HEALTH FOR CATS

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

Photo of red cat Jaspurr
Image © Franny Syufy

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.

Search Related Topics: gardening for cats indoor-outdoor cats cat litter boxes

Cat Whiskers

Image © Franny Syufy

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.

Thursday, 7 March 2013

About Cats: End of Life Decisions

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From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats

Today's offering includes a topic which is uncomfortable for all of us, but essential to know in advance. I've balanced it with another piece designed to bring a smile back. Much more in store for March, and here's a recap from February in case you missed one:

Have a wonderful week and make every day Hug Your Cat Day!

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Making End of Life Decisions for Your Cat

Photo of tabby cat Bubba It is heartbreaking to have to decide whether or not to let your cat go when he or she is very sick or critically injured. These end of life decisions are the hardest we'll ever have to face.

I had to make that decision for my Bubba, pictured here. Although the writing was on the wall, I delayed too late, and a thrown blood clot made Bubba's last day alive a nightmare for both of us.

I'll never forgive myself for delaying, but armed with that memory and the knowledge I've obtained from researching for this article, the next time I intend to make the right decision in a timely manner. I hope my readers will also gain the knowledge needed to make your own cats' end of life decision when the time comes.

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If Pets Had Thumbs Day

Who in the heck dreamed up "If Pets Had Thumbs Day?" I don't really care, but when I received the monthly e-newsletter from Catalyst Council today, my only thought was... Read more

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Help Convert a Reluctant Lap Cat

A follower on my Facebook Page asked me about training his new adopted cat to be a lap kitty. He wrote:

"I have a question? I have a new cat. She is 3 years old, [and I] saved her from the shelter. She is so sweet. But is there a way to train a cat to be a lap kitty? She is ok when you hold her but does not like sitting on my lap. How do you make a kitty a lap kitty?"

My reply: "It's not easy to train an adult cat to do something she's reluctant to do. Just as some cats are not comfortable being hugged, some just don't like to sit on laps. You don't know what her...read more.

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Cat Picture of the Week: Urrow

As soon as I saw Urrow's photographs, I knew she was destined to be a Cat of the Week in March. Reading her remarkable story clinched the decision for me, starting with the series of calendar date coincidences which led to Urrow's adoption by Mesila. Urrow has such an unusual coloration that I can't recall ever having seen it before in a tabby cat, a combination of red and gray in her striped pattern. It's as if Mother Nature combined the best of both worlds in designing her: the tabby stripes of the oldest cat color pattern, and the hues of the tortoiseshell, the most colorful of those patterns.

Read more of Urrow's story, and learn how you can submit your own tabby cat's photos and story.

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