Cats Comfort Breast Cancer Patients

People and Pets HomeSafe

When the words "pink" and "cat" are used in the same sentence, it's usually referring to a kitten's nose. But this October, "thinking pink" and talking about cats takes on a whole new meaning, thanks to the folks at Purina Cat Chow!

Recognizing the remarkable bond between cats and breast cancer patients, this October, Purina Cat Chow is making a contribution to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for every specially-marked product sold. The target goal is $100,000. 

According to Susan Molenda, vice president of marketing for Nestle Purina PetCare, "The support and comfort cats provide during these difficult times reinforces the important role pets play in our lives and to society, and we are pleased to lend our support to this worthy cause."  

CNN.com Living is Looking for Pampered Pet Photos

Each week CNN.com Living invites people to share images on one of three topics - design, fashion and pets. This week, it's all about pets that live pampered lives.

Do you know any pet owners who care for their furry ones like they're members of the family? Like the two lazy loafers pictured here, who live with one of our PetLynx team members?

CNN.com Living is looking for over-the-top ways people pamper their pets -- from matching person-pet outfits to elaborate birthday parties. Show them your fancy carriers, pet jewelry, intricate pet furniture and homemade pet meals or treats. They are looking for images beyond dressed-up pets  that celebrate the human-animal bond.

Do you have some photos you wold like to share?

Click here for more information.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

People Names for Pets

DENVER POST: The day care roster includes Hannah, Cameron, Sophie, Henry, Tucker and Emma. They are the same names you'd find at just about any day care center in town. The only thing that might raise an eyebrow — or in this case, a whisker — is the fact that these names were plucked from an attendance sheet at a day care for dogs. 
 
Not one of the 43 dogs playing and fetching at the doggie day care answers to Spot, Rover or even Pepper. Pet names have changed.
 
Many people are choosing family or celebrity names for their furry friends, considered a reflection of the deepening bond owners have with their pets.
 
According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, seventy percent of dog owners (and 65 percent of cat owners) said they consider their dog a full-fledged family member. 

So, when it comes to names, pet owners nowadays ruminate much like an expectant couple. Among the most popular dog names are Lucy, Jack, Bella and Charlie, according to an analysis by petfinder.com, an online database of hundreds of thousands of adoptable pets.
 
The trendiest cat names also include Lucy and Molly, though some perennial faves — Shadow, Smokey, Tiger, Tigger and Precious — are holding their own.

Dr. Linda Light, who practices at Ark Veterinary Hospital in Buford, Ga., said she has noticed a shift away from Grover and Pepper to more Stellas and Charlies. She said it's perfectly fine to change a name of a newly adopted dog or cat. The animals learn their names very quickly, she said. "Just be creative and have fun with the naming of your pet," she said.
 
So what about the pet's perspective? Angie Woods, a dog-behavior expert and owner of U.S. Canine in Buford, said a name is irrelevant to dogs since they don't understand words — only sounds. Still, simpler names with only one or two syllables are easier for dogs to recognize.

Get the full story in the Denver Post.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Pet Obsessed: The cost of Cute

Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, there’s no question that our four-legged friends provide us with the kind of companionship you just can’t put a price on. That didn’t stop the folks at USA-based www.mint.com from doing just that however. 

The company's latest info-graphic takes a look at the true cost of sharing your home with companion animals, along with the requisite cute photos. How much do Americans spend on pet food, supplies, and pet food? And how have the big pet supply retailers done during the economic downturn?

This info-graphic is based on the aggregate data from over one million Mint.com users, a representative sampling of US consumers, along with data from wiki.answers.com.

The blog posts to this information are interesting, too. Tell us what you think of mint.com's statistics.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor