Month: August 2016

It’s Kitty O’Clock Somewhere!

Musetta-Clea-Simon

Written by Clea Simon

Cats understand book time.

You know how felines are – the way they’ll rush around madly, only to suddenly plop down for an hours-long nap. Their insistence that they are starving and must be fed immediately, only to be sated a few licks, finishing up a split second later – or distracted by a passing shadow.

Book time is like that.Continue Reading

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Stella McCartney’s Fall Collection Goes Wild for Cats

stella-mccartney-cat-fashion

British fashion designer Stella McCartney, the daughter of former Beatle Paul MCartney and American musician, photographer and animal activist Linda McCartney, has launched a new fall line that has gone to the cats!

The line features cat-portrait tapestry fabrics on skirts, dresses, a tailored coat, a ’70s-style football-jumper, a blouse and a silk dress. There are also plenty of animal patterned accessories and even a cat carrier. The designer is clearly having fun with these designs, and even uses the hashtag #StellaMcCatney on her social media channels.Continue Reading

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Is Chemotherapy the Right Choice for Your Cat?

chemotherapy-cat

Updated May 2022

Finding out that a beloved cat has cancer is heartbreaking for cat parents. The sad reality is that cancer is one of the leading causes of death in older cats. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, 6 million cats will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States along. However, a cancer diagnosis does not have to be the end of the road. In fact, just like with humans, treatment is often possible, and chemotherapy may be one option that can allow your cat to live comfortably for many months and even years.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: Cat Videos are Like Catnip to Humans

cat-watching-computer

I think it’s pretty safe to say that most of you have spent countless hours online watching cat videos, and that you’re not spending even one minute wondering why people are so fascinated by watching them. But Jessica Myrick, a media scholar at Indiana University, decided to explore the reasons why people love to watch cat videos in her paper “Emotion regulation, procrastination, and watching cat videos online: Who watches Internet cats, why, and to what effect?”  Myrick found that the videos not only raised peoples’ spirits, but are a way for people to connect with others. For more on Myricks’ findings, read the Star-Telegram.

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

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New Cat Collar Uses UV Bird Vision to Make Outdoor Cats Visible to Birds

ChirpOn-cat-collar

This post is sponsored by ChirpOn

Bird populations have declined dramatically over the last decades. Contrary to what some ill informed organizations would like you to believe, cats are not solely responsible for this decline. Major factors are habitat destruction, widespread use of pesticides and bird collisions with window reflections and motor vehicles. However, cats will be cats if they have access to the outdoors, and they will hunt and kill birds.

Steve Crawford, the creator of the ChirpOn Cat Collar for Birds, wanted to find a way to keep cats from injuring and killing birds that was comfortable as well as safe for cats.Continue Reading

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Operation Homeward Bound: An Idea, a Van, Jackson Galaxy, and 43 Kittens

jackson-galaxy-homeward-bound

On June 27, Jackson Galaxy and his wife Minoo embarked on a 1,000 mile journey from Los Angeles to Boulder, CO to save the lives of 43 kittens through a new program by the Jackson Galaxy Foundation, Homeward Bound. I had a chance to speak with Jackson about the successful rescue mission.

Jackson and Minoo were alarmed when they heard about the dozens of kittens in overcrowded shelters in their community. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley had previously told Jackson that “if you’ve got kittens, let us know, because we need kittens!” What could be simpler than taking the kittens from a place where they’re going to die to a place where they could find homes? Continue Reading

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Introducing ZiwiPeak: Natural New Zealand Pet Nutrition

ziwi-peak-cat-food

This post is sponsored by Ziwi Peak

ZiwiPeak is one of the brands that has long been included on my list of recommended foods. Today, I’m delighted to offer you a closer look at this brand, courtesy of the folks at ZiwiPeak. Ziwi Peak is a complete and balanced daily diet for all breeds and all life stages. Their formulas are 95% digestible and palatable to even the most finicky cats (and dogs.)Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: Lanai Cat Sanctuary is a Cat Lover’s Paradise

lanai-cat-sanctuary

The Lanai Cat Sanctuary, located on the small Hawaiian island of Lanai, is home to more than 500 cats. The sanctuary covers about 25,000 square foot where cats can roam around freely. Visitors from around the world can hang out with the cats as long as they want. The sanctuary’s website states that “no appointment is required. Bring a picnic and be ready to play and stay the day.” For more on the sanctuary and some wonderful photos, visit Top13.

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

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Review: Close Encounters of the Furred Kind

close-encounters-of-the-furred-kind

After reviewing Tom Cox’s The Good, The Bad, and the Furry: Life With the World’s Most Melancholy Cat last year, I became a fan. I read his previous first two books, Under the Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man and Talk to the Tail: Adventures in Cat Ownership and Beyond, and I was delighted when I received a review copy of Tom’s newest book, Close Encounters of the Furred Kind.Continue Reading

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Black Cat Appreciation Day (August 17)

black-cat-appreciation-day

August 17 is Black Cat Appreciation Day. This “holiday” was created to help dispel some of the myths and ridiculous prejudices that surround these beautiful cats. If you share your life with one or more of these black beauties, every day is Black Cat Appreciation Day, because you already know just how special they are.Continue Reading

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Urban Outfitters in New York City Partnered with Best Friends to Find Homes for 95 Cats in One Day

urban-outfitters-best-friends

On Saturday, August 6, Urban Outfitters partnered with Best Friends to stage adoption events in all of their stores in New York City. Urban Outfitters paid the adoption fees for all 95 cats and kittens that found new homes that day.Continue Reading

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