Back at grandmas

Well we are back at grandma's. She had to have a total hip replacement done and dad is taking care of her till she can walk and climb stairs on her own. We came out on sunday last week . Grandma's cat Mac is here and I get along great with him. There is much more room to romp and run and a huge flight of stairs to run up and down. Now that she is home I have to be carefull when chasing Mac around not to jump up on her leg! Yesterday Mom and Kana came over. Kana was so out of sorts she does'nt like the car ride. She does'nt like the new surroundings even though she has been here before. She was growling at me and really hissing and growling at Mac! Now she is doing fine.

On another note we are going to be moving but don't know where. Mom lost her job cause the company she was working for is doing horibly and laying off people all over the place. She might have a line on a job in California near Sandiego. If that does'nt work out then she will look elsewhere. I don't know how I will feel there but where mom and Kana go dad and I will follow.

Scarry Information we found!

So today my dad was looking for first aid information for us cats. He is putting together a feline first aid kit, well 3 of them really, to keep in the cars and house.
Anyway he stumbled on som information on a study on a corelation of pop top cans for cat food and feline hyperthyroidism. Dad and his family have lost lots of cats to this! is has only been since the use of these cans became wide spread. His parents used to buy only canned food . before that they never had a single cat with the problem in their 50+ years of having many cats!
It scared him and me. He feeds us mostly dry food but every so often he buys us a can of wet food for a treat. Now it is only foil bags or non pull tab kind for Kana and me.

Here is some of the info we found!


"Even such seemingly safe items as cat food packaged in pull tab tin cans have been statistically linked to hyperthyroidism; although the connection is far from proved, suspicion has fallen on the use of bisphenol A, another phenol based product as discussed above, to seal such cans.[24] " Wikipedia

A study in the March 15, 2004 AVMA Journal (Edinboro, et al.) pointed out a correlation between the use of pop-top cat food cans and the subsequent development of hyperthyroidism in cats. This study merely points out a statistical correlation and doesn't prove that this relationship is certain but if you wish to be cautious about the possibility there is no harm in switching to cans that have to be opened with a can opener. Most cat foods are available in both types of cans, although it may be necessary to buy bigger can sizes to avoid the pop-tops.

When they make pop-top cans they line them with a chemical called bisphenol-A. I think it seals the lid under the pop top. Anyway, this chemical is hypothesized to be the cause of hyperthyroidism related to the use of pop top cans. It isn't used in regular cans that have to be opened with a can opener. Four or five years ago a study of hyperthyroidism showed a correlation between feeding cats canned food and hyperthyroidism. This was further studied in a report published this year (March 15 2004 AVMA Journal) which asked what kinds of cans were used and it was noted that the increase in hyperthyroidism is only in cats fed from pop-top cans. The major difference between the cans is apparently the use of this chemical, so it is thought to be the culprit. Before that is confirmed further study will have to be done, though - and like all these types of studies it is conceivable that something entirely different will be found.

Mike Richards, DVM
6/11/2004 Vetinfo4cats.com



This one was definitely new information for me. But apparently, research came out a few years ago, indicating that the pop-top cans on cat food -- actually, the chemicals lining the pop tops -- can pose a thyroid danger for cats, contributing to risk of feline hyperthyroidism. You can read what Dr. Michael Fox had to say about it here, and see an abstract describing the original research from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.


Lining of pop-top Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. cans has been linked as a possible contributing factor to the epidemic of feline hyperthyroidism (Epidemiologic study of relationships between consumption of commercial canned food and risk of hyperthyroidism in cats by Charlotte H. Edinboro, DVM, PhDJ). The reasearch suggests that overall consumption of pop-top canned (compared to dry) food at various times throughout a cat's life has been associated with greater risk of developing hyperthyroidism. In Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans or in combinations of pop-top and non-pop-top cans. In male cats, increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans and age.


