Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Theresa Berrett

Answer Your Cat’s Question Day

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More than 600 million cats share the planet with us, and although we have cohabitated for close to 12,000 years, cats and humans don’t always understand each other.  Researchers at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine say that a cat’s brain is more similar to the human brain than to a dog’s brain, yet feline behavior can be baffling.    

In celebration of Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (January 22nd), take a little more time than usual to tune in and connect with your favorite kitty cat.  You may uncover a question or two she has been dying to know the answer to, and in the process, you may unlock some of her puzzling behavior. 

  1. Why do you keep on petting even when I have had enough? 

Snowball is purring and you are enjoying the touch of her soft silky fur against your fingertips.  Suddenly, hyper-dermic-like teeth penetrate your arm!  A love-bite?  Maybe, but some behavior experts refer to this as petting-induced aggression and Snowball’s response is simple, “I’ve been annoyed by your constant petting and you didn’t stop.”  Although your canine pal may let you continue on and on and on with a belly rub, cats are not small dogs.  They are different creatures altogether, and the non-stop pressure on their tender bodies has its limits.  Pay attention.  Your cat will give you signals:  flattened ears, whiskers pulled back, pupils dilated, and a whipping tail, all mean it’s time for a break! Taking a different cue from your kitty though, is understanding her head-butting or bunting, which is a form of feline affection.  Cats have scent glands at the base of their tail, between their toes, under their chin, along their temples on their ears, and at the corners of their cute little feline mouths.  With so many scent glands on your kitty’s noggin, her bumps are nudges of endearment as she is marking you as her territory. 

  1. Why are you obsessed with my poop but get upset when I pee on the carpet? 

My precocious furry friend, I’m worried about you!  What goes in, must come out, and it should look a certain way if you are a healthy kitty cat, so although your poop is not my favorite thing to look at, I’m trying to keep tabs on your health.  If you don’t poop often enough, too frequently, if it is runny, dark, or has blood, mom or dad needs to get you checked out by your vet.  The same goes for your pee.  You know your manners by now, and I know you’re not trying to be a bad kitty, so if you’re not answering nature’s call where we agreed upon (in your litter box), that must mean you can’t make it there in time and might have a Urinary Tract Infection or other problem.  I know that cats are finicky and like a clean bathroom, so I will do my best to clean your box regularly, provide you with your privacy, and use the litter you like best. 

Here are some more questions your cat may have for you:

Why do you love taking photos of me with that flashing camera every day?

Why do you keep bringing different people into the home?  It makes me nervous.

Why don’t you let me outside?

January 2nd is National Pet Travel Safety Day,

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but it is also a great time to assess and upgrade best practices for transporting your dog or cat safely.  Whether you’re heading to the vet or groomer, off to the park, or hitting the road for vacation, travel safely.  Thousands of animals get injured and die in car accidents every year.  During a collision, a 50-lb. dog riding in a 30-mph car will experience 1,500 lbs. of force if thrown from the vehicle. Newton’s first law of motion states, “a body in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by an outside force,” so even after brakes are applied, an unrestrained pet will continue 30, 40, 50 mph or more until something stops him. Sadly, what stops him may be the dashboard, seat back, or windshield, all of which can cause devastating injury. 

If the pet survives the accident but is not restrained, he may escape through a window or door, broken or opened by the impact, only to end up being hit by an on-coming vehicle.  According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), animals moving around in cars are the third worst distraction to drivers, ranking behind children and cell phones.  Additionally, if you are injured in an accident, your protective Chihuahua, Poodle or Rottweiler might prevent paramedics from quickly offering aid out of fear of being bitten, so Animal Control may first need to be called to confine your pet. Their protectiveness may delay emergency personnel from providing you much-needed medical assistance, so restraining your pets in motor vehicles is a win-win.

Kitten Kindergarten is a thing!

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Did you know that many common behavior problems in cats can be prevented with early training and socialization? 

There are things you can do with your kitten to help them learn important skills to help make life more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone involved (humans too!)  Creature Comforts is proud to announce a new class held at Chimacum Valley Veterinary Hospital called Kitten Kindergarten!  Imagine a room full of playful kittens learning to be social with other cats and humans, as well as learning the skills they need to manage in our human world without stress or fear.

