Wednesday, January 6, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
When the grazing was good...
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
photo by rob windlinx
Sisters mule deer are having to work a little harder right now.
Choosing a cat
or a kitten
When folks think about
adding a cat to their lives,
they seem to automatically
think “kitten.” And why
not? A kitten is irresistible
with her baby face and silly
antics, a little fluffball who’ll
play all day with you and
steal your heart. Kittens are
adorable, curious, playful
and full of energy.
However, they can also
be a lot of work, and exas-
perating at times, demanding
lots of supervision to keep
them out of trouble.
And with a kitten, you
really don’t know what kind
of cat you’ll end up with
once she outgrows her kitten
personality.
You’ll need to kitten-
proof your home from com-
mon household dangers such
as electrical cords and house-
hold cleaners.
Kittens, like puppies, are
babies. They make messes
because they naturally want
to explore and in doing so,
they tend to knock things
over and get into things
they shouldn’t, like that pot-
ted plant you had hanging
around that you forgot to
give your neighbor. When a
kitten plays she uses her long
sharp nails and may scratch
you accidently.
Since young children
move quickly and like to
pick up a pet, they can acci-
dently hurt a small kitten,
which in turn may bite or
scratch when frightened.
Kittens and very young chil-
dren usually don’t mix well,
as kittens can be fragile and
youngsters kind of rough.
On the other hand, a
photo by Jodi Schneider mcnAmee
Kittens are “baby cute.”
kitten can be perfect for
a family with older, more
responsible children, or a
source of delight to an active
older adult. You just need to
look carefully at your living
situation and consider the
problems and pleasures a kit-
ten will bring.
Adult cats offer some
good advantages and few
disadvantages — one sim-
ply being that they aren’t as
“baby cute” as kittens.
The right adult cat is more
likely to tolerate children
and less likely to be injured.
Plus an adult cat is generally
much calmer and less likely
to get into trouble — at least
most of the time.
If you adopt an adult
cat, you know exactly what
you’re getting. Body type,
coat, and eye color are set.
Laid-back or active, quiet
or vocal, cuddly or demand-
ing, an adult cat has already
settled into her own persona.
And depending on your
age and lifestyle, you may
be happier with an adult cat
in your family. If you have a
quiet lifestyle, work outside
the home, or have children
under the age of six, give
some thought to adopting an
adult cat.
Another good reason
to adopt an adult cat is that
many of the cats have little
hope of getting a second
chance after they hit the shel-
ter, no matter how healthy,
beautiful, and well-mannered
they are.
The possible disadvan-
tage of adopting an adult cat
is that you may be choosing
a cat with behavioral prob-
lems. A good shelter, rescue
group, or breeder will prac-
tice full disclosure of any
known health or behavioral
problems with the cat up
for adoption. Many cats are
given up for problems that
can be resolved with time
and patience.
Cats with special needs
can also make wonderful
companions. They might be
older, deaf, blind, or have a
condition that requires medi-
cation, but that doesn’t affect
the amount of love and plea-
sure they have to give.
If you already have pets,
you will need to consider
them as well before bringing
home an adult cat or kitten.
Cats, like people, are indi-
viduals. No two are exactly
alike, whether they’re from
the same breed or even the
same litter. Some cats are
very mellow and will tolerate
any kind of handling, includ-
ing being dressed in clothes.
These cats are perfect for
older children. Other cats
don’t like being picked up
or held and will only come
to you for petting when they
feel like it.
The first step to starting
a long and lasting friendship
with a cat is choosing the cat
that’s right for you and your
lifestyle.
Once you’ve made a care-
fully thought-out decision, be
a great pet parent by provid-
ing your furry feline friend
with everything she needs to
live a happy, healthy life.
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DUCTLESS HEAT PUMP
TECHNOLOGY
Recently, Randall Marchington, an expert Mechanical Estima-
tor from Bend Heating, answered questions about the newest
high-effi ciency ductless heat pump systems on the market.
Q
A
We have heard there is something new in the world of
ductless heat pump technology. Would you mind talk-
ing about that?
Sure. Carrier Corporation, one of the largest manufac-
turers in the heating industry, has recently released the
Carrier Infi nity ductless heat pump, one-head system. The fi rst
thing that comes to my mind is that as we live in a high, dry,
cold climate and this new Carrier Infi nity system will produce
heat to -22ºF at 80% capacity output. No other system can
work this well for our winters.
Q
Well, that is exciting! What else is new?
Q
A
Are incentives like rebates and tax credits avail-
able when you convert to a ductless heap pump?
Q
And, about Bend Heating…?
Q
Is the initial investment expensive?
Q
A
What sets Bend Heating apart from other well-known
heating companies?
Q
How can people contact you for more information?
A
One of the newest innovations that Carrier has
brought to this technology is the sleek and slim
look of these indoor units that also come in white or silver,
which allows them to blend into the interior of your home. Not
the big bulky things hanging on your wall anymore.
Because we are approaching an energy crisis in the NW,
there are incredibly generous incentives available to ho-
meowners that qualify for these systems, totaling as much as
$2,700, which can cut your total investment in half, as well as
reducing your utility bill by half, plus they have air condition-
ing and air fi ltration to boot!
A
One thing that I like is that Bend Heating was the
1st “Certifi ed Master Installer” of ductless heat
pumps in the area and is Carrier’s 1st and oldest factory-au-
thorized dealer in Central Oregon. That means every single
homeowner gets a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money
back, written contract from Carrier Corporation themselves.
A
Not at all, especially when you consider that the
money you save on utility bills pays for the invest-
ment in as little as a few years in most homes, and the comfort
is incredible.
Bend Heating is the oldest heating company in Cen-
tral Oregon and has been serving our neighbors heating
needs since 1953. We are required to be certifi ed by federal,
state and local agencies. We participate in rigorous ongoing
training that requires us to perform many different tests to cer-
tify the installation is correct. We do all the paperwork for you
and make sure it is all in order for the rebates and tax credits.
A
You can contact me at 541-382-1231 or email
randall@bendheating.com and I’ll be happy to
discuss how and if this might work for your home.
Natural &
Artifi cial
541-549-6566
484 W. Washington Ave., Ste. B
541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl. YourCareMedical.com
541-382-1231 | www.BendHeating.com
Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds)
CCB#08653 | Copyright © 2012 Bend Heating & Sheet Metal, Inc. All rights reserved.
WALK-IN • URGENT CARE• OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
As a trade ally contractor of Energy Trust of Oregon, we can help with cash incentives and state energy tax credits to improve the energy effi ciency of your home.