Local man makes 2nd hole in one at the Emerald
Josh Devereaux of St. Johns made his second career hole in one last week at the Emerald Golf Course.
This feat was accomplished on number 4 using a 4 iron to send the ball 209 yards.
Bryan Purvis, Don Koenigsknecht and Doug Hankey were on hand to share this ace.
Fowler Schools hires new Maintenance employee
In early March of 2020 the Fowler Public School District hired Alan Miller as a new maintenance employee.
Alan (Al) is a licensed journeyman electrician with broad experience in industrial, corporate and residential electrical. A retired General Motors employee with 31 years experience, Alan also worked at AgroLiquid Fertilizer in St. Johns, in their production department and assisted with maintenance for two years before being hired in our transportation department as a bus driver, which he continues in that capacity with the district as well.
Al has been busy fixing the ventilation systems in both schools, fixed the exhaust fans in all elementary bathrooms, fixed the dust collector in the Industrial Arts lab, and completed some plumbing repairs in the high school.
A Look Back Again – 1937 Golf Tournament
by Barry Bauer
George Hooker, left, was runner-up to Russell Spiker, right, in the 1937 Central Michigan Golf Tournament held at the Clinton County Country Club just north of St. Johns.
The 36-hole match was very close but Spiker prevailed in the end. For their efforts, Hooker won a golf bag and of course Spiker took home the huge bragging trophy.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight
Prior to starting your cat’s weight loss journey, please talk to your veterinarian about how to do this safely. Cat dieting is not as simple as restricting food, and rapid weight loss can be very dangerous. Any cat weight loss plan should be a collaboration between you and your vet.
Here are a few ways that you can help your cat lose weight and get back to being healthy.
How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight Safely
First and foremost, talk to your veterinarian before putting your cat on a diet. They will help you establish a cat dieting plan that supports gradual, healthy weight loss without restricting food intake too drastically.
Severe cat food restriction and rapid weight loss can actually make your pet very sick, causing a very serious disease in cats called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease.
Calculating Your Cat’s Body Condition Score
The ideal weight for a cat is determined by their body condition score. This is an objective measurement of your cat’s body composition based on the visibility of their ribs, presence of a “waist,” and how easily their vertebrae can be felt.
Once a body condition score has been assigned, your veterinarian can help you establish your pet’s target weight and daily calorie intake goal using the following formula for resting energy requirement (RER):
70 x (body weight in kg)0.75=RER
How Much Weight Should a Cat Lose Each Week?
Cats should not lose more than 1-2% of their total body weight per week.
By reducing their calorie intake to 80% of their RER, you should see a weekly weight loss rate of 1-2% (this may vary slightly depending on the individual cat).
Your veterinarian can help you figure out all of these calculations for calorie intake and weight loss, plus portion sizes. Weigh your pet weekly to ensure that your cat is on track with your vet’s plan. If your cat’s weight loss is greater than 2% per week, increase their calorie consumption by 10% with the help of your vet. If the weight loss is less than 1% per week, reduce their calorie consumption by 5-10%.
If at any point your cat stops eating, please have her examined by your veterinarian.
3 Methods for Helping Your Cat Lose Weight
Here are a few tips for supporting your cat’s weight loss goals in a safe and controlled way.
Cat Weight Loss Food
Your vet can help you determine the right food, portions, and feeding schedule for your cat.
Most cat weight loss diets will be a combination of either:
High Fiber/Low Fat: A higher fiber content can support satiety and increase bulk, allowing your cat to consume more and feel fuller.
High Protein/Low Carbohydrate: This diet can delay stomach emptying, which also leaves your pet feeling fuller.
The higher water content in wet food can help with weight loss by increasing the volume of food without increasing the calorie count.
Exercise
Calorie restriction is important for weight loss, but increasing your cat’s activity level also plays a role.
You can support your cat’s weight loss through exercise by:
– Scheduling playtimes (laser pointers or wand toys)
– Adding vertical spaces for jumping (cat trees or cat shelves)
– Giving your cat puzzle toys (treat balls or puzzle feeders)
Automatic Feeders and Treat Balls
Feeding your cat by using automatic feeders can help get your cat get accustomed to scheduled meals, which can help with weight loss and long-term weight management.
Using treat balls or food puzzle toys to dispense your cat’s meal can help slow down your cat’s eating while also providing stimulation and exercise.