Pet Blog By Bocci @ Bocci's Beefs: 8/1/12

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Today Is National Holistic Pet Day!

What does "holistic" mean to you? And more importantly, what does it mean regarding the food you buy for your pets? It turns out that there are no regulations for using the term "holistic" in pet products, like there is, say, for the use of the term "organic". So our friends at Halo, Purely for Pets, co-owned by comedianne and animal activist extraordinaire, Ellen DeGeneres (see her pretty, smiling face below), decided to conduct a survey of nearly 850 pet owners about the term "holistic" as it relates to what they feed their pets.

See...we told ya today is National Holistic Pet Day!

And the results might surprise you-here are just a few of the survey's fascinating results:

First, consumers tend to agree on what they think standards governing the use of the term "holistic" should be. When asked what they consider critical elements in a holistic pet food, an overwhelming majority of survey participants gave the following answers:

No artificial preservatives or colorings – 84.8%

All natural – 83.6%

No corn or fillers – 79.1%

No inferior by-products – 82.3%

No rendered animal parts, such as chicken meal – 78%

No “4D” meats (diseased, dying, disabled or dead before butchering) – 80.3%

Other top attributes included: Only fresh meat or fish (58.5%), includes lots of fruits and vegetables (50.3%), zero recalls (50.4%) and the use of ingredients one can find in their own kitchen (45.2%).

If you want to read up on what two veterinarians have to say on the subject, check out these two links:

Good Nutrition Heals by Donna Kelleher, DVM http://blog.halopets.com/2012/08/21/holistic-pet-day-2/

Let Food be Thy Medicine by Donna Spector, DVM http://blog.halopets.com/2012/08/17/food-be-thy-medicine/

We'd love to hear what you think about the term "holistic' as it applies to the food you purchase for your pets. Do you make an effort to purchase what you believe is a holistic pet food, or for that matter, take an overall "holistic" approach to your pets' care? Let us know!

Are Your Pets Right Or Left Pawed? How To Test Them!

Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

Although testing your pet for his or her paw preference isn't exactly sweeping the country, Parental Unit thought it might be fun to "test" both Bella and me to see if she could tell our preference-or if we even had one. This article in today's Washington Post helps pet parents do just that, with a few recommended tests that sound fun to me because most involve treats... And the article suggests that a pet parent perform the tests about 100 times over the course of several days to get an accurate sample. Hello? Those treats add up mighty fast-so get your parent to start testing you, pronto!

By the way, most vets and researchers agree that most of the animals tested, like dogs, cats and horses have a right or left preference-it usually comes out 50-50 with canines, for example. But this research with animals, as usual, serves to enhance the knowledge of neurological connections,genetics and sexual orientation in both humans and other animals, so besides some fun, it also serves a legitimate scientific purpose.

Have you ever tested your pet for left or right paw preference? Let us know!

Luxury Pet Hotels Latest Trend In Pet Accomodations

Photo courtesy of PetPR.com

You know how both Parental Unit and I just love everything preceded by the word "luxury", so we are particularly excited to see that luxury pet accommodations are the newest trend in the pet industry marketplace. This short piece published in PetPr.com describes some of the amenities available to the four-legged companions lucky enough to stay at one of these hotels-can you say chauffeured Porsches, spa menus, private fitness trainers and chef-made meals...all for your beloved pooch! How's that for canine royal treatment?

Check out D Pet Hotels and their canine amenities and see what you think. When do we leave?

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips": Five Back to School Transition Tips For Your Dogl

Although your dog probably isn't going back to school next week, your kids are, which could leave Fido lonely and down in the dumps...and perhaps even lead to destructive behavior, like eating your sofa. And even if you don't have children, maybe your Parental Unit is a teacher, like mine, and they'll be spending long hours at school...without you!

We found these tips on VetStreet.com to help your favorite canine to transition to an empty house during the day-and we think they make pretty good sense. For example, even with all the hubbub surrounding a return to school and a different routine, don't forget to give your dog extra exercise-he's a member of the family, too, and depends on you for those daily walks and special chew toys to help keep his mind off the empty house. It's good to be reminded that a long walk or run followed by a hearty meal will lead to snooze time for your furry friend-he might not even notice your gone! And don't forget to practice low-key comings and goings-if you're not excited, or anxiety-ridden when you leave or arrive home, your pooch likely won't be either...

