The Furbabies Podcast Stephanie Goodman

In this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses how to keep your pet safe in cold weather and shares top tips on how to do it!
Hi everyone!
My name is Stephanie Goodman and I am your host of the Furbabies Podcast and the upcoming Furbabies Summit. I’m here with the our Furbaby Question of the Day! How can I keep my furbabies safe during cold weather?
1.First and foremost: Keep your pets inside.
Cats and Dogs are just as susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia as people are. They may have fur but that doesn't preclude them from being affected by the cold and it can happen a lot faster than you think. Yes There are some breeds who are bred for colder climates and can handle cold weather better but they should still not be left outdoors in freezing and sub freezing temperatures. Smaller breeds and animals closer to the ground feel the effects of cold and snow much faster and need to be sheltered indoors. A good rule of thumb to remember is: If you're cold, They're cold. Bring them inside!
2. Keep them dry! If you are providing outdoor shelter for your furbabies here are a few tips. Make sure to pick a dry spot. For the ferals or neighborhood cats outside during the cold, we set up a storage tub with a hole cut into one side and insulate it with straw. I know it's tempting to use towels or blankets but they can get wet and actually cause the animal to freeze to death while sleeping. We definitely don't want that. If you use sweaters or coats on your furbabies make sure to take them off if they get wet. It's easy to get caught up and forget but a wet sweater can drop their temperature really quickly, especially if they have certain medical conditions. Other companies also make insulated houses you can set on your porch or patio for your dogs and cats, and there are even outdoor heat mats you can use. Sometimes a sock full of warmed up rice or a hot water bottle also does the trick. With any heat source make sure you have it on a low setting with something as a buffer so they don't accidentally burn their paws and keep an eye on it.
3. Speaking of paws, Take care of their paws! When you take your dogs outside check their paws when they come back in and wipe them down. Lots of things can hurt their paws in extremely cold weather. They can pick up chemicals like antifreeze or de-icers that are toxic when ingested. We look for pet safe products that aren't poisonous so if our furbabies lick it off while cleaning themselves they're okay. They can also injure their paws from the cold so check for cracked pads or any bleeding. Watch out for accumulation of ice between their paw pads as you're outside as well.
4.Check your cars! Animals will seek shelter in any area they can find to stay warm and dry. Often a cat or kitten will crawl under the hood to get warmth. The problem is when you crank the engine they can be seriously hurt or killed by belts and other moving parts. We make sure to go out and check before starting the engine. How? We bang on the hood, we honk the horn a few times, we even raise the hood to double check if we know there are critters out there at night. These things can alert them and get them to jump on out.
5. Make sure to set out food and water and keep an eye on it so that it doesn't freeze. Your furbabies may need extra food during extreme cold too, as their little bodies burn more calories trying to stay warm. It all depends on their size and weight, but an extra can of food is always a welcome blessing.
These are our favorite tips for weathering the cold with your furbabies.

Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show?
Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com

Rarely do animal lovers adopt a pet with the thought that they will one day have to rehome their loved one. And there is often a stigma of failure or backlash that comes when an emergency or an unknown situation arises that causes us to have to look to rehome our furbaby. Stephanie Goodman discusses this stigma that plagues animal lovers who have had to find a new family for their four-legged children and how to overcome this loss and feeling of guilt that can plague us.

Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com

National holidays are often a great time to celebrate our history. Unfortunately, these holidays and the fireworks that surround them often lead to added stress for our furbabies. Fireworks can often scare our four-legged children tremendously. In this episode of the podcast, Stephanie Goodman shares what you can do to help keep your animals safe during the 4th of July.

Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com

Should I put a Litterbox outside for my lost cat?
The answer is NO

Why? Instead of attracting your lost cat it can attract predators. Depending on what part of the country you live in, the smell of a dirty litter box can attract foxes, bobcats and coyotes. It can also lure in other neighborhood cats or ferals that may be tempted to lay claim to the territory if
they see it as a food source. Most indoor cats aren't skilled fighters, or ninjas at evasion like wildlife are. If they are approached outside they will likely be scared, or even terrified. If they get into a fight or confrontation they could get hurt. So, we really don't want that.

