Yay! You’re adopting a cat! Your new feline friend will no doubt bring you much joy and laughter, benefit your health, and may even keep our feet warm on cold nights. But what do you need to give her to make her transition to your home a smooth one and ensure she’s happy and well taken care of? Reaching into my five-plus years of professional experience with animals and humans who devote their lives to the care of animals, as well as my lifetime of feline companionship, I’ve come up with the following comprehensive shopping list for you, the new cat-person, to take to your local store or hit the interwebs with to ensure Fluffy’s all taken care of from the get-go. Read on to see what you’ll need and why:

A year ago Monday, on June 7th, 2009, my son was born. And two months after that, I bought him in someone’s kitchen, tearing him away from his family, never to be reunited again. Happy birthday, Burger!

I really didn’t know what to expect in terms of costs, maintenance, and the general demolishment of a social life but I’m here now to share some tips and stuff if you’re thinking you want a little bubba of your own.

Burger came from a very reputable breeder that I spent a lot of time researching.  A few things that were important to me in terms of finding the right litter were kennel and dog club affiliations, bloodline, a very low litter-per-year ratio, environment, and reviews. Once I found the perfect breeder, selecting my pup was easy.

Enter exhibit a:

I mean, what was I supposed to do? Not go pick him up? You’re fucking crazy.

Anyway, once you find a breeder you trust, and just as importantly, one who trusts you with taking home a pup, you should be prepared for the barrage of post-purchase purse pinching known as vaccination and neutering cause your spending does NOT stop after shelling out for your little fur ball.

Cue the postpartum depression. I had it. I looked at him lying on the floor, chewing a bone, and was like, “I don’t love you!”. I blame it on the exhaustion caused by 5 nightly pee outings, cleaning projectile poop from my walls at 3am, and spending a shitload of money in like, 5 minutes.  I was overwhelmed because puppies are completely fucking overwhelming. Period.

Anyway, expect a fairly strict, and expensive, shot regime in the months following the purchase of your pup. I was totally intimidated in the beginning, convinced Burger would definitely catch something and die because what the fuck was I thinking?! I cant keep this thing alive!, but a good vet will keep you on top of the ball with reminders and checklists.

I’d suggest a savings of at least $2,000 to cover vet visits, food/supplies, and emergencies for the first couple years of having your dog. I totally underestimated how expensive these little shits really are and was constantly like-whoa regarding his expenses.Might be overkill, might not, but knowing you’re financially stable enough to get a sock surgically removed from your puppy’s stomach is a pretty good feeling. Luckily, Burger has been known to barf those socks up 5-7 days after eating them, but at least I know I’m ready for it when the pair of jeans he inhales have a tougher time coming up.

Because trust, they eat the shit out of stuff. And sometimes that stuff gives them diarrhea, which is totally awesome. One thing I learned after buying Burger is not to freak out every time your pup is a little sick. Some puke, some weird poop…? Not reasons to rush him to the vet and spend a million dollars….yet. Keep your eye on him. Check for major lethargy or anything really out of the ordinary in terms of behavior before you bring him in. Remember, you can always call your vet and see what they say—they might alleviate your concerns without you having to come in.

As for your social life…whatever. I mean, of course you can’t stay out as late and maybe three-day benders will become a thing of the past…but who says that’s a bad thing! Instead, you have this needy little loveball waiting for you at home with a stinky yeast infection around his a tail and chicken bone in his belly, but lord help him, he’s all yours!

About 10 months ago, my husband Adam and I adopted Brooklyn, a three-year-old pitbull/bulldog mix, from a rescue in Manhattan. Look how cute she is!! She’s the first dog I’ve ever had, so I really didn’t understand what we were getting into. Not that she’s destructive or aggressive in any way—in fact she’s super friendly and well-trained—but she requires a lot of time and attention. Or maybe we just thinks she does… we’re kinda like those first-time parents who freak out over their baby’s every burp and hiccup. But we can’t help it—she’s so sweet and needy and adowable! So anyway, here’s a little insight into my adoption  experience—maybe it’ll help you to be more prepared for the time (and financial) commitment of pet adoption than we were!

