Cat Articles

Growing up in rural America, having animals around was as common as a bowl of cereal on a Saturday morning. You didn’t give it a lot of thought, it just felt right. Cats were the pet of choice in my family. In fact, I don’t recall a time where we didn’t have a feline walking the hallways of our home. I do recall our cat Candy giving birth to a litter of six inside one of my dresser drawers, ruining my favorite train shirt. That’s a story for another time. The point of all of this is that cats have always and continue to be an integral part of my family. However, recently I wondered that if pets are part of my family, have I been concerned about their well-being as I would my child? When we make the conscious decision to be responsible over someone or something, we owe it to them to do our very best. I’ll admit it wasn’t until recently that I realized that I should have been protecting our cats in the same way that we protect our young children. Both are very curious and that can sometimes lead to devastating events. Read More

Topics: pet safety, toxicity in cats, Pet Proofing, Cats, Christmas pet dangers, #IfOnlyIKnew

In one week alone, eight cats were injured after falling from high rises when warming weather in 2015 resulted in more people leaving their windows open. In fact, cats fall from windows so often that veterinarians have given it a name: “High-Rise Syndrome.” 

Read More

Topics: Cat Safety, pet safety tips, Summer Pet Safety Tips, Cats Falling, High Rise Syndrome, Feline High Rise Syndrome, Falling Cats, High Rise Syndrome in Cats, Cats Falling from Heights, Cats, Blog

Nearly one in five lost pets goes missing after being scared by loud noises, according to the ASPCA. Considering 4th of July fireworks and the uptick in summer thunderstorms, it’s no wonder that summer is the time of year we all start to notice more lost cat posters adorning neighborhood poles and street signs.

Add in the fact that cats tend to spend more time outside in the summer months along with the increased likelihood that something will spook them, and it all equates to an unfortunate flight risk.

Read More

Topics: Cats, Lost Pet, Blog, Cats outdoors at night, Outdoor cats, Cat Tips, Missing cat, Cat Predators, Lost Cat, Cat enclosure, What to do if you cat is lost, Cats Hiding, Lost poster

Rising temperatures mean rising health and safety risks for our pets. You’re likely (hopefully) to be seeing lots of warnings regarding the dangers of heat and cars for dogs, but you may be wondering if your cats are at risk of heat stroke.

The answer is a firm yes(ish).

Read More

Topics: Safety, Cats, Heat Exhaustion, Summer, Heat Stress, Heat Stroke, Danger, Pets, Prevention, Brachycephalic, Persian, British Shorthair

What You Need To Know About Panting In Cats

A few people recently asked whether it was normal for a cat to pant. We figured that if there's a few people asking about panting, then there’s likely a whole lot more that have wondered, too. So here’s the “skinny” on panting in cats…

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, Cat Stress, Cats, Pain, Diabetes, Cat Tips, Urinary obstruction

Cat Poop Freqency

Earlier this year when we asked for topics that you all wanted advice and insight on, quite a few people asked us (some variation of) this question… How often should my cat “go?”

It’s an important question, and one that — of course — has a not-so-straightforward answer.

As with many things about cats, there are several factors that will influence the answer. These factors include, amongst other things…

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, Litter Box, Cats, Cat Tips

Hard Pill to Swallow?

Pills and capsules tend to be the mainstays of medicating cats and dogs. But what if your pooch or kitty is difficult to “pill?”

Lots of dogs and many … most? … cats can be quite “unaccepting” of such forms of medications. So much so that a joke about the trials and tribulations of giving a cat a pill became a bit of a viral sensation. So what are you to do when Fluffy or Fido need meds?

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, Dog Health, Dogs, medication, Cats, Dog Tips, Cat Tips

Botulism Is A Potential Risk

You return home from the pet food store or your vet’s office with a case of your pet’s food only to realize something that you hadn’t realized when you first picked up the case… one (or several) of the cans is dented! You recall hearing something about Botulism and dented cans and wonder if the food in the dented can(s) is safe to feed to your dog or cat.

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, Dog Health, Dogs, Cats, Dog Food, Cat Tips, Pet food, Cat food

Brr....How Heating Your Home Can Harm Your Cats

Summer is long over, fall is getting on and and winter is near, so now is the time of year that many people (understandably) start turning up the heat in their home. While we all want to be more comfortable as winter’s chill approaches and sets in, it’s important to recognize that turning up the thermostat or lighting the wood stove can have an impact on your cat’s breathing, too.

Central heating systems can circulate and recirculate dust, dander, and other respiratory irritants, especially when we first turn them on after a long, hot summer. Similarly, wood/pellet stoves and fireplaces create smoke and other respiratory irritants. And all of these common means of home heating will also dry out the air within the home. Whether or not your cat has feline allergic bronchitis (more commonly called “FAB” or “kitty asthma”), all of these factors can have a direct irritating effect on your cats’ breathing system. And, if they do have FAB (which they may have and haven't yet been diagnosed with it), the simple act of heating your home can cause a significant enough flare in their symptoms to necessitate a trip to your veterinarian, or even the Animal ER.

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, Cats, Blog, Cat Tips, Feline Asthma, Asthma in cats, FAB, Respiratory problems, Winter pet hazards, Coughing

Arthritis in Cats: More Common Than You Think

Thanks to advancements in medicine and nutrition, as well as important improvements in the way we view and look after our cats, our feline friends are living longer, fuller lives these days. However, as cats progress into their senior years, it’s common for many of them to develop joint pain and problems, such as arthritis.

A study found that roughly 30% of cats over the age of 8 suffer from arthritis — and eight isn't very old for a cat! Another study found that 90% of cats aged 12 and over showed radiographic (x-ray) signs of the arthritis — that's 9 out of every 10 cats over the age of 12! These are very significant numbers, especially when we also take into account that the pain and suffering that these cats are experiencing often goes undetected and therefore untreated, even by the most caring and attentive of cat owners. (Here are some things you can look for to help you determine if your cat might be suffering in silence from the pain of arthritis, or any other painful condition.)

Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to help improve the comfort, mobility, and quality of life for your cats with arthritis. Many of the things you can do to help your cat are inexpensive and easy to implement. Of course, many cats will also benefit from a pain management protocol involving safe and effective medications, supplements, and complimentary treatments (e.g. acupuncture, etc.) determined by your veterinarian. Read on to see what you can do to help your arthritic cat — regardless of their age.

Read More

Topics: Cat Health, medication, Cats, Pain, Arthritis in cats, Mobility, Aging, Cat-friendly products