Unique Gifts Cat Lovers Can’t Resist
How do you choose a gift that won’t go straight to the regifting pile? If you have a cat lover on your list, it’s easy: find a gift that appeals to their feline fixation. As part of National Cat Lovers’ Month, we’re helping you out with some purr-fire gift ideas for the cat fanciers among …
Take the Stress Out of Vet Visits for Your Cat
“White coat syndrome” is a very real phenomena. For people who suffer from this disorder, the mere sight of a doctor — usually clad in a white lab coat — is enough to send their blood pressure skyrocketing. A similar thing can happen to cats, too. The stress of a trip to the vet can …
Can an Outdoor Cat Ever Become an Indoor Cat?
Is a stray cat trying to adopt you? Does it appear at your doorstep day after day? Does it press against your ankles and gaze at you adoringly? If so, it’s possible that it could be happy living the rest of its life inside your home. Especially if the cat has been socialized, perhaps by …
You Have Options Before Giving Your Cat Up for Adoption
Cat ownership can be like marriage: It’s designed to be a lifelong commitment. But sometimes family allergies, landlord rules, litter box issues or other unforeseen problems can make the best plans go awry. Sometimes, cat owners may feel as if they only have one heart-wrenching option: to rehome a beloved cat. But don’t resort to …
Why Do Cats Purr?
While cats may not be able to communicate in human tongues, their body language and purrs can be worth a thousand words. But are those words always PAWSitive? Contrary to popular belief, purring isn’t always an indication that your cat is calm and happy. Researchers have found that cats can express a variety of emotions …
Need Therapy? The Cat Will See You Now
When it comes to helping people, dogs get all the glory. It’s not hard to find awwww-inspiring photos of dogs helping vision-impaired people across the street, warning owners of an upcoming seizure or dutifully carrying the newspaper to the disabled. But what about therapy cats? Do cats just lack the altruism gene? Did their reputation …
Feeding the Skinny, Older Cat
Cats are living longer, with some of them ticking past their twentieth birthdays. As they age, cats often lose weight, especially after about age 11, becoming frail, bony versions of their younger selves. Sometimes this can be attributed to one or more underlying diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), …
What Is Feline Herpesvirus in cats?
The vet just came in to deliver news that your favorite feline has FHV — feline herpesvirus. Initially, panic might set in as your thoughts are, “How? What does this mean for Mittens? What can I do to give my fur-baby the best life possible?” It can be a lot to take in. But know …
Black Cats: Gods, Charms and Superstitions
Black cats are plagued with superstitions. But where did they get such reputations, both good and bad? The answers span great lengths of time and place. Rightly or wrongly, black cats are plagued with superstitions. Harbingers of bad luck In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church declared that cats were friends of the devil. …
Why Do Cats Need to Knead?
For some cats, kneading seems like the pinnacle of Zen contentment. They close their eyes and rhythmically press one paw, then the other, often extending and releasing their nails at the same time. In this meditative state, they may drool slightly or rev up their purring engine to the loudest setting. But what’s behind this …