The most effective time to train and socialize a cat is in her early months.  This is when she is more adaptable to new situations and experiences.  Early socialization normalizes a wider variety of situations, people, and animals.  Kittens who are socialized become less fearful and more confident as adults and have a higher tolerance for new situations. This higher confidence directly relates to reduced behavior problems in adults.  

Many cat owners dread taking their pet to the vet because of all the difficulty and stress with carriers, cars, and fear at the vet office. Our “classroom” is an exam room in the veterinary office to get kittens comfortable and familiar with the veterinary setting.  Topics covered in class include regular handling for grooming or veterinary care, positive carrier training, and car rides.  

Many cats are only exposed to the humans that they live with and often run and hide while new people are over.  This can cause a lot of stress to the cat every time you have company.  With early exposure to other people cats can become just as outgoing as dogs who love to greet new people at the door.

One important skill kittens will gain from kindergarten is how to interact and play with other kittens.  Many adult cats have a difficult time interacting with other felines.  Early socialization can improve a kitten’s ability to get along with other cats.  Adding another cat to the household later will be much easier if a kitten has early exposure to other cats.

For kittens and their people starting at 8-10 weeks.  Class is 45 minutes once a week for 6 weeks plus an on demand video introduction.  For only $180. Kittens must have a clean bill of health.

For more information contact Theresa at (360)643-1323

Dangerous Dough Ornaments & Pets

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This favorite holiday tradition can prove deadly to pets!   

Three simple ingredients:  

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water 

can be mixed, flattened, and shaped into the doggone cutest tree ornaments, but if ingested by the family dog, joy can turn tragic due to the abundance of salt in the recipe!  Additional complications can arise from the paint and glitter that make the design sparkle, and…the hook the ornament hangs from!  Cats too can suffer from eating bread dough ornaments, yet they are less likely to consume the decoration.  

Salt toxicity, also known as hypernatremia, can result in the death of your pet!  Signs include:

  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Lack of coordination, tremors, seizures
  • Excessive thirst and urination
  • Decreased appetite
  • Lethargy or collapse

If creating dough ornaments is a family tradition, take extra measures to hang them high on the tree out of paws reach and secure the tree to the ceiling so that it cannot topple down.  If your pet consumes a dough ornament, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately for life-saving measures.  

Although labeled non-toxic, non-allergenic, and even non-irritating, it is important to note that children’s Playdoh is made from the same three ingredients:  water, salt, and flour, so if ingested by pets, the same ill effects can result. Some homemade playdough recipes also contain tartaric acid (potassium bitartrate ), the deadly toxin also found in grapes.  Be aware of doggie dangers and keep them out of paws reach by signing up for a Pet First Aid Class today by contacting Creature Comforts Pet Services at creaturecomfortspetsit@gmail.com

Pets Safety Tips and your Holiday Tree

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Whether artificial or real, you must look out for your pets when decorating for the holidays. To keep dogs and cats safe, here are four pet safety tips concerning the holiday tree:

1) Male dogs and cats pee on trees.  It is that simple, so when their pee station moves indoors, it becomes confusing when you say, “No!”  Consider leaving your tree undecorated for a day or two, teaching pets to stay away before you decorate. Also, choose the location wisely.  Do not place your tree in front of the window Fido watches for the mailman or the windowsill kitty suns herself daily.  To keep pets away, a short white picket fence around the tree may look festive, or giving them their own new and interesting thing to check out may do the trick. 

2) To further dog or catproof your tree, try bitter-scented sprays or position oranges, lemons, or grapefruit underneath, but only if you know these citrus scents are unappealing to your pet.  Attaching the tree, with an invisible fishing line, to a cup hook in your ceiling, could prevent it from falling over should your cat decide to use it as a jungle gym.  Of course, never place candles on the tree and tape down light cords so that pets cannot chew or get caught in them, but always supervise when any fixtures are plugged in. 

