EVERYDAY CAT CARE

Mosquito on Cats nose

Can Catnip Ward Off Mosquitoes, Too?

Cats don’t just roll over and rub against catnip for the high, a new study suggests. Chemicals in catnip called iridoids also appear to...
Long-haired cats are more prone to hairballs, but regular brushing can cut down on their frequency. 

Hairballs Are Nothing to Worry About — Usually

A cat is never comfortable during the momentary hacking, gagging, and retching it takes to cough up a hairball. Nor is it comfortable to...
Newborn kittens can’t hold their body heat. Their mothers curl around them to keep them warm.

What to Expect When Your Cat Is Expecting

Breeders, people who have taken in a stray who has not been spayed, and those who tend to feral cat colonies may all find...
With a blanket and toys, a cat carrier becomes a fun place to hang out.

How to Adjust Your Cat to the Carrier

You’ve got to take your cat somewhere — the vet’s, a boarding facility — but shoving her into the carrier in a struggle just...
Reading cat faces

Who Can Best Read Cats’ Faces? Women

If you see more cat hair around than usual and you’ve been vacuuming and dusting as frequently as always — or if you’re seeing...

Quantity of Life Versus Quality of Life

When to euthanize is a deeply spiritual decision,” says Alicia Karas, DVM. She heads the Tufts Pet Loss Support Hotline (508-839-7966) and therefore knows...
For a very anxious cat, medication, along with behavior modification, may do a world of good to help her reach a calmer state.

For a Super-Anxious Cat, Drugs May Help

Any cat so anxious that she cannot relax or overreacts to stimuli like the presence of visitors or common household noises should be evaluated...
Brushing your cat’s coat regularly is more than a beauty regimen. It will keep her healthier.

How to Get Your Cat to Age 20

You can’t prevent diseases for which your pet might be genetically primed. But a lot of illnesses are about lifestyle as well as genetics....
You should of course get the sense that the staff at your pet’s veterinary office likes cats.

What You Can Do to Make Vet Visits Go More Smoothly

Because cats so often hate going to the veterinarian, getting them there makes people anxious. That anxiety is then picked up by the pet,...
If he balks at using the litter box, it may be the litter that she objects to.

Your Pet’s Litter Preference

Litter frequently scattered on your bathroom floor may be a sign that your cat is not happy with the type of litter you have...
If your cat’s in pain, she might not be able to do the twisting and bending neccessary for self-grooming.

When a Cat Stops Self-Grooming, Something Is Wrong

Cats are fastidious groomers, which is why their fur looks so sleek and silky. They prize cleanliness. That’s why, if a cat lets herself...
Cats and fish.

Apps for Cats

You’re trying to get some work done, when who should jump up onto your desk looking for a little attention but your favorite feline?...