Lights! Camera! Catnip!
Just this morning,my boyfriend tried in vain to catch our cat Lux Batboy. Just when he thought he had captured the elusive feline, Lux jolted away again with lightning speed.This continued for about ten minutes, then it got tiresome and we just gave up. So imagine my surprise when I came across this article in the New York Times about Jordana Serebrenik, a Manhattan-based "Cat Catcher." For $80, Serebrenik will catch even the sneakiest kitty from under your stove or behind your couch and bring him to his proper place in your arms.It's time for a Los Angeles franchise - I'd sign up! If you're in NYC, check out Catch Your Cat's Facebook page.
One of my ex-roomies in NY would always take her dog, a laid-back, friendly lab, to California with her when she jetted to visit her parents. Since the dog was so large, he rode in a carrier in the cargo hold, not in the cabin with her. He never suffered any health problems because of it, but other animals aren't so lucky. According to this Gawker article, 35 pets died while being transported on commercial airlines in the U.S. last year. Nineteen pets died on Delta Airlines flights last year, all of them succumbing in the cargo hold. Considering the number of animals transported by plane each year, I'm sure the percentage of deaths is quite small. That's no consolation to the people who have lost their pets. I can't even imagine the pain that a pet owner has to endure upon arriving at their destination to find their pet has died. If you're considering bringing your pet with you on a long plane trip, get them thoroughly checked out by the vet. Small dogs or cats in good health can usually withstand a few hours in a carrier underneath your seat. Large dogs should have no respiratory problems and a really sturdy disposition if you want to take them with you. They'll have to fly in the plane's cargo area with the luggage and be exposed to extreme temperatures, bad ventilation and other hazards. Read these tips from The Humane Society if you must transport your pet by air.
