Month: April 2014

Cats and Road Trips: 7 Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe & Comfortable

Cat-in-purple-carrier

Written by Kim Salerno

When it comes to pets, dogs travel with their humans the most often. In fact, they account for over 85% of pet travelers. This makes sense; most dogs are happy to go on adventures. They love car rides and can’t wait to hop in and head out anywhere, whether it’s down the street to the park or halfway across the country on an extended road trip.

Cats, on the other hand, are not so keen on traveling by car. One reason is a difference in temperament – they’re just not as adaptable and adventurous as dogs. Another is the fact that the bulk of their travel experience tends to involve going back and forth to the vet.Continue Reading

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Review: Only Natural Pet EasyRaw Turkey and All Meat Freeze Dried Chicken Treats

Only_Natural_Pet_review

Three weeks ago, I introduced you to Only Natural Pet, a Colorado-based online retailer of natural pet products. While I’ve been a customer of ONP pretty much since its inception in 2004, I never actually tried any of their own products. I had a chance to select a few products for review, and today, I’d like to share my, and Allegra and Ruby’s opinion, of two of them with you.Continue Reading

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FIV Infection on the Rise: Signs, Transmission, Vaccination & FAQ

cat-vet-vaccine

The Banfield Pet Hospital annual State of Pet Health Report for 2014 revealed a sharp increase in infectious diseases among cats. The reports analyzed data from the nearly 470,000 cats cared for in Banfield’s 850 hospitals across the nation.

The report showed a 48 percent increase in the prevalence of the feline immune deficiency virus (FIV). According to the report,Continue Reading

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Exclusive Interview with Lil BUB’s “Dude” – Part One: How It All Began

Lil_Bub_and_her_Dude

I never met Lil BUB in person, but I, like hundreds of thousands of others (BUB currently has more than 650,000 Facebook fans), fell in love with this amazing little cat via photos and videos. I hope to some day meet Lil BUB in person. She conveys a level of charisma on the printed page and in photos and videos unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to meet this special little cat in real life.

Since an in-person meeting is not in the cards right now, I had an opportunity to do the next best thing: I got to ask Lil BUB’s “dude,” Mike Bridavsky, some questions.Continue Reading

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Scratch Lounge Review: A Unique Cardboard Scratcher

Scratch_Lounge

One of my favorite products at Global Pet Expo was the Scratch Lounge. I was delighted when the company sent us one to review – and so were Allegra and Ruby!

The Scratch Lounge is a good size, sturdy cardboard scratcher. The unique, patented three-sided design lets cats scratch to their hearts’ content, but it also gives them an alternative place to nap.

It didn’t take my two little product testers long to decide that the Scratch Lounge was a welcome new addition to our home. Continue Reading

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Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats: Signs, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

vet holding burma cat

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited condition in which small, liquid-filled cysts develop on the kidneys. These cysts multiply in number and grow in size over time. The increasing size eventually takes over healthy kidney tissue and can lead to potentially fatal kidney failure.

Genetic predisposition for some breeds

Even though this disease has been reported for decades, there is no explanation for why these cysts develop, except for a genetic anomaly that is seen primarily in Persians, or in breeds that have Persian genetics in their line, such as Himalayans.Continue Reading

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Review and Giveaway: Grey Howl by Clea Simon

Grey_Howl

Clea Simon’s Dulcie Schwartz mystery series, featuring the Harvard graduate student, along with her kitten Esme and the spirit of her departed cat, Mr. Grey, has become one of my favorite cat mysteries. In Grey Howl, the seventh installment of the series, we find Dulcie helping with preparations for a prestigious literature conference. Dulcie is in the final stages of her doctoral thesis about an obscure gothic novel by a mysterious author, and she is excited about presenting her paper at the conference. But as the visiting scholars arrive, things begin to go wrong, and Dulcie finds herself in the middle of a tangled web of academic rivalries. A presentation is sabotaged, a scholar disappears, and another is murdered. And to top it all off, Dulcie’s boyfriend Chris is acting strangely.Continue Reading

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Going Green With Your Cat

going_green_with_cat

We’re all about conscious living here at The Conscious Cat, and green living is a big part of living a conscious life. Recycling, buying organic, and using eco-friendly products just makes sense – and not just for you, but also for your cats.

Here are some ways you can help the planet by going green with your cat:Continue Reading

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Stem Cell Therapy Helps Cat with Stomatitis: Study Explained

Veterinarian examining teeth of Persian Cat

Stomatitis is is one of the most painful conditions cats can develop. Buckley suffered from this condition; a severe inflammation of the oral cavity in which the affected cat essentially becomes allergic to her own teeth. The outward signs of this condition are red, inflamed, often ulcerated gums. This can be extremely painful for cats. Treatment of this condition can be very frustrating. The goal is to control the inflammatory response. In many cases, a complete resolution of the problem may never be achieved.


Current treatment of stomatitis

To date, treatment usually involves a complete removal of all teeth. This approach Continue Reading

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How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity (2023 Book Review)

how_to_make_your_cat_an_internet_celebrity

It’s no secret that cats are hot on the internet, and some of the more prominent internet cats have probably made their guardians rich enough to at least be able to give up their day jobs. If you’ve ever wondered whether your cat could be the next Maru, Grumpy Cat or Lil BUB, How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity: A Guide to Financial Freedom offers advice on how to make your cat the next feline superstar.

Written by Patricia Carlin, with photography by Dustin Fenstermacher, this “guide” will help youContinue Reading

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MeowBox Subscription: 2023 Review (With Pictures)

Meow_Box

Editor’s Note: As of August 2015,MeowBox.net has closed. If you are looking for a cat subscription box, go to meowbox.com.

I believe that there’s no such thing as a cat who is too spoiled, and thanks to MeowBox, now there’s a whole new way cat guardians can spoil their feline family members. Meow Box is a monthly subscription service. Each month, your kitty will receive a box filled with toys, treats, gadgets, accessories, and more.

I loved the blue and white box everything came in. I’ll be reusing it as a gift box. The girls were more excited about what was inside. Content varies from month to month. Our box revealed a Kong Wubba toy, which is a big hit with Ruby, an Up Country catnip mouse, which came in a super cute cylinder package, a Kong Zoom Groom grooming tool, two bags of treats, and an adorable cat-shaped cookie cutter. I thought Continue Reading

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