Month: November 2016

Winter Weather Tips to Help Community Cats

Feline Health| 13 Comments

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Community cats (feral and stray cats) are pretty resilient, but they can definitely use help getting through the cold winter months. “Cats live and thrive outdoors in all kinds of climates,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “But a little extra help during the winter months can go a long way for protecting community cats.”

The following tips to make outdoor life more comfortable for community cats are offered courtesy of Alley Cat Allies:Continue Reading

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What You Should Know If You Need to Board Your Blind or Deaf Cat

Feline Health| 6 Comments

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I believe that for most cats, a cat sitter is a better option than boarding when their guardians have to travel, but there may be situations where boarding is your only option. Boarding can be stressful for cats in general, but this is especially true for special needs cats. I recently wrote an article for Pet Boarding and Daycare magazine, which is republished here with permission. If you find yourself faced with having to board your blind or deaf cat, make sure that the boarding facility staff understands how to care for these special kitties.
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The Miracle of Lil BUB

Feline Lifestyle| 13 Comments

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Of all the “celebrity cats” out there, I think Lil BUB is in a league of her own. This magical little cat has overcome great odds from the time when she first came into Mike Bridavsky’s life at the age of eight weeks. BUB was born with several genetic mutations, including a shorter lower jaw and no teeth. She also has dwarfism, which means she will stay kitten-sized for her entire life, and she is the only cat in recorded history born with a rare bone condition called “osteopetrosis”.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: Seniors Save Kittens

Mews and Nips| 6 Comments

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Pima Animal Care in Tucson, AZ took in more than 2,100 kittens during its last fiscal year. Many of these kittens needed to be bottle-fed around the clock. In an innovative program, Pima Animal Care partnered with Catalina Springs Memory Care, a facility for seniors who need round the clock care themselves. “To some it may seem peculiar at first: Residents who are in need of around-the-clock care themselves, given the task to care for these young kittens,” Catalina Springs Memory Care Executive Director Sharon Mercer, said. “But there are skills, emotions and needs that do not just leave a person with Dementia or Alzheimer’s. The desire to give love and receive love remains. The kittens have given us the opportunity to nurture this human condition that lies in each and every one of our residents.” For more on this wonderful program, visit the Pima County website. You can also find more wonderful photos of residents helping Turtle and Peaches, the first two kittens in the program, on the Pima Animal Care Facebook page.

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

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A Street Cat Named Bob Movie Soundtrack

Books| 15 Comments

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A Street Cat Named Bob, the movie, is being released in a limited number of theaters in the US today. I have been following the story of James Bowen and his Street Cat Named Bob ever since the first book was published in 2012. I’ve been cheering for this pair all the way as their story went from being an international bestseller to multiple additional books and finally, to the big screen.Continue Reading

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Gorgeous Wooden Cat Clocks from The Sawdust Fairy

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Even with all the digital clocks I have around my house, I still like the look of an old-fashioned clock. One of my longtime favorite cat clocks broke recently, and couldn’t be repaired, so I was looking for a replacement. When I saw the beautiful clock above, I just had to have it. Doesn’t it look like a tortie?

This gorgeous clock is handcrafted by Paula Christiansen, the artist behind The Sawdust Fairy.Continue Reading

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Kool Kitty Hotel: Packaging that Doubles as a Toy

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This post is sponsored by Kool Kitty Toys

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. Cats scratch to groom their claws; the scratching motion helps remove dead sheaths from their front claws (they usually chew them off their back claws). They scratch to mark their territory. They scratch for exercise; scratching stretches the muscles in the front legs and all along the back. And they scratch simply because it feels good. The problem comes in when this natural behavior collides with our living space. While some cat guardians have resigned themselves to living with scratched furniture, sometimes “sacrficing” one piece to the cats, there are other ways to protect your furniture, and still let your cat be a cat.Continue Reading

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Urinary Crystals and Bladder Stones in Cats

Feline Health| 7 Comments

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Urinary crystals and bladder stones are collections of minerals that form in the urinary tract. They can range in size from microscopically small to several millimeters in diameter. While crystals may not cause any symptoms, larger stones can cause irritation, inflammation, and even dangerous urinary blockages.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: Cat Boosts Ebay Sales

Mews and Nips| 2 Comments

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Tim Dombrowski’s cat Mercedes gives new meaning to the term “click bait.” When he started his business selling antiques on Ebay, Mercedes turned out to be an unexpected business partner. “As I took my pictures, Mercedes started wanting more attention and sitting next to my items, so I just started using her to pose,” Dombrowski told Forbes. “Then she started to stand up, really hamming it up good, and I started getting plenty of messages.” For more about how the adorable Mercedes is helping boost sales, visit Forbes.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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Review: Call of the Cats: What I Learned About Life and Love from a Feral Colony

Books| 5 Comments

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Andrew Bloomfield was not a cat person. The world traveler and spiritual seeker moved to Hollywood to break into the movie business. He expected to pitch screen plays to studio executives and producers, and to become a part of the Hollywood scene. What he didn’t expect was that he would not only be drawn into caring for the colony of feral cats living behind his new bungalow, but that taking care of these wild cats would transform his life. In Call of the Cats: What I Learned About Life from a Feral Colony, Bloomfield shares his journey from self-absorption to selflessness.Continue Reading

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The SmartCat Ultimate Scratch ‘n Play

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The SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post has been a favorite at our house for many years. It’s one of the tallest, sturdiest scratchers we’ve come across. We have this post in my office, and the girls use it every single day.

And now this classic got even better: with the SmartCat Ultimate Scratch ‘N Play, it combines the functionality and beautiful design of this scratcher with the addition of a puzzle toy at the bottom of the post. Puzzle toys are a great way to keep your cats entertained and mentally stimulated when you can’t play with them.Continue Reading

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