Pet Tales: The cats will play in a prize-winning enclosure called a 'catio'
Saturday, October 08, 2011
John and Cheryl Szostak of Leechburg have been rewarded in a very unexpected way for rescuing a kitten and four cats.
Mr. Szostak won $500 as a runner-up in a national contest for cat owners who designed and built projects that enhanced and improved the lives of their pets.
Mr. Szostak built "My Catio." but Mrs. Szostak is quick to point out, "I talked him into building this."
The "catio" is a large mesh-enclosed multilevel outdoor patio/playground for Kitty, Kody, Ziggy, Meeko and Micah. The cats have 24/7 access, exiting the house through a second-floor window and traveling down a ramp into the playground.
When I talked to Mr. Szostak for a Sept. 10 Pet Tales column, he was surprised and pleased that "My Catio" had won a year's supply of kitty litter as one of 20 finalists. Online Internet votes in the national Purina Tidy Cats "Pet Projects" Design Challenge determined the final winners, so thanks to PG readers who voted for the local contestant.
Mr. Szostak was thrilled to find out last week that he is one of eight runner-up winners. He's neither surprised nor disappointed that he didn't win the $10,000 grand prize because the competition was steep. Go to www.tidycats.com to see videos of the charming, creative, cat-pleasing projects.
The funny thing about "My Catio" is the fact that the Szostaks had never been "cat people." They each grew up in cat-less homes. They love Crystal, their American Eskimo dog.
They felt sorry for the tiny stray kitten that wandered into their yard three years ago, but they didn't immediately bring it into their house. They let the female gray tabby live on their porch, and it didn't take long for the kitten to work her way into their house and into their hearts.
They named her Kitty. In short order they adopted cats from local shelters -- two from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington, one from Orphans of the Storm in Kittanning and one from Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in Pittsburgh.
The shelter cats are all males. Kitty, the female, seems to be the leader of the pack, Mrs. Szostak said. All five are indoor cats, which is what veterinarians and shelter personnel recommend. Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives.
But Kitty, in particular, would linger in windows, looking longingly at birds and other wildlife. So Mr. Szostak, a machinist whose hobby is carpentry, built a net-enclosed box that extended out beyond a second-floor window.
That was a big hit with the cats, so he started building a catio in the yard. The couple had to carry the cats out to the catio, "and they would scratch us because they were excited to get out."
So he built the ramp to give them 24/7 access. Catio construction was completed last spring, but Mr. Szostak said the project is "still evolving" as they add toys and climbing apparatus.
The couple has a seven-acre lot "surrounded by woods. The cats are fascinated with watching the wildlife. When they're outside their whole demeanor changes," Mr. Szostak said. "They are more vocal" and active.
If you run "catios" through the Google search engine, you'll get thousands of hits, including stories in the New York Times and other newspapers. There are sites where you can buy catios and sites that tell you how to build your own.
Go to www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org for further information and to see pictures of available dogs.
For the first time this event will have an official mascot -- Achilles, 4, a Labrador retriever pitbull mix owned by Sam and Joanne Garloff of Bethel Park.
Two years ago, when Achilles was having trouble swallowing, the diagnosis from veterinarian Suzanne Mullings was myasthenia gravis.
"She said she had never seen that in a dog," Mrs. Garloff said.
Medications have stabilized Achilles so that he can enjoy the Doggie Walk Party and life in general.
The chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disorder affects a variety of muscles. Symptoms can include drooping eyelids and difficulty in walking. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, but there are treatments that alleviate symptoms. Support groups like MGA help improve the quality of life.
Dave and Arlene Weintraub of Upper St. Clair organized this event after Mrs. Weintraub was diagnosed. There were 90 walkers the first year and 150 last year when I walked with Pablo, our family's cocker spaniel.
The walk is Oct. 23 at Ethelbert Shelter, off Corrigan Drive and next to the county dog park. Registration is 9 a.m., and the one-mile walk starts at 10 a.m. Go to www.mgawpa.org to register in advance and order your size in the T-shirt that is part of the $25 registration fee.
Mr. Szostak won $500 as a runner-up in a national contest for cat owners who designed and built projects that enhanced and improved the lives of their pets.