Pop-Top Cans Increase Hyperthyroidism Risk, Study Says
January 9, 2004
A study published in the March 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that cats who are fed canned cat food have around three times greater risk of developing hyperthyroidism than cats who eat only dry cat food. The risk is greater for female cats. Strangely, the study found that cats who were fed canned food packaged in pop-top can had a far greater risk of developing hyperthyroidism than cats who were fed canned food packaged in non-pop-top cans. The authors suggest a link between the lacquers used to line steel cans and hyperthyroidism in cats. Because the lids are more flexible, pop-top cans use a different type of lacquer than cans that require a can opener. This lacquer has been shown to pass into the food. Since almost all canned cat food available today is packaged in pop-top cans, presumably it would be better to use those in foil pouches. Recent studies have implicated the high carbohydrate levels in dry cat food with obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

SO be carefull and let people know!

long time -Christmas time in a new place.

Wow it has been a long time since I got on here. This new town and my sister keeps me so busy! mom and dad put up the christmas tree. they keep shooing Kana and me away from it. they think i am going to attack it like I did when I was small. Kana looks like she wants to it is out in the middle of the floor as there was no corner to put it. I will try not to eat it. Kana and I are looking forward ther first Christmas . Santa brought me great stuff last year.
well gotta run mice are wating!

rain rain rain

Today dad took me out for a bit between rain storms. The pond that had been so dry that we could walk to the island has filled in. Dad kept petting me and telling me how sorry he was he had to leave us home all weekend. The Michigan Renaissance Festival has changed their pet policy to only alow dogs.
Dad complained and any one who has a cat should complain too at http://www.michrenfest.com . Any meew every thing is getting green again after 2 months of almost no rain. I can now stalk across the lawn with out all the crunching. Almost got two snakes but dad allways stops me just before I get them. Sure he is only looking out for my healt and safety but darn it i want to get what I pounce for. Kana and I have been chasing each other around the apartment since I got back in. Soon I will take a nice snuggle nap with dad and Kana on the futon before mom gets home.

First weekend alone

Well mom and dad has a job and will be gone all weekend! Kanna and I will be alone for a weeek end for the first time. i am a little nervous dad wanted to take me but he cant. he has been running around working on making things all ready for us. I think it will be ok he has a water fountain for us and a big oll food dispenser so we wont go hungry. i can tell he is worried and stressed about having to leave us behind. he takes me every where

Wow things have changed!

Well dad and Imoved finaly. We got away from the scarry neighbors who kept threatening us. We moved in with mom and just before that I got a sister! She is great! We play all the time and snuggle up on the bed together. Her name is Kana-chan short for Kaname Chidori she is named after one of moms favorite anime characters. we have gone hiking and even to the Ann Arbor art fair together. We had so much attention that towards the end we just wanted to be left alone. Mom and dad took us aside and let us chill out when we were getting stressed. amazing ho many people want to take their kitties with them but just dont think it is possible. Well I am telling you I love it so get your humans to go out and take yopu places! just be sure they have you colared and tagged with a harness and leash. it is for your safety .

Tomorrow we are going to be goojg to Grandmas and I will be visiting her kitty Mac he is a good friend and all fluffy I get to chace him all around grandmas she has a big old house so there is lots of room to geet my speed up.! Then we are going to to go to a couple of Japanese Gardens here in town. I bet mom and dad wil take lots of new pictures of Kanna and I. well sayonara every one

Mom is Moving

Boy am i excited ! Mom is moving form her parents place to a new apartment. Tomorrow dad and I are going to go visit. He says it is bigger than our place. so I will have more room to run around. Dad tells me that as soon as mom gets setteled she is going to get me sister or brother. I cant wait my grand ma just got a new kitty and I love to play with him and soon I will have a new playmate. This is soooo cool. Dad also says we willl move out there ourselves soon. I hope it is all nice there!

it has been a while

Well it has been a long while since I wrote on here. so much has happened.
dad and I are looking for a new place to live because our neighbors have threatened to hurt me and kill daddy. our neighbors are crazy and let their 3 Violent cats outside while ( as per local laws) am out only on a leash so I cant run away they on the other hand arnt fixed and have never had shots. long storry short after 3 months of calling the apartment complex the animal controll and police got involved. It turns out they have criminal records and psychological problems and the seystem wont do anything about it. so while we love the location and the garden yard it just isnt worth our safety. so we are looking but it is hard to find a place we can aford that still will take me in and especialy not make me get de clawed (OWWWWWW!!!). I think daddy would rather live in a tent than let any one do that to me.
So since I cant hang out in my yard dady has been taking me to a local Metro park almost every day there we ho hiking for miles in the woods and lay on a blanket and chill while daddy reads. I love to stalk around the woods. The other day I saw 3 deer and if dad didnt have me on a short leash i would have brought one down for lunch. Daddy never lets me have any fun :( .

