Did you know that cats have contributed to the extinction of over 60 species of wild birds, mammals, and reptiles?¹ Unfortunately, it’s true, and it seems they continue to adversely impact a wide range of species. In fact, cats are listed as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.²

I can’t blame them; cats are obligate carnivores and natural hunters. They need animal protein to survive, and chasing after and killing their own prey is a fun and fulfilling pastime. But, what ecological impact are cats having on our world’s biodiversity? Keep reading as I tell you about the shocking impact cats have on the wildlife of the world.

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

Once you’ve jumped into owning a cat, it’s easy to want another furry friend to keep them company—or simply because you adore cats. We’ve all seen adorable pictures of cats cuddled up with each other, but introducing pets to new arrivals isn’t always easy.

You might think there are set rules for pairing cats. Females with other females, or males with males, or perhaps a female with a male. Gender doesn’t play as big a part as you might assume though. Here are some “rules” that I have developed for pairing your existing cat with the adorable kitten you’re planning to adopt.

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

The coat and eye color in kittens are determined by genetics, but how is this possible when a mother cat has produced a litter of kittens with different coat colors and lengths? If one kitten is black and the other is ginger, but the mother is a Siamese cat, how could they have received their looks through genetics? If you’ve ever wondered about this, I have the answer for you!

Well, the mother isn’t the only genetic contributor, and female cats can mate with several tomcats before their eggs are released and fertilized, resulting in different fathers and different genetic contributors. So the short (and fascinating!) answer is that yes, a female cat’s litter can come from different male cats! Let’s learn more about this:

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

If you’re considering adding a four-footed companion to your family, you might be wondering about your future buddy’s potential environmental impact — specifically if cats are easier on the earth than their canine sidekicks. As a cat owner, I have wondered this myself! The answer depends largely on the size of the animal and how much they eat. Large dogs such as German Shepherds require substantially more food than smaller breeds like Chihuahuas.

Large dogs are always worse for the environment than smaller dogs or cats when it comes to food-production-associated environmental burdens. But when you factor in the environmental costs related to the production and disposal of kitty litter, dogs who weigh less than 10 pounds or so may be better for the environment than similarly sized cats. Come with me as I walk you through the details:

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

Anyone who’s ever lived with a cat and a few other people has probably witnessed the feline tendency to develop a particularly strong bond with one specific individual. It happens in families, and among friends—anywhere there are several humans and one cat. At some point, the cat will gravitate almost exclusively towards one person.

We’ve all seen the dynamic in action—the cat who stays hidden most of the day will appear only to take over their person’s lap as soon as that individual walks in the door and sits down. Or the cat who follows their person from room to room as their human picks up around the house.

We know cats have favorites, but that raises the question of how these people get picked. So, how exactly do cats go about choosing their person? Cats prefer to spend time with people who understand their body language and around whom they feel safe. This is often the person who makes the most effort or is frequently involved in day-to-day cat care. But it’s complicated! Here are the factors that appear to increase the odds a person will become a cat’s favorite.

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

Have you ever cuddled your cat in your arms and stared into their eyes, and been blown away at how beautiful and unique they are? I certainly have! One of the most captivating features of a cat’s eye is their pupils, which are in the shape of vertical slits. Another is the big blue eyes that all kittens are born with. However, it’s the change that occurs in their eyes that is truly fascinating to me.

There is so much to discuss when exploring the eyes of a cat, from rare eye colors to color changes – so let’s get into it!

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

As a cat owner, I know that shopping for cat food can be overwhelming. We all want to give our cats the best possible nutrition but don’t necessarily want to spend extra money on things they don’t need. It’s not unusual for pet food labels to be misleading. Manufacturers capitalize on trends like “grain-free” or “added probiotics” to sell their products. But which ones actually contain the nutrition your cat needs to thrive? And what exactly do all these vitamins and minerals do for your cat?

Let’s take a look at the nutrients cats need and why. I’ll show you the crucial nutrients your cat needs and what they all do!

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

Dogs are very high-maintenance pets as, in addition to food, attention, and affection, they also need daily exercise and training. Some dogs, especially high-energy breeds like Australian Shepherds or Labrador Retrievers, need a lot of exercise. When we compare the needs of cats to that of dogs, it’s clear that dogs are higher maintenance.

Potential pet parents on the hunt for a lower-maintenance pet may think cats fit the bill perfectly. They don’t need to go for daily walks and won’t tear apart the house if they feel nervous while you’re away.

While cats can be fiercely independent, they aren’t as hands-off as some might think. They have a lot of needs that need to be met daily and aren’t a pet you can adopt and let fend for themselves. Keep reading to learn more.

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!

Cats are finicky creatures who have no problem letting you know what they like and don’t like. Cats have preferences for food, toys, where they sleep, and even where they use the litter box, but do their preferences extend to having a favorite paw? Do they have a dominant paw, like people have a dominant hand? The science says yes, but it’s not easy to tell which paw your cat prefers. Whether you know it or not, it’s likely that your cat is either right or left-pawed.

Continue Reading

About the author

Crystal Uys

Cat mom to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that is her one and only child. For now! Throughout her life, she has been introduced to the special love that can be found in the bond with a cat. Having owned multiple felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion to educate the public about everything, there is to know about felines, their behavior, and their unique personalities, Crystal is devoted to making sure that all cats and their owners know the importance of conscious living – and loving!