More common in dogs and sometimes rabbits, cherry eye is also occasionally seen in cats. The disease can affect the eye or the tissue around a cat’s eye, but it may be more than a cosmetic issue. Some cats are more prone to cherry eye than others, and it’s important to know how to recognize … Read more
Cats are amazing and intelligent animals. Their lifestyle reflects the predatory skills and behaviors required to hunt food in the wild. A cat’s day includes rest, stalking, chasing, raiding, killing, playing, eating, and grooming. When we don’t give them the opportunity to do these things, they get bored. Boredom can lead to a variety of … Read more
Although the concept of early spaying and neutering of cats and dogs is not new, its use by veterinarians in the mid-20th century was limited due to many misconceptions: It is best to let the mother cat have a litter of kittens before neutering. Female cats should not be neutered before their first estrus. As … Read more
Cat damage by scratching furniture and other household items is a common complaint of cat owners. While this can be frustrating, it’s important to remember that scratching is a normal and natural behavior for cats. While the urge to scratch is normal in cats, scratching in places we don’t see fit, such as our sofas … Read more
Maternal aggression occurs when the queen (female cat) becomes particularly aggressive. Her aggression is to protect her kittens, and can target humans, other animals, or other cats that are somewhere between the queen and her new kitten litter. Male cats are known to eat kittens, so the queen’s protective nature makes sense. Since it is … Read more
Some naysayers will complain that cats cannot be trained. that’s not true. Cats are extremely trainable and usually train on signals rather than commands. You may also have trained your cat to come over when given the appropriate signal. Think about what happens when a can opener “spins” or when kibble hits the bowl. The … Read more
Cats know they’re pretty, but they respond very differently to cat reflections in the mirror. Some cats completely ignore the reflex kitten, while others are curious and may wonder why this cat doesn’t have a distinctive scent. Still, other cats may display aggressive or fearful behavior when they see their own reflection. If your cat … Read more
This article must start with big Disclaimer: I have no training in veterinary medicine and no skills in this area. I rely on my own veterinarian who knows my cat and uses his training and expertise to diagnose my cat’s disease when needed.I write if only From the perspective of someone who has shared my … Read more
When we get a kitten, we love them into adulthood and old age. Over time, we pet owners have learned how to care for our cats from start to finish, understanding the ins and outs of spaying and neutering, bathing and vaccinations, weight management, and food preferences. We quickly learned that cats go through different … Read more
Some cat lovers seem to be overly breed-focused, not happy until their cat is neatly grouped into a breed. Over the years, I’ve received email photos with the question “What breed is my cat?” I’ve finally published Feline Breeds, Domestic Cats, and Color Patterns to provide a handy reference guide to help readers identify the … Read more
Cats will fight and play with each other, sometimes even being a little rude, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the dominant cats. Cats that live together and generally get along well exhibit painless ear biting, ear scratching, chasing, and other behaviors as part of their playful activities. These behaviors develop when a cat is … Read more
Pancreatitis affects an internal organ called the pancreas. This condition can affect people, dogs and even cats and is not only painful but life-threatening. There’s still a lot we don’t know about pancreatitis in cats, but luckily the knowledge base in the veterinary community has grown over the years, so there are things we can … Read more
So you decide to open your home to shelter cats. Congratulations! You are helping to solve the problem of cat overpopulation and possibly saving this cat’s life. It can be helpful to know what to expect when you take him home. There will be many things to watch out for, both physically and behaviorally. A … Read more
Quite a few pet owners choose cats over dogs because “cats are clean”. It’s true: An average cat can spend up to 50% of its waking hours grooming itself (or another cat).As such, cats are generally very clean animals, although grooming can become an obsession in some cases. Clean from scratch A mother cat’s first … Read more
