Why Do Kitties Knead?
Kneading – when a cat stretches out his front legs and pushes his front paws alternately and rhythmically into a soft material such as a blanket, his bed, a pillow or your lap – is not a learned behavior but rather completely instinctual. Shortly after birth kittens...
The Many Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
The benefits of spaying and neutering pet cats are so numerous that it’s really a no-brainer for a pet parent to make this a priority for their Fluffy. Benefits include: Longer life span, as demonstrated in numerous studies. Protects from serious diseases such as...
What Kitty Doesn’t Love a Box?
Enrichment…the act of improving or enhancing the quality of something. That’s what animal behavior experts (and our own common sense) tell us is good for our feline companions. Enrichment activities are basically ways to make kitty happy and her life more interesting...
Helping Kitty Feel Safe at the Vet
Vet visits may be one of the most traumatic events for your cat but there are some things you can do to make this essential activity as stress-free as possible. 1. Get kitty comfortable with his carrier several days before the vet visit. Put the carrier out in plain...
Holiday Tips for a Happy Kitty
The holidays are upon us with all their excitement and chaos. Yet there are some potential pitfalls for your kitty in many holiday activities and traditions. Here are some tips to keep her safe and happy during the holiday season. Tree Decorations Shiny, sparkly tree...
How Often Should You Clean Kitty’s “Stuff”?
You probably have a set cleaning routine for your house, your clothes and your dishes. Cleaning these things likely happens once a day (dishes), once a week (clothes) and every two weeks or so (house). But how frequently do you clean kitty’s things – toys, beds,...
A Magic Pill to Relieve Kitty’s Stress
When it’s time for a vet visit, corralling and managing a terrified, stressed cat is difficult for both you and the vet and the cat isn’t happy either. So if normally docile, happy Fluffy turns into a furry fighter there may be a solution. Enter Gabapentin. Gabapentin...
What Are Pheromones?
A kitty who rubs its face against walls or furniture or rubs cheeks with its human is a familiar sight to many cat owners. While we may think this is a sign of affection or just one of those funny things cats do, it is much more complex than that. When kitty rubs...
What’s In A Name?
According to the poet T.S. Eliot and popularized by the hit musical Cats, a cat should have three different names: “…the name that the family use daily, such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James;” “the name that’s particular, peculiar and more dignified such as...
The (Not So) Friendly Skies – Taking Kitty on a Plane
For most of us, airline travel means a fair bit of advance planning and a fair bit of stress. If you are taking your cat on a flight, double that planning and you’ve got a head start on minimizing the stress. If it is not essential that you take your cat on a plane,...
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