Month: March 2014

5 Cat Cafes You Will Want to Visit

Feline Lifestyle| 1 Comment

cat_cafe

Cat cafes first started popping up in Japan. In a country where many apartment buildings don’t allow cats, these cafes became very popular as a way for Japanese cat lovers to get their kitty fix in a relaxing environment.

Cat cafes are a win not just for cat lovers, but also for the cats who reside in these establishments. Living at the cafe allows the cats, who usually come from shelters, to live in a cage-free environment with plenty of human attention and interaction. Most cat cafes have rules for visitors that include not disturbing the cats while they’re sleeping, no rough handling by visiting children, no flash photography, and no feeding.Continue Reading

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Study Suggests Canned Cat Food May Not Contain Enough Thiamine

Feline Nutrition| 23 Comments

Cat is eating canned food from ceramic plate placed

When you buy canned cat food – any brand of canned cat food – you will see a statement on the label that says that the food is “complete and balanced” according to AAFCO standards. This would lead you to assume that the food has all the nutrients your cat needs, right? This is not necessarily true.

What does “complete and balanced” really mean?

AAFCO, the American Association of Feed Control Officials, is the organization which is charged with establishing and enforcing animal feed requirements across all fifty state governments.  Its primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of feed for human food producing livestock.  The AAFCO statement on most pet food labels indicates that the food has been tested and approved as “complete and balanced for the life of a pet.”   This is sadly misleading. Continue Reading

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Animal Medical Center Offers Reiki Treatments

Feline Lifestyle| 7 Comments

Reiki cat energy healing

Reiki, an energy therapy that originated in Japan, is is based on the idea that all living beings have life energy flowing through them. When life energy is high, you and your cats are healthy and balanced, more relaxed and less likely to get sick. When it is low, you and your cats will often be more easily affected by stress and less resistant to illness. Reiki helps return the body to its natural state of balance and well-being. It is a safe complement to conventional Western medicine, Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy and all other forms of healing.

Reiki at Animal Medical Center

Most major human cancer centers and hospitals have been offering ReikiContinue Reading

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Review: Bunnies and Kitties: A Cuddly Collection of Fur and Friendship

Books| 0 comments

Bunnies_and_Kitties

Just in time for Easter comes a guilt and calorie-free treat: Bunnies and Kitties: A Cuddly Collection of Fur and Friendship presents more than one hundred adorable photos of cats, kittens and bunnies. All of the photos are paired with sometimes sweet, sometimes silly captions, and you can’t help but smile at some of the unlikely friendships portrayed in this little book. A few of the photos are almost ridiculously cute.Continue Reading

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Living With Cat Allergies

Feline Health, Human Health| 2 Comments

woman-with-cat-allergy

When someone is allergic to cats, the most common advice given by physicians is to get rid of the cat. Allergies are also one of the top five reasons why cats are returned to shelters. However, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, nearly 10 million people choose to share their homes with cats and dogs despite being allergic.Continue Reading

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How To Know When It’s Time to Find a New Vet

Feline Health| 17 Comments

cat_with_vet

During the years I worked in veterinary hospitals, I always had an up close and personal knowledge of the vets who worked on my cats, from their medical skills and proficiency to their dedication and “bedside manner.”  I was fortunate that most of the vets I worked with practiced cutting edge medicine, provided compassionate care for their furry patients and their humans, loved their work, and were always learning and growing in their fields.  And if that hadn’t been the case, I wouldn’t have continued to work with them.

Unfortunately, not all veterinarians live up to those standards – and for what it’s worth, I consider those minimum standards of care. Next to you, your cat’s vet is probably the most important person in your cat’s life. Continue Reading

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Review: Hide and Seek by Amy Shojai

Books| 3 Comments

Fire

From the time I read the last paragraph in Amy Shojai’s debut thriller, Lost and Found, I could not wait for a sequel. I was thrilled (pun intended) when Amy sent me a review copy of Hide and Seek, and I could not wait to get started – but I also knew from reading the first book that I better set aside a good chunk of uninterrupted time first, because I couldn’t put the first one down once I started.

In this second book, animal behaviorist September Day, her dog Shadow and cat Macy are trying to unravel a mystery involving a mysterious contagious illness that affects both pets and humans, a reality TV show about wild pigs, and September’s dark past.Continue Reading

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Cat Bites: Risks, Treatment & Prevention

Feline Health, Human Health| 227 Comments

aggressive cat biting human hand

The information in this post is not a substitute for medical care. If you have been bitten by a cat, see your doctor or visit an urgent care facility. We cannot answer questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. 

It can happen even with the most loving, docile cat: an overexcited cat nips her guardian while playing, or accidentally bites her guardian’s finger while accepting a treat. In more extreme cases, redirected aggression can cause a cat to lash out at her guardian and cause severe damage. And of course, most of us will pet stray cats we meet along the way, but not all seemingly friendly cats remain friendly after being approached by strangers. Regardless of how a cat bite happens, it is not something to take lightly.

Why cat bites can be dangerous

Cat bites only account for 10-15% of animal bites reported by emergency rooms, but they pose a much greater risk of infection. Continue Reading

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