Month: July 2013

Summer Travel With Your Cat

Feline Lifestyle| 19 Comments

cat_in_car_carrier

Guest post by Vickie Fisher

You’ve probably already figured out that your cat is not going to happily jump into the car, stick its head out the window and “lap up” the scents and breezes in anticipation of traveling someplace “fun.”  That revelation aside, the biggest difference between traveling with a dog and traveling with a cat is that in the case of the cat, it often appears that neither party involved in the expedition will be happy!  However, sometimes, a temporary or permanent relocation makes travel a necessity.Continue Reading

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A Street Cat Named Bob Makes US Debut

Books, Giveaways| 135 Comments

A_Street_Cat_Named_Bob

James Bowen and his cat Bob have been capturing hearts since A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life was first published in the UK last spring. The book finally debuts in the United States today. Even though the US publisher changed the original subtitle to How One Man And His Cat Found Hope on the Streets, the story remains the same and is no less compelling with a new subtitle and cover.

I reviewed the UK edition last year, and have been following the unfolding story of James and Bob since then – I just can’t get enough of this modern day fairy tale. From book signings with lines snaking around the block to a movie deal, James’ life changed in ways he never could have imagined when he first found Bob on the doorstep of his apartment building. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and had just moved into subsidized housing as part of a drug recovery program after being homeless. The last thing he needed was a pet. But he just couldn’t turn his back on the injured cat, so he took him in and nursed him back to health. He never intended to keep him. Once Bob had recovered, James sent him on his way.

But Bob had other plans. Continue Reading

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Cat Detective E-Book Sale

Books| 4 Comments

cat_bearing_gifts

If you’re a fan of Lillian Jackson, Rita Mae Brown, or Carole Nelson Douglas, and mysteries featuring feline detectives, you’ve probably already discovered Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s series starring feline P.I. Joe Grey. Joe Grey investigates murders, solves crimes, and protects his humans at all costs. The series also features Kit, a longhaired tortoiseshell cat.

In Cat Bearing Gifts,  the most recent in the series, Joe Grey and his four-legged cohorts are plunged into a nightmarish mystery involving a series of strange events that endangers them and the humans they love.

If you’re not familiar with the series, right now is a great time to check it out! Continue Reading

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Is Your Cat A Tree Dweller or A Bush Dweller?

Feline Behavior| 15 Comments

tree dweller bush dweller

If you’ve watched Jackson Galaxy work his magic with challenging cats on Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell, you know that one of the concepts he frequently explains to cat guardians is the difference between cats who are “tree dwellers” and cats who are “bush dwellers.”

Tree dwellers need vertical space. These are the cats that like to jump up on counters, sit on top of the refrigerator, climb curtains or bookshelves. Bush dwellers, on the other hand, prefer to stay low to the ground. They tend to seek out spots that are hidden, such as under an end table, or even under the sofa or bed.

In multi-cat households, it is critical that you understand your cats’ preferences, and provide options to accommodate both behavior styles.Continue Reading

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How To Give a Nebulizer Treatment to an Asthmatic Cat

Feline Health| 28 Comments

cat_with_inhaler

Guest post by Zoe Camp

Feline asthma is a respiratory condition that involves inflammation and excess mucous build-up in the airways. Muscles spasms cause constriction of the airway, resulting in respiratory distress. Feline asthma shares many characteristics with asthma in humans.

Signs of feline asthma may be as mild as an occasional soft cough and/or a wheeze. An asthma attack can sound very similar to your cat trying to cough up a hairball. In extreme and chronic cases, you may see a persistent cough along with labored, open-mouth, harsh breathing, which can be a life-threatening crisis.

Conventional treatment may include medication (typically, corticosteroids and bronchodilators). Holistic therapies may also be beneficial.Continue Reading

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Review and Giveaway: The Cat Sitter’s Cradle by Blaize and John Clement

Books, Giveaways| 56 Comments

The_Cat_Sitter's_Cradle_John_Clement

The Cat Sitter mystery series, featuring Dixie Hemingway, a pet sitter who lives on one of the Florida keys, has been a favorite of mine ever since the cover of the first book in the series, Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter, caught my eye.  The series was authored by Blaize Clement, and after she passed away in 2011, her son, John Clement, continued the series. Blaize had been collaborating on plots and characters for future novels with John.

