by Nomi Berger While your cat’s sensitive ears may discern the distinctive sound of a can of food being opened in the kitchen, a human’s helping hand can ensure those ears remain clear and clean by checking them weekly. Begin with the outer ear. A healthy earflap (pinna) has a fine layer…
by Nomi Berger Outstanding in any cat crowd, orange-colored cats are anything but ordinary. Whether obliging or obstinate, outspoken or observant, most are as outsized as they are openhearted, and their orange-obsessed owners most often concur. For others, however, we offer these observations: Most orange cats are males. In fact, there are…
Designed by Terdpongvector by Nomi Berger What’s in a name? Everything, especially when distinguishing a cat’s color from a coat’s design. From light to dark, betwixt and between, there’s a purr-fect fit for every feline on the palette of pussycat colors and patterns. Coat patterns are combinations of colors in a…
(Photo By Courtesy art) by Nomi Berger What do ailing people and ailing animals often have in common? The need for life-saving blood transfusions. And when it comes to pet transfusions, it can be particularly difficult to find donors. This is why an increasing number of veterinary clinics are calling on caring cat…
by Nomi Berger Few cat guardians need alarm clocks when their own favorite felines are fixated on the time. Especially early in the morning, when they crave everything from caresses to cat food. Consider, then, the wonderfully wacky ways in which kitties capture and hold their human sleepyheads’ attention. The Head…
by Nomi Berger Can cats catch colds? Paws-itively! The culprits behind a cold, or upper respiratory infection (URI), are bacteria or viruses, sometimes both, and its symptoms can include sniffling, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, wheezing, clear to pus-like discharge around the eyes, and lethargy. Fortunately, cats can’t pass their colds on…
by Nomi Berger According to the ASPCA, flu and cold medications for people could prove fatal to our kitty companions. And according to the Pet Poison Hotline web site, almost 50% of the calls they receive involve a pet’s accidental ingestion of a human’s medication. Both physicians’ prescriptions and over-the-counter products used to…
by Nomi Berger As the thermometer plunges and the days grow darker earlier and stay colder longer, there are entire colonies of cats that could not survive without the compassion and warmth of humans. With North American winters becoming increasingly more severe, feral cats are faced daily with the terrible reality of either…
(Photo: By Maggie on Flickr, CC BY 2.0) by Nomi Berger While some cat guardians are either extremely blessed or exceptionally adept at getting their furry family members to swallow pills whole without issue, most pet parents seek a safer (sneakier?) solution, known unscientifically as “hiding.” Sound all too familiar? Then you already…
by Nomi Berger For years, certain essential oils were considered safe for cats and were often recommended for use in treating everything from stress and ear mite infestations to upper respiratory problems. But recently, some studies have shown that essential oils can be toxic to cats, whether taken internally, applied to their skin…