Hi! My name is Yoda and welcome to my blog!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Cat Tunnel Happiness

I rolled up a newspaper this morning and smacked mom's nose for her neglecting my bloggie. She gave me sad puppy dog eyes and promised she would never do it again. So she decided we better post something right away. Fortunately we had one all ready that she had been meaning to help me with for some time.

My kitty sibs don't like most toys so mom and dad stopped wasting their money on stuff for them (other than nip and a laser pointer). But, for Christmas they decided to invest in a cat tunnel from Nip and Bones. And, as these pictures show, they finally found something they like!

 Cleo makes herself at home

 Sabrina checks it out

 Hmmm seems rather comfy

 Yep, purrrfect for napping

 "I'm not sure I can fit my tubby tabby body in this tunnel" thinks Caesar

Well, barely

They aren't fooling me though. I know they like this thing because I can't chase them when they are inside. Foiled again!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Pets for a Lifetime: Which Pets Live the Longest?

Today I am thrilled to present my very first guest post which has been contributed by Tina Marconi. Tina writes on the topic of online vet tech schools. She welcomes your comments at her email id: tinamarconi85[@]gmail[.]com. I added the pictures to go with her post.


Remember when you had a dog when you were a child and then he disappeared suddenly and was replaced by another? Remember how your mom told you that your old pet had been sent to a farm to live because he needed more room than you had in your home? And remember when you finally figured out the truth, that your dog had died because that’s just how long dogs live – a maximum of 12 years or so?

It’s hard when a pet, which is a beloved member of the family, dies after a few years of being a significant part of your life. So if you’re looking for a pet that lives as long as you do, or at least for a good number of years, then you probably have to choose a turtle or a tortoise, because they can live for 75 or more years. However, not everyone considers a tortoise a pet, unless you prefer the reptilian kind and don’t really feel the need to cuddle or play with them.

 Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks

If you like backtalk and some color around the house, you could go in for a parrot, a cockatoo or a macaw – many of these birds can live for 60 or more years, and they give you quite an earful too if they can talk. It could become embarrassing if the birds repeat the choice epithets you’ve uttered when you hit your leg against the sofa or cut yourself inadvertently, but on the upside, you always have someone to talk to and a voice greeting you as you walk into an otherwise empty house.


Photo courtesy of Riza Nugraha

Again, you can’t really cuddle your bird, so if you’re looking for a warm-blooded mammal that lives long, then go for a horse. Of course, if you own a horse, you need a farm or a large open area where you can exercise and ride him and where he is happy and content. City life is not for your horsey, so when you live in the hustle and bustle of streets filled with traffic and in apartments that can be covered end to end with a dozen strides, your best bet for a pet that lives long is a dog or a cat.

Cats live a year or so longer than dogs, but with a feline or a canine, you get to enjoy 10 to 15 years of companionship. The downside to owning a dog is that they require considerable grooming, training and looking after, so most people prefer a cat. But then again, dogs are more people-friendly while cats tend to be disdainful of the entire human clan.


My Sisfur Majel lived 18 years!

If you want a pet in a cage and one small enough to hold in your hand, go for a rabbit, gerbil, guinea pig, hamster or a mouse – they live for 2 to 3 years, and make ideal pets for children who tend to outgrow their interests faster than you can find them new ones. 
The choice of a pet boils down to the kind of animal you love the most, but then, considerations like age, space and cost do add to the mix and make the decision more complicated. It’s best to weigh all the factors involved, and then do what’s best for yourself and your pet.

Thanks Tina!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Groundhog Day Fraud Exposed!

Mom just told me about the gigantic fraud perpetrated on us over Groundhog Day and that Punxsutawney Phil character. You know - that whole thing about when he comes out of his burrow on February 2 if he sees his shadow expect 6 more weeks of winter and if he doesn't it means an early spring?

 Photo from Reuters

Well, mom read to me this Yahoo News report and it seems the whole thing is fake, with the results decided by some people in advance! So I was hoping that we were getting an early spring because he didn't see his shadow today. And boy I could believe it because we had 70 degree weather today! I ran and played so hard out today that I threw up.

Now I don't know what to think. Well, I did see on Wikipedia that there are some other rodent rascals that predict the weather - do you think they are real?

Next thing you know I'll find out that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are fake too.

Anyway, mom and I wanted to share this film clip from one of our most favorite movies - Groundhog Day! And, for all my pals snowed in my the horrible blizzard, I do hope we get an early spring!