Month: June 2015

Hypecarnivore Felines: Why Senior Cats Need Protein to Thrive

Feline Nutrition| 14 Comments

a ragdoll cat eating from a glass bowl

Written by Elizabeth Colleran, DVM

The nutritional requirements of senior cats are unique when compared to those of humans and dogs. Elderly cats require more energy to maintain their body weight, in part because their fat and protein digestion is impaired. To compensate for impaired nutrient absorption, senior cats need to eat more food relative to their body weight than younger cats. This can be challenging as aging changes associated with decreased ability to smell and taste can cause appetite to decline. Additionally, many aging conditions in cats result in pain, which can also distract from interest in food at a time when more food is essential.Continue Reading

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Review: Mighty Little Man by Jonathon Scott Payne

Books| 8 Comments

Mighty-Little-Man

Some cat memoirs cover dramatic events in a cat’s or person’s life. Others showcase a cat’s special talents. And some memoirs simply chronicle life with cats, in all its ups and downs. Mighty Little Man: My Story, His Story, Our Story by Jonathon Scott Payne is one of those chronicles.Continue Reading

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Pictarine Survey Reveals Just How Much Americans Love Their Pets

Products| 6 Comments

Pictarine-survey-love-pets

This post is sponsored by Pictarine

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone reading this blog that we love our pets. Just how much do we love them? Pictarine, a multi-platform app that allows you to order prints of your favorite photos from your phone and pick them up at your local Walgreens or Duane Reade store, recently announced the results of their survey around American consumers and pet photography.Continue Reading

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Tortie Cat Detects Breast Cancer in Her Guardian

Feline Lifestyle| 20 Comments

cat-detects-cancer

When Elizabeth Moore went to her local veterinary clinic to buy food for her cat Toby, she wasn’t planning on falling in love with a little tortie kitten. Little did she know that less than a year later, Lucy would save her life. Here is Lucy’s story, in Elizabeth’s own words.Continue Reading

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Peach Pillow Bed: Cozy Comfort for Your Cat, Made and Sourced in the USA

Products| 6 Comments

cat-bed

This post is sponsored by Peach Pet Provisions

Even though Allegra and Ruby sleep in my bed with me at night, they still like to have plenty of napping options elsewhere in the house during the day, and they were super excited when Peach Pet Provisions sent us their newest product, the Peach Pillow Bed. You may recognize the name Peach from a product we previously introduced you to, the Kitty Lounger, which has remained one of Allegra and Ruby’s favorite napping spots.Continue Reading

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Your Cat’s Visit to the Vet Starts at Home

Feline Behavior, Feline Health| 12 Comments

cat-in-carrier

Cats don’t get the veterinary care they need. The findings of a feline health study conducted by Bayer Health Care found that 52% of America’s 74 million cats are not receiving regular veterinary care. Even more shocking, the study found that 80% of adopted cats are seen by a veterinarian right after they are adopted, and then not again for several years.Continue Reading

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Review: The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Power of Meow

Books| 4 Comments

the-power-of-meow

The Dalai Lama’s cat is back with a third installment in David Michie’s popular series. Michie first introduced the fictional feline,  HHC (His Holiness’ Cat), dubbed “Little Snow Lion” by the Dalai Lama himself, in his 2012 novel The Dalai Lama’s Cat. HHC was rescued by the Dalai Lama when he saw the small kitten being thrown in the gutter. In the first book, the reader gets an insider’s look at the day to day life of the Dalai Lama’s world as seen by his cat. In the second book, The Dalai Lama’s Cat and the Art of Purring, the Dalai Lama gives his feline companion the task of discovering the true case of happiness.

In The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Power of Meow, HHC continues her quest for enlightenment Continue Reading

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Mayim Bialik Wants to Bust the Crazy Cat Lady Stereotype, and She Wants to See Photos of Your Cats

Feline Lifestyle| 11 Comments

Mayim-Bialik-cats

Those of you who’ve known me for a while know that I really dislike the term “crazy cat lady.” I feel that it diminishes those of us who love cats for the unique and wonderful creatures that they are by assigning a label that has a negative connotation, even if it’s used with humorous self-deprecation. Mayim Bialik and PetSmart Charities agree with me that it’s time to bust the stereotype. Continue Reading

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Grow a Loving Memory with The Living Urn™

Pet Loss, Products| 14 Comments

living-urn-tree

This post is sponsored by The Living Urn™

Losing a beloved cat is devastating, no matter what the circumstances. Grief is a very individual experience, and no two cat guardians will grieve in exactly the same way. Rituals can play an important role in the healing process. There is something about acknowledging grief through a tangible action that can help soothe raw emotions.

Rituals can take many different forms. The best ritual is the one that has the most meaning for you. To me, one of the most beautiful rituals to honor the memory of a beloved cat is to plant a tree in her memory. Continue Reading

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Fear-Free Veterinary Visits for Your Cat

Feline Health| 42 Comments

cat-vet-exam

“Fear is the worst thing a social species can experience.” This is how Dr. Marty Becker opened a presentation on his Fear-Free™ Initiative which I attended at the Central Veterinary Conference in Washington DC last month. Dr. Becker’s initiative is part of a growing and long overdue trend in the veterinary profession to minimize the fear and anxiety associated with veterinary visits for both pets and their guardians.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) was the first major veterinary organization to recognize the need for this movementContinue Reading

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Kittenish by Gwen Cooper Raises Funds for Animal Rescue in Nepal

Books| 9 Comments

Kittenish-Gwen-Cooper

Like so many of us, Gwen Cooper watched the news coverage of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in April with horror. The quake killed more than 8,000 people and injured thousands more. Tens of thousands of survivors are homeless. Even though the news coverage focused primarily on human needs, any large scale disaster always affects animals.Continue Reading

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