Mr. Szostak built "My Catio." but Mrs. Szostak is quick to point out, "I talked him into building this."
The "catio" is a large mesh-enclosed multilevel outdoor patio/playground for Kitty, Kody, Ziggy, Meeko and Micah. The cats have 24/7 access, exiting the house through a second-floor window and traveling down a ramp into the playground.
When I talked to Mr. Szostak for a Sept. 10 Pet Tales column, he was surprised and pleased that "My Catio" had won a year's supply of kitty litter as one of 20 finalists. Online Internet votes in the national Purina Tidy Cats "Pet Projects" Design Challenge determined the final winners, so thanks to PG readers who voted for the local contestant.
Mr. Szostak was thrilled to find out last week that he is one of eight runner-up winners. He's neither surprised nor disappointed that he didn't win the $10,000 grand prize because the competition was steep. Go to www.tidycats.com to see videos of the charming, creative, cat-pleasing projects.
The funny thing about "My Catio" is the fact that the Szostaks had never been "cat people." They each grew up in cat-less homes. They love Crystal, their American Eskimo dog.
They felt sorry for the tiny stray kitten that wandered into their yard three years ago, but they didn't immediately bring it into their house. They let the female gray tabby live on their porch, and it didn't take long for the kitten to work her way into their house and into their hearts.
They named her Kitty. In short order they adopted cats from local shelters -- two from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington, one from Orphans of the Storm in Kittanning and one from Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in Pittsburgh.
The shelter cats are all males. Kitty, the female, seems to be the leader of the pack, Mrs. Szostak said. All five are indoor cats, which is what veterinarians and shelter personnel recommend. Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives.
But Kitty, in particular, would linger in windows, looking longingly at birds and other wildlife. So Mr. Szostak, a machinist whose hobby is carpentry, built a net-enclosed box that extended out beyond a second-floor window.
That was a big hit with the cats, so he started building a catio in the yard. The couple had to carry the cats out to the catio, "and they would scratch us because they were excited to get out."
So he built the ramp to give them 24/7 access. Catio construction was completed last spring, but Mr. Szostak said the project is "still evolving" as they add toys and climbing apparatus.
The couple has a seven-acre lot "surrounded by woods. The cats are fascinated with watching the wildlife. When they're outside their whole demeanor changes," Mr. Szostak said. "They are more vocal" and active.
If you run "catios" through the Google search engine, you'll get thousands of hits, including stories in the New York Times and other newspapers. There are sites where you can buy catios and sites that tell you how to build your own.
Priceless pooches
October is National Adopt-a-Dog-Month, and Animal Friends is celebrating by waiving adoption fees on dogs older than six months. Those pooches at the Ohio Township shelter are priceless only on Mondays through Fridays in October.Go to www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org for further information and to see pictures of available dogs.
MGA Doggie Walk Party
For the third year, dogs and people will walk and party in South Park to benefit the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania.For the first time this event will have an official mascot -- Achilles, 4, a Labrador retriever pitbull mix owned by Sam and Joanne Garloff of Bethel Park.
Two years ago, when Achilles was having trouble swallowing, the diagnosis from veterinarian Suzanne Mullings was myasthenia gravis.
"She said she had never seen that in a dog," Mrs. Garloff said.
Medications have stabilized Achilles so that he can enjoy the Doggie Walk Party and life in general.
The chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disorder affects a variety of muscles. Symptoms can include drooping eyelids and difficulty in walking. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, but there are treatments that alleviate symptoms. Support groups like MGA help improve the quality of life.
Dave and Arlene Weintraub of Upper St. Clair organized this event after Mrs. Weintraub was diagnosed. There were 90 walkers the first year and 150 last year when I walked with Pablo, our family's cocker spaniel.
The walk is Oct. 23 at Ethelbert Shelter, off Corrigan Drive and next to the county dog park. Registration is 9 a.m., and the one-mile walk starts at 10 a.m. Go to www.mgawpa.org to register in advance and order your size in the T-shirt that is part of the $25 registration fee.
Pet Tales appears weekly in the Saturday Home & Garden section. Linda Wilson Fuoco: lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064. Got a pet health question? Email it to petpoints@post-gazette.com. It may be answered in an upcoming Pet Points column by veterinarians at the Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic
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