DIGITAL - New App Lets Your Cat Take its Own Selfie

Some of the most popular posts on social media are cat photos and videos, and now your cat can take their own selfie.

Developed by Current Studios and designed to engage cats when their humans aren't home, Candid Catmera has a series of special looping animations meant to work in tandem with feline facial recognition to get your cat’s attention first, and then get him to take photos of himself.

The photos are sent to your mobile device automatically, and you can post them to social media.

"About two years ago, we were asked by an agency if it was possible to make an Instagram for cats," Current Studios president Nathan Kroll told AdFreak.

"In the process of exploring the concept, we found that some of our developers were using cat faces to test facial tracking libraries. One developer has actually built an OpenCV library of several hundred cats. That pitch never resulted in a project and the internal work was put on the shelf, until about six months ago, when we had the idea to evolve what we learned and create something a bit more unique."

Available for iOS in the iTunes Store, $1 from each purchase will be donated to the SPCA who helped test the app.

The app only recognizes cats, not dogs.

It’s much more challenging to create facial recognition for dogs due to the variation in facial features - just consider the differences between a German shepherd and a pug. 

WELFARE - Where are all the Cats?

An encouraging trend for cat lovers indicates that feline populations in shelters have been on the general decline in recent years.

While the trend is apparent in areas in both Canada and the U.S., shelters continue to report there is far more work to be done and some areas continue to face burgeoning cat populations – including the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) in Calgary, Alberta.

“The economy is hitting everybody hard, but in Alberta we are right in that oil and gas bubble where there have been massive layoffs and many people forced to downsize or move (out of province) to find work,” explained Sage Pullen McIntosh, spokesperson for the CHS.

The shelter ran an adoption campaign at the end of June, waiving fees for cats older than seven months to help free up space in their overcrowded cat corridors.

While Pullen McIntosh said that their intake was up 185 cats by June 28 of 2016, compared to intake at the same time in 2015, these numbers were not impacted by the early June Ft. MacMurray wildfire dubbed as ‘The Beast’; the shelter did provide emergency boarding for animals from the northern community hard hit by the raging fire, but has since reunited all animals but one cat with their owners.

From Jan. 1-June 28, 2016, the CHS has admitted 2,770 animals, of which 1690 were cats.

Pullen-McIntosh said the information they have gathered from people who surrender their pets (although stray and abandoned cat intake numbers have also risen) indicate job loss, moving and other effects of a downturn in the economy over the last year or so have been the biggest reasons for giving up their pet.

In other areas, however, the combination of improved adoption programs, public education and prevention campaigns and responsible pet ownership seem to be bringing overall shelter cat numbers down and adoptions up.

“We have definitely seen a steady decrease of cat populations in our shelters over the last few years… But overall reduction really isn’t that drastic. We still have much work to do,” said Mary Lou Leiher, who works as a program manager for Toronto Animal Services and is also the president of the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO).

The AASAO is a unique organization that is an ‘affiliation of professionals committed to excellence in the management and operation of animal care, control and welfare organizations’.

Leiher credits the general reduction from AASAO member shelters, including the City of Toronto and the Ottawa Humane Society, to a number of factors, such as ongoing public education campaigns; successful prevention programs such as the City of Toronto’s CHIP truck for microchipping, licensing and rabies and the SNYP truck for mobile spaying/neutering programs; improved adoption programs through shelters; and the trendiness of choosing to adopt rather than buy from a breeder.

“Shelters have also changed their adoption practices. We understand it’s better to educate people rather than turn them down…people will just go somewhere else if you won’t work with them and then you’ve lost that connection,” explained Leiher.

“If you don’t like the answer, change the conversation.”

These stats of increased adoptions and lowered intake rates of shelter cats are further evidenced by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

According to Dr. Emily Weiss, this notion of ‘changing the conversation’ and working with families and individuals looking to adopt pets, rather than turning away people who may otherwise look to less favourable solutions to obtain a pet (puppy mills) has been key to the overall decrease in areas such as New England.

