Our Weekly Roundup Filled with Laughs!

This week, we featured several of our exotic cats in some fun videos.  We hope you enjoyed the videos as we showed off the quirky side of our animals and video producer!

On Monday, we presented the sequel to our first Splish Splash video titled "Grease Lightning!"  Who knew our tigers could move so fast!  To see both the original video and its sequel, click HERE!

 

Do you remember the posting of Amol and his love affair with his blue barrel? Well, move over Amol, Apollo loves his barrel too!  Check out this hilarious video of Apollo as he tries so hard to... (click HERE for Tuesday's video!) 

Wednesday's video featured our serval, Neffie, as she pursues her elusive "prey."  Our beautiful cat shows off her talents as a "blood hound" in this video.  Click HERE to learn who was making all the "mysterious" noises!

 

Yesterday's posting was about taking your cats to the vet!  Did you know that Wednesday was "National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day?  It just happened to be a coincidence that we had three cats scheduled to see their vet that day!  Thankfully, we have new staff members ready to assist our wild ones when it's time for them to see their veterinarian!  To learn more about our cats' visit to the vet and to meet our new staff, click HERE!

 

B-I-N-G-O Reminder!

Don't forget, tomorrow is our B-I-N-G-O night!!  If you haven't RSVP'd yet, then now is a great time!  For details on this special event, please click HERE!

Food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) can be purchased from the hotel bar. The hotel will provide us servers who will come into the room and take your order so you don't even have to leave the game for your refreshments!

What a great way to spend a Saturday night and help the animals of In-Sync Exotics! Proceeds from this exciting event goes towards our animals' care, so RSVP today and be sure to bring along your family and friends.

Want to help In-Sync Exotics win $2,500?

This a very easy and great way to help our animals! All you have to do is "Like" Razoo and then write a short narrative (or long if you have lots of great experiences to share!) telling them why you would donate to In-Sync Exotics the $2,500! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Deadline to submit your short or long narrative to Razoo is set for August 31, 2012!

So, let's recap:

1. Go to the Razoo Facebook Page, then click "Like";

2. Then click the 100 Million Dollar Sweepstakes button; and

3. Then say why you love the animals of In-Sync Exotics!

We hope you enjoyed this week's blog posting and will join us again next week for more informative, funny, and interesting blog postings on our wild ones! Remember, we are open for tours Thursday - Friday, so we look forward to your visit!  Be safe and have a great weekend!

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Our Cats' Trip to the Vet

Did you know that yesterday was National Take your Cat to the Vet Day?  At In-Sync Exotics, yesterday was just like any other day, when we make a trip to our vet's office!  Thankfully, we have new staff members  ready to assist our wild ones (you'll meet them later on in this posting) when they go to the vet's office.

When you take your beloved pet to the vet, have you ever noticed that the waiting area seems to be filled with more dog owners than cat?  One would think there were more companion dogs living in our abodes than that of the cat persuasion.   

Here are some interesting facts on pet ownership from the Humane Society of the United States:

Dogs

• There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States
• Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
• Most owners (60 percent) own one dog
• On average, dog owners spent $248 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually

Cats

• There are approximately 86.4 million owned cats in the United States
• Thirty-three percent of U.S. households own at least one cat
• Fifty-two percent of owners own more than one cat
• On average, owners have two cats (2.2)
• Cat owners spent an average of $219 on routine veterinary visits

Based on statistics above we can hypothesize that cats are more popular than dogs as companion animals, but when it comes to routine veterinary care, dogs receive the lion’s share (no pun intended).  With the numbers of cats living in households exceeding those of dogs, according to a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 58 % of dogs receive these all important routine health exams, as opposed to just 28% of our beloved felines. So why do dog owners take their pets more often than those of cat owners?

Many cat owners believe that cats do not need medical care. This misinformation is often based on the myth that cats are more self-sufficient.  Unfortunately serious symptoms of disease often go unnoticed because cats tend to hide their signs of illness.  Dogs tend to be thought as more “dependent” and needier than felines, so they are often taken to the vet more often than cats.

Yesterday we took a few of our own cats to the vet—Tobias (lynx), Franklin (domestic), and Sox (domestic).  Why did our three cats go to the vet's office?  Well, since Tobias’ arrival, we've been treating our lynx for a reoccurring cough.  He was treated three separate times and each time his cough went away.  Unfortunately, his cough is back again, so our vet took a closer look to find out why his cough keeps returning!  Our vet also checked out the mystery spots that shows up and disappears between his front and back legs.  The only spot that seems to bother Tobias is the one located on his left inner thigh.

Sox at the vet

Franklin went in for a follow-up to see if it was time to take him off the heart medication.  Good news--the vet gave Franklin a clean bill of health and he is no longer on the heart medication.  In two weeks, Franklin will go back to the vet's office to be retested to see if he can remain off of the heart medication.  

We noticed Sox has an irritated left eye and his head is starting to bob (as if he’s shaking his head “yes”). Sox underwent several tests and so we are praying there is nothing seriously wrong with the boy.

