Volunteered at the Operation catnip project at the University of Florida and was blown away by the efforts there to stop the needless killing of stray and feral cats. On January 23 2011 from 7am til 1:30 we spayed and neutered 214 cats. Since the program began here in 1998, it is estimated that 30,ooo cats have passed through the doors of catnip to be surgically sterilized. This was one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I have ever been involved in.

One long year has passed

Has it been? Could it be? A year since my last entry? Shame on me! I have to be honest, I had a ton of enthusiasm for this project when I first started, then came the html's and attachments in formats I didn't understand and I wanted to attach a video and couldn't figure it out so what do I do? I up and abandoned this very special blog! Shame on me again! I wanted to do all I could to help people out in the universe take care of their cats. It has been so long since my last post, I have lost two of my own cats. Mineau (the black cat)passed in October at a ripe old age of 20! And, a very special kitty named Mr. Buddy died earlier this month from complications from kidney failure. I had such plans for him in this blog! He was so accomodating, not to mention amazingly photogenic. Hmmmm...now what to do? You know what? You're right, just keep going!

more of the bare essentials

This wooden handled soft bristled brush is designed to be used on short hair cats. It will lessen the amount of shedding fur which is drawn too all of your better pieces of furniture. It also is a wonderful tool for whisking away flakes of dandruff off of a dark coat. Despite all its terrific qualities, it will not cut through tangled or matted fur. A small soft toothbrush is the perfect size mini brush to comb out a sweet little cat face.

the bare essentials

If you only buy a single grooming tool, I beg you, let it be a large metal comb! You will grow to love this tool. It removes stool caught in fur, it de-tangles mats and also helps to prevents new ones. It significantly slows the accumulation of shedding fur on all your furniture. This one is large about nine inches long and has wide spaced teeth on one end, narrow on the other.

I use an e-collar everytime I groom a cat with a questionable personality. The collar prevents a cat from biting but also keeps them alert to their environment. A cat muzzle, which fits over a cats face, can sometimes panic an already frightened cat. The e-collar fits around the neck and simply creates a barrier between their sharp teeth and your human skin.

This is a Whites Nail trimmer. I think this is the best little cat claw clipper on the planet. It is the perfect size for most hands and is very well made. If you purchase one of these you will have it for many years. Steer clear of the guilotine style or dog clippers, generally they are too large and are difficult to work with on small cat feet.

Tools of the trade

These are my grooming tools that I keep at home to groom my own cats, As you can see, one doesn't need a great deal of equipment to help your cat keep looking his or her best. We will look at each tool individually and together we will learn what each tool is for and how best to use it.

Sands of time

This is my 19 year old cat Mineau. She has a 5 minute tolerence for beauty treatments Mini -grooming sessions with a soft bristled brush are just right for her.

When grooming older cats, less is more, consider more frequent brushing for shorter periods.