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Top 7 Ways To Show Your Cats Love this Valentine’s Day

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cat valentine's day

Here at Whiskas, we know that our pets are often a much more reliable source for love and affection than their human counterparts. They don’t argue. They rarely let us down and generally, they enjoy a good cuddle. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven that time with our furry friends can be good for our health – from lowering blood pressure to combating feelings of depression and loneliness.

This Valentine’s Day, rather than relying on your partner to make the day special, why not focus your attention on your favourite feline to show them how much you care?

Cats are independent and full of personality. That’s why we adore them. But, we do have to work a little harder to get these beautiful and special creatures to love us back. So, how can we best show our feline friends what they mean to us? For the month of love, Whiskas has a few top tips to enjoy some #meaowmoments which are those special times when your cat shows their love for you.

  1. Tasty and healthy treats – When your feline friend is being extra affectionate (often in atypical ways) you might want to reward them with a treat. Try Whiskas Crunchy Trio Treats, a delicious new treat range which includes two flavours – Whiskas Trio Crunch Poultry and Whiskas Trio Crunch Seafood.

    You can also try Whiskas Dentabites in Chicken and Salmon. The tiny grooves on Whiskas® DentaBites gently clean the tooth surface as the cat’s teeth contact the crunchy treats. They’re a compliance-friendly way to provide daily proactive oral care for even the most finicky and uncooperative cats. And what better way to show your love, than to make sure your furry friends are healthy and happy?

  2. Nose-to-tail rubs – Cats don’t do this purely for the pleasure of the petting. It’s also their way of rubbing their scent on you and claiming you as theirs.
  3. Head bops and slow blinks – Even in the wild, cats use head bops to show respect, love and trust. The same can be said of slow blinking. If a cat is willing to slowly close their eyes in front of you, they feel completely comfortable. You too can try these same moves back to them to show them you return their feelings.
  4. Bunting – when your kitty rubs their head on you this is a sure sign they love and trust you. To return the love, you can definitely give your cat a Whiskas Crunchy Trio Treats.

  5. The bed warmer – A cat who loves and trusts you, will be completely comfortable sleeping around you. You might think your cat is just lying on your bed, but they’re actually warming it for you.  Get them purring with a Whiskas Trio Crunchy treat.
  6. The exposed tummy – This only happens when a cat truly loves you; they turn onto their back so you can rub their tummy. Get them purring with a Whiskas Trio Crunchy treat.
  7. Play time – Every pet has a favourite game or toy. Spending time playing games increases the bond you have. Share in play to share the love.

So forget the chocolates and roses this year and rather enjoy some loving #meowmoments with the special felines in your life. They deserve it!

For more information on Whiskas care and treats, visit – www.whiskas.co.za/cat-care-and-treats/

Source: WHISKAS®

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#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love

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#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love

Photos: Angel, Poppy, Speedy

If you’re feeling out of love this Valentine’s month, head over to Mdzananda’s website, Facebook page or Instagram feed to meet their tail wagging bachelors and sassy bachelorettes which you can sponsor.

There are a variety of sponsoring options including:

R50 – Get rid of those nasty fleas and ticks – we want cuddles instead
R100 – Have your Valentine vaccinated to keep them healthy and strong
R200 – Spoil your Love with delicious food for two weeks
R450 – Give your valentine great meals for a whole month
R500 – Spay or neuter your Valentine – love is enough, no babies needed

Donations made to your chosen Valentine dog will help the organisation to care for them until they are able to find permanent homes.

“The dogs up for adoption have been at our clinic’s shelter facility for weeks or months. Some have gone through a lot in their lives and need extra love,” says du Plessis. “Clyde, for example, is a Pit Bull who was handed over with his sibling six months ago. His sibling has gone to a foster home but no one has shown interest in adopting him. It is quite heartbreaking. He is so desperate for love that he jumps and climbs all over you when you visit him, trying to lap up any attention. He’s waiting for a home that can love him forever and where he can be an only dog and have a big garden to play in.”

#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love

If you would like to sponsor a pet for Valentine’s Day visit www.mdzananda.co.za to see all the pets needing sponsorship, contact marcelle@mdzananda.co.za or make a donation to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account number: 075595710, Branch: Rondebosch, Branch Code: 025009, Reference: Pet’sName +YourName. All pets are also up for adoption.

If you have a human Valentine of your own, you can also sponsor a pet in their name, and we will send them a special e-card letting them know. Send your name, valentine’s name and email address, the pet you have sponsored and donation proof to marcelle@mdzananda.co.za.

About Mdzananda Animal Clinic (www.mdzananda.co.za)

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is a permanent, veterinary council registered, NPO animal clinic in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, home to 400 000 people (2011 census) and their pets. The clinic serves an average of 1000 animals per month through consultations, hospitalisation, general and orthopaedic surgeries, continuous sterilisations, mobile clinics, an animal ambulance and a homeless pet shelter. Mdzananda has a strong focus on community empowerment and education to ensure responsible pet ownership into the future.

Source: Mdzananda Animal Clinic

February is the month of love

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February is the month of love

Image: Pixabay

– But puppies don’t make good gifts

Everyone wants a puppy, until they have to step up to the huge responsibility that comes with actually owning one. When a puppy is given as a gift, regardless of how vocal someone was about wanting one, and the initial “aww” wears off, the reality kicks in and they realize that they have been saddled with a major responsibility that will take up their free time, cost them sleep and probably some damage to their furniture too.

