Lifestyle

Have you ever had a cat who sucked on everything in sight? I never have, but in some ways I almost kind of wish I had. There’s something ridiculously cute about watching a cat knead and suck on blankets while purring his fool head off. Need proof? Check out the video below. Of course, if you live

Millet is a type of hardy, nutritious grass seed that has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. It is highly adaptable, with a wealth of functions, providing food and sustenance for both livestock and humans. We say “it,” but actually millet is an umbrella term for at least 50 different varieties of this staple grain.

My cat, Bella, has been driving me crazy. She’s decided that “I’m not gonna eat that!” is her new favorite game in the world. As food goes, Madame won’t have the chicken — that would be the super-premium raw frozen organic chicken, which she has eaten with gusto for months. Madame also won’t have the

Today’s weird science question comes from Kendraw: “My cat is obsessed with licking me. She will tolerate pets, but what she really wants to do when she needs attention is to lick me anywhere she can get skin. She won’t lick my face, thank goodness, but my arm, elbow, and hand are fair game! She

My cat Kissy had the most amazing eyes I’d ever seen: If I caught her with her eyes open on a sunny day, they were a beautiful sea-green that I could never capture in a photo. Most of the pictures I have of her, like the one below, show her eyes with a golden tone.

If my cat wore socks, his fur would change color. No, seriously. It really would. And I have the pictures to prove it. Okay, maybe not of him in socks. Because that’s just not going to happen. Ever. But I really could get his fur to change color. And anyone owned by a Siamese could do the

Cats are evolutionary masterpieces of design. They have evolved in such a way that many of their characteristics, including behaviors, are multifunctional — helping to increase the odds of survival. Cat scratching marks territories, it communicates conflicted feelings and it maintains nail health. Cat whiskers feel wind directions, broadcast moods and help cats navigate. But

You noticed that your senior cat’s fur has been looking pretty scruffy lately. He’s been eating like crazy, but he’s still losing weight. He’s suddenly acting hyper and crying in the night, and when you go to clean the litter box, it’s flooded with pee. You know something’s wrong, that it’s a health issue, so

Men who love cats have long paid a social price for their feline leanings. Cat guys are sissies. They’re emotional wrecks. I don’t trust them. Clearly, perceptions are changing, but I doubt such bias is gone. Stereotypes are hard to eradicate because they often pass for accepted truth. Also, a certain amount of malice still

“A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.” This aphorism is widely attributed to Philip Stanhope, the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield. Lord Chesterfield lived through the period of English literary history when novels were just becoming popular, and there was already a sense that all forms of media were

Anyone who lives with cats knows that they want to be involved in anything and everything we do — especially if we’re sitting on the floor and interacting with boxes and bags. This tends to happen more often during the holiday season, when we — and sometimes a houseful of friends and family — enthusiastically

We all know that some breeds are more vocal than others (Siamese, anyone?), and some cats just enjoy hearing the sound of their own voices. But if your cat meows a lot, a vet check might be in order. So, why do cats meow? Here are some reasons for that constant cat meowing: 1. Your cat

I got my two female Sphynx cats — also known as naked cats or hairless cats — within a year of each other from the same responsible and experienced breeder. Skinny Mini is a mischievous five-year-old calico tabby, and dainty three-year-old Fly has seal-tortie-sepia coloring. (Isn’t that an Instagram filter?) I had done my research

The holiday season often involves people traveling and leaving their cats for a few days or longer. People who share their homes with kitties face the dilemma of how to best care for them while they are away. In rare cases, cats accompany their people on holiday. Most, however, either stay at home or are boarded

Ah, the holidays — the cheerful carols, endless plates of festive cookies and brightly colored packages underneath the Christmas tree. Ahh, right, there’s the tree. Those of us who share our homes with felines know “the tree” is not just “the tree.” It’s a giant scratching post with branches for climbing, a water bowl and an

If you live with a cat, then you live with a litter box. You can try to hide it, ignore it, make it fade away,  but it’s still there. So here’s a new idea – celebrate it! Why not make it fun and aim for a colorful litter box instead? 1. Colorful Litter Boxes Let’s

