all EFA Team Treasury: Dogs & Cats & All the Animals are Dreaming of Spring

'Dogs & Cats & All the Animals are dreaming of Spring' by theknottysheep

It has been a long winter, here in New England ... but I think even the animals are ready for warmer temperatures & more sun! Team EFA works tirelessly to help all animals, in every season - around the globe!

Pop Art Pets in Oil KneeDeepOrigin... $200.00	Turquoise Garden Charming Fl... cocoNme $300.00
Kokeshi Doll Owl Kokeshi Dol... SavageArtworks $45.00	Sleepy Kitty Original Oil Pa... teresasart $50.00
Navy and Hot Pink Knit Skirt... catcalls $48.00	Pets Leave Pawprints Greetin... movetheneedle $3.00
Small BarkingDogBlanket Guav... BarkingDogBlan... $25.00	Bess Glass Tile Pendant by H... happyshackdesi... $15.00
cute red lovebirds blank not... kittyanydots $3.00	Doily Pet Collar Corsage BeanTownHandma... $10.00
Day Star KlaatuCollecti... $40.00	Cinnamon Toon 5x7 Print epicfarms $10.00
Move Over Bardot - Amethyst ... rendachs $62.00	lovely floral lucite brooch ... NecktieParty $22.00
Tumbler Toy for Dogs - 4 New... jessicalynnear... $5.00	EFA - Etsy For Animals - Cha... TwoStrayCats $15.00

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all EFA Team Treasury: Springtime in February

'Springtime in February ?!' by brizel4TheAnimals

My fruit trees are starting to think its springtime... we've had 5 weeks of sunshine here in No. Cal... the rats are frolicking and the buns are hopping... what will the neighbors say ?

Here are some spring flowers and animals from Team EFA to cheer those of you who have had challenging weather lately ! ENJOY !xo

Springtime (8x10 matted prin... AlexWijnen $25.00	Antique Button Metal Cellulo... thefaeriecupbo... $30.00
Cat Plush Pillow/ American K... catcalls $10.00	May Flowers Fine Art Photo blindwolfspiri... $6.00
Yellow and Orange Double Flo... chickadeejewel... $18.00	Bette Bee - A Soft Friend Fo... TwoStrayCats $28.00
Bird in Flight Vintage Rose... QueenBe $10.00	Amorous 5x5 WoodsEdge $15.00
Dreaming of Spring Pearl, C... thebeadedhound $90.00	Baby Leather Ladybug Moks Sz... scandeez $30.00
Spring/Summer Pink Furry Fle... rendachs $34.50	Vintage Cloisonne Buttons FL... theanimalsmagi... $12.00
Bliss - Photo Greeting Card JMcGuinness $4.00	Morning Chat framed watercol... KneeDeepOrigin... $65.00
Hand Painted Purple Daisy Fl... JewelryBargain... $7.00	Greyhound in disguise screen... thedoghouse $10.00

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House Rabbit Secrets !

When people find out I have house rabbits, the most common response goes a little something like this: "We had a rabbit when I was little. It lived in a hutch outside and didn't do much. Actually, rabbits are kind of boring." This makes me sad for both the rabbit and the person because rabbits are SO amazing and personable and social and both parties lost out on what I've found to be a very rewarding bond: the human-rabbit bond...

House Rabbit Secrets

written by Valerie of KnitByValerie

So, what it is a house rabbit?

A house rabbit lives in the main house (i.e. the living quarters) and spends limited or no time in a cage. Having a house rabbit is much like having a teething puppy that never grows up. Lots of chewing, decreasingly frequent litter accidents, and constant cuteness. As with any pet, there are some basics to keeping everyone happy and healthy.

Food is a strong motivator for rabbits. While many people feed just pellets to outdoor hutch rabbits, indoor rabbits don't require the fat layer that a pellet-only diet tends to develop. Many vets recommend limited timothy pellets (vs alfalfa) or even none at all. Because rabbits are hindgut fermenters (lots of good bacteria), they require a lot of fiber.

Be my Honey Bunny

by JMcGuinness

Again, alfalfa is good for baby rabbits, nursing moms, and outdoor bunnies, but too fatty and caloric for the layabout house rabbit, so grass hays (orchard, timothy, and oat are commercially available) should be fed freely.

The greens of veggies are generally good (a list can be found here: http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html ). A new rabbit should be introduced to new food slowly as too many too quickly could result in stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

Many people are also surprised to learn that rabbits can be litter trained. Domestic rabbits are primarily the descendants of European rabbits, who are burrowers. To keep a burrow neat and clean, a place must be designated the bathroom. If the rabbit chooses a bathroom location that is inconvenient, simply place a box there and slowly move it, day by day, until it is in the desired location.