Enjoy! And let us know if you have any special rituals or tricks you use to ease your dog into a different or back-to-school routine.

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop And Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And if Timmy claims he has too much homework (already) to come out and play, so be it! We're chasing squirrels and blog hopping-without that nuisance called Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

Here are just a few, easy-to-follow rules for joining this hop:

__ Use the Linky tool provided to sign up. Note: if your blog is not pet-related it will be removed from the list.

__Follow the three hosts at the top of the list (and while you're at it, follow us-we'd appreciate it!)

__ Peruse these fabulous blogs and follow and comment as you desire.

A hearty congrats to our Week 72 winner! And don't forget to enter our "Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest" next week. Here's the initial write-up of the contest to get you started: boccibeefs.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-fun-contest.html.

We had a hard time choosing among all of the excellent (and hilarious) submissions-thanks! Just click on Timmy's red text above and congratulate the winner yourself! (Notice anything suspicious here?) Feel free to enter on our Facebook page-it's easy and fun: www.facebook.com/pages/Boccis-Beefs/190090017696328.

And...don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 24 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered with love...for the pet lover in all of us.

Man Abandons Dog To Die On Mountain...And Then Wants Her Back

Photo of Missy and her former owner and family, courtesy of DogTime Media

This is an absolutely wild story! In summary, a man and his family went hiking on a 14,000 ft. mountain in Colorado, and insisted on taking their German shepherd dog, Missy, with them, although the mountain climb was rated too difficult for a dog. When Missy's paws became torn and bloody (and a storm was apparently brewing), they abandoned the dog and went back down the mountain. The owner did call the sheriff, but was told that no rescue operation could be undertaken at that time.

Well, six days later, other hikers found the poor pooch, bandaged her up and left her with food and water, while they went back down the mountain and organized a search party. Missy was brought safely back down the mountain after eight days by this kind group of people.

After the rescue, the abandoning owner came forward to claim Missy, but instead he was charged with animal cruelty. His court date is in October and a judge will decide whether Missy should be returned to him.

What do you think about this case? Should he get Missy back? Should he be convicted of animal cruelty? At least from the facts we have, it seems that if one group of people could organize their own rescue party and bring the dog to safety, then the original owner could have done the same. Who would abandon their hurt dog and not return to get her? We guess the answer is this guy...

Detective Solves Case of Runaway Dog

Photo of Pepper, the canine escape artist, courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

This article in today's LA Times reads like a detective novel-except you can't make this stuff up: Pepper, a three-year-old shar-pei, shepherd mix with wanderlust, took off during a walk with his elderly owner (Pepper had recently been placed with this new owner by a Santa Fe, New Mexico shelter). And it took eight long months with a trained detective and his posse to safely capture the pooch.

Ex-lawman Steve Dobbie, a retired detective and former big-game trapper, has nothing but respect for the dog he finally brought to safety: "During his time on the streets, a day didn't go by when I didn't increase my respect and admiration for that dog," he told a reporter for the The Los Angeles Times.

We are heartened to read of this substantial effort dedicated to bringing Pepper to safety. Apparently, he was crossing busy Santa Fe roads many times daily, and likely would have eventually been struck by a car and injured or killed. And with additional efforts by detective Dobbie, Pepper was placed with an animal sanctuary near Sacramento, California. "Finally, this dog is going to be able to run in a safe environment," said Dobbie.

Kudos to the veteran detective and his "posse" for their considerable efforts to help one stray dog. But the fun is in the details-we hope you enjoy reading how this savvy canine was eventually captured.

Me? No posse needed to bring me to a safe home-I jumped right into Parental Unit's arms from the shelter cage and have never left...her bed!

Crypton's Pet "Throver" Review and Giveaway!

We're thrilled to be able to review the amazing "Throver", a gorgeous blanket for your pets (and humans, too!) created by Crypton, that comes in a wide variety of stunning colors and patterns.
We received two Throvers from Crypton, one to review and the other for our giveaway. Otherwise, we were not compensated for this post and our opinions expressed in this review are our own.