The holidays are here. As we start planning the festivities, let’s not forget about our cats. We like to indulge our cats just as much as we like to indulge — or in some cases overindulge — ourselves this season, but when it comes to our furry friends, it’s important to keep in mind what’s

I love the holidays. I’m one of those people who cranks up the Christmas music, bakes cookies, and does all that general cheeriness business that irritates the hell out of some people. I don’t care — I’m a loud-n-proud Christmas dork. I do draw the line at egg nog, though… yuck! Another part of the holidays

Ah, holiday stress and cats! Christmas 1992 was when I learned I really didn’t know much about cat-proofing during the holidays. One evening, my 1-year-old Cornish Rex, Jordan, climbed halfway up our small Christmas tree, grabbed the garland in his mouth, and leaped out of the tree onto the floor. The tree, complete with all

If you’re in the process of ramping up for a holiday celebration, then prepare for your mood to be spoiled over this cat-health matter. On the other hand, if you are feeling more Scroogey than holiday-spirited, I am happy to provide you with some ammunition: holiday health hazards for cats… that can be avoided. That’s

The lyrics were first published in an 18th century book called Mirth Without Mischief, but if “The Twelve Days of Christmas” were rewritten by modern cats, the song would be “The Twelve Days of Nothing but Mischief.” Check out our kitty shenanigans version, along with 12 holiday safety tips for cats. 1. On the first day

Not sure what to get the feline fanatic in your life? Santa Kitty has you covered with these unique gifts for cat lovers! 1. Modcloth’s Wherefore Art Thou, Ro-meow Tights Modcloth’s Wherefore Art Thou, Ro-meow Tights. And perfect weather for these Wherefore Art Thou, Ro-meow Tights. When you want to give a lot without spending a

The holidays are a great time to spoil your cat, and why not do it in style? Of course, kitty deserves a treat year-round, but why not splurge this season? These holiday gift ideas for cats are sure to spread seasonal cheer: 1. Holiday beds and hideaways Run down the Christmas Cat Ball at thecatball.com. The holidays

We have all known wonderful, endearing felines that have enhanced our lives and that, sadly, have succumbed to one of several deadly diseases that plague cats. Fortunately, ongoing research has made great strides to find cures for illnesses such as chronic kidney disease, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), diabetes, cancer and more. The

A while back I wrote a post on Dogster about an unfortunate incident involving my canine pal Buster, some blades of grass and a dangler (or, as I called it, a dingleberry). I described in detail the trials and tribulations of trying to extract grass blades from the anus of a prancing dog. A comment

One day I was thinking about the marvel that is the reproductive system and how ours differ from that of others, and the thought occurred to me, “Hmm, I wonder, do cats have a clitoris?” Since I’m a total science nerd, I had to research the answer to this question. Before long, I found myself down

The beauty of the Thanksgiving holiday is reflected in the happy faces of family and friends gathered together — felines included. But, not all Turkey Day traditions are good for kitties. Follow these tips to ensure a safe Thanksgiving with cats! 1. First, some general tips about Thanksgiving with cats From toxic foods to unsafe decor, Thanksgiving can

How would you feel if you were 12 inches tall and suddenly your home was filled with blithely stepping feet or hordes of small children who run around screeching, trying to “play” with you? Or maybe after your people spend hours cooking something that smells like it should be for you, they take that food

Pippi, my 14-year-old tabby, has never hidden her total disdain for car rides. In fact, she screams it loud and proud for the whole world to hear, in deeply guttural yowls. Short of heavy sedatives, poor Pip will always be anxious in the car. Throughout the years, though, I have learned ways to make short

Having a feline housemate or two doesn’t have to mean closing your doors to guests with cat allergies. It does mean that you should think about doing a bit of additional prep before playing host. Make allergy-prone guests more comfortable with our pointers and expert advice from Dr. David Rosenstreich, chief of the Division of Allergy &