Lifestyle

Prepare to be charmed by the Chausie — a fearless feline with Jungle Cat looks and an unmatchable air of assertiveness! Not for the laid-back lap kitty lovers, these playful cats are a mix of both intelligence and athleticism. 1. How to pronounce “Chausie” How is the “Chausie” cat breed pronounced? Photography by Tetsu Yamazaki.

With that iconic upraised paw, Japanese Maneki Neko figurines promise to bring people good fortune — as long as you can get one in the door. I decided to ask my cat, Stella, about bringing one of the cat statues home. Stella the Cat. Photography courtesy Michael Leverton. Stella, I’m thinking of getting a Maneki

If you have cats, you’re going to have issues with your floors. Whether it’s carpeting that catches every single cat hair and thrown-up hairball, wood floors that stain if your cat pees or vomits on them or any number of other problems, keeping your floors in good shape is certainly a challenge. Here are some

You recycle your cans and bottles, you’ve replaced plastic bags with reusable totes, and you’ve switched to fluorescent light bulbs. While you do your part to become an eco-friendly household, there’s one family member who isn’t pulling her weight — and that’s your cat. Luckily, it’s easy for kitty to go green without radically altering

When I first noticed that my 18-year-old cat Siouxsie’s wisdom-filled eyes were also filled with pain, I knew I had to take action. I knew Siouxsie had arthritis, and it was clearly getting worse. She was walking hunched up, she wasn’t able to jump like she used to, and she spent most of her time

Cats are encouraged to indulge in all sorts of mind-bending herbs! I envy my feline friends for a lot of things, and this one is not the least of them. It should go without saying, but word of warning: never, ever give your cat any substance (legal or not) intended for humans unless it’s been

Anthropocentric creatures that we are, humans tend to assume, regardless of context, that our own baseline experience of the world is some kind of universal standard, and that any deviation from it is strange, problematic, or worrisome. For example, in an idle moment of couch-sitting, you’re petting your beloved cat and start mindlessly fondling the cat’s

The Turkish Angora has always seemed to me to be a fairy-tale princess of a cat, with beautiful long white fur, eyes as blue as a mountain lake, a loving heart. But hiding behind that image are some secrets. Turkish Angoras are much, much more than they seem on the surface: more mischievous, more colorful

Looking for the purrfect new product for kitty and you? We’ve got the latest feline-inspired products here! 1. Cat H20 Cat H20. Fact is lots of cats don’t drink enough water. However, many cats are attracted to running water. This is why giving your cat fresh, filtered water by using a cat fountain makes purrfect

In this issue, I present some (seemingly) simple questions: When it comes to fashion and style, how does a cat guy express his cat-guy-ness? Is he obligated to show his cat side? If so, should he avoid making the impression that all cat guys are wack? What does “wack” even mean? Does any of this

Some friends of mine have a polydactyl cat named Dougus, whom I affectionately call “The Toes.” He certainly earns the name: With six toes on each foot, he is well above average — and he’s off the charts in good looks and charm as well. Polydactyly is not unusual in cats, so Dougus is hardly

One of the most distinctive feline coats is the hallmark of one of the oldest-known cat breeds. Merely mentioning seal-point cats conjures up images of Siamese cats. While it is true that Siamese cats and their mixes seem to have cornered the market on a coat with seal-point markings, the stunning coloration is found on

I have a 4-year-old indoor Himalayan/Tabby mix who has cat dandruff on the back half of the top of her back. I was wondering what may be the cause of this and what treatment would help. She has had it since she was a kitten, but it pretty much only becomes obvious when I brush

Cats are well-armed creatures who punch way above their weight. They have sharp teeth and fast reflexes. They are limber and agile. And those cat claws or cat nails can wreak havoc on prey animals, perceived predators, carpet, drapes, sofas and people who happen to get in their way. So, how do you keep cats from

If there’s one thing that’s true about having cats, it’s that cat hair gets on everything. But if you’re about to go to that super important job interview or on a posh date with that special someone, you don’t want to be covered in fur. So, what can you do? Choose your fabrics wisely, for