Weiss made note of the American Pet Product Association’s (APPA) pet owners survey where the data shows some significant changes in where people obtain their cats today compared to ten years ago.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

RESEARCH - Cats are More Like People Than you Think

If you think you and your cat share some personality traits, you might be right.

A study by UniSA Discovery Circle identifies five feline personality traits in cats which are somewhat in sync with ones displayed by people.

Skittishness, outgoingness, dominance, spontaneity and friendliness are dubbed the 'Feline Five' in the Cat Tracker Project.

Have a cat who likes to bully other cats? They might be high on the dominance trait.

Is your cat a bit of a loner? It is likely they are low on the friendliness front.

Research leader, Dr. Philip Roetman, says the findings are “really interesting” given those cat qualities are not dissimilar to the 'Big Five' in humans.

“Skittishness is similar to neuroticism in people, outgoingness is similar to extroversion and friendliness is akin to agreeableness,” he states in the Advertiser. “The big difference in cats is dominance and spontaneity.”

The results can offer a way owners can better bond with their pet by doing “things differently based on that cat and what it likes.”

“People are fascinated by cats, they have really intriguing personalities,” Roetman says. “From a research perspective, it’s really interesting to understand and look at the personalities of different animals, especially when we are talking about management.”

The results are gleaned from nearly 3,000 cat personality tests in a study which also found a distinction between indoor and outdoor cats.

“It was only extremely slight but the only difference we found was indoor cats tended to be slightly more friendly,” Roetman says. “I think that’s really good news because people are often concerned about keeping cats indoors too much because it might have a negative impact on them, but this suggests there isn’t a negative impact on cat personality by keeping them indoors. If people want to keep their cats indoors, they can feel a bit more confident about it.”

You let your cat out in the morning and it comes back in the evening – but have you ever wondered where it went all day?

The personality test is part of the Cat Tracker project where feline owners in Australia get pets fitted with GPS technology to track where they go when they are out and about.

So far, 350 cats have been recruited to the study.

GPS images are posted on-line (www.discoverycircle.org.au) and rather interesting, showing some cats stick close to home and others venture quite far.

The Advertiser also posted a video sharing some interesting commentary on cats, including a belief humans are “biologically hardwired” to love them because their “smallish noses, big eyes and dome-shaped heads” - not unlike human babies - trigger the nurturing instinct.

It cites some psychology studies which say cat owners tend to be introverted, sensitive and non-conformist and that those downright aloof felines wiggle their way into human hearts based on the “scarcity principle,” which purports that people place higher value on an object that is scarce rather than in abundance.

Maybe cats are smarter than you think.

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

RESEARCH Who's Happier - Dog People or Cat People?

Researcher, Katherine Jacobs Bao, didn't mean to unleash debate in controversial territory. But when she tried to determine which are happier - cat people or dog people - that is exactly what she did.

“As a pet owner, I have always been interested in how pets relate to our happiness,” Bao, who works in happiness research, told InfoStream.

The goal of her study out of Manhattanville College, which was announced at the recent Society for Personality and Social Psychology Convention in San Diego, was to determine if there is a difference in what some might call “happiness,” (i.e. life satisfaction, more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions,) between pet owners and non pet owners. But Bao concedes it is far from the final word on the topic.

What the study did show is that “dog owners were higher in well-being, marginally more extroverted, less neurotic and more agreeable,” than cat-owning counterparts. Dog people reported higher levels of happiness and positive emotions than cat people, however, the study did not show differences in life satisfaction or negative emotions. “I'm a cat person, so this was a little upsetting” she scoffs.

And while it was revealing, Bao's findings - gleaned in part from a questionnaire given to 263 participants, half men and half women, aged 19 to 68 years - also left many questions unanswered.

“Do happier people adopt dogs, or do dogs increase people’s happiness?” Bao muses. “One could ask whether extroverts seek out dogs, or whether dogs make people more extroverted.”

No doubt, studies have shown animal owners, in general, lead a more satisfied life than non-pet owners and many studies back claims there are health benefits to owning a pet; like lower blood pressure, less depression and reduced risk of death after heart attacks. But little research has been done on happiness.

