Health

With the arrival of the warm summer weather, people spend more time outdoors, in pools, at the beach, cooking out and in general, having a good time. If you allow your cat outdoors, summer doesn’t necessarily mean good times. Heat and sun can pose a serious risk to outdoor cats.  Here are some basic cat ...

Cats have a very special piece of equipment known as the Jacobson’s organ or vomeronasal organ. Located in the roof of the mouth, it contains ducts that lead to the mouth and to the nose. This is essentially a scent analyzer. It’s used primarily for analyzing pheromones (scent chemicals) from other cats, especially the ones ...

I am frequently asked about the right age for children when it comes to adding a companion animal to the family. In general, it depends on the particular child and the preparation and education done by the parent. My daughter, as a preschooler, was as gentle with our cats as I could’ve ever hoped for. ...

  If you have a cat who is allowed access to the outdoors, I’m sure that at some point you’ve probably seen them nibbling on a few blades of grass in your yard. I’m also sure that immediately afterward you’ve probably seen your cat throw that grass right back up. It might seem odd that ...

  Pica is the term used for the behavior of eating or sucking non-food material. The most common material associated with pica is usually wool such as blankets, socks, shirts, or jackets. Pica is also sometimes referred to as wool eating.  Some cats will nibble on just about anything though, such as paper, plastic, litter, ...

  Not all cats do this, but if yours does, the behavior may have been puzzling to you. It’s a relatively common behavior and not one you need to worry about. The behavior typically looks the same as if the cat is trying to bury waste. You may notice your cat scraping her front paw ...

  If your cat becomes Houdini and magically vanishes whenever you even think about trimming his nails, part of the problem might be he has learned to associate the procedure with restraint, discomfort, fear, or even pain. Even if you do manage to accomplish the nail trimming procedure, if you’ve had to wrap your cat ...

  The decision to spay or neuter your cat will be one of the biggest decisions you make regarding your cat’s health and welfare as well as the welfare of other cats. The pet overpopulation problem is devastatingly serious and animals are being put to death every day because shelters simply don’t have the room. ...

This is also referred to as rolling skin disease, and in fact, the skin does ripple and twitch. It’s a condition that typically affects younger cats. The cause of hyperesthesia syndrome is unknown but some experts describe it as a neurotransmitter malfunction in the brain during periods of anxiety. It’s also believed by some to ...

Stress. It’s something most of us deal with on a regular basis. Whether it’s work-related, due to health issues, family problems, or because of financial concerns, there are so many opportunities for stress to set up camp in our lives. When you think of what indoor cats go through during the day do you ever ...