by Nomi Berger     Can cats catch colds? Paws-itively! The culprits behind a cold, or upper respiratory infection (URI), are bacteria or viruses, sometimes both, and its symptoms can include sniffling, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, wheezing, clear to pus-like discharge around the eyes, and lethargy. Fortunately, cats can’t pass their colds on […]

  by Nomi Berger   According to the ASPCA, flu and cold medications for people could prove fatal to our kitty companions. And according to the Pet Poison Hotline web site, almost 50% of the calls they receive involve a pet’s accidental ingestion of a human’s medication. Both physicians’ prescriptions and over-the-counter products used to […]

  by Nomi Berger   As the thermometer plunges and the days grow darker earlier and stay colder longer, there are entire colonies of cats that could not survive without the compassion and warmth of humans. With North American winters becoming increasingly more severe, feral cats are faced daily with the terrible reality of either […]

(Photo: By Maggie on Flickr, CC BY 2.0)   by Nomi Berger   While some cat guardians are either extremely blessed or exceptionally adept at getting their furry family members to swallow pills whole without issue, most pet parents seek a safer (sneakier?) solution, known unscientifically as “hiding.” Sound all too familiar? Then you already […]

  by Nomi Berger   For years, certain essential oils were considered safe for cats and were often recommended for use in treating everything from stress and ear mite infestations to upper respiratory problems. But recently, some studies have shown that essential oils can be toxic to cats, whether taken internally, applied to their skin […]

by Nomi Berger   With the increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes, commonly called E-cigs, comes an increased risk of toxicity to cats whose owners use them. Marketed as smoke-free substitutes for traditional cigarettes, they’re shaped like a long cigarette, battery operated, and filled with a replaceable cartridge of E-liquid that contains a mixture of ingredients […]

via GIPHY   by Nomi Berger   Do cats really need to knead? This question abounds with as many ideas, theories and suppositions as answers, and yet it remains an endlessly fascinating topic for feline aficionados. While not all cats knead, most cat guardians know a “knead” when they see or feel one. That unmistakable […]

  by Nomi Berger   Your kitty gazes up at you, purr-haps with an eye blink for emphasis, and slowly opens her mouth. She makes a “meow” movement once or twice and then … All you hear is a small raspy squeak, a slight breathiness or nothing at all. Welcome to the wondrous world of […]

    by Nomi Berger   If only cats spoke “human.” But then, as cat guardians, you’d be missing out on all the other ways your favorite felines say, “I love you.” If you recognize any or all of the behaviors listed below, consider yourself one much loved and deeply appreciated pet parent. Does your […]

  by Nomi Berger   For centuries, black cats were revered. Then, in the blink of a great, green eye, their fortunes were reversed. What changed history’s good luck charm into a symbol of all things bad? Is it similar to a child’s game of broken telephone, where the message mouthed at the beginning is […]