Hi Reader,

I hope you and your kitties are doing well.

I made a mistake this week. On Saturday night, I gave Trigg and Charlie a homeopathic remedy perfect for alleviating tree pollen allergies. Right after giving it, I noticed Trigg's sides were protruding a little and his breathing was a little shallow - not like he was having difficulty breathing, but rather trying to work through pain, type of breathing. So, I pressed on his sides, and he grimaced and growled. I waited a few minutes and did it again; he growled and grimaced again.

It was midnight. I didn't know what to do. Even though my insurance has a 24/7 hotline, every time I have phoned it, they tell me to take them in, so I just figured I'd skip that step. We got to the emergency vet around 1 am. They had 9 euthanasias and several critical cases.

As a result, the emergency vet didn't get to Trigg until 2:45 am. She suggested an x-ray (which is what I wanted too), so I agreed. I did not see her again until 5 am when she told me that the x-ray looked perfectly normal. What was fun about the x-ray was that when she walked into the room, she said, "Is he on a raw diet, and does he eat bone?" I told her that he was and, yes, that he ate bone. She then showed me the little white specs (bone) throughout his digestive tract. After only less than two years on a raw diet, this made me smile with delight. Something very fun that I hadn't thought of.

$661.50 later, I got three x-rays, no sleep, and relief Trigg was OK. I am unsure what caused that - perhaps just digestion, and I caught him at the right time. If I were faced with that situation again, I would probably make the same decision and take him. Poor Trigg, though. He is my anxiety cat; although the vet said he was sitting back there "chillin'," I bet he was not truly "chillin'." She said he was a very good boy and only took one vet tech to x-ray him. Good boy, Chiggy! I am glad I have the x-rays to show to our acupuncturist vet on Wednesday, as I know she will take more time looking at them.

If Nationwide Pet, who we are insured with, covers the claim, then I will pay around $60. If not, I will be on the hook for the full amount. They should pay it though, as there is no reason not to.

All this is to say, do you have cat health insurance or not? Why or why not? You can read my sister's experience with cat health insurance and why I chose to get it.

If you are new to our newsletter and didn't get the 10 Pawesome Products PDF, which tells you about awesome cat products we love and readers love, you can grab it here.
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I always appreciate a view and comment on this past week's shorts if you have time!

• ​The New Age of Cat Grooming with the PawSwing
• ​14.5-year-old Ragdoll cats Charlie and Trigg comin' at ya!
• ​Conversations with my 14.5-year-old Ragdoll cat Charlie
• ​Ragdoll Cat's a Dirt Magnet? Here's Why!
• ​The daily meows of my 14.5-year-old Ragdoll cat Charlie​

Are you on Twitter? I'd love for you to join us there if you are.

Peace, love, and purrs,

Jenny

1. Watch

​Got Fleas? Here's How to Get Rid of Them FAST! (with Tick Killz)​

I have been using Tick Killz for a month - last year, I used Cedarcide. Tick Killz is a different formula, even though it has cedar oil in it. So far, it is doing a really good job. Super grateful for it, and it's not bothering my cats - but I believe it is keeping rabbits out of my yard as an added benefit. Some of my hostas might survive without the rabbits chomping them down, which is cool, too.

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2. Learn

​Toxic Air Fresheners and Cats​

Lately, there has been a lot of talk and research about whether air fresheners are safe for cats. When a cat is sick or abnormally smelly, a pet owner might look for the cause in everything from food and water issues to pesticides, plants, cleaning products, or air fresheners. Unfortunately, these last few possibilities are an often-overlooked source of harmful toxicity, but they can be dangerous to pets’ health in the short and long term. For example, one reader’s cat died after being overly exposed to a plug-in air freshener.
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3. Shop

​Be Forever Furless Brush by Lilly Brush​

It's shedding season, which means we have extra fur on the furniture, carpets, and more. I have a Lilly Brush BFF on every floor of my house, so I can quickly grab it to get fur off. Many readers have one, too!
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4. Win

March 2024 Giveaway

​Enter The March Giveaway​

March 2024 Giveaway: PawSwing Pet Hair Remover Tool

(This giveaway ends on March 31, 2024, at 11:59 CT. A random winner* will be chosen in an April 1, 2024 drawing).

Follow the link for a chance to win!

Giveaway Details:

# of winners: 1

Prize Details: (1) PawSwing Purrring Cat Groomer​

Open to Addresses: Worldwide

5. Meet

​Leo – Ragdoll of the Week​

Leo is a blue-mitted ragdoll. I named him after Leo Dicaprio because of his handsome good looks and pretty blue eyes. I wanted a Ragdoll cat because of their easy-going personality and affectionate nature. We soon realized Leo wasn’t a typical ragdoll. He’s a beautiful boy, but he isn’t always affectionate. He hates baths, vet visits, and leaving the comfort of his home.

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