See the end of this post to enter our giveaway to win one beautiful Throver! Plus get the secret discount code at the end of this post, for all those who enter this giveaway. The photo below is the Wilshire pattern Throver in "Pool" and the exact Throver that will be shipped to our lucky winner!
Note: Entrants must live in the continental U.S. only.

We first learned of Crypton from an advertisement in The Bark magazine, and when we checked out their array of home furnishings, and pet accessories, like beds, mats and Throvers, we were smitten.
Why?

First, because all of their fabrics and the products they make with them are simply gorgeous. If you take the time to care for your home (and we don't mean just the fancy-schmancy stuff-anything you purchase is worthy of good care) you don't want your furry companions shedding, leaking, drooling and who knows what else on your furniture, carpets and other pretty surfaces. And why look at a sheet-covered sofa or a dowdy blanket-draped chair, when you can cover your furniture, floors and even your car seats with something beautiful, in a color or pattern that matches your decor and that you'll be happy to look at every day? Crypton even has William Wegman, the artist and famed Weimaraner photographer, on board to share his playful, doggy-themed designs for many of its product lines.

And I think it's the perfect soft spot to play with my toys. (The color of this Throver is "Pear".)

Or look out the window...

And according to the company website, Crypton fabric is "permanently stain, moisture, mildew, bacteria and odor-resistant." Even the nastiest stains dab up with a damp cloth (some stains require light detergent and water to remove)-and it's "the only fabric on the market deemed a non-porous surface and can be easily disinfected with their own U.S. EPA-approved Crypton Disinfectant and Deodorizer". Crypton describes the Throver as "a luxury throw blanket that works like a tough tarp,", and we think this is an accurate description. Although the material is beautiful and soft to the touch, it is extremely substantial. We washed ours in cold water and threw it in the dryer on medium heat, and it came out feeling soft and supple (although we noticed later that the company recommends line-drying the Throver-oops!). We also haven't spilled anything on it to test the claims of impermeability, but after reading through Crypton's detailed website and examining the quality of the fabric, we believe them...although as stains appear and spills happen, as they inevitably will, we'll update this post with our clean-up efforts.

Or play with my toys (did I say that already?)

And last, but certainly far from least in our book, Crypton as a company invests in renewable energy, carbon offsets, a recycling program and developing an "environmentally preferable chemistry" for their products which makes them "Indoor Air-Quality Certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute - all of which we see as beneficial to both our current human and animal friends, and to our planet's long-term sustainable future.

Overall, we think Crypton provides a myriad of solutions for pet people: want to keep your furniture clean and undamaged? Get a Throver. Is the fabric on a beloved piece of furniture ruined? Buy Crypton fabric by the yard and have it re-covered (Crypton fabrics are sold in all 500 Jo-Ann Fabric Superstore locations across the U.S.!) In need of a new sofa or chair? Order one from Crypton with your choice of Crypton Super Fabric right here: www.cryptonathome.com See...they've got all the bases covered!

Or yet another comfy place to perch while looking out the window...

I'm finally allowed on this couch! (See, the reverse side is a solid-color suede).

Even Lady Bella thinks it's a great place to rest!

Now let's get to the GIVEAWAY...This giveaway will run from today,Tuesday August 21, 2012, through Tuesday, September 4th at 8:00 pm EST, so you and all of your friends will have plenty of time to enter. The single winner will be chosen by computerized random drawing and announced within 24 hours of the evening of September 4th
And...anyone who enters the giveaway will automatically be able to use this discount coupon: bocci20, to receive 20% off of all Crypton items (except fabric by the yard, furniture and cleaners)

Here are the requirements to enter: Just complete ALL of the sign-ups listed below and then leave ONE COMMENT per person. No anonymous comments, please!

1. Sign up for our e-mail blasts and newsletters-see very top of left sidebar for the sign-up form.

2. "Like" Bocci's Beefs Facebook Page-see top of right sidebar, directly under the "Search this blog" icon.

3."Follow" us on Twitter-see top of right sidebar directly under Facebook sign-up.

4. "Follow" Bocci's Beefs on both Google Friends Connect and Networked Blogs. See right sidebar, under the Twitter sign-up.