And despite Bao's bid to delve into the topic, the question remains – which group is happier?

Katherine Jacobs Bao

Currently continuing her research on the topic, Bao hopes to learn which group, cat owners or dog owners, leads the pack when it comes to happiness. The answer, she says, lies in following pet owners over time to see, for instance, if newly adopted pets indeed boost happiness but owners return to baseline levels of well-being after the passage of time, and if personality actually changes as a result of pet ownership.

Either way, Bao figures pets help make people happier given they help “fulfil the basic need of relatedness, (to) feel connected.” That is especially the case with people who treat pets “as part of the family rather than something else in the house.”

And until her subsequent research reveals more, Bao is intrigued by the reaction to her recent findings. “Some publications are taking it too far and saying, 'Everyone needs to get a dog,'” she says of conclusions drawn by media from her recent study. “I didn't expect it to pick up quite as much attention as it did. Now, it seems to have sparked some cat/dog owner rivalry.”

By Nadia Moharib
Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

Are Canadians having a cat moment?

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies released its annual animal shelter statistics earlier this month, revealing that cats are are Canadians have answered the call of the cats.

The report showed feline adoption rates have increased, euthanasia rates have decreased and fewer cats were taken in by shelters. The 2013 data was collected from 90 shelters across Canada, representing the best information about companion animals in Canadian shelters.

READ THE FULL REPORT

"When CFHS began systematically collecting shelter statistics in 1993, only 28% of cats who entered shelters were adopted and a staggering 60% of cats were euthanized," said Dr. Toolika Rastogi, Policy and Research manager at CFHS. "In 2013, the adoption rate jumped to 53% and the euthanasia rate dropped to 37%." Rastogi added that, for the first time, the adoption rate has surpassed the dog adoption rate.

Conversely, the report also discovered lost cats are less likely to be reunited with their owners now than in the past - in fact, the return-to-owner rate for cats has actually decreased over time. In 2013, only 3.5% of cats in shelters were reunited with their owners.

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

Summit 2013 Breeder Nominees

Five finalists vie for the Urban Animal Industry's highest award in the category of Breeder:

1. Champagne Standard Schnauzers (Line Champagne) for producing healthy, well-balanced dogs, through OFA hip certification and using reproductive technology to produce healthier bloodlines.
2. Bundas Bengals Cattery (Trysh Tolhurst) for producing cats and dogs that do not require cropping or docking and breeding of Bengals where she continues to improve the standards and experience for those who receive her kittens into their home.
3. Floralie Cattery (Louise Laliberte) for her special attention to illuminate the Abyssinian and Exotic Shorthair breed and her work with the Canadian Cat Association since 1976.
4. Tsar Shadow Karelians (Dawne Deeley) for her World renowned breeding of Karelian Bear Dogs and for her work with the Karelians and fostering good relations between Canada and Finland Members of the World Press.
5. Starstruck Labradors (Valina Pope) for promoting ethical and responsible breeding and passion she has is in educating all other breeders and all future dog owners.

The Summit Award for Breeder recognizes a breeder of companion animals with five or more years of breeding experience that is compliant with codes of ethical conduct and who demonstrates a high level of professionalism and commitment to the industry.

The 2013 Summit for Sheltering will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013. This event is open to the public.

VOTE NOW!

Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® Canadian Program

• Since 2007, the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program has donated over $8.25 million worth of Science Diet® brand pet food to animal shelters across Canada.
• It has also helped thousands of homeless pets find new homes, and counting.
• The program feeds homeless pets 365 days a year in Canada.
• The program also provides a free bag of Science Diet pet food to the pet parent for each adoption to further ensure a smooth and easy transition for pets to their new home.
• The goal of the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program is simple: to provide dogs and cats with superior nutrition that will make them healthier, happier, and more adoptable as they wait for their forever home.

Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love website www.hillsfoodshelterlove.ca

Hill’s Shelter Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/HillsFoodShelterLove

Bayer findings on felines

A new study conducted by Bayer HealthCare, in collaboration with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), reveals that 78% of veterinarians believe better care for cats represents one of the most significant, missed opportunities for the profession. The same study reveals that more than half (52%) of cats in America had not been taken to the vet in the past year.