Fact is, for someone to take a puppy home; means they need to do some preparations. Puppy proofing a home can be a difficult task and more  importantly a new owner needs to ready themselves and get everything their new puppy will need. To give someone a puppy unexpectedly  means they have had no time to prepare at all, it means an unprepared person will need to juggle a new puppy’s needs in a possibly very busy schedule. You are placing a lot of pressure on someone in doing so, pressure they may not be able to cope with. Bulldogs can be very expensive to care for. Giving someone a Bulldog without knowing if they are able to carry the costs is not a good idea.

So, what do you do? how about bringing it up in conversation and finding out if they are in fact ready and prepared for the sacrifices and  challenges that come with a puppy. Perhaps they would be more comfortable with adopting a slightly older dog that won’t be as much work. In that case, maybe contact a rescue and give the person the dog will be for the opportunity to discuss it with the rescue and find outabout the dogs available. That way they can make the choice for themselves. They get to choose the dog they want.

If you are dead set on getting a puppy, maybe start off by researching good, ethical breeders. Talk to them, put your or the name of the person you are buying for, on the waiting list and take the time to read up about the breed. Make sure you can put a certain amount to the side to cover things like medical aid, food, supplements etc. because those will be necessities if you plan on getting a bulldog puppy.

When your name comes up to get your pup, or for the person you are buying a puppy for, go see the puppies for yourself. Ask the breeder about the parents and ask to see their medical history.Parents often carry certain conditions over to their pups. If that is the case it is better to know and be prepared for possible issues that may arise.

It is important to know that perfectly healthy bulldogs are far in the minority, the chances are far greater that you will have a dog that develops some kind of issue sooner or later. Whether it is behavioral or physical, it is important to know what to do if and when you start seeing signs of a possible problem.

It is completely undeniable that a bulldog puppy, whether English or French, is possibly one of the cutest puppies on the planet. But it is  important to remember that that puppy is a ten–year commitment (if you are lucky) they deserve better than to be bought on impulse by a  person who may not be ready for what it means to have a bulldog.

Research. Plan. Prepare.
They deserve it.

Source: English & French Bulldog Rescue SA

Give your valentine a custom doggy e-card

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doggy

Give your valentine a custom doggy e-card

Need a perfect Valentine’s Day gift? We’ve got your paws covered.

Sponsor one of our homeless dogs in your valentine’s name and we’ll send him/her a custom e-card.

How it works:

  • Pick a pet you wish to sponsor (see images below)
  • Choose a sponsorship option
  • Make your sponsorship donation
  • Send your proof of donation, name, valentine’s name, valentine’s email address and a message you wish to include to donations@mdzananda.co.za
  • We will make the e-card and send it to your love

Sponsorship options

  • R 40: Flea and tick treatment
  • R 70: Vaccination
  • R 100:  Food for a week
  • R 200:  Puppy / kitten’s 3 vital vaccinations & dewormers
  • R 500:  Caring for a shelter pet for one month
  • R 650:  Sterilisation
All our homeless dogs are up for adoption.
Make them your valentine forever by fostering or adopting.
doggy
Contact: admin@mdzananda.co.za or WhatsApp 064 985 2513  for enquiries.
For cats: please contact our partner Luna Cat Rescue on WhatsApp 082 390 1670 / info@lunacatrescue.co.za
 

#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love

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pets

Photos: Holly | Jack | Laffle

#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love

It’s the month of love and the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha is encouraging members of the public to show some love to homeless pets in need. Their #BeMyValentine campaign features dogs up for adoption looking for sponsorship to make their Valentine’s Day a happy one. 

“Valentine’s Day has become an extremely commercialised event with people spending large amounts of money on gifts, chocolates and flowers. This year we are encouraging people to allow a homeless pet to be their Valentine by sponsoring them and showing them some love,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Executive.

If you’re feeling out of love this Valentine’s month, head over to Mdzananda’s Facebook page or Instagram feed to meet their tail wagging bachelors and sassy bachelorettes which you can sponsor.

There are a variety of sponsoring options including:

  • R50 – Get rid of those nasty fleas and ticks – we want cuddles instead
  • R100 – Have your Valentine vaccinated to keep them healthy and strong
  • R200 – Spoil your Love with delicious food for two weeks
  • R450 – Give your valentine great meals for a whole month
  • R650 – Spay or neuter your Valentine – love is enough, no babies needed

Donations made to your chosen Valentine dog will help the organisation to care for them until they are able to find permanent homes.

“The dogs up for adoption have been at our clinic’s shelter facility for weeks or months. Some have gone through a lot in their lives and need extra love,” says du Plessis.

If you would like to sponsor a pet for Valentine’s Day contact donations@mdzananda.co.za or make a donation to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account number: 075595710, Branch: Rondebosch, Branch Code: 025009, Reference: Pet’sName +YourName. All pets are also up for adoption.

If you have a human Valentine of your own, you can also sponsor a pet in their name, and we will send them a special e-card letting them know. Send your name, valentine’s name and email address, the pet you have sponsored and donation proof to donations@mdzananda.co.za.

Source: Mdzananda Animal Clinic