Happy Tuesday:

• 📚 How fostering cats is helping college students

• 🐱 Cat’s sense of smell

• 📖 Why cats are the perfect reading companions

• 😸 Starting your day off informed

• 🐈 Cat of the Day, Bo

• 😺 How to get your money back from vet bills

College students often juggle packed schedules, but fostering cats has become a meaningful way for some to manage stress, provide companionship, and support animal rescue efforts. While fostering may seem like a big commitment, many shelters offer resources to make it accessible for students.

Studies, like one conducted in 2021, show that interacting with cats can boost happiness levels and reduce stress—a benefit many students find invaluable. Rescues like Columbia Second Chance in Missouri even provide scholarships and supplies for students fostering pets, proving how fostering can fit into student life with the right support.

Shelters typically supply food, toys, and vet care, leaving fosters responsible only for providing a safe home and, sometimes, transportation. The experience can help students build life skills, create a sense of purpose, and even form emotional connections that last a lifetime.

Is Fostering Right for You?

Before diving in, consider:

• Schedule - Do you have time for feedings, play, and occasional vet visits? Rescues sometimes offer flexible options, like weekend or respite fostering, for busier times.

• Housing - Check with your landlord about pet policies. Many properties are open to fostering, and some may waive fees for temporary arrangements.

• Commitment - Fostering is temporary, so it’s a great way to make a difference without a long-term obligation.

With approximately 920,000 shelter animals euthanized annually in the U.S., fostering plays a critical role in saving lives. By fostering, you provide much-needed space for shelters to take in more animals and help socialize pets, making them more adoptable.

Whether you’re in college or looking for a meaningful way to start the new year, fostering a cat is a powerful way to make an impact. It’s a small step that changes lives—for the cats and for you.

Cats experience the world primarily through their noses. With up to 200 million scent receptors (compared to humans' mere 5 million), their sense of smell is incredibly powerful and plays a vital role in their lives, from exploring their environment to forming social bonds. By understanding and tapping into their olfactory superpowers, you can help enrich your cat’s life in meaningful ways.

For cats, scent is more than just a way to detect food or danger—it’s their primary tool for communication and comfort. Cats use their sense of smell to:

• Mark Their Territory - Cats secrete pheromones from scent glands on their face, paws, and tail. These pheromones help them establish their space and create a sense of security.

• Identify Friends and Foes - Cats recognize each other—and you—through scent. It’s why they rub against you when you come home, marking you as part of their social circle.

• Navigate Their Environment - A cat’s sharp nose helps them explore new spaces and detect changes in their surroundings, keeping them safe and aware.

You can enhance your cat’s life by introducing safe, intriguing scents into their environment. Catnip and silvervine are popular choices for stimulating play, while herbs like chamomile or valerian root can provide relaxation. Puzzle feeders or toys with hidden treats also allow your cat to use their nose to forage, satisfying their natural instincts.

As always, safety is key. Avoid essential oils or any plant materials that could be toxic, and consult your vet if you’re unsure about a particular scent or product. By engaging their sense of smell, you’re not just entertaining your cat—you’re enriching their world in ways they instinctively understand. Have you noticed how your cat reacts to certain scents? We'd love to hear!

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Thank you to 1440 for sponsoring Daily Purr.

Meet Bo, a festive feline who has a unique holiday hobby—sitting on presents! According to his human, Yesmeen, Bo absolutely loves the crinkly sound of wrapping paper under his paws, making him the ultimate gift-wrapping supervisor. Whether he’s perched proudly on top of a package or simply enjoying the holiday buzz, Bo clearly knows how to get into the seasonal spirit.

Thank you, Yesmeen, for sharing Bo’s adorable antics with us! We hope he had a cozy holiday season!

If you’d like to see your cat featured as cat of the day, send in a picture and some fun facts about your kitty - you might just see them in the next edition!

Thank you to Spot Pet Insurance for sponsoring Daily Purr.

🐱 Bite-Sized Treats

🧐 Did You Know: A cat curling up on your lap shows they feel completely safe with you. Cats are most vulnerable when they sleep, so choosing your lap is a big sign of trust.

😸 COTD: Give your kitty the spotlight by submitting them for Cat of the Day! Reply to this email with your best photos of your cat. Be sure to include their name and a short description to be featured in an upcoming newsletter!