Lately I have also spent alot of time at my grandmas. Chandler lives there and he is a great hunter. he isnt on a leash ( it isnt against the law where she lives) he catches lots of mice. I stole 2 from him in the last 2 weeks. I think he is just trying to help teach me how to hunt better. the apartment complex I live in right now has so many cats stray and other wise there are no mice around me. in just our building every apartment has a cat or 3.

Anny ways it is getting colder here and the weather is changing fast from late summer to what feels like late fall. wich means daddy and I are going to go Apple picking again! we take a hay ride out to the orchard and then he and mommy find apples while I explore the ground and a few trees. it is so much fun. I love that I get to go places like that with pops.

well have fun and a great Auttum. I love auttum more than dad cause he likes hot and I dont . I never worry about over heating and all the rodents are really running around getting ready for winter.
take care
Kyoki

went camping!

Wow the wold is a big place! I just went camping with dad and mom. we went up to the upper part of lower michigan near Rogers City. we camped 3 nights in a "rustic" camp ground. I spent nights in the tent with mom and dad and days out side or in my carrier. We went hiking on a fairly long trail and mom and dad slung me from a pole in my carrier. I was suspended between them on the pole like a palanquin. It was a really hot spell and I think I would have had more fun if it was cooler. Mom and dad did their best to keep me cool and watered. dad just picked up a backpack style carrier for me today at Target for $23.99 so next time it will be easier to go hiking with them.
We met moms grandparents and they were nice. My biggest problems were too many people at various places and not enough time to slowly get used to each of the various places we went. It was my first time camping and I think we will be better prepared next time.
My favorite time was as the sun set I could go hunting all over the camp site. I am never alowed outside after dark at home. Mom and dad kept me close to them and I was teathered so I couldnt get in to the treeline after dark. They must have thought iIcould'nt take on those pesky racoons out there. when we got home it was over 100 degeees out side and more in the closed up apartment but I was glad to be home. Dad used a fela comb on me to check that I was bug free ( wich of course I was) it was fun and I am looking forward to going again mabyee in September when all the screechy little kids are all in school.

Hiking with pops!

Well the weather has gotten warmer and dad and I have gone to a local Metro Park 3 times for hikes. I Get overwhelmed after a few miles and dad has to bring me back to my carrier where I know I am safe. I think dad will need to get one of those back pack style carriers or one of those front pouch kind if he wants me to come along on his 14+ mile hikes. Has any one out there had any experience with these kinds of carriers? if so please write me and let me know. I am prety sure if we get a front pouch style one I will need a large size one and they only have small and medium at the stores aropund here and not a single backpack style one. It has been awfuly hard to try one out but I get awfully lonley here when dad goes off for a whole day and comes back smel ing like the woods I wish he could take me along every time.

The other big thing has been the gardening dad is putting in a nice garden and making a little jungle paradise for me. He is making sure the plants arnt going to make me sick if I chomp on them and is trying to lay in a lawn. we have a shady yard with crummy soil so he is having a hard time with the grass. I have been helping him spread the dirt around when he comes home with some top soil. I roll arund in it a bit too feels soo good but I get so filthy my white parts are grey and black .I keep telling him I am trying to practice my disguises and dad just gives me a funny look and then tells me he loves me :). I cant wait till dad puts in the big pond he has planned. It will be stocked with fish and have a waterfall. I love to drink out of running water especialy if it is fish flavored yummmmm. Well I am gonna go curl up on the bed for a while before my nightly romp Oyasumi Nasai