It took a while for her to get used to us, and for us to get used to her. At first she was really high energy—she wanted to play tug with us for hours and constantly pestered us to take her outside. I think she was a little bit anxious about her new home. After all, she lived in a shelter for almost a year, then in a succession of foster homes. Probably some abandonment issues there. After a few months (not days, don’t kid yourself) she became accustomed to our routines and began to chill out.

Since we were a little anxious ourselves about how to take care of a dog correctly, we hired an animal trainer (Mike Rueb—highly recommended) to give us some tips. One of our biggest was getting her to keep moving on walks. Brooklyn is really well-behaved for the most part, but sometimes she just stops during her walks and won’t move—it drives us crazy! Mike taught us some techniques to motivate her and keep her disciplined, and over time her walks have improved.

We try to get her out of the house as much as possible, so while we’re at work we have a dogwalker take her out for an hour. Maybe this is excessive (and expensive), but I feel bad leaving her inside all day. I don’t think it’s just the exercise that she needs, the stimulation also seems important. Sitting inside an apartment all day is pretty boring. I would go nuts too. Outside there are so many things to sniff, like other dog’s butts. And rotting garbage.

That was the big hard truth for me: dogs are filthy animals. They really like to sniff rotten smelly things and roll around in them. Brooklyn also likes to eat them. Sometimes it’s a gasoline encrusted chicken wing. Other times it’s just dirt. Yes, straight up dirt. Do you have nice things in your house? Perhaps a brand-new, navy blue velvet couch? You’d better be ready to have that ruined once you get a dog that sheds, slobbers and occasionally vomits up that rotting garbage.

Ohhh, Brooklyn. You are still the cutest doggy in the whole wide world.

Well, hello ladies. Guess what? Despite our nasty weather here in Brooklyn this past weekend, Spring is upon us. Which means you are probably going through your closet and unveiling a whole new wardrobe you forgot you even had. That means the super cute summer dresses (not quite ready for those yet), the cut-offs, and probably a few things you shouldn’t have held on to. I have a serious addiction to American Apparel t-shirts but eventually, they don’t quite cut it. When they have shrunken or gotten stained, they move downtown to the drawer for gym clothes and then it’s off to becoming a painting shirt or rag.

Well – here’s another thought. Do you have a furry friend who loves to play tug of war? I don’t know about you, but I tend to find the pet toy aisle pretty dismal. The addition of florescent lighting doesn’t help either. The colors and fabrics are awful and even smell synthetic but I don’t want to be some Mommy Dearest who doesn’t let my dog have any toys! I started making my dog Gigi my own toys (more on those in another post) and recently decided to make my own rope toy using an old t-shirt. It’s super easy and if you mix a few colors of fabric (personally, I have a penchant for all things navy blue) it could be mega-cute. It’s really easy (nice!) and not only are you recycling (gold star!) and saving money (another gold star!) but you just made your best friend a new toy (sweet!)! So let’s get to it!

Tools of the trade: t-shirt and scissors!

How to:

1. Cut 16   1″ x 18″  strips from the t-shirt. For a smaller dog you can make the strips shorter and use fewer, but keep the width at 1″

2. Tie a knot at one end. Then split the strips in half – twisting them into two ropes.

3. Then twist the two ropes together and tie a knot at the end! Or make it even longer and tie multiple knots – whatever suits your dog’s fancy.

Voila! Super easy!

Now, go play with your dog!

{Gigi is not amused}

I’m the proud owner of a giant slobbery 140 lb. English mastiff named Maddy. Like most pet owners, I would do anything to enhance Maddy’s happiness, health, and general well-being, especially as she approaches senior age. I want to do everything I can to extend her life span, so we can continue to hang out on the deck, chill at the dog park, and take lazy naps full of loud snoring together.

About Maddy

While Maddy has always been an overall healthy dog, she has suffered some subtle ailments throughout her life. It took me a few years to catch on to what some of them were. In her youth, Maddy had experienced repeated ear infections, and she had lumps on her body that grew very slowly. By age six, I had a few of the lumps aspirated to find that they were not cancerous, but they were infected. The vet simply gave us antibiotics and nothing more. When the lumps continued to pop up here and there I realized there had to be a reason she was getting infections under the skin, and realized that problems under the skin and occasional issues with the ears pointed clearly to the probability that Maddy had allergies.