5. Comment on this post and indicate in your ONE comment that you'd like to enter this giveaway.

Good Luck!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Ten Wild Animals That Can Be Dangerous To Your Pets!

We saw this article in our most recent DogTime media newsletter (originally published on WebVet.com), and knew that it was important to share this information no matter what area of the world our pet-owning friends live in. We also know that WebVet always has several veterinarians review articles before they're published, so we feel comfortable that what they print is thoroughly vetted by experts.

The article describes the top ten animals that will attack pets and what types of damage they might inflict: Coyotes, snakes, cougars, raccoons, SQUIRRELS, yes, SQUIRRELS (I told you they are a blight on civilized society!), scorpions, porcupines (remember our recent photo), skunks, groundhogs and last but certainly not least, rats, round out the list.

Now the biggest danger that many of these creatures pose is passing on diseases, like rabies, to your furry companion, whether you live in an urban area, down a country road or on the edge of the wilderness. In fact, I got Parental Unit up at 4:00 a.m. a few weeks ago to investigate a trio of baby raccoons making their way along our fencepost (we live in the heart of the city), that had triggered our neighbor's motion sensor lights. With hindsight, she probably shouldn't have let me out...and after a few minutes dragged me in by my collar. (She later said that she wanted me to "explore my natural instincts" when I had the opportunity. Hoo boy...)

A pet could also get some nasty bites and scratches requiring medical attention from the likes of raccoons, SQUIRRELS, rats and groundhogs, and be carried away and killed by a cougar or coyote. So the best medicine, as usual, is preventive: Be vigilant at all times when your pet is outdoors, but especially in the woods or in open fields, and check your furry friend for signs of injury after walking through these areas.

But the first order of business is to make our world FREE FROM SQUIRRELS! To demonstrate the world-wide problem SQUIRRELS pose, they're even building statues in their honor across the big pond...in England!

Here are our friends, George the Lad and his sister Tess checking out that monster! How'd you like to run into this on your weekend stroll?

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop And Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And if Timmy is shopping for school supplies with Mom's money (Timmy still doesn't have a job), so be it! We're chasing squirrels and blog hopping-without that nuisance called Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

A hearty congrats to our Week 71 winner! And don't forget to enter our "Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest" next week. Here's the initial write-up of the contest to get you started: boccibeefs.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-fun-contest.html.

We had a hard time choosing among all of the excellent (and hilarious) submissions-thanks! Just click on Timmy's red text above and congratulate the winner yourself! (Notice anything suspicious here?) Feel free to enter on our Facebook page-it's easy and fun: www.facebook.com/pages/Boccis-Beefs/190090017696328.

And...don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 23 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered with love...for the pet lover in all of us.

Adopting A Dog: Should It Be Based On Your Lot Size?

Photo courtesy of Shamus Fatzinger for The Fairfax County Times

We thought this article in yesterday's Local Section of The Washington Post raised some interesting questions about pet adoption. Apparently, Fairfax County near Washington D.C. has a zoning ordinance that specifies that if you want to have more than two dogs, your property must measure at least 12,500 sq. ft. The couple above, who already has two adopted Pekingese (weighing about nine pounds each), and wanted to adopt a third Pekingese from their local shelter, but were denied because of this ordinance. "We are responsible pet owners and have plenty of room", said Erika Perkins, above. "How many dogs are killed each year because they don't get adopted? Here we are trying to adopt one, and they tell us we can't."

We understand the concept behind the law: to prevent pets living in overcrowded conditions and to nip a possible hoarding situation in the bud. But we tend to agree with the director of shelter services for the Humane Society of the United States, who said that these laws may "inadvertently punish responsible pet owners. Proper care has nothing to do with space and everything to do with responsibility."

What side do you come out on? Let us know!

And The Winner Of The "Arlo Needs Glasses" Children's Book Giveaway Is...

We're happy to announce the winner of the autographed copy of this fabulous children's book! As usual, we used our favorite space-age device, The Random Sequence Generator, and plugged in the numbers from 1-5, because we had five comments. And here's what came up:

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

Timestamp: 2012-08-15 22:47:13 UTC

The first comment was from Caroline, from High Paw Media so let's all put our paws together in a round of applause for our winner! Now, in full disclosure, we just happen to know Caroline and think she's wonderful, but that's what the Random Sequence Generator came up with, so that's who won!

We'll ask Caroline to give us her snail mail address and I'll pass it on to the publisher, who will then send out the book.

And we send out a big fat "thank you" to those who participated!

Big News: Early next week, we're running another giveaway-this time for one Throver from Crypton Fabrics. These all-purpose (and drop-dead gorgeous) blankets/throws are completely stain proof and will look fabulous on your furniture, floors, or in your car. They're works of art!

BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop!

Can a dog ever have too many toys?

We didn't think so!

While you're here, why not join up with the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Hop and make some new friends?

How Rising Temps Have Affected Our Pets: The Good, The Bad And...

Bella Mae, the quill-riddled bulldog is now doing well!

Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

We think this article (compiled by the weather forecasters at The Washington Post) is a fascinating discussion of how and why the rising temperatures have affected our animal friends-and in turn, affected us humans. Can you guess the probable reason why this pup was sprayed with porcupine quills? The piece contains a few inspirational stories, too!

And one more gentle reminder about our giveaway that ends tonight at 8:00 pm EST: Enter to win an autographed copy of the adorable children's book, Arlo Needs Glasses, by the award-winning children's author, Barney Saltzberg. Surely you know a child (or adult) who would love this book! Enter here: www.boccibeefs.com/2012/08/arlo-needs-glasses-autographed-book.html
Check back later tonight to congratulate the lucky winner-it could be you!

P.S. 'Tis the season for giveaways because we've got a very special one coming up next week that you're guaranteed to love-so please stay tuned!

Sunday/Monday, "Living With Your Pet Tips": How to Choose Pet Health Insurance

It turns out that to wisely choose pet insurance, you have to do "due diligence", including research among the policies, reading the fine print and finding out information the old fashioned way, by asking direct questions of the insurance company representatives-just like you do when choosing among human health insurance policies.

But it sure helps to know what to look for at the start, and this detailed discussion from Cesar's Way provides what you need to know to start your search. And the good news: it doesn't seem to be nearly as expensive as human health insurance. According to this piece, "dog owners can expect to pay between $15 a month for a basic plan to about $75 for the most comprehensive coverage. [And] Most policies will reimburse 80-90 percent of a claim."

Now that doesn't sound too bad to us, considering that Parental Unit paid $12,000 total for five surgeries and one mini dialysis for my predecessor, the ornery wire fox terrier, Carson. As soon as she can afford her own health insurance or obtains a full-time job that provides it, she vows to cover me and Bella!

Sweet Carson, pre surgeries...

How about you? We'd love to know how many of our pet owning friends have either invested in pet health insurance or wish they had!

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop And Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And if Timmy has climbed to the top of a giant oak tree and is swinging from its top limb, so be it! We're chasing squirrels and blog hopping-without that nuisance called Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

A hearty congrats to our Week 70 winner! And don't forget to enter our "Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest" next week. Here's the initial write-up of the contest to get you started: boccibeefs.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-fun-contest.html.

We had a hard time choosing among all of the excellent (and hilarious) submissions-thanks! Just click on Timmy's red text above and congratulate the winner yourself! (Notice anything suspicious here?) Feel free to enter on our Facebook page-it's easy and fun: www.facebook.com/pages/Boccis-Beefs/190090017696328.

And...don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 22 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered with love...for the pet lover in all of us.

The Mid-Century Modern Dog House

Photo of Frank Lloyd Wright dog house courtesy of Modern Dog Magazine

We loved this sweet story in Modern Dog Magazine's most recent newsletter about a young boy who asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design a dog house for his best buddy-and offered to pay the architect from his paper route money!

Parental Unit just happens to love mid-century modern and modern design and was taken with these cool pet accessories, complete with links to their designers, also showcased in this newsletter. We hope you enjoy browsing these MOD-ern accouterments for your furry friends as much as we did.

P.S. A gentle reminder to enter our giveaway for one autographed copy of the adorable children's book, "Arlo needs Glasses". You've only got till Tuesday, August 14 at 8:00 pm to enter! Why wait?

India's Stray Dogs: Some Even Come With Rabies

Heading off to the vet for my rabies vaccine...