A key objective of the Veterinary Care Usage Study III: Feline Findings is to determine the extent to which veterinary practices recognize the need to improve cat care and what steps, if any, they have taken to increase feline visits. Nearly 70% of veterinarians were familiar with the earlier Bayer studies. Of those most familiar, 48% indicated they had made specific changes in their practices, most aimed at increasing cat visits. Moreover, 91% of veterinarians believe they have available capacity to handle more cat visits without significant changes. 

Bayer's Veterinary Care Usage Study III identifies a number of roadblocks to veterinary cat care, potential practices to encourage cat visits and overall trends in revenue and pet visits. With eye-catching taglines like "69% of cats were obtained at no cost" and "Owners said they consider their dogs to be companions and dependent and their cats to be pets and independent" this study is sure to influence conversations around cats in our homes and communities.

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

BC Sets Mandatory Care Standards for Breeders

Yesterday, North Vancouver-Seymour MLA, Jane Thornthwaite, introduced a Private Member’s Bill that will target puppy and kitty mills while protecting legitimate breeders and future pet owners. The Standards of Care for Breeders of Companion Animals, is intended to outline specific requirements for dog and cat breeders in B.C. to ensure the welfare of their animals.

This legislation intends to:

• Increase public awareness about the standards of care that dog and cat breeders must adhere to.
• Declare that breeders of three or more female dogs or cats capable of reproduction will be required not only to understand, but meet, the standards of care in handling and breeding their animals.
• Punish operators that fail to comply with legislation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
• Implement mandatory regulations for animal care.
• Provide a measure of protection to owners by ensuring that their dogs and cats were bred in a healthy and humane manner.

See the video, Read the bill

PetLynx Utility Reports 2012 Activities

PetLynx Corporation, a Calgary based Utility in the companion animal industry today released its 2012 activity report.

• PetLynx added 26,893 net new subscribers (NNS) bringing the total subscribers to 861,455.
• PetLynx subscribers registered 26,266 animals in the system bringing the total animals serviced by the system to 967,340.
• PetLynx automatically handled 34,462 recovery episodes which brings the total recovery episodes to 262,939 since May 2006.
• PetLynx now supports recovery services in 246 Canadian communities.
• PetLynx web related activities remained steady at 23,679,491 hits and 322,792 logged in visits for the year.
• PetLynx now serves 1,828,795 entities including 8% of the dogs and cats in Canada. 

About PetLynx:
PetLynx Corporation is an innovative, leading edge, service provider, intent on automating the Companion Animal Industry in North America.

Thousands of times each day, the PetLynx Utility serves Canadian pets and pet owners. PetLynx owns the only internet system in the world that can recover animals using a physical description, with or without any of the common forms of pet identification. PetLynx is also the only system in the world that can recover pets not enrolled prior to becoming lost.


PetLynx .... lifelong protection for pets and peace of mind for people.

Companion Animal Industry Rallies Together to Identify & Register Cats

Trends in the companion animal industry are pointing towards an increase in awareness and responsibility when it comes to cats. Industry leaders are rallying together September 22 to 30 to help Care for Cats promote National Cat ID Week to focus on permanent identification, licensing and registration for cats. 

"People do not realize it, but a lost cat has a very small chance to return back home safely," said Dr. Elizibeth O'Brien, a feline practitioner and Care for Cats spokesperson. "Focusing on identifying and registering felines should be part of your veterinary care routine as it increases their chances to get back home should they go missing."

Care for Cats is now in its second year and has focused its 2012 campaign theme on Preventative Veterinary Care for Cats.  A 2008 Business of Urban Animals Survey, commissioned by PetLynx Corporation for the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS) revealed that more than 8.5 million cats are warming the sofas of 36 per cent of Canadian households. However, about 50 per cent of these cats did not receive regular veterinary care and less than 25 per cent did not have permanent identification.

