The Best Friends Animal Society has a wonderful program running in November. It's called the Best Friends Double Your Impact Challenge, and this is how it works: Eligible animal charity groups create a website on the Best Friends site, and you can donate to the charity of your choice until December 4, 2009. Best Friends will match your donation up to a total of $500 per charity. If the hoped-for goal is reached, that will mean a total of $50,000 donated to help keep these animal charities doing their work for homeless cats and dogs. You can read more about the Double Your Impact Challenge on the Best Friends site.

For my readers: Ready, set, GO! And for Best Friends Animal Society: Way to GO!

Tortoiseshell cats are cloaked in the color of falling leaves in November with their interwoven patterns of red, gold, and black. "Torties" are like potato chips; once you've enjoyed one, you'll want more. Tortie cats are homebodies; they love their families, and are loyal to a "T" to the one who cares for them. Don't be surprised, though, if your tortoiseshell cat shows a streak of sass at times. That tendency is referred to as "tortitude," and is often found also in calico cats.

Feast your eyes on this parade of lovely tortie ladies, and if you are lucky to share your home with one, submit your own tortoiseshell photo with the Photo Submission Guidelines. Sorry, but I will be unable to publish your photos without all the requested information.

Does your tortie cat epitomize tortitude? Share more photos and her story with this easy-to-use form
_{Photo of Tortie Kitten Scout
Photo Credit: © Dee Kridel}

As cats age, some of them develop chronic diseases, including the most common one: CRF (Chronic Renal Failure). Managing a chronic disease in cats need not be as overwhelming as you might expect, provided you are given sufficient instruction and support by your veterinarian, know what symptoms are red flags, and what side effects might be considered normal, and hold to a regular routine.

Routine is all-important to cats, and even a very sick cat will expect his medication and other treatment to be delivered regularly, on schedule. Learn more about managing diabetes, hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, and other chronic feline ills. I have recently added Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver Disease) to this list. Although Fatty Liver Disease is not chronic, it often accompanies other chronic diseases in cats.

The title sez it all.
_{Photo of Tortie Kitten Suki Credit: © Heather Fadlon}

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