Expert Advice on Cat Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle.
Tension between multiple cats in a household can occur at any time. Most commonly, it happens when a new cat has been added to the household, but it can also occur between cats who have previously co-existed peacefully. The Intercat Tension Guidelines: Recognition, Prevention and Management, just released by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) provide comprehensive resources to veterinary professionals to help clients prevent and manage these situations.Continue Reading
We probably didn’t need a study that confirms that cats hate fireworks and thunderstorms, but according to a 2022 study by Wakefield Research, more than 50% of pet parents say both are a leading cause of stress for their pets.Continue Reading
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If you’ve followed me for several years, you may remember our Ask the Cat Behaviorist column with Mikel Delgado on The Conscious Cat. Mikel is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant who has been working with cats for over 20 years. She worked as a cat behavior specialist at the San Francisco SPCA for eight years before co-founding Feline Minds, where she offers assistance for cat owners, animal shelters, and corporations.Continue Reading
It can happen even with the most laid back cat: an overexcited cat bites her human during play, or while accepting a treat. In more extreme cases, redirected aggression can cause a cat to lash out at the humans in the household and cause severe damage. And of course, most of us will pet stray cats we meet along the way, but not all seemingly friendly cats remain friendly after being approached by strangers. Regardless of how a cat bite happens, it is not something to take lightly.Continue Reading
Most of you will probably answer this questions with a resounding “yes!” After all, our cats all seem to know exactly when it’s time to eat, and most cats aren’t shy about complaining if meal service is slow. This innate sense of timing when it comes to mealtime suggests that they have a distinct way of perceiving the passage of time.Continue Reading
Written By Casey Hersch, LCSW
This is the sixth in a series of posts about Casey’s experience following the loss of her senior cat Yochabel. Click here to read I Am Pawso: The Journey Begins, I Am Pawso: Meet Pawso, I Am Pawso: Shake and Turn, Grow and Learn, I Am Pawso: The Social Emotional Learning Center, and I Am Pawso: The Bonded Pair.Continue Reading
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At their core, cats are still wild animals, and while we’ve invited them into our homes to share our lives, we can’t expect them to completely give up all their instincts. We have to look at our living space from the cat’s point of view and provide an environment that keeps them safe and stimulated at the same time. This includes creating a safe space your cat can retreat to when she wants quiet time. This is especially important during potentially stressful situations such as home remodeling, inclement weather or any other disruptions to your cat’s routine.Continue Reading
Written by Casey Hersch, LCSW
This is the third in a series of posts about Casey’s experience following the loss of her senior cat Yochabel. Click here to read I Am Pawso: The Journey Begins, I Am Pawso: Meet Pawso, I Am Pawso: Shake and Turn, Grow and Learn, and I Am Pawso: The Social Emotional Learning Center.
After her senior cat Yochabel’s passing, Casey was convinced that she would not regain stability unless she adopted another hospice cat. Continue Reading
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent. Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards: any of these may force you to leave your home on short notice. Evacuating is often easier for dogs, and some may even consider it a fun adventure; simply clip on a leash and a dog will follow you anywhere. But most cats are creatures of habit, and having their normal routines and environments disrupted results in stressed-out kitties that may end up running and hiding. It’s therefore crucial to have a cat-friendly emergency plan in place in the event you ever have to leave your home in a hurry. Continue Reading
Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a well-documented psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from those to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment. And while we usually think of separation anxiety in terms of pets being stressed about being separated from their humans, I think it exists in reverse, too. Continue Reading
Guest post by Ingrid R. Niesman MS, PhD
During the first few months of 2022, I had two apparently healthy and happy Siamese boys. Until I didn’t.
Uli was diagnosed with asthma in January. Click here to read The Challenges of Treating Feline Asthma for his story. Then in March, heartbreak struck again when I lost Big boy Paterson. Click here to read Losing a Cat to Aggressive Lymphoma Highlights the Need for Better Diagnostics and Treatment.
This is the third part in my series about important feline topics, seen through my own experiences in 2022. Continue Reading