We've received an outPURRing of love and support this week. 

And at the same time, a lot of questions, or comments rather, wondering about how blind cats manage. 

ANSWER: They manage GREAT!

They are fearless and quite adaptable to their surroundings. 

Yes, of course, they depend on you to make sure their area is relatively safe (i.e., they can't fall from a 2nd story or pull on something from a shelf that would drop on them, etc.)!

Yes, it's almost if their hearing is SUPER keyed in! But what this also means is that many types of regular noises may *seem* dangerous & therefore scare these kittens;  once when they direct their attention to the sound, they can't tell (visually) that it's innocuous!

My own $0.02:
We know how grateful rescue pets are, right? It's almost as if they know. Well, pets with special needs? ESPECIALLY SO!
And furthermore, pets that are sight-impaired should have voice or clicker training! Not only will it increase the bond and provide physical activity and mental stimulation, but for safety reasons as well; if your dog or cat gets out and cannot see, it could be traumatic if they don't know what to do or how to come when called to.

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Click down below to DOWNLOAD (for free!) a .pdf about blind cats from Milos Sanctuary! Or you can see it on their website.
​Milos is a rescue group for cats & kittens with special needs and not only are they phenomenal but that's where our Greyson came from!
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If you didn't read about him on Facebook or Instagram (and WHY NOT? jk) or even if you DID, here's the scoop: 

From our Facebook: "Greyson (Teddy Bear) was found hungry & blind in the streets of Mexico the week of Halloween.

He was less than 2mos old at the time. He was rescued ( <3 ) and brought to Milo's Sanctuary, Inc. where he received medical attention ( & LOVE ). 
Enter in Oskar the Blind Cat & Klaus who together with the rescue, sponsored a naming contest on Instagram that together had over 15k "likes" and comments!
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I have always been inspired by my clients with special needs (fur and non-fur) and in particular, have wanted a sight-impaired furchild.
I entered the contest and while I didn't win the naming, I threw my proverbial "hat" into the ring with the tons of other applicants for this cutey patootey, and "won" him.
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Through my work and political advocacy, my motto has always been "be voice for those that have no voice". I hope that Greyson and I can further raise awareness about all beings with special needs and inspire ALL beings toward better health. And love. 
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He'll be making an appearance at Tuesday night's class (which...has come to be like a "kittens and Z" class theme) & otherwise, I would love to have you meet him. He's a SPAZ, loves to LOVE on you and just doesn't shut up or rest...kinda like mommy. 
(Oh & YogiBear couldn't be more pissed off at the moment so... #goodtimes )"

Instagram @animalrehabnews (also linked on the RIGHT ->) :

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"I can see you with my heart. I don't need eyes."*
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*quote by me ;-) 

You can find Greyson and his big sister over at @yogiandteddy 

DID YOU KNOW:
A cat that weighs 15 pounds is the equivalent of a 5'4" woman weighing about 218 pounds? 

Pet obesity is at epidemic levels! 
You know this. 

It's 2nd only to dental disease (and the recent studies were out of 2015, so it may have surpassed that by now...)*.

When our pets are heavier it leads to increased diseases, increased costs (for you), increased pain and decreased quality (and length) of life! 

Here are some "Fat Cat Strategies":

• No treats! Brush them instead
  
• Use toys and games like Laser pointers, feathers, balls to chase (or homemade ones with foil).
  
• Put meals in different places throughout the house (i.e., up stairs, on top of risers, etc).
  
• Get an outdoor pen
• Don’t overfeed!
• Use creative ways and cat’s natural instincts to get them to prowl for food
• Feed wet food over dry.
  
• Feed 2-4x a day vs. "free feeding"

*Reference: Rowe E, et al. 2015

​Laser is EXTREMELY beneficial for healing purposes - human and pets!

DID YOU NOW: Laser is actually an acronym? It stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. 

Now, hold up! Don't get anxious because of the word "radiation" because it's not radiation in the the truest sense - or negative sense.
It is a coherent (concentrated) beam of light operating at different frequencies and intensities. This sets it apart from different types of modalities like infrared which is VERY commonly marketed and sold to the public as a "Laser" for therapeutic applications, which...IS BOGUS. 

Infrared is an entirely different modality (& yes, one that I use for different applications including on myself - see www.TheFitChick.com as I posted specifically about infrared)!

There are some devices that are the equivalent of a laser pointer (!) being used & sold under the auspices of therapeutic laser. (No, laser pointers won't heal anything.)

The nice part about lasers is the effect is cumulative; the more treatments you have, the better. 

I usually advise a "loading" dose in the beginning and then tapering off. But this 100% depends on the condition/issue/ailment. 

The main difference between Class III (aka, Class 3, cold, low level) and Class IV (Class 4, high power) lasers is the speed in which the light is delivered to the tissues. (And also some absorption or depth depending on the device and how it's applied to the body.) Class IV lasers work faster. 

So one isn't necessarily BETTER than the other. 

I have been using lasers for almost 20 years. I DO think it's important for people to know the basics about lasers because it seems almost every clinic and hospital has one now, and they are accessible online. But keep in mind what I said above regarding the devices and the operators of those devices...and go forth being informed in your choices.

Lasers are not only great to heal tissues but they have a role in wellness and prevention too - particularly in the case of tendons. 

In general, the benefits of laser include: 

• Positive biological changes in the tissue by altering the activity of the cells to stimulate healing
• Increases (good, oxygenized) blood flow to the area
• Increases lymphatic function
• Reduces inflammation
• Pain control
• Stimulates nerve regeneration
• Stimulates a healthy immune response
• Doesn't REPLACE medical care but complements it

I am surprised with the exponential increase in laser use of recent that there isn't more information available online - including basic "how to's". 

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Have you used lasers before or had one used on your or your pet?