating their passage ways.

Left to right: Clean ears! Pheromones have been used to help stressed animals calm down.

Bach Flower Remedies
By Deki Soh, Bach Foundation registered Practitioner

Today’s pet owners are looking for the best options in everything from food to health care for their animal companions. Over the years, healing through holistic, complementary methods for the animal’s overall well-being has become increasingly popular. Bach Flower Remedies are one such methodology. Since its establishment in 1936 by Dr Edward Bach, it aims to balance the emotions by encouraging positive qualities in humans and animals – for instance, Cherry Plum improves self-control while Larch boosts confidence.

All 38 remedies are made from plants and/or water, then preserved in alcohol, though alcohol-free remedies have been developed of late. One of the most popular remedies is the Rescue Remedy used to deal with immediate stress. Other remedies commonly used are Walnut for adjustment, Beech and Chicory for allowing more possessive or dominant cats to relax with new cats.

Choosing the right remedies for cats involves observing the way they live, interact, and understand what is happening from the cat’s point of view. Once you know how you feel about your cats, simply match them with the appropriate remedies.

The remedy may be administered by you by making a treatment bottle – add 2 drops of each individual stock remedy, up to 7 remedies at one time to a 30ml bottle of spring water. Feed 4 drops of the mixture at least 4 times a day orally or by adding the liquid to their food. Pre-blended bottles may be easier to use, but may not deal with the deeper issues. Spending time and learning to identify the remedies to make your own blend is definitely the way to understand your pet better. (More information on Bach Flower Remedies available at: www.innervoice.sg)

Note that none of the information provided above is a substitute for medical advice from a qualified vet, so please consult your vet first.

Ever wondered what your pets are thinking and feeling? Wonder no more! Learn how to connect with your pets in a 2-way dialogue. Engage in meaningful conversations with your pets to deepen your relationship.

15 & 16 September 2012 | 12-6pm | The Jelutung CC @ Canberra
Special Workshop fee: $350 (regularly priced at $420) Save $70

Workshop details at: www.oribeldivine.com/workshop-for-cws-members
For enquiries, please contact [email protected]