Rainbow Wags August 2026
Move Over, Dog Days... "Cat Nights" Are Here!
Ever notice your barn cats or local feral colonies getting extra active and vocal at twilight around this time of year? There is an ancient reason for that!
According to an old Irish legend tracked by The Old Farmer's Almanac, August 17th officially kicks off "Cat Nights."
Folklore says witches could transform into cats eight times, but on the ninth time (traditionally August 17th), they got stuck as felines forever. This tale is the origin of the saying "cats have nine lives." Centuries ago, as late-summer nights grew longer, people saw glowing feline eyes in the dim twilight and assumed witches were on the prowl. In reality, cats are just crepuscular—naturally hardwired to hunt and play at dusk and dawn!
Late-Summer Care for Your Working & Outdoor Cats
While your barn cats are busy channeling their inner folklore, the late-August heat can still be tough on them. Here is how to keep your working cats and colony friends safe:
- Keep Water Moving: Standing water gets slimy and hot. Use heavy, tip-proof bowls in the shade, or add ice cubes to their water stock daily.
- Check the Shacks: Ensure outdoor shelters and feeding stations have excellent ventilation and are in the shade. Place blocks or pallets under shelters to raise them off the baking ground.
- Watch for Fleas & Ear Mites: Late summer is peak season for pests. Swing by Rainbow Ag to stock up on outdoor-safe preventative treatments to keep your mousers comfortable!
Get more tips for helping your outdoor cats stay healthy in the late summer – Summer Dangers For Your Outdoor Cats, courtesy of Pet Place.
Dog Days, Cat Nights and Back To School! Outfit your student for success this year, with good-looking, quality clothing and boots from Rainbow. Check out the new Carhartt backpacks, lunch totes and laptop bags – the best way to haul it all to class and back.
Our local shelters are full and the staff are working long hours caring for the influx of puppies and kittens that keep arriving at their doors. Neonate kittens require round-the-clock feeding and care, and the best option is usually an experienced foster home. But, those experienced fosters got their start somewhere, caring for their first-ever newborn kittens! Shelters will provide everything you need – milk replacer, bottles, carriers and most of all, instructions and support! Be a life-saver! Contact your local shelter and learn more about fostering.
Humane Society of Inland Mendocino County
Mendo Shelter Pets Rescue
Mendocino County Animal Care Services (Ukiah)
Mendocino Coast Humane Society
Clearlake Animal Association
Lake County Animal Care & Control
SPCA of Lake County (click the Spay/Neuter Clinics tab for all available programs)
You can also donate to the shelters at your local Rainbow store! There are donation bins at each store, or ask the cashier about donating directly into the shelters' accounts, so that they can purchase exactly the products that they need.
There are some big savings in the pet department, including Buy One, Get One Free on a giant selection of Snuga and Petlou toys, and 40% Off Arlee pet beds, both in-store specials – no coupon needed.
You can also save 30% on Butchers Pride treats and chews with this month’s Subscriber Coupon! What a way to bring home something that will make your pup’s tail wag!
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Next up – Lake County Fair!
The Redwood Empire Fair is officially in the books, and it was a great success for the youth exhibitors. But, Fair season isn’t over yet! Coming up next, the Lake County Fair on September 3 – 6th, in Lakeport. Get all the info on the Lake County Fair website and don’t forget to say hello to the Rainbow folks who will be there supporting the hard-working young showmen and women. Good luck to all the exhibitors!
Mark your calendars too for the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show, September 18 – 20, in Boonville, the final Fair for most of our local exhibitors.
Our local Kennel Club has more going on than a pack of hounds! Save the date – November 7th, at 1:00 PM – for the fun Farm Dog Test. This AKC Certified Title goes to dog/handler teams who pass the twelve elements a dog would encounter on a farm, from chickens to fences. The Certification is open to all dogs. Learn more at the AKC Farm Dog Test webpage (there’s a great video that demonstrates the elements of the test), and join in the fun on the farm, November 7!
Click poster for larger image
Learn more about the Mendocino County Kennel Club at their new website!
You still have outdoor chores... Rainbow "Stihl" has everything you need to get them done!
Check out the Rainbow Outdoor Power Equipment Department for the best of Stihl, Husqvarna, Honda, Milwaukee and more!
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Trivia! Enter to win a $15 Rainbow Coupon. All correct answers are entered into a random drawing!
Last month’s question was: Do cats have opinions? Well, duh! SK Gorman was our winner.
The August question is: According to old Irish folklore, how many times could a witch transform into a cat?