The Cat Sitter’s Cradle is the latest in the series. Do covers get any more adorable than this one?

From the publisher:

No mission is impawsible for pet sitter Dixie Hemingway (no relation to you-know-who). Continue Reading

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Non-Recognition Aggression in Cats: A Case of Forgotten Identity

Feline Behavior| 85 Comments

non_recognition_aggression_in_cats

Your two cats are best friends. They play together, groom each other, and sleep curled up with each other. Then one day, you take one to the vet’s for a check up. When you return from the clinic, instead of receiving a warm welcome, the cat who stayed home hisses and attacks the other cat. Your two former best friends have turned into sworn enemies, and your formerly peaceful home has turned into a battle zone.

Aggression between cats is always a distressing problem for the cats and the humans involved. Whether it’s play aggression, petting aggression, or redirected aggression, dealing with feline aggression is stressful and requires commitment, staying power, and the help of experts such as your veterinarian and/or a feline behaviorist.

The cause of on-recognition aggression is not entirely clear, and the bad news is that it’s not easily fixed.Continue Reading

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Review: Not the Killing Type by Lorna Barrett

Books| 2 Comments

not_the_killing_type_lorna_barrett

Not the Killing Type is the seventh in Lorna Barrett’s bestselling Booktown mystery series featuring Tricia Miles, the owner of the Haven’t Got a Clue mystery book store and her cat, Miss Marple. And can I just say how much I love this cover?

It’s November in Stoneham, New Hampshire, and Tricia’s life has become very complicated. Her romance with police chief Baker seems on the skids, her ex-husband Christopher is back in town, she’s getting ready for the busy holiday shopping season, and her sister is campaigning to be elected Chamber of Commerce president. And just when it seems life couldn’t get any more challenging, Tricia discovers another body. And of course, she can’t help herself – she gets drawn into investigating the murder.Continue Reading

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How to Get a Picky Cat to Eat (5 Effective Tips)

Feline Nutrition| 132 Comments

A picky cat

If you’ve read The Conscious Cat for any length of time, you know that cats should be eating a species-appropriate diet of raw, grain-free canned, or properly balanced home-prepared food. Cats should never eat dry food, and the money you invest in high-quality, premium food will result in better health and lower vet bills for your feline family members. I’m always delighted when I hear from readers who have switched their cats from a low-quality and/or dry diet to a healthier diet because of something they’ve read here on my site.

Sometimes, switching a kitty off the human equivalent of junk food can be challenging. Understanding why cats are finicky, and knowing how to safely make the switch to a healthier diet, or encouraging fussy cats to eat, is an important step toward better health for your cats.

Continue Reading

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5 Health Tips from Your Cat

Feline Health, Human Health| 27 Comments

Reiki_cat

Cats are good for your health. The Chicago Tribune recently reported that a 10-year study at the University of Minnesota Stroke Center found that cat owners were 40 percent less likely to have heart attacks than non-cat owners. According to research discussed in this news report, people with pets save the Australian health service about $880 million per year and save Germany about $6.6 billion per year.

There is much information out there about how to live healthier on the internet, in books, and on television, but you may have one source of healthier living much closer than you think: your cat. I’m all about learning from our cats when it comes to living a conscious, happy life, so why not learn from them when it comes to our physical health?Continue Reading

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Your Cat’s Litter Box: What Does Your Cat Really Prefer?

Feline Health| 28 Comments

cat_in_litter_box

Guest post by Lorie Huston, DVM

When cat’s begin to urinate and/or defecate outside the litter box, there are a number of different suggestions that are made to help convince the cat to return to the litter box. As a veterinarian, I’ve had this discussion and made these same recommendations over and over again to my cat-owning clients. I’ve also spoken about them here: Cat Litter Box Problems: What to do When Your Cat Decides Not to Use the Litter Box.

To be blunt, we make many of these recommendations based on experience. However, there is very little scientific evidence that supports them. This article by Dr. Jacqueline Neilson in Veterinary Medicine examines some of the literature available pertaining to cats, cat litter, and cat litter boxes. These are Dr. Neilson’s recommendations based on her review of that literature:Continue Reading

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