"A very high number of cats are not identified and/or registered and this results in a huge burden on animal shelters, municipalities and communities," said O'Brien. "We have the tools and the solutions; we simply must work together to create healthier communities for cats and people." 

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association is working with Care for Cats in their long-term goal to increase the value of owned, homeless and feral cats in Canadian communities. 

This year's ISUAS Summit Session VI, led by Barb Cartwright, will promote important conversations relating to humane and rescue for cats and the national initiatives taking place to make a difference as she reveals results from a 2012 survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies regarding cats in Canadian Communities. 

Stay in the know with PetLynx

2011 Year of the Cat Report Released

The 2011 Year of the Cat focused awareness on the need for routine veterinary care, identification and spay/neuter procedures, which resulted in a better understanding of Canada's most popular pet – the cat.

Now available is an indepth look into the 2011 Year of the Cat campaign. Click here for the full report.

For more information on Year of the Cat, please contact Judi Cannon at judi.cannon@petlynxmail.com or 705.930.7387.

2011 Year of the Cat Initiative Surpasses all Expectations

Wow the 2011 Year of the Cat collaborators have blown the lid off this national activity! 


Dr. Liz O'Brien and her collaborators had a Vision to increase the value of owned, homeless and feral cats in Canadian communities.  


They intended to identify and register 10,000 cats during this year long initiative.  As they start week #44 they have completed 14,614 registrations. In addition, these collaborators have brought the PetLynx automated national recovery system to over 200 communities and assisted in 19,177 cat recovery episodes. 


Thank you to Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Ontario SPCA, PetSmart Charities, Procter & Gamble, Western Financial Insurance, CDMV and the more than 1,500 volunteer collaborators across Canada who have added their voice and resources to support this initiative.  The 2011 Year of the Cat initiative is the most successful initiative arising out of the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in its six year history.  


Those behind this initiative still have 8 weeks to go before the final numbers are recorded in the 2011 history book. The industry stands amazed!


More Information

Animal shelter outbreaks

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Scott Weese

Infectious diseases are continuous challenges for animal shelters. Unfortunately, outbreaks are not uncommon. Sometimes they're bad luck and mainly the result of the inherent risk that is involved when you bring in lots of animals of questionable health status from different sources. However, if you add in things like inadequate facilities, poor training, overcrowding, poor adherence to protocols, bad protocols, lack of awareness about infectious diseases and failure to get expert help early in any outbreak, the likelihood of badness increases.

A few shelter outbreaks are underway at the moment, and they highlight some of the infectious disease challenges posed by different diseases in animal shelters. A common denominator in all of these outbreaks is the potential that something could have been done differently. It's possible (although unlikely) that everything that was done perfectly, however it's a rare outbreak where you can't find multiple areas for improvement. Once the crisis is over, a key aspect of outbreak management is an investigation of what really went wrong and why, with efforts to take measures to reduce the chance of it happening again.

Click to read the full blog

Martha Stewart and PetSmart partner for cat products

Another Paw-Inspiring Idea: New Cat Products from Martha Stewart Pets™ at PetSmart


PHOENIX (Business Wire) -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) and PetSmart(R) (NASDAQ: PETM), the largest retailer of services and solutions for pets, are proud to announce a unique new collection of quality cat-care products from the Martha Stewart Pets™ collection. The collection features innovative, cat-friendly feeding bowls and mats, a well-designed bed and a range of fun, stimulating toys made exclusively for PetSmart stores
and PetSmart.com.

"Our pet parents appreciate the innovation and style of the Martha Stewart Pets products for dogs launched in 2010," said Gayle Franger, vice president of merchandise marketing for PetSmart. "Our pet parents want to find high-quality products for their cats, and we are excited to once again collaborate with Martha Stewart to meet the expectations of our pet parents."

Martha Stewart Pets™ products for cats began arriving at PetSmart stores in July with products being added through October. The introduction of Martha Stewart Pets™ products for cats follows the launch of the line's dog products in 2010, also available exclusively at PetSmart stores and www.PetSmart.com.

