EVERYDAY CAT CARE

In back of the small pads on the bottoms of your cat’s front toes, and also well behind the larger pad that sits just beyond the toe pads, you’ll find yet another spongy pad. Called the carpal pad, it provides traction if a cat is skidding to a stop, making her way down a hill, […]

You attached a feather to a string for your cat to chase as you dragged it along the floor, but she didn’t go for it. You bought her a squeaky toy that she sniffed and batted once and then paid no attention to. She also has a little grey fabric mouse with catnip that she […]

Q. I acquired a kitten a couple of weeks ago, and she has been scratching at her ears like crazy with her hind paws. Is this just a weird habit resulting from the stress of going from a shelter to someone’s home, or could something medical be going on? Brianna Field Norman, Oklahoma A. Dear […]

Veterinary practices report that during the summer months, they see significantly more cats who have injured themselves falling out of windows. These emergencies occur across the globe. Austrian veterinarian Dr. Roswitha Steinbacher has reported that every year during the warmer months, the Clinic for Small Animals at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna treats […]

You know to keep your cat’s nails trimmed because otherwise they could curve into the paw pad and cause both pain and infection. But were you aware that the paws need regular care for your cat’s good health, too? Here are the five steps to take so that the steps she takes are healthy and […]

Back in December 2019, before anyone had ever heard the term “social distancing,” telemedicine remained largely at the margins of veterinary care. The concept of providing medical services to a pet without an in-person visit was out there, to be sure. The American Veterinary Medical Association even had guidelines for the use of such technology […]

While cat owners know their pets are bonded to them, felines are often thought of as uninterested in collaborating with people. It’s believed all communication has to be entirely on their terms, without any give and take. But that’s not true. Cats can and do learn various behaviors through training. People teach their feline pets […]

Q. Why is it that as dogs age they get gray around the muzzle and eyes, while cats don’t? I’ve never seen a cat go gray like that, and I’ve had cats who reached almost 20. They always look the same, other than becoming heavier or thinner. I asked my vet, and he had no […]

You want to do right by your cat, so you pull string toys for him, leave a scratching post in the living room, and set up a seat by a window where he can stretch in the sun and watch birds. But did you know there are some other really simple things you can do […]

Not all cats want to go outside on a leash. But for those who do, harnesses provide a great opportunity for an indoor feline...

Strictly speaking, the words “stray” and “feral” have different meanings. A stray cat, while currently homeless, has at some point lived with people, has...

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...