When we saw this article in The New York Times a few days ago, we were shocked. We thought that only a handful of rabies cases occurred these days, and didn't realize that in some parts of the world, including India, one of the most populated and sophisticated countries, still suffers not only from a horrendous stray dog population, but a rabid one: "more than a third of the global rabies toll" occurs in India. According to this piece, "Free-roaming dogs number in the tens of millions and bite millions of people annually, including vast numbers of children. [And] an estimated 20,000 people die every year from rabies infections..."

But here's the tragic paradox: A 2001 law forbade the killing of dogs, presumably by euthanasia (it's not clear whether this law applied throughout India or just in New Delhi), which helped the stray dog population soar, but in order to protect themselves from dog attacks, people are doing the killing themselves-and in ways that are less than humane. After a six year old child was slashed by a dog that charged through his family's shack, for example, they beat the dog to death.

Another fascinating bit of history is India's place "as the global center for rabid dogs...the first dog ever infected with rabies most likely was Indian," according to a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And so this frightening saga continues.

How does an entire country overrun by stray dogs and bitten, frightened people solve this epidemic humanely? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

"Cat Proof" Your Computer With SurDoc...And Get FREE Online Storage!

Bella sitting precariously close to Parental Unit's computer...

Our good friends at Romeo the Cat told us about this really cool offer from SurDoc, a hip, Silicon Valley company that backs up all those precious documents (and photos of your beloved four-legged companions) stored on your computer in "The Cloud". Most of us have heard about that cloud stuff and we're already using it for some of our photos...but we've come to learn that we need a bit more protection, even if we have all of our files stored on a hard-drive, because those can crash, too. So we're convinced that those fluffy white clouds are the way to go for all of your computer storage needs.

The folks at SurDoc also understand us pet people, because many of their employees are owned by cats and have had a few disasters of their own when kitty walked across their keyboards, obliviously deleting precious files-haven't we all? (Hello? Would dogs do such a thing?)

Anyway, the folks at SurDoc have come up with a great list of ways to "Cat Proof" your computer, well short of ~~eating~~ barring your feline friend from your office, which we're happy to share with you below. They're also offering YOU, yes YOU, 30 GB of FREE storage with this coupon code: CATPROOF.

Cat-Proof Your Computer!

97.2 percent of cat owners say their cat has deleted something by walking across their keyboard!

Protect Your Cat by Preventing Chewing and Electrocution

1. Tie and Bundle Loose Cords

Enclose within plastic coverings wherever possible. Secure larger cords to the walls with clips.

2. Spray Exposed Wires with Cat Repellent

But be careful to keep moisture away from computer openings!

3. Remove Peripheral Devices

Remove devices you don’t use and put them away

4. Beware of Moving Parts!

Avoid printers with exposed rollers because they can catch a cat’s tail and….yeow!

Protect Your Computer

1. Keep it Cool

Turn off equipment before leaving the room. This helps keep it cool (and less inviting)

2. Avoid Breakage

Retract keyboard trays and letter trays on printers when not in use. Or, store keyboard upright.

Close CD and DVD-ROM drawers.

3. Keep the Computer Clear of Fur

Fur clogs can cause your computer to work harder and overheat

Shut your laptop when not in use and put it away. Keep desktops under a plastic cover.

Clean the fan, vent openings and any filters in your computer regularly.

4. Prevent Spills - keep drinks, cats and computers apart

Discourage cats from being near the computer.

Place double-sided tape on the desk

Create a “safe zone,” such as a basket that is near you but not net to the computer. Or, put a cat tree close to your work station.

Protect Your Files

1. Close Applications

Close open applications before leaving your computer

2. Auto-save

Set your programs to auto-save frequently

3. Install Paw Recognition Software

Programs like Pawsense teach your cat to stay off the keyboard.

4. Back up Online

Make sure you are using an online back up service like SurDoc – in case your cat accidentally “edits” or deletes a file.

Percentage of Cat Owners Who Back up Their Computers Daily – 9%

Percentage Who Should Be – 100%

Reminder: Use Coupon Code CATPROOF to get 30GB free at SurDoc.com

We hope this information serves as a gentle reminder to always back up all of your computer files, and that you enjoy these "Cat Proofing" tips. And please notice there are no "Dog Proofing" tips, O.K.?