I got up early on Saturday morning to go for a bike ride. I like to have my coffee sitting in my porch swing looking at the mountains. My peace was disturbed by my neighbor's cat. He walked by with a Lesser Goldfinch in his mouth. 

The primary reasons for the types of plants selected is their ability to both survive in the high desert and attract birds and pollinators. One area of the garden is focused on native wildflowers. Hummingbirds, butterflies and seed eaters, like the Lesser Goldfinch, just love this area. It's not uncommon to have a hummingbird and a Goldfinch feeding on the same plant.

As I write this, my cat, Wabby (aka Pandora) is roaming around the house meowing. Now, I speak pretty good cat, but I'm baffled by her behavior at this moment. I have given her treats, I have carried her around like a baby for ten minutes, I even held her up to the window so she could look out. Still, she's roaming the house acting like she lost something.

Cats are pretty mysterious, sometimes. They act so differently than dogs, we can sometimes take them for granted. But, in the end, despite the naysayers, cats are loving, affectionate, and loyal creatures. They have shown themselves so in many instances, not the least of which is their ability to offer consolation and support to women with breast cancer.

Because of this, Purina Cat Chow® has partnered with Susan G. Komen Cure, for the second year, to highlight that special bond between owner and cat - especially as it pertains to women with breast cancer.

Dogs and cats are living longer than ever before. Owners are taking better care of their pets and we have more options available for the prevention and treatment of disease than we've had in the past.

A friend of mine from Louisiana sent me an article about Pet Health Insurance (PHI) that I thought I'd share with readers. There are a few interesting facts and some comments in the article that might interest you.

Regular readers know that we are preparing to move to Colorado from New York. We have family there and it's easy to move an Internet business.

Since we lost our beloved Carmie, we've toyed with the idea of a new dog. Not necessarily a puppy (although that idea is not off of the table), but another pet that can go for walks with us. That would be a dog, of course. One that likes cats.

Every time I mention this to Wabby, our 16 year old cat, she gives me the evil eye and turns her back on me. No, really, It's as if she can understand what I'm saying! I've tried mixing up the conversation... "Wabby, what if we get a cat, instead of a dog? Would you like a kitty friend?"

When you work in the pet insurance world you hear stories like this all the time. "I thought about getting pet health insurance when I got my puppy, but I didn't think the cost was justified." That statement is closely followed by, "I sure wish I had it now." The most recent example hits a little close to home.

This week's visit to the Pet Health Library takes us to the Breeds Section to meet the Bombay.

The name caught my eye because on our recent trip to the Blogher conference in Chicago, we had some challenges with our hotel room internet connection and one of the more helpful tech support people (with Symantec) openly admitted he was located in Bombay, India. Tom (our behind the scenes blogger) had a very nice conversation with him while software was working in the background and the stereotype did not apply — as they so often don't.

That's your hint that the answer to where Bombay cats come from may not be as obvious as the old "Grant's tomb "joke ... click to find out more about Bombay cats!

Yep, that's right, you can get the same procedure for your dog that your grandpa might be thinking about. You can get a knee replacement, too. I was just thinking about one of those the other day. Must have had something to do with my last back packing trip.

Sometimes I just have to sigh when people tell me their pet woes. The ones that start, "Had to take Tiny in to the vet last week. She has...xyz...and needs to see a specialist." The conversation ends up with some big number quoted because Tiny needed x-rays and fluids and medication.

I sigh because these are smart people who love their pets. These are people who are "thinking" about purchasing pet health insurance, but haven't taken the "plunge" yet. When I ask why, they mostly say they don't know enough about it and they're pretty sure it doesn't cover their issue.

Well, I don't have the answers to what pet health insurance covers, that's Dr. Larry's job, and he and Dr. Bill talk about it all the time on this blog. But, I do have the answer to why people should stop procrastinating and start doing their homework: it's $2000 and counting. That's how much my friend's vet bill was - because veterinary care involves similar kinds of equipment, training, and pharmaceuticals as healthcare for people. 

Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common diseases in middle aged and older cats. The usual cause is a benign tumor of the thyroid gland that results in too much thyroid hormone being produced.

Thyroid hormone helps regulate metabolic rate so the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are due to an abnormally high metabolic rate. Affected cats usually eat more and lose weight. They may have faster than normal heart rates, vomiting and diarrhea. Long term effects can include blindness, heart disease and kidney problems.