Month: August 2014

Review: ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Litter

Products| 20 Comments

okocat_natural_litter

I’ll be honest right from the start: I use clay litter. Even though there’s an ever growing array of more eco-friendly, alternative litters on the market, I have yet to find one that Allegra and Ruby will actually use – and when it comes to cat litter, ultimately, it’s your cats’ call of what goes in the box, right?

I’m always interested to learn about new products, and when we had a chance to test the new ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Litter from Healthy Pet, I was intrigued. Continue Reading

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A Tribute to Sparkle: Star Cat Columnist

Feline Lifestyle| 8 Comments

The cat blogging universe lost one of its shining stars. Sparkle the Designer Cat, also known as the Dear Abby of the feline world, passed away last week after dealing with multiple illnesses. In a heart-touching final post on Thursday, Sparkle thanked her fans for more than eleven years of love and support.Continue Reading

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SwheatScoop Natural Clumping Litter Review 2023

Giveaways, Products| 76 Comments

SwheatScoop_wheat_cat_litter

The variety of alternative litters on the market now is growing every day. From corn to pine to walnut shells, I find it fascinating what manufacturers are coming up with.

I’m well aware of the controversy around traditional clay litter, but I’ve found that many cats don’t like the alternative litters. And ultimately, if your cat won’t use a litter, it’s no good, no matter how environmentally friendly it may be!

SwheatScoop, a wheat based natural clumping litter,Continue Reading

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Should You Buy Your Cat’s Medication Online? Facts & Safety Tips

Feline Health| 16 Comments

Kitten wrapped in a towel drinks medicine from a syringe

I’m sure you’ve seen the claims: “Discounted pet drugs! No prescription necessary! Convenient home delivery!” There’s no question that prescription drugs are expensive, but is it really such a good idea to buy your cat’s medications online?

The answer is that it depends. There are reputable internet pharmacies that sell pet drugs at a discounted price, but there are others that violate federal, state, and sometimes international pharmacy laws. Continue Reading

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Review: Bailey Boat Cat: Adventures of a Feline Afloat

Books| 5 Comments

Bailey_Boat_Cat

When it comes to unusual feline lifestyles, Bailey, a three-year-old seal point Siamese, is leading quite the life. Bailey lives on board a 37-foot yacht just outside Rome, Italy, with his human guardians. Bailey has been cruising the Mediterranean since 2011. His adventures were first chronicled on his blog, which was the basis for Bailey Boat Cat: Adventures of a Feline Afloat. Eventually, Bailey hopes to cruise around the world with his two humans.Continue Reading

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The Feline Diabetes Epidemic

Feline Health| 4 Comments

feline-diabetes-epidemic

Diabetes in humans has reached epidemic proportions, and sadly, this trend also affects our cats. Diabetes affects as many as 1 in 50 cats, with overweight cats being especially prone to the disease.Continue Reading

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Life Stages & Lifestyle Diets: Does Your Cat Really Need Them? Facts & FAQ

Feline Nutrition| 26 Comments

cats-eating

Last updated June 2019

Feeding your cat a species-appropriate diet is the most important thing you can do for her lifelong health. You can’t control your cat’s genetics, but you can control what you feed her. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need meat not only to survive, but to thrive. Even though cat food manufacturers would have you believe differently, a cat’s diet needs don’t change all that much over the course of her life.Continue Reading

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Review: The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim by Leann Sweeney

Books| 8 Comments

The_Cat_the_Vagabond_and_the_Victim

I’m a huge fan of Leann Sweeney’s Cats in Trouble mystery series. The series features cat quilter Jillian Hart and her three cats Merlot, Chablis and Chiraz, along with her human friends, who all live in the small town of Mercy, South Carolina.

The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim is the latest in the series. When a cat travels 200 miles to come back home, only to find his guardian dead, the story makes national news. In order to remove the cat from the center of the chaos created by the media attention, Jillian agrees to foster the big orange tabby in hopes that his location can be kept a secret. When it turns out that the cat’s guardian was murdered, Jillian becomes embroiled in the investigation. As she gets closer to identifying the killer, she realizes that her foster cat may be in danger of becoming the next victim.Continue Reading

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Aragon aka Lord Tubbington and Lil BUB: Conscious Cats, Making a Difference in the World

Feline Lifestyle| 7 Comments

Lord_Tubbington_Lil_BUB

The popularity of celebrity cats, while a relatively new phenomenon, is not surprising, given America’s fascination with celebrities in general. And just like human celebrities, celebrity cats run the gamut from cats who appear in movies, videos, books and cartoons to cats who have spawned entire merchandise empires.

In this sea of feline celebrities, two cats stand out. Aragon and Lil BUB not only changed their guardians’ lives in ways they never could have imagined, they are making a difference in the lives of animals and humans around the world.Continue Reading

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A Very Unusual Feline Housecall

Feline Lifestyle| 6 Comments

Shasta_Abbey_cats

Written by Elizabeth Colleran, DVM

Editor’s Note: Shasta Abbey, a Buddist monastery at the foot of Mount Shasta in Northern California, is home to 12 cats, ranging in age from 3 to 18. Read The Cats at Shasta Abbey for more about this very special place.

My friend and great assistant and I are both Buddhists. We help out at Shasta Abbey when we can. It is a way for me to offer my veterinary expertise to the community of abbey cats in the Buddhist tradition of “dana,” which means giving with generosity. We try to make these “housecall visits” twice a year. Continue Reading

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