SARG Aug. 2019 Generosity Report

Generosity Report

It's almost Labor Day. Summer is nearing the end. I hope you have had the opportunity to get out and enjoy the warm weather. Sometimes maybe a little too warm, but I'll take it over the snow of winter so I don't complain much about summer. However, Autumn is right around the corner and everyone loves the colors of Autumn. Here in East TN there is a warm glow to the air that just can't be beat. It's the best time to be out and about.

I hope you are able to make it to one of our SARG events this fall. Our annual yard sale will be in October this year. If you have any items you would like to donate please contact us and we can arrange for either pick up or drop off.

SARG will also be taking holiday pictures again this year. This is a great time to bring the family (furry family are welcome as well) and get your yearly photos taken. You will receive all of your digital pictures for a donation.

A big thank you to all of you for your never-ending support of SARG! We couldn't do it without you.

Bringing Your New Kitten Home

Start your kitten off in a smaller, quiet, safe place with a litter box, food and water.
Let the kitten decide when to explore the home. Follow him around while they are getting used to their new surroundings. Offer to play with toys and frequently take them back to the litter box and let them explore out from there again. It’s important they know where the litter is.
Cats are curious and kittens even more so. Make sure all dangerous chemicals and products are put away. Just like with a toddler, you should kitten proof your space.
Lots of cat toys are a must. Kittens like to play and if they don’t have toys, they will find them – shoelaces, feet, ankles, plastic cords, electrical cords.
Make sure you have enough litter boxes. One for each cat at least. (I put one in the kid’s room that the cat will spend the night with and one in a central place in the house)
1. You can use Nature’s Miracle in the litter box if you are worried about a smell. But cleaning them daily will stop any smell. Just like a dirty diaper – get it out of the house after removing it and the smell goes out with the trash.
Scratching posts(horizontal and vertical) are a must. Cats naturally scratch and you don’t want your furniture all scratched up.
Spray catnip– works wonders for teaching cats where is a good place to scratch. Spray it on the cat tree.
Accidents –Most cats have no problem with knowing how to use the litter box. However, accidents happen. To minimize any accidents, make sure the litter box is cleaned out daily. Most cats detest using an already-used litter box. Use Nature’s Miracle for cleanup and to remove any odor from the accident.
Training a kitten is not hard. Use a spray bottle of water set on mist to spray at the cat when they are doing something inappropriate and say “NO.” It may take a while but it’s worth it. Also treat the kitty when they do something right. When people come to the door encourage the cat to greet them by giving treats at the door.
Kittens will sleep 16 or so hours a day. If you want those to be at nighttime, then they need a lot of stimulation and exercise during the day.
Kittens play with all moving objects- including hands, feet, ankles etc. Two ways to keep scratches to humans to a minimum:
1. Get 2 kittens – they play together, learning how not to scratch when they play.
2. Have lots of interactive toys such as fishing pole-type toys & laser pointers. These keep some distance between you and the kitten during play. Be prepared to play a lot!
If no one is home during the day, the kitten has spent much of that time sleeping. When people get home, it is now kitten play time. (See 11a above – get 2 kittens)

Toxic Plants: Lilies, Aloe Vera, Azalea & Rhododendron, Baby’s Breath, Chrysanthemum, Daffodils,Ivy, Morning Glory, Poinsettia, Tomato Plant, Tulips. (And we do mean TOXIC. If the cat ingests any part of the plant, he may die. The worst is probably the lily. People with cats DO NOT have indoor lilies.)