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 | We'll have one more special needs cat for Cat Picture of the Week, then in May, we will celebrate tuxedo cats, so please submit your tuxie photos ASAP. One of the great mysteries of life is how and why cats purr. All I know is that when I feel and hear those rumbling vibrations close to me, all is right with the world. Connect With Franny Facebook | Twitter | Free Newsletter | |
Why Do Cats Purr?
 Some time ago, an email from a reader asked "Do cats purr when they are alone?" This question led me to a fascinating exploration of the physiology of a cat's purr. It is almost certain that both this mother cat and her nursing kittens are purring, something that seems to be ingrained from birth.
Photo © iStockPhoto/Trista Weibell Most experienced "cat wranglers" now know that cats don't purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during tense or traumatic moments. It is thought now that purring releases endorphins ( a morphine-like substance) which help relax the cat and ease pain. Learn more about the hows and whys of cats' purring. Holding a purring cat on your lap as you read will enhance your learning experience.
| Clean Green for a Cat-Safe Home
Although Earth Day is now past, we all agree that a clean house is not only desirable, but essential to the health of both humans and the cats who share our homes. Ironically though, our homes are full of household cleaning supplies which can be harmful to our cats - things like chemical cleaners, disinfectants, and insect repellants. In an effort to protect our cats from exposure to toxic substances, while keeping our homes free from dirt and germs, the About Cats Forum members brainstormed and came up with a list of helpful "clean green" tips and ideas.
| Canned Food vs Dry:
It has been five years since I first posted this blog entry. I am "recycling" it today, as it is timely, and because the previous comments that have accumulated are both thought-provoking and informative. I can still take the stance that canned food is preferable, despite my recent epipheny about the health hazards of BPA linings in cat food cans. Fortunately, a number of pet food manufacturing plants are switching over to non-BPA cans. What about you? What kind of commercial foods do you choose for your cats? Vote in the poll, and feel free to discuss your answers in the comments.
| Cat Picture of the Week: Izzy
Image © About.com Member Cheryleles
Izzy, an amputee cat, is the third Cat of the Week for April, 2013. Izzy is a special needs cat, having lost her right leg to the shoulder by amputation because of a cancerous lump on her paw. Izzy was a very young kitten when she wandered out of a rural forest to follow Cheryleles' husband as he traveled on his job reading meters for the electric company. When it was evident she was lost and alone, he brought her home, and home she stayed for the last twelve years. Her adoptive mom loves her very much as she provided the therapy of unconditional love, as her Molly had died shortly before Izzy's appearance. Read more of Izzy's story, and find out how to submit your own special needs cat's story and photos.
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