Lifestyle

I’ve been making and donating cloth face masks through a Facebook group I joined when the pandemic first started. If we need to wear masks, why not make them fun?! There are all kinds of masks out there — some with nose pieces, some with filter pockets, some with casings, some medical-grade.The ones here are

’Tis the season for gratitude. It can be hard, given all that 2020 has thrown at us, but sometimes it’s healthy to take a step back and be thankful for all we have. As cat parents, we are thankful for Kitty’s snuggles, antics and companionship. But, are our cats thankful for us? “We have this

There are dog people, there are cat people, and there is a substantial number of people who love both canines and felines. If you fall into the latter category, you should prove able to keep dogs and cats under the same roof safely with proper planning and training. The harmonious home Some dogs and cats

I love when it’s time to pick a calendar for the next year, particularly this year — since 2020 is so … eventful. But  I just know that 2021 will be ameowzing! And we’ve got lots of great cat-themed calendars from which to choose.   Let’s go crazy with Workman Publishing’s Crazy Cat Lady mini

It’s 4 a.m., and your cat is meowing in your ear. Is it a series of shorts mews or in rapid-fire succession? When a toddler accidentally pulls your kitty’s tail, what is your feline saying when she hisses at this little person? Cats have a large repertoire of sounds. Every year veterinary behaviorists discover more

We think we can control our cat’s behavior. Laughable! We sometimes put in boatloads of research in our pursuits to train our favorite kitties and certainly come up with expert suggestions; however, ultimately, the cat trains us. Here’s a little feline feedback on humans’ attempts at training them — take it with a grain of

Adventure travel cats are all the rage, according to the kitties I see on Instagram. I wondered if Stella would like to join their ranks. I probably shouldn’t have. Stella, I’m curious. What’s your opinion about adventure travel?I ADORE it. I’ve always fashioned myself a sailor, you know. I didn’t know that.Ever since I was

Looking for the purrfect “next thing” for your feline family members? We’ve got the latest cat-friendly products here! Hoover SmartWash PET Complete Automatic Carpet Cleaner This industry easiest-to-use carpet cleaner effortlessly removes deep dirt, stains and pet messes. Simply push forward to wash and pull back to dry, and the cleaning solution is already premixed.

Looking for a way to celebrate our feline friends this month? Here are some fun November cat activities. NOTE: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many events have been cancelled. But here are some virtual events you can check out. Show your support for our shelter and rescue workers! Photography by LiudmylaSupynska/Thinkstock. All month: Adopt a

The extensive scientific research endorsing the health benefits of being around felines has boosted interest in therapy cats nationwide. They provide a healing “fur fix” to those suffering from physical and mental health issues, recovering from surgeries, or experiencing anxiety and even loneliness. Simply put, the job of a therapy cat is to bring joy

There’s no gentle way to put it, as it’s the truth: Declaw IS an amputation. No matter what type of technique is used (scalpel, clipper or laser) the end result is identical. It’s what world-renowned expert on declawing and the Paw Project Director of Pain Management, Dr. Robin Downing, calls a feline toe amputation. And

Time flies when you have a kitten. And before you know it, that little furball that loved pouncing and rolling all over your living room floor has grown into a sofa lion. Though you love your grown-up cat, you may feel a little sad she grew up so fast. Post-kitten blues are real. “There’s just

Here’s a look at the books we’re reading this month. Travels of Suki the Adventure CatIf you’re a fan of Suki and her popular Instagram account @sukicat, you’ll love this book. With the help of authors Martina Gutfreund (Suki’s human mom) and Leigh-Anne Ingram, Suki invites you to travel alongside her from the comfort of

Fall weather is here and most of us are enjoying cozy evenings at home. If you have a woodstove or fireplace in your home you probably have been cuddling up by the fire with your cat, but is it safe? Unfortunately, as much as we like fireplaces, so do cats, sometimes a little bit too

For three decades, Yeardley Smith has voiced one of sitcom history’s most iconic characters: Lisa Simpson, the precocious, saxophone-playing 8-year-old on The Simpsons. Although The Simpsons may be her most recognizable role, Yeardley has a show business resume that’s impressive by any standard. She’s appeared in numerous TV and movie roles and recently founded her