Not once did my veterinarian suggest allergies to me. In fact, most of what I have discovered or learned about pet health has been through my sister who is an avid researcher of pet health. So I turned to my sister to help me research what I should do. After switching my dog’s food to a healthier brand, I slowly weeded out ingredients starting with chicken and beef, which many dogs develop allergies to. I finally landed on a better quality dog food, made with only lamb, wholesome ingredients, and free of corn, soy, dairy, eggs, and wheat.  I have seen a dramatic difference in Maddy’s skin problems. Hurrah!

But, its not over yet. The lumps are not 100% gone, and Maddy is getting older.  She is a large dog with the potential for joint and bone problems, and she has a heart murmur. I want to learn more about how to care for her the best way possible. Unfortunately, I have not found many vets to be of great help beyond the standard treatments and pharmaceuticals they are taught or paid to offer. It really pays in the long run to find a more holistic vet, someone with a more diverse understanding of animal health.

A Holistic Approach

The other day my sister gave me a great book written by her new veterinarian. The book is called Natural Dog, A Holistic Guide for Healthier Dogs, written by Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD.  So far I am thoroughly enjoying this book which covers everything from basic health needs, balanced diet, common health disorders, allergies, herbs, supplements, breed-related issues, cancer prevention and treatment, and even has a chapter full of healthy recipes for dogs including recipes designed to specifically address fungal & yeast problems, cancer, diabetes, and more.

I love that her book is completely accepting of people who may not be able to cook dinners for their dogs all the time, but instead need to implement some simple steps into their feeding routine. There’s no way I can be one of those people that keeps groceries in the house and finds time to cook a gourmet dog meal; I can’t even do that for myself!  But I want to know what foods I can easily mix in along with my dog’s bagged and canned food. This book addresses that option thoroughly.

The book also explains what to look for in bagged and canned dog foods:  In short, look for whole food ingredients such as ‘chicken’ or ‘beef’ rather than ‘by-products’ or ‘chicken meal’ (or look for single-source protein foods, such as lamb or salmon for dogs with allergies).  Look for ‘wheat’ rather than ‘wheat bran, wheat gluten or wheat mill run’.  And opt for ‘rice’ over ‘rice flour, rice bran, or brewers rice’.  Look for products that use whole vegetables and grains; even better, purchase products recommended by the author herself, also listed in the book.

As I continue reading this book, I plan to slowly implement some changes in my dog’s diet. Each day I take on a new chapter and attempt to add something easy to my dog’s feeding routine.  My first mission: to add more diverse fruits and vegetables to my dog’s diet in an attempt to better balance her bodily pH levels.

Diversifying the Diet

Dr. Khalsa speaks early on in the book about pH balance in the body. You remember learning about pH back in science class right? It’s the scale between Acidic and Alkaline, and like most things in nature, the situation is best when the scale is in balance. Many foods are acidic, others are alkaline. The body’s chemistry comes into play just as much as the foods themselves with regard to creating pH balance. For example, lemons are quite acidic, but lemon once eaten and digested makes the body fluid more alkaline. Milk, which is alkaline, will make the body itself more acidic.

On a cellular level within the body, the pH level can play a major role in cell protection, and an acidic body can be susceptible to disease and illness. Acidic pH levels in the body can be related to incidences of arthritis, kidney problems, bladder stones, heart disease, as well as the establishment of cancer.

Traditionally dogs have been known as carnivores, as they are descendants of wolves and still retain those sharp, pointy teeth! However, even dogs benefit more from a balanced diet including vegetables, grains, and even dairy (as long as they’re not allergic). Apparently a diet high in meat-based proteins is a very acidic diet. Too much protein, especially poor quality protein, can put extra stress on the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Hence the need for other ingredients to create balance in pH levels.

According to Natural Dog, some Alkaline foods include apples, bananas, asparagus, carrots, celery, kelp, beans, peas, potatoes (if eaten with the peel), spinach, parsley, millet, quinoa, cheese, yogurt, and various herbs and spices including cayenne, garlic, rosemary & basil.  These foods can be added in moderate amounts to each feeding. For the best advice on this, you should look at the book and refer to the entire chapter full of healthy and easy recipes you can throw into your dog’s diet.