Now, on the wildlife side, I can tell you in my part of the world we have coyotes. Recently they have
been coming into neighborhoods because construction is edging them out of their habitat but they are also creatures of convenience. When they realize a neighborhood is a ready source of food, it's an easy kill. Now this is horrific for us, and deadly for our pets. A coyote can jump fences like they're nothing; 6 foot, 8 foot, we've even seen where one jumped a 10 foot fence. It's impressive, but really scary. And a coyote can make off with small dogs and cats in just a few seconds. It's a brutal end and one best avoided. So, should your cat accidentally escape please don't put a dirty litter box outside. It can spell disaster for both your cat, and your dogs if they are outside at night. To that end we recommend keeping your pets indoors overnight as much as you can. It's safer for them.

Now, instead of putting out a litter box, experts recommend you put out a piece of clothing or a blanket that has YOUR scent on it. These things won't attract wildlife but they can serve as a beacon for your cat to find it's way back. Studies show that most of the time your cat is close by, but they hide. If you go outside and speak as if you were talking to your cat normally, your cat may hear you and be compelled to return. Don't speak in a panicked or frightened voice, yes I know that's incredibly hard to ask, but remember, if YOU'RE Frightened, your cat may be even more so. So, use calm, even tones, speak normally, and it might help your cat to come on home.

Make sure to reach out to your neighbors and your other resources as well. Cats may be hiding in their garages or sheds, or under a porch or vehicle. Studies also show that most cats will try to return during the night. It's less frightening for them to come out of hiding then. So, if you have a garage, crack it open. If you can set out a blanket or shirt with your smell, do so. Set out super stinky tempting food like sardines, or fried chicken. We've used chicken to lure many a cat home or into a trap before. Warm and stinky food grabs their attention. Try to stay up in case you hear them meowing outside or trying to get in. If you have an outdoor security camera you can train it on the piece of clothing or the food to see if they show up. Now, don't leave the food out overnight, because that can also attract wildlife and scare off your cat. And the best thing to do, don't give up. Lost pets have been known to return weeks or even months after they were lost. It's a process, but don't give up.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com

On this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses the different reasons why our cats Purr and how it works!
Why Does My Cat Purr? A lot of you have asked this question and there are a number of reasons why cats purr. Let’s talk first about the HOW they purr. Simply put, cats are able to purr thanks to muscles in their diaphragm and larynx, and something called a Hyoid bone.
When you hear a cat purr, you’ll notice that they make the sound both while they inhale and exhale. This is because the muscles of their larynx and their diaphragm are moving VERY quickly, like 20 to 30 times a second quickly, and this causes the air to vibrate and make sound. They also have that Hyoid bone. That bone sits between their tongue and their larynx and its flexible! The size and density of this bone is what enables them to make the purring sound as they breathe.
Studies have shown that these muscles get stronger over time and typically once your cat reaches the age of two, that purr will be their purr for the rest of their lives. You may notice during this time that their “voice” has changed. We’ve experienced that happening.
Purring is meant as a form of communication. Cats use it to communicate with other cats, with humans and to calm themselves. One thing that can vary is how loud a purr can be! Older cats can and often do purr more loudly than their younger counterparts, and of course they have humans well trained. Young cats learn how to use the purr to communicate emotions and needs. When kittens are first born they are both blind and deaf, so, researchers believe they use the purr to communicate with their mothers while nursing.
Cats purr to communicate with humans, to express happiness, contentment, excitement, hunger, heat cycles, anxiety or even pain. We are most familiar with the happy purr and the quest for food purr. Dare to let her bowl drop below the full mark and you will hear all about it. The food bowl saga is REAL and she will let you know, often with a high pitched mixture of both meow and purr. But across the board, you will know this purr. Experts labeled this the “solicitation purr”. She wants food, or she wants attention. But there are actual studies about this kind of purr and they showed that the “solicitation purr” is most used by adult cats and directed toward humans to solicit food.”This purr has a high frequency component within it that human participants consistently judged as more urgent and less pleasant than a ‘normal’ purr.” Thus, my yowler. She clearly got the memo years ago. “The frequencies of this ‘voiced peak’ correspond to those of human infant distress cries, which could explain why they are so easily perceived by humans as urgent.” Thank you, Dr. Valuska. You are accurate. So cats purr to communicate and to train us to understand what they need and when they need it. Now, they will actually also purr if they are in pain or distress. They really do. Or if they are anxious about something. They’ll purr and it helps to soothe them. So the key is to know and understand your cat so that you are aware of patterns in their behavior. If their purr is suddenly different and you notice other triggers, there may be a health issue or illness coming and it’s best to get them checked out. Purrs can be soft or loud, or VERY loud. I personally had a cat that purred like a little freight train! You could hear her engine revving from two rooms away! It was the sweetest thing.
Cats also have a healing quality to their purr and it has everything to do with the frequency of it! It’s been documented!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com

Should I Adopt a Senior Dog?
Many of you have expressed your desire to adopt a dog recently, and many of you have over the last year. I hear this question a lot asking if someone should adopt a senior baby rather than a young dog or a puppy. There are plus points for both of those, but for today I am going to share with you the reasons why you should consider adopting a senior dog!
Now first, what constitutes a senior dog in age? In the Dog Aging Project, they say that while we can recognize an aging dog it is more intricate to truly define aging. They said that the term “senior” can be described as an aging pet, but the number of years considered to be “senior” varies and a significant factor is based on size. Other identifiers like species, breed, and the state of their organs can also help determine if a dog has reached old age. Here's what researchers had to say: small breeds ranging between 2 and 20 pounds and medium breeds between 21 and 50 pounds are considered seniors at 7 – 10 years old. Large breeds from 51 to 90 pounds are considered seniors at 5 to 8 years old. Giant breeds from ninety plus pounds are considered seniors at 5 years old.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) published Senior Care Guidelines recommending that we approach senior status when the dogs are in the last 25% of their expected lifespan. There are additional physical, behavioral, and cognitive signs that help determine if our dog is in senior status. The takeaway here is that you can adopt a “senior” dog and have MANY years left to spend with them! Here are some great reasons why you should go out and adopt one right now, or two!
One, senior dogs are already housebroken so they understand routines. If there are a few missteps, they notice routines very well once they’ve had time to decompress and acclimate to your home. If you do have a more pressing issue, it could be that your new friend has a medical hiccup or is having challenges adjusting. Both, medical and behavioral can be readily checked out and worked through though so please do not let that deter you. These dogs are so smart and will be a model family member in no time.
Two, an older dog has already gone through puppyhood, so this means they are usually calmer or more laid back. Sure, they will still run figure eights around you in the park at times from excitement or joy but often they are calmer. They also know the routines of car trips or vet visits and are easy to travel with actually!
Three, you also know what their personality is like by this point. Puppies grow into their personalities, and it takes some time to see just what their temperament is like and who they really end up being. So, all those points about taking the best care of your puppies and bringing them up with love comes into play here. With a senior dog you know what they really love to do, and what they need to feel secure and happy. Plus, they communicate well. If you find they need some top up training they are smart enough to keep learning and absolutely can. Do not think they can’t keep learning.
Four, Senior dogs may be more affectionate. A lot of people love to have the type of dog who will curl up at their feet or share their bed at night or take walks with them. Senior dogs fit that bill! Few things are better in the day than coming home to a precious soul ready to love on you and hear all your stories from the day.

Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com