Tap water or distilled?
Q: We live in an area that has very hard water. Would it be better to give our cats distilled water instead of tap water? Our two felines are 1½-year-old healthy females.
Roberta Mure
Mayville, New York
Cat’s got the wiggles
Q: I’ve noticed that in readying herself to pounce on something, my cat lifts her rump and then wiggles it. What’s that about?
Ivy Zaccheus
Carlisle, Mssachusetts
Halloween Costume for Kitty?
As a rule, we are against putting your cat in a costume to mark a holiday. She has no idea what a holiday signifies. And she may be so unnerved by being put in fabric that she will freeze in place, not knowing how to move about. That said, some mellow cats don’t mind having clothing on them. Although they don’t get it, you can dress up your pet for a photo op without upsetting them.
Flea and Tick Preventatives for Indoor Cats, Too
Flea- and tick-borne diseases are on the rise throughout the country, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council. And they are causing more cases of Lyme disease and other serious illnesses, not just in us but also in our pets. “That includes cats who never go outside,” says Tufts Veterinary dermatologist Ramón Almela, DVM. “When you or your dog comes in from outdoors, they can jump off and grab a ride on your feline friend.”
Why Your Cat Sticks Out His Tongue At You
Is your cat one of those whose tongue protrudes when he’s just sitting around? Ever wonder why he does it?
Who Will Your Kitten Become?
Why Is There Always Cat Litter—and Sometimes Cat Waste—Next to the Box?
You buy your cat the finely grained litter she prefers—it’s like the sand her ancestors once buried their waste in. You also purchase only the unscented kind because you’re aware that the flowery or perfumed scents people tend to like, cats find uninteresting, or even disgusting. And you make sure the litter you add is two to four inches in depth—just the way cats like it—and that it’s easily scoopable because you know your pet will be happier if you remove waste once a day.
In Your Cat’s Future: A Change in Diet
When we think of dietary changes to treat an illness, we tend to think of them as a kind of Band-Aid approach. The attitude among many people is that eating differently may help at the margins but is nothing compared to the power of pharmaceuticals or surgical procedures. Not true, either for us or our cats. In a number of cases, a change in diet can extend life for years, and also the quality of life.
The Pungent Truth About Cat Urine
Cat urine tends to be significantly more concentrated than dog urine—or human urine. It’s a survival-of-the-species thing. Since cats started out in the desert, their bodies had to evolve in a way that allowed them to get rid of the waste urine carries while holding onto as much water as possible.
On Their Toes
People walk plantigrade, meaning that when we take a step the entire sole of the foot reaches the ground, from the toes to the heel. Not so, cats. Their locomotion is digitigrade, which is to say that their heels do not touch the ground. That provides them with both agility and speed, say, when they want to escape a predator or catch their next meal. It’s a more stealth way of ambulating as it’s a relatively quiet movement.
If Your Cat Requires Water by Needle
Liver disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, chronic kidney failure. These are among the main illnesses that can keep a cat from drinking enough water by mouth. Sometimes it’s because the condition causes excess urination, and sometimes it’s because the disease zaps the cat of the energy required to drink the fluid her body needs. It’s a more common problem than you might assume. Chronic kidney disease by itself affects more than half of all cats over the age of 10 and close to 70 percent of cats over age 15, according to at least one estimate.
