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For some households, one cat is not enough. In fact, over 56 percent of the cat owning households in this country have at least two cats living under one roof, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

So, if you feel that more is merrier, make sure your house is equipped to handle the needs of multiple felines.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

To minimize cat fighting, make sure you have at least one litter box for each cat. And, some experts suggest having at least one extra box somewhere in the house, or making sure there is a box on each floor of the house.

Provide many places for cats to hide out and perch. Scratching posts, beds, food and water should also be available in several locations.

If you decide to become a multi-cat household, take great care in the way you introduce a new cat. Many experts suggest putting a new cat in a room of his own for a couple of days. Then put your new cat in another room and let the old cat come into the room and sniff out the new cat's scent. Start actual visitation slowly and see how it goes before letting both cats have free roam of the house.

Before you get a second (or third) cat, remember this: the major reason cats are brought to animal shelters is that they could not get along with the other cat(s) in the house.

--Jura Koncius, Home section

This morning, the USDA announced that it will implement a complete ban on slaughter for human consumption of cattle unable to stand and walk unassisted. The decision comes after The Humane Society of the United States documented horrible abuses of downed cows in a series of undercover videos.

For far too long, sick and crippled animals have been allowed into the food supply, subjecting them to needless torment and putting consumers at risk. Thanks in part to many thousands of animal advocates who emailed and called public officials about the scandalous mistreatment of these animals, the USDA is moving to close the downer loophole. We are calling on the agency to expedite the process and ban the slaughtering of downers without delay.

Once the loophole is closed, we'll push for additional reforms. Stronger federal legislation is needed to ensure humane euthanasia of downers and protect all farm animals from this kind of abuse. We'll continue to lobby for further reforms and keep you updated.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President  & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

You probably remember when The Humane Society of the United States exposed animal mistreatment at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. That investigation led to the nation's largest-ever beef recall. But now there's more.

A few months later, a new undercover video shows farm animals suffering terribly even before they arrive at the slaughter plant. Cows too weak to walk, called "downers," languish for agonizing hours at stockyards and auctions without veterinary care -- or being put out of their misery. This abuse must not continue.

The USDA has a presence at slaughter plants, but the animals at auctions and stockyards are in legal limbo. No one is watching at these intermediate locations, and no one is taking responsibility for ensuring humane treatment and that sick animals don't enter the food supply. It's a major gap in oversight, and we need to do better.

Please ask the USDA to act now to close the loophole that allows some downers to be slaughtered for food, and to require immediate, humane euthanasia of all downers.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President  & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

• In the summer, I dry my clothes on a clothesline.  It's better for the clothing, and for the earth too!
• I compost all kitchen scraps in a compost bin.  I then use the compost in plantings around the yard.  My dogs love to root around in it !!  It's sooo funny.
  
• I buy local foods in season, organic when possible
• I recycle all recyclables
• when washing vegetables, I use a big bowl to catch all the water and water the plants with it.

I received a forwarded email authored by an Ohio veterinarian stating that grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs and can cause acute kidney failure.  I checked and found a similar warning on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s website.  This really surprised me.  I had no idea that grapes would cause such a reaction in dogs!  Has anyone else heard this?