Aside from the pH issue, the book covers many other easy ways to enhance your dog’s health.  There is a whole section dedicated to healthy oils, such as olive oil and coconut oil. Last night I mixed a teaspoon of coconut oil, half a chopped apple, and about two tablespoons of kefir (a dairy product very rich in probiotics) and fed her that along with her regular kibble.  It was easy to do, she loved it, and I’ve seen no immediate ill effects from feeding her these things.

What the Future Holds

The book also delves deeply into treating a dog plagued with allergies. Although Maddy’s skin issue has mostly subsided, it seems dog’s can develop new allergies to whatever food they’ve been switched to. It also seems that if a dog had been allergic to chicken or beef, they could develop an allergy to lamb as well.  Dr. Khalsa outlines a plan of rotating foods so the dog has a broader food exposure.  I plan to implement this rotation and progress into the feeding techniques specified for allergy treatment, and I hope to share my experience in the future!

If you’re looking for some holistic information that’s easy to understand and implement, check this book out.  I have so much more to learn from it.  For now, I already feel I have a great start toward trying to diversify my dog’s intake, and enhance her overall health and happiness. After all, I want “little” Maddy to be with me as long as possible, and to enjoy every meal that comes her way!

Information taken from “Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog: A Holistic Guide for Healthier Dogs” by Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD.   Dr. Khalsa is a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, and earned her VMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.  She has studied homeopathy for over twenty-five years, and lectures nationally and internationally.

…may not be enough to keep them warm. Plus, how cute is your puppy in a little plaid toggle coat?

Of course, dogs aren’t the only pets that look adowable in people clothes.

Click for information on purchasing any of the items featured in here.

The Omega Paw Rollaway Self-Cleaning Litter Box is, frankly, an engineering marvel. Here’s how it works: When you’re looking at it, there’s an entrance for your kitty on the left. Inside, there’s a chamber for kitty to do her business. Next to this chamber is a vertical grate that acts as a sieve for separating the dirty clumps from the clean litter, essentially “scooping” the litter for you when you roll the box. As you roll the box, the clean litter filters past the grate, leaving the clumps behind. Keep rolling and the clumps hit the roof of the box, then slide into the long plastic drawer. Once you’ve set the box back right-side up, rolling it a quarter turn in the other direction to get the clean litter back in the kitty chamber, the drawer pulls out full of the dirty clumps all ready to be disposed of.

It’s not always a perfect roll, usually we have to bang the bottom of the box to loosen any messes that may be stuck, and the grate can get clogged up, but all in all, it’s a huge step up from getting your arms and face into the box everyday.

We have two for our three cats and as is tradition, replaced them with two new ones for Xmas. This is the first time we’ve stuck with one type of litter box year after year and we will continue to do so. If you have kitties, it’s definitely worth a roll! (Get it? Roll? ‘Cause the box rolls? Whatever.)

The Omega Paw Rollaway Self-Cleaning Litter Box is available at most big pet stores and online for under $30.

Need a really thoughtful gift for the pet-lover in your life? Like the kind of gift that gets you props for life?

OMFGstyle.com contributor Vanessa Boer is a Brooklyn-based painter, illustrator, and “maker of things” whose custom pet portraits “capture the ‘little human’ inside each pet’s unique personality… Not just their dashing good looks.” So if your pup fancies himself a sailor, Vanessa in her unique, whimsical style will paint your four-legged friend on the high seas.

Little Fluffy won’t sit still? No worries, Vanessa works from photographs, so there’s no need to set up sittings and better yet, you don’t have to be in the New York area to get your pet’s portrait painted. Just send her 3-5 pics of your (or your friend’s) pet along with a description of their personality and what kind of look/profession you’d like them painted as, and you’re guaranteed to go down as the best gift-giver (or getter) of all time.

I have commissioned Vanessa to do portraits of my three cats. Since they are each named after characters from books, they will become Lyon Burke from The Valley of the Dolls, Lorelei Leigh from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Blair Waldorf from the Gossip Girl series. I can’t wait to see the final products and I’ll be sure to post the results when they’re ready.

Custom Pet Portraits by Vanessa Boer are available by special order. Order by December 17 to ensure holiday delivery. Prices vary depending on size and medium, so check out the price list below.

Ready to go for it? Contact Vanessa at  info@vanessaboer.com.