Ingrid King

Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.

A Farewell and a New Beginning

Author's Life| 95 Comments

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When I started The Conscious Cat on March 1, 2009,  I really didn’t know what I was doing. I had finished writing Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, and as a first time author, I knew I needed to do something to “build a platform.” Back then, authors were told to start a blog – so I started a blog. Obviously, I knew I was going to write about cats, but beyond that, I didn’t have much of a plan. I certainly never thought that The Conscious Cat would grow into what it has become: a trusted resource for cat parents around the world looking for solid information about feline health, nutrition, behavior and so much more.Continue Reading

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Why Does Your Cat’s Tongue Feel Like Sandpaper?

Feline Behavior, Feline Health| 5 Comments

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Cat anatomy is endlessly fascinating to me. Cats have some unique anatomical abilities that they share with no other species, and this is true for their tongue as well. That sandpaper sensation is caused by what is one of nature’s perfect designs: the cat’s tongue allows her to groom and to consume her prey.Continue Reading

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What Are the Small Pockets on Your Cat’s Ear?

Feline Health| 22 Comments

cat-ear

A cat’s sense of hearing is much better than that of a human. A human ear can hear sounds of very low frequency of 20 Hertz to a very high frequency of 20,000 Hertz. Cats’ hearing is about the same on the low end, but they can hear high pitched sounds of up to 100,000 Hertz. Everything about a cat’s ear is designed by nature to aid her in hunting, and that includes the ability swivel her ears. But what is the purpose of those small pockets on the side of your cat’s ear?Continue Reading

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Review: A Dish to Die For

Books| 2 Comments

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I love Lucy Burdette’s  Key West Food Critic mystery series. After all, what’s not to love! With cats, a tropical setting, and mouth-watering food (with some recipes included), this series has all the ingredients for purrfect escapist reading. And who doesn’t need to escape from reality these days! A Dish to Die For is the 12th book in the series.Continue Reading

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Ask the Cat Doc: How to Encourage a Cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia to Play

Feline Health| 7 Comments

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Welcome to our regular “Ask the Cat Doc With Dr. Lynn Bahr” segment! Once a month, Dr. Bahr answers as many of your questions as she can, and you can leave new questions for her in a comment.Continue Reading

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Why Cats Are Always a Part of Lucy Burdette’s Mysteries

Books| 12 Comments

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Written by Lucy Burdette
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I’ve had very few cat-less times in my life, and those periods when there wasn’t a furry friend to greet me at the door felt lonely and sad. My characters in the Key West mystery series, Hayley Snow and Miss Gloria, feel the same way. In book ten, The Key Lime Crime, a new tiger cat T-Bone takes a starring role. But since my series is focused on food and murder, cats can’t always be in the limelight.Continue Reading

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Cats Are Obligate Carnivores. Feed Them Accordingly

Feline Nutrition| 13 Comments

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Animals are classified as three different types of eaters: herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Carnivores eat a meat-based diet while herbivores eat a plant-based diet. Omnivores eat both meat and plants. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need meat not just to survive, but to thrive.Continue Reading

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National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

Feline Health| 4 Comments

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August 22 has been designated as National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, and while it may not be your cat’s favorite “holiday,” it’s an important day designed to raise awareness that cats need regular check ups.Continue Reading

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Favorite Cat Books: Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper

Books| 7 Comments

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I don’t often re-read cat books, but there are a few that have a special place on my bookshelf, and occasionally, I pull them out and read them again. Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper is one of those books, and it still holds the same magic for me, even after reading it several times.Continue Reading

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Review: Kittyrade Isotonic Drink Chicken Flavored Liquid Digestive Supplement for Cats

Products| 3 Comments

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Hydration is critical to keeping your cat healthy. Cats as a species don’t have a high thirst drive, and this can lead to chronic low-level dehydration if a cat is fed mostly dry food, which in turn, can lead to urinary tract and kidney problems. Proper hydration can help prevent urinary tract disease and promote healthy kidney function by flushing toxins.Continue Reading

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An Integrative Approach to Treating IBD in Cats

Feline Health| 1 Comment

tabby-cat-ibd

Far too many cat parents rationalize occasional, or even chronic, vomiting with explanations such as “he just eats too fast,” “she has a sensitive stomach,” or “it’s just a hairball.” Chronic vomiting is never normal, and 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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