Month: June 2016

CatConLA: Heaven on Earth for Cat Lovers

CatConLA

I spent last weekend at the Reef in downtown Los Angeles, along with 15,000 other cat lovers, at CatConLA. This was the second year for this gathering of cat enthusiasts from around the world, but my first year. I attended in dual roles as both vendor and press, and I’ll have lots of stories for you in the weeks and months to come. Today, I’m sharing a few personal highlights.Continue Reading

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Can Cats Have ADHD? 7 Signs You Need To Be Aware Of

ADHD-cat

Can Cats Have ADHD?

When you look up the definition of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,) some of the signs of the condition bear a remarkable resemblance to some of the words we use to describe our cats. While there is no such thing as an official diagnosis for cats, if your cat shows any of the symptoms described below, she may just have a touch of ADHD.Continue Reading

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How to Know Whether Your Cat is in Pain

cat-in-pain

Cats are masters at masking pain. This ability to hide pain goes back to their wild origins; in the wild, a sick animal becomes prey. While acute pain may be fairly obvious to cat guardians, it may be more difficult to discern whether your cat is in pain when it comes to chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis. Sadly, even some veterinarians still overlook signs of feline pain, or are not aggressive enough in treating it.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: The Extraordinary Lives of Istanbul’s Cats

Kedi-Istanbul-cats

Kedi (Turkish for “cat,”) a film about the cats who freely roam the metropolis of Istanbul, takes a closer look at the lives of these cats and what they mean to the city’s inhabitants. Some of these cats fend for themselves, others are cared for by communities of people, and get food and shelter during the colder months. According to the film’s website, “cats have been a part of the city for thousands of years, and so, everyone who grows up in Istanbul or lives in Istanbul has a story about a cat. Stories that are memorable; sometimes scary, sometimes spiritual, but always very personal.” For more about Kedi, watch the trailer below, or visit kedifilm.com.

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap:Continue Reading

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June is Adopt-a-Cat Month. What Can You Do to Help?

adopt-a-cat-month

Each spring during kitten season, thousands of newborn kittens join the millions of cats already in shelters and foster homes across the country. The American Humane Association has designated June as Adopt-a-Cat Month® to help find these cats permanent homes.

Shelters and rescue groups across the country can use your help, even if you can’t adopt right now. Here are a few ways you can help find homes for cats during Adopt-a-Cat month (and every month):Continue Reading

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Darwin’s Raw Cat Food: Feed Your Cat the Way Nature Intended

raw-cat-food

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need meat in their diet to thrive. Their systems aren’t designed to digest carbohydrates. A raw diet is one of the best ways to fulfill cats’ nutritional requirements. There are numerous benefits from feeding a raw diet to your cat, including improved digestion, reduced stool odor and volume, increased energy, ability to maintain ideal weight, better dental health, and better urinary tract health.Continue Reading

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How Often Should You Clean the Litter Box?

litter-box

When it comes to litter boxes, cleanliness truly is next to godliness. Cats are fastidious creatures. Using a dirty litter box is, at best, uncomfortable for them, and at worst, will cause them to eliminate outside the box.

A dirty litter box, to a cat, is the same as a public restroom with unflushed toilets and toilet paper all over the floor is to us. How many times have you walked out of a restroom like that without using it, no matter how badly you needed to go?Continue Reading

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Stress to Success: The Essential Guide to Medicating Your Feisty, Grumpy or Reluctant Cat

medicating-cats

When it comes to giving pills to pets, dog owners tend to have it easier. Put the pill in a little bit of peanut butter or cheese and most dogs will think they’re getting a treat and won’t argue with the owner. When it comes to cats, it’s usually not quite that simple. Rumor has it there are some cats who will allow their humans to pill them easily, but if my personal experience and that with veterinary clients is any indication, they’re few and far between.Continue Reading

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Tortoiseshell Cat is a Diabetic Alert Cat

tortoiseshell-cat-diabetes

You’ve probably heard of diabetic alert dogs. These dogs are trained to monitor smells in the air for a specific scent on the human breath that is indicative of rapidly dropping or low blood sugar levels, and to alert the diabetic person. Goldie, a 6-year-old tortoiseshell cat who resides in Maine, has been performing this life-saving service for her human dad. What’s truly remarkable is that nobody trained Goldie to do this. But why don’t I let Goldie tell your what she does in her own words.Continue Reading

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