Most cats don’t drink enough water. Because cats are so self-sufficient, we assume they know what’s best for their health, and many times they do. But I learned the importance of getting a cat to drink more water — with a medical scare that involved a dehydrated cat. So, whether your cat is not drinking

We spend a lot of time talking about the plants cats shouldn’t eat (tiger lilies, day lilies, and Easter lilies, for starters — lilies are bad, mmmkay?), but what plants can cats eat? Are there any non-toxic plants for cats? Kitties are obligate carnivores, meaning they require a diet of meat, meat and more meat

Even when you’ve lived with them for years, cat behavior can be weird, and sudden changes can be frustrating. It can seem like your misbehaving cat wants to ruin your life, but she might actually be telling you that something is wrong. Here are five things that might be happening with a cat acting weird. 1.

Why do cats have whiskers? Cat whiskers don’t just look cool — they’re the Swiss Army knife of your cat’s sensory and communications tool kit. Not only do they help her figure out where she’s going, they also tell her whether she’ll fit through openings, and they serve as an obvious demonstration of her mood. Here

I find it a bit silly to have holidays designed to practice things that should be a way of life. Case in point: Respect Your Cat Day, observed today, March 28. We cat people respect our cats 365 days a year, don’t we? Still, it doesn’t hurt to raise awareness by having an official time

Polydactyly, or extra toes, is a fairly common feline trait. However, it’s not exclusive to cats, as it also occurs in people and other species like dogs, chickens, mice and guinea pigs. The term’s origin is Greek; poly meaning many, plus daktylos, meaning fingers or toes. Most domestic cats have 18 toes — five on

Love cats but enjoy their tiny kitten stage the most? Then you’ll swoon over these small cat breeds — all of which stay fun size forever! Let’s meet a few right here. 1. Singapura Singapuras only reach 4 to 8 pounds, which makes them top of the list for small cat breeds. Photography ©krissiLundgren | Thinkstock.

Do cats snore? And if cats do snore, is cat snoring something to worry about? The short answer is that some cats snore. For many, nothing is wrong. However, some cat snoring can be a sign of trouble. Why does cat snoring happen? Do cats snore? And if cats do snore, when is cat snoring an issue? Photography

I’ve always fed my cats canned tuna as a special treat, and without a second thought, I’ve given them rubber bands and bits of string to entertain them while I’m at work. I assumed I was keeping them well-fed and amused. But I have to rethink these plans, because these things are potentially hazardous to

They’re usually relegated to groomsmen and prom dates, but there’s probably a tuxedo in your room or on your friend’s couch right now. Yes, we’re talking about the best-suited felines, tuxedo cats. Famous tuxies include Felix and Sylvester the Cat. There was at least one tuxedo First Cat, President Clinton’s family cat, Socks. Dr. Seuss’ The

Can cats eat eggs? And if they can, are eggs good for cats? Over time, eggs have suffered from significant PR problems. When I was a child in the ’70s and ’80s, eggs — or at least their yolks— were considered to be downright dangerous. Egg yolks contained cholesterol, which was linked to heart attacks. I

What do a bunch of cat veterinarians talk about when they’re hanging out at a party together? Cat poop, of course, says Dr. Jean Hofve, holistic veterinarian, author, and founder of the site Little Big Cat. Why? Because the state of a cat’s poop is one of the fastest ways to help determine what might

Why do cats sleep so much? Our feline friends are true masters at falling asleep any time, any place, under any circumstances. Even a cursory web search will reveal thousands of photos of sleeping cats in cute or crazy positions. But why do cats sleep so much, and what happens in their minds when they’re sleeping? Do

There is a place and a function for everything. While litter boxes function as feline restrooms, sofas and beds are supposed to be for relaxing, sleeping and (if we’re lucky) cuddling cats. We expect to find cat urine in the litter boxes, not where we unwind and nap. But what about a cat peeing on the

I love Daylight Saving Time. I love the extra relaxing hour of evening that it provides. I love that it heralds the onset of spring. In my opinion, it’s just about the best possible use for an hour. And let’s face it: An hour isn’t much. But Daylight Saving Time, which starts Sunday, March 11, this