by Nomi Berger   Do curiosity and counter cruising go paw in paw in your household? Whether your cat climber’s intent is to forage for forgotten food or find the finest view of the kitchen, this may be one habit you’d be happy to break. If so, begin by determining the reason or reasons […]

    by Nomi Berger   While a good deal of time and patience is involved in helping semi-feral cats adjust to domesticity, nothing succeeds more than time and patience, and nothing is a more gratifying experience. Why? Because semi-feral cats who have acclimated well to their new lives are some of the most loving, […]

    by Nomi Berger   While most cat owners admit to kissing their cats, some wonder whether or not this passionate practice is, in fact, purr-fectly safe. In the opinion of many vets and animal behaviorists, if your immune system is healthy and kitty is disease and parasite free, then the occasional pussycat peck […]

  by Nomi Berger   It seems to be one of nature’s more peculiar rules: where there’s a cat, there’s a hairball. Although most cat owners are all too familiar with this feline phenomenon, there ARE ways to keep it to a minimum. Contrary to popular myth, however, hairballs are NOT “balls” of hair, nor […]

  by Nomi Berger   Does YOUR cat like being lifted up and held? Does she remain in your arms long enough for it to count as a cuddle? Or does she squirm and wriggle and do all she can to escape your embrace? According to some veterinary behaviorists, not all cats are created equal […]

  by Nomi Berger   Most cats don’t drink enough water. Does YOURS? If the answer is no, consider the following suggestions. (1) Change to a mostly wet-food diet: Since canned food has more moisture than dry food, it’s one of the simplest ways to “fool” your feline into drinking more water and to avoid […]

  by Nomi Berger   Are your pussycats’ purr-sonalities written in the stars? It may be more fancy than fact, but consulting the cosmos for clues can be both entertaining and illuminating. All you need are their birth dates to see if they match the birth signs below.   Aries (March 21 – April 20) […]

  by Nomi Berger   Cats can experience nosebleeds (epistaxis) for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t require that great a trauma for a cat’s delicate nasal blood vessels to begin bleeding as a result of a blow to her nose or face. The most common reason for nosebleeds is fighting with other cats and […]

  by Nomi Berger   It’s an open secret that cats ENJOY playing with ribbon. In fact, anything resembling a ribbon – be it string, yarn or twine, shoelaces, tinsel or rubber bands – is a cause for kitty cat celebration. There is, however, a fine line between safe play and unsafe play. Interacting with […]

  by Nomi Berger   Every winter, cats die due to being left outside in the cold. That they have fur does NOT ensure their ability to survive out of doors for any length of time when the thermometer plummets. What they DO need is shelter and warmth. And if your precious puss slips outside […]

    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 […]

  by Nomi Berger   Although “appropriate” chewing (to relieve the pain of teething, for example) may be acceptable in kittens, it’s far from acceptable in fully-grown felines. Contrary to the old adage, curiosity may not kill your cat, but introduce chewing into the equation, and curiosity can certainly cause both hurt and harm. Some […]

  by Nomi Berger   As with humans, cognitive dysfunction or dementia in cats is more prevalent the older they get. Because of this, protective pet parents must become proactive pet parents to ensure their cherished companions receive the extra care they require. For senior cats without a specific disease or injury, these are some […]

    by Nomi Berger   The short answer, despite several theories: no one really knows. And yet, consider the following: Safekeeping: The theory given the most credence by animal behaviorists involves a cat’s territorial instinct. They believe cats consider their food and water bowls to be safe places, known only to them. Depositing a […]

by Nomi Berger   Has your cat been drinking a lot more water recently, and having to urinate more frequently? Has she begun losing weight despite being hungrier than usual and wanting to eat all the time? If so, she may have diabetes. The second most common glandular disorder in cats (hypothyroidism is first), diabetes […]

  by Nomi Berger   Curious about the meaning behind YOUR kitty’s tail wag? According to many cat behaviorists, the manner in which your frolicsome feline wags her tail can have several different meanings. Consider then:   “The Swish” Playing cats will often swish their tails from side to side before pouncing. On the other […]

    by Nomi Berger   While relatively rare, a cat stroke is always alarming. A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is obstructed, resulting in almost immediate tissue damage and disruption of your cat’s bodily functions. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms, getting a diagnosis and beginning treatment can mean the difference […]

  by Nomi Berger   The nose knows! And so it is with cats who rely on their noses to more fully comprehend the world around them. They detect smells as well as sense pheromones (chemicals produced and released by other cats) through their olfactory systems. For indoor cats in particular, understanding and appreciating the […]

    by Nomi Berger   Problems affecting a cat’s lower urinary tract may prevent the bladder from emptying correctly or may even cause a fatal blockage of the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the cat’s body. All too often, the cause is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). […]