Vow to keep your cats healthy and happy

Buddy wishes for all of you a bright, healthy and shiny New Year, both for you and your animals.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus have already returned to the North Pole after donating a hectic three Saturdays at 65 W. Seegers Road. We thank them for their untiring good spirit and patience.

We also thank all of you who tried to help us make Christmas a little brighter for the animals at the shelter. Your participation in Santa ornaments, Santo photos and donations was tremendous. Keep us and the animals in your heart and in your wallet year-round. We have many animals that need a home for the new year.

In fact, on the feline side of the shelter, adult animals are at a record high. The reality is adults live with us three to four times longer than a kitten or juvenile cat.

If you have been delaying adding to your feline family because of the holidays, please consider checking out our never ending numbers of feline adults.

The sad reality is that animals end up in shelters because they are not neutered or develop destructive habits in a household. As caretakers, you as the owner, need to take responsibility for both problems.

Felines love to please you, and, yes, they are trainable contrary to some beliefs. I train with toys, organic catnip and treats.

When I advocate treats I am not advocating junking out your feline's diet with unhealthy treats. Make sure the number one ingredient is protein-based and not highly caloric. Sometimes even a high quality freeze-dried food can be used for a treat to alter behavior.

A product that sends my felines into a begging frenzy is a freeze-dried food by Stella and Chewy's. Just the aroma of the bag opening causes them to relocate into the room I want to train them in.

Another product my felines like is Likety Stick. The product comes in different flavors and it looks like a huge tube of Chapstick. You simply take the cap off and they will lick it. Dishing up this treat looks a little ridiculous but the cats find it fast fun.

Tuma-flavored hairball preventive products also can be substituted for treats. The trick to this treat is to teach them to crave the product at an early age. They think you are providing a treat but you know you are providing a health benefit when they lick the laxatone product right out of the tube.

You can use treats to alter behavior more often than you think, as long as you provide healthy, low calorie treats. Remember to always read your labels.

Let's keep our felines in good health and remember preventive maintenance. Don't forget that February is dental month for our pets and many veterinarians offer a discount on teeth cleaning. A healthy mouth is the steppingstone to continued good health for our felines. An unhealthy, neglected set of dentals can cause serious health and organ problems in the long run.

Feature felines:

• Glory is a petite, female tabby that, along with her mother Sweetie and siblings Blackie and Maris, has been at the shelter for several years. She is a shy little girl that can usually be found hiding under the blankets on the couch or snuggled down in a bed in the corner of the room.

Being as shy as she is, it takes a while to get to know her, but once you do she will gladly accept treats from your hand and may even let you pet her. She has really soft fur and one of the sweetest little meows you will ever hear.

• Travis is an extremely friendly male who is gray and white with light brown highlights. He came to us when someone walked into a local veterinarian's office, set his carrier on the counter and just left. He had a minor injury on his one leg and needed to be neutered, but otherwise was perfectly healthy.

He spent a couple of weeks in one of the condos while he healed and then moved into one of our cat rooms. He is very energetic and playful, loves playing with just about anything, and will chase a laser dot like crazy.

But the real surprise comes when you sit down; he is a real lap cat and will quickly curl up on your lap and enjoy being petted.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. (847) 290-5806 or www.thebuddyfoundation.org.