Tomorrow, we plan to take in Gideon (time for his shots and micro-chip); Spirit (follow-up check-up); and Sketcher (chronic sneezing).

We will give you an update on all our cats as soon as the exams are completed and the test results are released to us.

If it’s been awhile since you took your cat to the vet, you may want your cat examined.  Even though your cat may appear perfectly healthy right now, if it’s been more than a year since your cat received a routine check-up, then it is time to make an appointment!  Your kitty’s wellness exam is the ideal opportunity for your vet to become aware of any health problems before they evolve into serious illnesses. Your vet will weigh your feline, listen to her heart and lungs, and give her a thorough dental exam.

Be sure to advise the veterinarian of any health issues that you have noticed in your cat, such as “odd” behavior”, coughing, a decrease or increase of appetite, frequent urination, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, coughing, weight loss or gain, sluggishness, always hiding when normally social, or excessive and/or loud vocalization.
 

As part of the wellness exam, your vet may want to perform routine diagnostic tests, such as blood work, fecal and/or urine analysis, or perhaps an x-ray, if necessary.

At In-Sync Exotics, we recognize the importance of maintaining good health of our young, senior and geriatric cats and will continue to provide our cats with top-notch vet health care!

Meet Our New Keeper!

We have a new full-time animal keeper at In-Sync Exotics who will help ensure our wild ones receive the love and care they deserve!  Our new keeper is no stranger to In-Sync Exotics.  She completed two internships with us (May - August 2011 and November 2011 - May 2012), an internship with Tiger Creek, Fossil Rim, and at the Wild Animal Sanctuary.  She earned a bachelor of science degree in Organismal Biology (think Zoology) in 2010 and is excited to be In-Sync's newest keeper as this is truly her "dream job."  

Alysia with Stryker

Please welcome Alysia Lavender to the In-Sync Exotics' staff (she now wears a "black shirt")! You may recall, Alysia was featured in our January 2012 blog posting as she described what it was like to Intern at our sanctuary (click HERE to read the posting).  She has always wanted to care for tigers, now she loves caring for all our carnivores! 

It should come as no surprise that Stryker is still her favorite cat, but she told "Cat Tails" that she really loves all the animals -- big and small. She misses Mr. Kitty, her seven year old kitty, as he lives hundreds of miles away in Virginia. So while she misses her fun loving kitty, she is grateful that she has a lot of exotic and domestic cats to care for each day!  Welcome back, Alysia and congratulations on your selection as our exotic wild animal keeper! 

Meet Our New Intern!

We also want to welcome Julie Vria from Garland, Texas, as our new Intern! Julie just graduated in May 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas State University.

Julie with Tobias at the vet's office

Julie is no stranger to domestic or exotic wild animal care as she used to work with animals at the VCA Animal Hospital and interned at G.W. Exotics.  Julie's goal is to be a keeper at a zoo or wild animal sanctuary.  She has a keen interest in the conservation of endangered species with a focus on the big cats.

Two lynx paws up and a mighty chirp of approval to Julie as our new In-Sync Exotics' Intern!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting and will join us again tomorrow for more news and updates on our wild ones! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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Nefertiti's Mystery!

Before we go to our featured video, we pause for a special commercial announcement!

Want to help In-Sync Exotics win $2,500?

This a very easy and great way to help our animals!  All you have to do is "Like" Razoo and then write a short narrative (or long if you have lots of great experiences to share!) telling them why you would donate to In-Sync Exotics the $2,500!  It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

So, let's recap:

1. Go to the Razoo Facebook Page, then click "Like";

2. Then click the 100 Million Dollar Sweepstakes button; and

3. Then say why you love the animals of In-Sync Exotics!

It's that easy, folks!

If you don’t have a Facebook page, you can still enter by mail:

Please address to Razoo ($100MM Sweepstakes)

1020 19th St NW, Suite 800

Washington DC, 20036

Thanks for helping In-Sync Exotics win!  We have the best supporters ever!

And now, here is our featured video of our one and only Nefertiti! Enjoy!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting and will join us again tomorrow for more news and updates on our wild ones! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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Apollo's Dilemma!

Do you remember the posting of Amol and his love affair with his blue barrel?  Well, move over Amol, Apollo loves his barrel too!

Last week, we received some well needed rain.  Unfortunately, with the rain, cames a little mud!  Not all of our tigers like their enrichment toys, such as their barrels and balls, covered with mud.  Apollo is one such tiger that likes to keep his "toys" clean. 

We hope you enjoy this short video of Apollo and his little dilemma!



We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting and will join us again tomorrow for more news and updates on our wild ones! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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Splish Splash - The Sequel - Grease Lightning!

As we slowly drift from summer to fall, we look fondly back on our summer memories of the cats playing in their tubs and pools!  Our tigers just love to stay cool in their pools!

Our first video Splish Splash video was such a hit, we've decided to bring it back for your viewing pleasure!

And now, may we present, the sequel to Splish Splash, "Grease Lightning!"



We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting and will join us again tomorrow for more news and updates on our wild ones!  Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!