HEALTH FOR CATS: March 2013

Thursday 28 March 2013

About Cats: Happy Cat-Safe Easter!

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From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats

Spring has sprung, and the day after Easter, April will arrive. A reminder to get your special needs cats pix and stories submitted for Show and Tell. So far I've only received two in 2013.

Give your kitties some Easter lovens (but NO chocolate bunnies.)

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Book Review: "Chinese Whiskers,"

Photo of Book Cover Chinese Whiskers The cover image alone would have convinced me to review "Chinese Whiskers," but when I learned the story involved the melamine-tainted pet food scandal of 2007, I was personally compelled to read this book cover-to-cover.

Soyabean, a handsome red tabby kitten, and Tofu, a coal black female youngster came from different backgrounds, but when they were both adopted by an expat couple living in Beijing, they became best friends. Sadly, their friendship suffered when aged Nai Nai, Soyabean's former kindly ren (human) benefactor brought her grandson, Xiao Xu to visit one day. Their lives went in entirely different directions until they were reunited once again. If you are not already drawn into this amazing story, read the full review of Chinese Whiskers, by award-winning writer Pallari Aiyar for more details.

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Have a Happy Cat-Safe Easter

With Easter Sunday less than a week away, it still isn't too late to consider your cats' safety during this coming holiday weekend. It seems like every day I learn something new from the world of cats.

The Easter holiday represents a time of joyous celebration. However, no one wants to interrupt it with a trip to a veterinary E/R with a cat with chocolate toxicity or swallowed cellophane Easter grass. Let common sense prevail, and avoid giving cats access to food or other hazardous materials which may sicken or injure them, such as those mentioned in this article.

Wildlife Dangers to Cats

I was born in a log cabin in a forest in Arkansas. Today I have come full circle and live in a forest in the California gold country foothills. It is a glorious place to live, scenic and serene, but also the habitat of a number of wildlife creatures dangerous to cats, a fact of which we need to continuously be aware.

One of our favorite forest creatures is the raccoon. However, I am always conscious, that, cute and appealing as they are, raccoons pose certain dangers to cats. Learn more about raccoons and cats, as well as the other creatures who comprise 11 wildlife dangers to cats.

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Redirected Aggression Episode

Photo of thirsty raccoon in yard
Image © Franny Syufy

Recently we had a textbook example of redirected aggression between our two brothers, Jaspurr and Joey.

We have a family of five raccoons who have been hanging around our house all year, and we had been feeding them peanuts in the shell until just recently. We stopped because a) it was not doing them any favor to make them dependent on us and b) leaving peanuts all over our driveway is just an invitation to the brown bears who are just starting to come out of their winter sleep. We certainly do not want any more maurading bear episodes.

Tuesday night, my son and I had just finished watching a movie on television, when we heard our three male cats growling near the sliding glass door to our deck. Lance got up to investigate just in time to see Jaspurr and Joey hurl themselves at each other, then roll around in an angry ball of enraged yowling teeth fur, and claws...read more

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Thursday 21 March 2013

About Cats: Spring Brings...

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From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats

Although yesterday was officially the first day of Spring, I've always celebrated the equinoxes on the 21st day of the month. So let's welcome in Spring, with all its surprises, cat lovers.

April is just around the corner, and we honor Special Needs Cats in April as our Cat Pictures of the Week. So submit your best photo and story to the Special Needs Cats Show and Tell feature ASAP

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Spring Brings

Photo of Norwegian Forest Cat Spring brings a panoply of surprises to homes with cats. Are you allergic to your cats? Is your cat sneezing a lot lately? Cats are allergic too, and pollens can tickle the noses of even indoor-only cats. Notice Kitty horking up hairballs? Spring brings shedding, and cats need double-duty brushing and combing. Spring brings Easter and Passover, along with toxic chocolate bunnies and lillies. Learn more about the 10 wonders and worries that Spring brings to cat lovers.

Photo depicts a Norwegaan Forest Cat, considered to be a hypoallergenic breed
Photo Credit: © Kate Campbell, Maelstrom

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Are You Kitty-Whipped?

Several years ago I woke up to the fact that I was hopelessly kitty-whipped, and it continues to this day. Now I have four beasties wielding their instruments of torture: tongues, tails, and talons. They're older now and have had many years to practice their abuse. It's small comfort to know that I'm not alone, though. Just a couple of days ago Guest Walkingsucker confessed, "When your legs get tangled in the garden hose, you go flying, turn and fall, stumble around, grab a wall to steady yourself, and still fall on your @rse anyway, and several unblinking cat eyes...read more.

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Cool Photo: Milo "What's for Dinner?"

This Week's Cool Cat Photo of the Week is nine month old kitten Milo, who has snuck into the refrigerator checking out what's for dinner. It should go without saying that many human foods are harmful to cats, but of course, Milo's mom was innocent here.

Janphil writes that Milo, whom she has had since he was eight weeks old, has taken over her home, and has wrapped her and her partner around his fuzzy paws. From this photo, it is obvious that in general... read more.

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Tabby's Place Special Featured Cat: Levi

Photo of blind cat Levi
Image © Tabby's Place

Thanks to a generous grant from the Paws and Claws Society, Tabby's Place was able to rescue a blind refugee cat from the streets of central New Jersey, and give him hope after a seemingly hopeless future.

Levi had several strikes against him when he was found wandering the streets: He is blind, he is a furry senior citizen at approximately 15, he is in early renal failure (CRF), and he was homeless. But all those minuses are outweighed by some compelling plusses: Levi oozes...learn more.

Thursday 14 March 2013

About Cats: The Kitty Numbers Racket

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From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats

I've been doing a little "Spring cleaning" of my website, dusting off some older articles, or "repainting" them to make them fresh and timely. With Spring right around the corner, expect to see more improvements in future issues, as well as some new stuff to benefit our cats. Hug a cat or two and hang on for the ride!

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The Kitty Numbers Racket

Have you ever been curious about so-called "cat trivia?" Do you have unanswered questions about how many adult teeth a cat has, or what is the potential life span of your cat? This article, "The Kitty Numbers Racket" will answer those questions and even some you haven't thought to ask.

This article has been recently updated with much more additional information; details you can sink your teeth in. And speaking of teeth, an adult cat has 30 teeth, 15 on top and 15 on the bottom.

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Diamond Pet Food Recalls Certain Dry Cat Foods

On March 10, 2013, Diamond Pet Foods announced the voluntarily recall of limited production codes of various formulas of dry cat and kitten food for a possible shortage of Thiamine (vitamin B1). Those foods recalled are...learn more.

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Plant a Cat Garden Now

We didn't have much of a cat garden this past year, because the star thistle took over the grass in our "lower 40". We had a weed control guy come through and spray a large part of our property, so this year we'll be starting from scratch.

This year, we'll likely just use redwood bark with plants in various sized containers. Of course, the prime consideration will be that they have to be cat-friendly plants. I'll definitely be including many of the plants in my article, How Does Your Cat Garden Grow? I also know which ones to avoid, thanks to the list in that article. Note to Self: Self, pick up a couple of pots of Kitty Grass (wheat grass) for them this week. Joey alone munches on a potful every couple of days.

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Cat Whiskers

Cats' whiskers, also called vibrissae, are another type of cat hair, only longer and thicker, and with completely different functions.

For example, the photo above shows my cats, littermate brothers Joey on the left and Jaspurr on the right, exchanging information through their whiskers. First, the whiskers thrust forward indicate friendliness and possibly curiosity. I envision Joey telling Jaspurr via his whiskers about the catfish he saw in the water below the dock, or Jaspurr warning Joey to watch out for the mean stray cat who had been snooping around.