There are often milestone moments in our lives that reshape the path of who we are to become. Such was the case for Paul Santell, a union worker who moved to Queens, New York, in 2011, not knowing anything about animal rescue or stray and feral cats roaming in outdoor communities nationwide. That changed over

Kitties and kiddies can make the best of friends. They can play, snuggle and carry on endless conversations. But the cat is more than a best friend — she’s a family member who needs care, and even a young child can help with that. “Involving kids from a young age in pet-related chores helps them

Advanced veterinary care for her cats, Spike (who had oral cancer) and Holly (who had severe allergies) made Linda Ahrens, 79, want to help pet owners receive the same level of care for their animals. In 2005 Linda asked her daughter, Tracy, about an idea. The Illinois resident wanted to make 24-inch-square flannel quilts that

Usually, it is we humans who get the credit for rescuing cats — but as many of us can attest, our cats rescue us, too, if anything from emotional voids. In the particularly poignant case of one famous cat, the question is a toss-up: Did James the human, a recovering drug addict, rescue Bob the

Unemployment has skyrocketed during COVID-19, and it’s left people struggling to put food on their tables. When cat parents can’t afford to feed themselves, they’re likely struggling to make ends meet for their pets as well. If you’re hurting, know you’re not alone. The ASPCA recently released new data showing that more than 4.2 million

Looking for a way to celebrate our feline friends this month? Here are some fun October cat activities. NOTE: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many events have been cancelled. But here are some virtual events you can check out. All month: National Animal Safety and Protection Month; National Pet Wellness Month CatCon goes virtual this year!

Wildfires have ravaged the West Coast, affecting air quality, ruining homes and businesses and causing apocalyptic skies. The fires have also put cats at risk for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, both of which could have fatal consequences. “Smoke is an air pollutant just like anything else, whether it be car exhaust or fossil fuels.

The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, the acorns and walnuts are dropping from the trees, and the leaves are now readily beginning to fall off of the trees. The flowers have all but faded away, except for the chrysanthemums and pansies on our front porch. The air is cool and crisp.

Looking for the purrfect “next thing” for your feline family members? We’ve got the latest cat-friendly products here! Puzzle & Play Buggin Out This Petstages cat game by Nina Ottosson helps curious cats exercise their natural curiosity and foraging instincts. Kitty can bat at the pegs and swivel the leaves to uncover 14 hidden treat

Cats get a bad rap when it comes to superstitions, and that’s not fair. I decided to ask my cat, Stella, how she feels about them. Stella, what do think about cat superstitions?What are superstitions? You know, that cats have nine lives or that black cats are —Wait, did you say NINE? Yeah, but it’s

With kids across the country being educated at home, Pet Partners introduced a new program designed to bring the power of the human-animal bond to at-home learning. We Are All Ears is a worldwide read-with-pets project that will run through the end of the year. Just take the pledge to read at home to your

It seems like Cathy Pittman has heard some version of the question thousands of times:  “My cat is so cute. How can we get into the movies? And will we get rich?” The  Hollywood animal trainer sighs as she tells the story. If anything, the number of people who want fame and fortune for their

Tune into Jeff Lyons’ 10 p.m. weather forecast on WFIE-TV in Evansville, Indiana, and you’ll get more than just the Doppler radar and an above-average dewpoint. You’ll get an up-to-the-minute forecast with a chance of Betty. Betty the weather cat, that is! The once homeless feline is a newly minted internet sensation whose fluffiness on

This is the perfect time of year to curl up with a spooky mystery. Check out these four fun whodunits! Cat Got Your Crown In the fourth book in Julie Chase’s Kitty Couture Mystery series, Lacy Marie Crocker can’t believe it’s been a year since her return home to New Orleans. Since opening her pet

“I like to try and make eye contact with my cat when she poops,” says Thundercat, the Los Angeles-based Grammy-winning bass maestro, modern falsetto soul singer and proud feline fancier. Lounging in a hotel room in Manhattan, Thundercat is ostensibly on the road to promote his latest funk-fueled album, It Is What It Is, but