Expert Advice on Cat Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle.
Household chores are at the very bottom of my list of things I enjoy doing. Thank goodness I have two feline helpers who make the whole process a lot more fun each week, because they seem to think that some aspects of household chores are actually kitty playtime.Continue Reading
Contrary to what many people believe, happiness is a choice. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a mostly positive outlook, and practice habits that make their lives happier. Not surprisingly, our cats already practice many of these habits.
1. Live in the present.
Cats live in the moment. When they’re lazing about in a sun puddle, they don’t worry about when the next sun puddle will show up – they simply enjoy the pleasure of the warmth on their fur, right now, in this present moment.
2. Wake up at the same time every morning.
Have you ever noticed how many successful and happy people are early risers? Waking up at the same time each day keeps your circadian rhythm in balance, which keeps you calmer and more centered and also increased productivity.Continue Reading
I spent four fun-filled days last week with about 300 of my fellow pet bloggers at BlogPaws 2013. This was my third BlogPaws experience, and just when I think it can’t possibly get any better than the prior year, it does. From attending top-notch presentations by blogging and social media experts to networking with other bloggers, the weekend was a blur of learning, networking, and socializing.
But as was the case last year, the highlight of the conference for me was connecting and reconnecting with my blogging friends, including Robin Olson of Covered in Cat Hair, Tamar Arslanian of I Have Cat, Angie Bailey of Catladyland, Deb Barnes of The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, Janea Kelley of Paws and Effect, Debbie Glovatsky of Glogirly, Terri Thorsteinson of Curlz and Swirlz, Stephanie Harwin of Catsparella, Janiss Garza of Sparkle Cat, Karen Nichols of Mousebreath, Connie of Tails from the Foster Kittens, Jeanne of Random Felines, Rachel Shubin of Sandpiper Cat, Lisa Richman of A Tonk’s Tail, and so many others. Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther and Joanne McGonagle of The Tiniest Tiger Conservation Cub Club, couldn’t attend this year, and they were deeply missed.Continue Reading
Allegra and Ruby got a surprise visit from our dear friend Robin Olson of Covered in Cat Hair last week. Robin was in town for BlogPaws. She’d been wanting to meet the girls two years ago when BlogPaws was held at Tysons Corner as well, and this year, we finally managed to find the time to make it happen.
Allegra, who loves visitors, took to Robin right away. She greeted her at the door, and led the way upstairs into our living room. Ruby, who tends to be a little more cautious with people she doesn’t know, didn’t take long to warm up to Robin, either. But why don’t I let the girls tell you about Robin’s visit in their own words.
Allegra: I love visitors, and I could tell right away that this lady was a cat person.
Ruby: New person in the house!Continue Reading
Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, and after spending the last three fun-filled days at the BlogPaws pet blogging conference, I am in desperate need of some rest! I’m going to follow Allegra’s lead and do absolutely nothing today.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Maya Angelou, on the importance of getting a day of rest:
“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” – from Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now
Perhaps, I’ll need to take this advice every week, not just after attending a conference.Continue Reading
Last August, I was contacted by a British production company making a special for National Geographic called “Wild Side of Cats.” The program looks at the behavior of domestic cats and examines how that compares to big cat behaviour in the wild.
The production company came across a video clip that I shot of Allegra testing the Imperial Cat Scratch ‘n Shapes Sofa Scratcher Chaise. I always knew Allegra was a world-champion scratcher, but apparently, her technique in the video clip is so perfect that they ended up using it for the special they’re filming.
The special will air this Sunday, May 19, on Nat Geo Wild at 8pm Eastern. Continue Reading
Mother’s Day is a bit of a bittersweet holiday for me. My mother passed away in 1994, but even after all these years, I still feel a pang when I see Mother’s Day cards appear in stores. My mom and I had a complicated relationship, but I always knew that she loved me.
I owe many things to my mom, but the two most important ones are my love of cats, and my love of books.
Even though we never had cats when I was growing up, my mom was a cat lover. The apartment building we lived in did not allow pets, but luckily, whenever we went on vacation, somehow, every bed-and-breakfasts or rented vacation condo we stayed at would always have a resident cat or two, or there would be a number of stray cats hanging around the property. My mom and I both loved spending time with those cats.Continue Reading
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. – William Shakespeare, Hamlet
One of the greatest sources of unhappiness is the inability to accept things as they are. Accepting what is, without wishing things were different, can trip up even the most serene among us. And yet, accepting what is is the key to living a positive, present life.
Accepting what is, like so many things, is about living in the moment. It’s about looking at the present moment without judgment. In order to live in the moment, you have to be willing to look at this present moment and say “this is what is real right now.”
Does this mean you shouldn’t want things to change? Not at all. But if you want things to change, Continue Reading
Hi everyone, it’s Ruby! I thought I’d present a tutorial I developed for how to make the most of your time on your human’s lap. Mom says I’m the best little lap sitter, and I’m constantly purr-fecting my technique!Continue Reading