3) Never tempt pets by hanging dog biscuits, popcorn garlands, candy canes, or other food items on your tree.  Also, take care with scented packages (i.e. food, soaps, potpourri) placed underneath as well as ribbons, tinsel, ornament hooks, and string.  Any of these objects inside your dog or cat can be CAT-astrophic!  

4) Real trees require water, so cover the tree water securely with foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic lid with an “X” cut through (where the trunk goes).  The oils seeping into the water from the tree are toxic!  Additionally, cut trunks are often coated with preservatives and pesticides, so your pet will get sick and need quick veterinary care if he drinks tree water!  Pine and fir needles are sharp and can cause digestive upsets, so pick up any needles that drop before your pet ingests them or gets them caught in a paw or fur. Fake needles are not safe either if consumed, so monitor pets around ALL holiday decor.  

When you have a dog or cat, you have a furry toddler for their lifetime, so being mindful of potential problems and keeping dangers out of paws and claws reach can keep ‘the merry’ in your holiday season. Make it a New Year’s resolution to sign up for a pet first aid class by contacting Theresa at Creature Comforts or check out www.creature-comforts-pets.com  for 2025 classes!

Top 5 Holiday Safety Tips

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Practice these Top 5 Holiday Pet Safety Tips, and sign up for a Pet First Aid Class so you will have the skills and confidence to help your best friend!   

With Christmas upon us, the chances for ingestion of pet-UNfriendly foods and choking incidents, multiplies, so supervise, supervise, supervise throughout the celebration, and learn pet first aid…  

  • ROUTINE: Walk at your normal walk time, feed on schedule and don’t forget to play — it does a body good (human, canine, or feline).  Don’t forget vitamins, washing bedding, scooping litter. Holidays create added chores, but change can create anxiety in your pet coupled with the intense energy you are giving off at this time of year. Sticking to your normal routine will help. 
  • DECORATIONS:  Don’t let pets access tree water.  Don’t hang edible items on the tree.  Take care with candles and holiday scents which can upset canine and feline noses.  Ribbon, tinsel, and bread dough ornaments can all be hazardous.  When you have a furry child, you have a toddler for life that you must keep safe.  
  • COMPANY:  Dedicate playtime just for you and your dog or cat BEFORE company arrives, and then let kitties retreat to a quiet back bedroom with safe toys to keep them out of mischief — scratching post, kitty tree or chew toys for dogs, maybe even quiet music, or a radio to drowned out noise coming from the boisterous humans. If you feel your pet can make an appearance, let him join in the fun, but remind children (0-99) not to bother pets when they are eating or sleeping, and to never pull ears or tails. If kitty’s ears and whiskers go back or your pup utters a low-gutteral warning, it’s time for socializing to cease. Pheromone sprays (Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats) may take the edge off their anxiety.  Also, take care to make sure doors and gates are closed so as not to have a pet escape, and kindly ask overnight guests to keep suitcases closed so that your pet won’t sniff out trouble.  
  • FOOD & WATER:  Anything on the floor is fair game, including toothpicks from hors d’oeuvres!  Designate a place to deposit used cocktail sticks, and safely throw away bones, foil, and plastic wraps. Yeast from bread rising on counter tops will continue to ferment in a pet’s tummy, causing life-threatening bloat, an intestinal blockage and/or alcohol poisoning.  Have pet-safe treats available and avoid giving Fido or Fluffy salty foods, gravies, dark meat and skins, and NO COOKED BONES of any type! With the heat cranked up in our homes and potentially upset tummies brought on by holiday stress, make sure your pets are staying well-hydrated.  
  • QUALITY TIME: Take time out daily to show your furry family members how much you love them!  Drop your purse, briefcase, or backpack when you come home and get on the floor and play; make time for a walk WITHOUT your cell phone so that you tune in to your dog; let your cat curl in your lap and give her your undivided attention. Paying attention is one of the best ways to make sure you pets stay safe – by noticing them and keeping their environment safe.

For those moments when life happens, know where your nearest 24-hour animal emergency hospital is!

Sharing your life with a pet should be among your greatest blessings, so rejoice in knowing a four-legged friend has chosen to share his life with you, and in the New Year, learn or refresh your Pet First Aid skills so that you can help your dog or cat when he or she needs you most!