It also helps to entice the rabbit by placing some hay in the box. Box substrate is important. Never use cedar shavings. While it smells nice for us, it has been shown to cause liver damage and respiratory illness in small animals. Generally accepted substrates include aspen shavings, newspaper (both plain and pellet form), and home-heating pellets.

Rabbits that are meant strictly as pets (rather than breeders for show or fiber) should be spayed or neutered for a number of reasons. Male rabbits, like male cats, can get territorial and spray. Female rabbits tend toward false pregnancies, which can cause fur pulling and aggression, as well as considerable stress.

Many find that it is much easier to litter train an altered rabbit. Finally, due to the way that rabbits ovulate and the hormone spikes it can cause, there is a very high incidence of reproductive cancers in unaltered female rabbits over time. Another advantage to shelter rabbits is that they are now routinely already altered.

The last thing that surprises people who don't know rabbits is how bored they can get. It's important to have lots of options for chewing, tossing, and digging to keep your rabbit safe and stimulated. I personally have had to replace roommates' books, two alarm clocks (due to exposed wires), and, most horrifying, a wall due to some creative drywall chewing--which also resulted in a trip to the emergency vet.

There should always be something safe for the rabbit to chew, like apple sticks, willow items, and untreated cardboard and brown paper bags filled with hay, and some fun items to throw around like hard plastic cat toys with bells, baby keys, and commercially available ferret toys. A very popular rabbit toy is an old phone book. Rabbits are expert paper shredders and will delight in an old phone book for weeks !

The Blessed Bunny Bundle

- organic apple wood & fresh rosemary -

by brizel4TheAnimals

Rabbits are largely undervalued as pets, and in my opinion it is undeserved. They are probably as much work as having a cat or dog, but the rewards are easily equal as well. If you're looking for a companion who will happily greet you at the door, use a litter box rather than go outside, munch on your leftover veggies and carrot tops, and speed around the house for the sheer joy of it, look no further than the house rabbit.

Carrot Colored RABBiT fingerless cuffs

by KnitbyValerie

Two excellent websites

for house rabbit enthusiasts:

www.rabbit.org

(the National House Rabbit website)

www.disapprovingrabbits.com

(a blog of people's rabbits that never disappoints)

Special Cat needs HELP: United Kingdom

I came across an article today about a kitty who has had some unfortunate events happen to him. Charlie, a beautiful, white DSH went through treatments for skin cancer. To rid him of the cancerous skin cells the tip of his nose and his ear tips were removed. As a result, his appearance has been altered. Although he looks different from other kitties he is still very much a capable cat (aside from the occasional bout of sneezing)!

Charlie is up for adoption, but has been overlooked by those who see a resemblance to Ralph Fiennes' character, Voldermort in the "Harry Potter" Films. Personally, I found this story to be heartbreaking and I really want to do something to help this wonderful boy.

Charlie currently resides at The Blue Cross' Southampton Adoption Center in Southampton, Hants (south-east of London), and needs to be adopted as the only pet in the household.

Since I live in the US (and already have a kitty) I can not adopt sweet Charlie :( I just want someone special to give this little guy a forever home. Perhaps a hospital or senior care home can open their hearts to Charlie.

To read the full story click here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355548/Homeless-cat-new-family-looks-like-Harry-Potter-villain.html

To view Charlie's adoption page with The Blue Cross click here: http://www.bluecross.org.uk/2574-83377/Charlie.html

Please pass Charlie's story along to someone who may be able to help him :)

Thanks for reading!

Hugs, & purrs,

-Rebecca & Twiggy (the kitty)

of WhiskerKisses !

EFA Team Treasury: meYOW

'meYOW' by yarnmiracle

February is Cat Health Month! Take the time to check up on your tabby. Or your tortie, or your Siamese, or your black cat...... you get the idea.

Cute cat and Cactus taibossigai $8.00	Sleeping Kitty Gift Tags thisisit $5.00
Mesmerized Kitty 5erg $14.00	Grey Striped Tabby Flying wi... KimbasCritters $8.00
Folded cards set of 5 orange... schmoomunition... $10.00	kitty cat moveable paper dol... hollandsworth $6.00
EFA - Etsy For Animals - Cat... TwoStrayCats $5.00	Sentinel Cat Magnet By Cori ... terikor $5.00
Yellow Submarine buckle coll... TheModDog $10.00	Vegan Dinner and Dessert - 2... crazyaboutcatn... $12.50
Tough Old Tom PawPrintsProje... $20.00	Yellow Ravioli Catnip Buddy ... BoutiqueAlicia... $7.00
Original Art Tabby Cat Paint... SharonFosterAr... $6.00	NAMASTE - Original watercolo... Catswithattitu... $35.00
Catnip Toy for your Kitty - ... LowellandSon $6.00	Knit Catnip Mouse is Pale Ye... VivaLeChat $6.00

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