Read the entire press release via the PetSmart News Room

ASPCA(R) and Fresh Step(R)Promote Fee-Waived Cat Adoptions

Fee-Waived Adoptions Can be a Winning Solution For Shelters, Adopters and Cats Alike

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) ("ASPCA") and the makers of Fresh Step(R) litter ("Fresh Step") aren't asking animal shelters to give away the farm. Just the cats.

ASPCA research recently published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that waiving fees for adult cats boost adoptions without diminishing the value adopters place on their cats. Plus, surprisingly, fee-waived adoptions may actually decrease shelter costs by reducing the average length of stay for adult cats, and could also increase donations and store product sales due to an increase in adopters.

In order to help save more cats this June, the ASPCA and Fresh Step are encouraging shelters nationwide to conduct fee-waived adoptions for adult cats. To date, the ASPCA/Fresh Step Fee-Waived Cat Adoption Campaign has enlisted more than 100 shelters across the country to host fee-waived cat adoption drives throughout June, which is national Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. In addition, the makers of Fresh Step Litter will donate $1 (up to $100,000) to the ASPCA for every "Like" received on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/freshstep through July 31, 2011. The money will help support this program and other cat care initiatives.

"On average, it costs shelters $13/day to care for a cat," said Emily Weiss, a researcher for the ASPCA. "Often times, adoption fees don't even offset those costs. By offering fee-waived adoptions for adult cats, shelters can often increase the cost for kittens and direct new cat parents to their gift or retail shop where they can purchase essential supplies for their new family member. Shelters benefit from that revenue, and new cat owners have extra money to spend on their cat. And, ultimately, the cat has a loving home. It's a win-win for all."

Purrfect Way to Help
Those who want to help can visit and adopt a fabulous feline from a shelter participating in the fee-waived cat adoptions. For a list of participating shelters, visit the Fresh Step Facebook page. The makers of Fresh Step litter are committed to helping cats and, since 2001, have donated more than $2.5 million to the ASPCA.

About Fresh Step(R) Litter
Fresh Step(R) Litter is a product of The Clorox Pet Products Company, a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,300 employees and fiscal year 2010 revenues of $5.53 billion. For more information about Fresh Step(R) litter, visit www.freshstep.com. Follow Fresh Step on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshstep or on twitter at @freshsteplitter.

About the ASPCA(R)
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

Media Contacts:

David Kargas, Clorox, 510.271.7492,  David.kargas@clorox.com

Apryl Ehmann, PDC PR,  740.707.5478, apryl@pdcpr.net

Year of the Cat booth at OVMA/AAHA garners lots of interest

Dr. Elizabeth Obrien provides yet another interview in front of the Year of the Cat booth at Canada's largest gathering of animal health stakeholders in Toronto last week.

This national initiative arose out of the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in 2009 which focused on the plight of cats in our communities. 

This is the first Summit program to embrace all stakeholders and to be supported by all four sectors of the industry Animal Welfare, Animal Health and Wellness, Animal Control and Enforcement, and Animal Services.

PetLynx, Petsecure, PetSmart Charities and Ontario SPCA were the initial sponsors of this initiative, but it has now found widespread support across the industry led by the tireless efforts of Dr. Obrien, Judi Cannon, PetLynx and Mika Sanson, PetSecure as well as Kate McDonald and her ever helpful colleagues at Ontario SPCA. Brand affiliations include Iams by Procter and Gamble and Profender by Bayer who have added their resources to promote this program across Canada.

The OVMA/AAHA booth was resourced by Judi Cannon, Dr. Liz and the wonderful Stephanie Johns of the Ontario SPCA.  To read more about this initiative or to bring the Year of the Cat program to your community please visit Care for Cats or contact  judi.cannon@petlynxmail.com

Procter & Gamble Voluntarily Recalls Canned Cat Food

CINCINNATI, June 9, 2010 – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG) today announced a voluntary recall of specific lots of its Iams canned cat food in North America as a precautionary measure. Diagnostic testing indicated that the product may contain insufficient levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1), which is essential for cats. Cats that were fed these canned products as their only food are at greater risk for developing signs of thiamine deficiency.