Month: May 2017

Cat Behaviorist Mikel Delgado Answers May’s Questions

Feline Behavior| 49 Comments

ask-the-cat-behaviorist

Last month, we launched our new “Ask the Cat Behaviorist with Mikel Delgado” segment. Once a month, we’ll post a reminder for you to post your questions for Mikel. She’ll answer as many of them as he can each month, and I’ll publish her answers in a subsequent post.

Mikel is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant at Feline Minds, offering on-site consultations for cat guardians, shelters, and pet-related businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, and remote consultations around the world. She is currently completing her PhD in Psychology at UC Berkeley, where she studies animal behavior and human-pet relationships.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: The Mystery of the Wasting House Cats

Mews and Nips| 3 Comments

wasting-house-cats

Last week, the New York Times featured an outstanding article exploring the topic of feline hyperthyroidism. 40 years ago, this disease did not exist. Today, it has become an epidemic among domestic cats. Increasingly, scientists think that PBDE’s, a class of flame retardants that is routinely added to household products ranging from furniture to carpets to electronics, may be to blame for this alarming increase in cases. The Mystery of the Wasting House Cats is a must read for all cat parents.

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: Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest

Books| 8 Comments

adventure-cats

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You’ve probably seen them online: cats who hike, camp, rock climb and surf. They seem to be fearless and accompany their adventure loving humans everywhere. As someone whose idea of camping is the closest Holiday Inn, I can’t quite relate to what appears to be a hot new trend, and I know Allegra and Ruby would not make good adventure cats (although Ruby disagrees with my assessment.)

If you’ve ever wondered about whether your cat would be suited to the Adventure Cat lifestyle, a new book, Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest, will tell you everything you need to know about this way of life. Continue Reading

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Hiring a Professional Cat Sitter: What You Need to Know

Feline Lifestyle| 41 Comments

hiring-a-cat-sitter

I consider my cat sitter one of the most important people in my life. After all, she’s in charge of Allegra and Ruby when I can’t be there to care for them – what job could be more important? I’m fortunate that my cat sitter is also a close friend. My girls love Rita – Allegra probably a little more than Ruby, who sometimes gives Rita a bit of that “you’re not my mom” attitude… The peace of mind I feel, knowing that the girls are in the best possible hands while I’m away, is priceless.

I’ve also been fortunate that I’ve never had to hire a cold sitter “cold.” My cat sitters have always been friends, or were referred to me by a trusted friend. I realize that not everyone is that lucky, and hiring a cat sitter can be a daunting task. After all, you will trust this person not just with your precious cats, but also with your home.Continue Reading

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Cat Haven Cat Trees

Products| 7 Comments

cat-haven-cat-trees

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Cat trees are a must have for indoor cats. They satisfy cats’ need to climb, they provide a great view of the outdoors if placed near a window, and they offer an outlet for cats’ natural instinct to scratch. Cat trees are especially important in multicat households, giving cats opportunities to share territory on more than one level, without bumping into each other and creating possible altercations.

I really like cat trees that look like “real” trees. Continue Reading

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How Cats Communicate Through Marking Behavior

Feline Behavior| 16 Comments

cat-marking-behavior

Do you speak cat? Even though cats express themselves vocally, they primarily use their face, tail and body to communicate with each other and with the humans in their lives. Another important way cats communicate is through marking behavior. Understanding this behavior will not only enhance the relationship between you and your cat, it will also help you prevent potential problems in your household, especially when you have multiple cats.Continue Reading

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Mews and Nips: Adventure Cat Takes on Big Sky Country

Mews and Nips| 2 Comments

Otie-adventure-cat-montana

There’s something fascinating to me about seeing cats do things that I couldn’t imagine Allegra and Ruby do in my wildest dreams. These “adventure cats” hike, camp and sail with their humans, and seem to be having a great time doing so. Otie, a 3-year-old Maine Coon from Montana joins his humans on all their adventures, whether they’re exploring by car, by boat or even by plane. Visit adventurecats.org to see gorgeous photos of Otie exploring his home state.

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: Molly and the Cat Café

Books| 3 Comments

Molly-and-the-cat-cafe

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If you loved A Street Cat Named Bob or Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas, you’re going to love Molly and the Cat Café. This charming story about a homeless cat and a little café that was struggling to stay in business is about as heartwarming as a cat book gets.

When two-year-old tabby, Molly’s human can no longer care for her, her world falls apart. Continue Reading

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Molly and Friends “Bed on Top” Scratching Post: A Longstanding Favorite at Our House

Products| 2 Comments

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When it comes to scratching posts, bigger is usually better. Another important characteristic of a scratching post is that it’s sturdy so it doesn’t wobble or topple when cats use it. The Molly and Friends Bed on Top Scratching Post meets both requirements, and it has been a favorite piece in our house for the past ten years.Continue Reading

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Introducing The Conscious Cat Product Guide

Products| 4 Comments

cat-product-guide

We’re super excited to announce our new product guide! Allegra, Ruby, and I have worked very hard on this guide for the last few weeks, and we’re so excited to launch it today.

Our guide features all of the best products for cats and cat lovers, Continue Reading

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Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Feline Health| 59 Comments

inflammatory-bowel-disease

Far too many cat parents accept occasional or even chronic vomiting and diarrhea as a fact of life with cats.  “He just eats too fast.” “She has a sensitive stomach.” “It’s just a hairball.” The truth is that chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea can be an indicator of serious diseases of the small intestine, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma.Continue Reading

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