Author: Chris Dinesen Rogers

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » Some cats are strictly indoor pets and prefer to rest on a bed, tower, or sofa. However, others divide their time between being indoors and outdoors. So, when it comes to finding a safe place to sleep outside, where do our furry cats like to curl up? Outdoor cats sleep anywhere that is safe and relatively quiet. Better yet, have food and water nearby. There are some places that are fairly common for outdoor cats to sleep in though. Let’s see them just below.…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » It’s almost a cliché. You’re traveling and, seemingly out of nowhere, your pet gets sick or injured. It seems farther and farther, the more inevitable its occurrence. We don’t want to think about these things happening. However, it is always better to be prepared. Sadly, minutes can make the difference between a poor and positive prognosis, and knowing you’re prepared for anything will also give you peace of mind. Vets appreciate your efforts to get help or advice quickly. Any delay in treatment can…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » You probably first noticed it when you watched your cat pacing the room. You see what appears to be a large flap of skin near their rear that swings back and forth. You immediately panic, thinking your cat is dangerously obese. What else could this explain? Rest assured; chances are your pet is not abnormal. Rather, it is a normal body trait prevalent in feline species, both domestic and wild. The primordial pouch may look strange because it is absent in dogs. Moreover, we…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » Going to the vet’s office isn’t much different than seeing your doctor. You want to make the most of your time with minimal distractions. Your veterinarian also wants to use their time effectively to help you and your animal with the problem at hand. After all, taking your cat to the clinic is not easy. Cats are often stressed out throughout the vet visit process, so being as efficient as possible and being prepared for your trip can make a big difference. Cats don’t…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » It may be difficult to imagine a time when the formulation of basic animal care principles was needed. Tragically, the inhumane treatment of the nation’s domestic animals prompted a 1965 British parliamentary inquiry into their conditions. This later led Professor John Webster of what is now the Farm Animal Welfare Council to formulate what would become the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. Professor David Mellor expanded the concept in 1994 with the Five Domains. The lists may seem like common sense to many pet…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » Divorce is never easy, and it’s even more complicated when pets are involved. Cats love their activities, and they are attached to their caretakers. Unfortunately, significant changes are on the horizon when it comes to divorce. While you can’t eliminate these changes, you can minimize their impact, with planning and collaboration. Hopefully, you can find some common ground with your ex to help your cats adjust to the new situation. Chances are, you both love your pets. They are innocent in this situation, nor…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » If you ask any pet owner, they will emphatically say that their cats have feelings. They say their cats express love and affection, and can even recognize and respond to what their caretakers are feeling. And it turns out they were right about their feline companions! Research supports the hypothesis that our cats experience six basic emotions of surprise, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and anger. These are all emotions that we would expect to see in a 2 ½ year old child. Scientific evidence…

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinary research. Learn more » The presence of hair is one of the many characteristics that distinguish mammals from other classes of animals, such as reptiles and birds. Other characteristics include the anatomy of our inner ears, the structure of our jaws, and the presence and function of mammary glands. You’ve probably heard and used hair and fur interchangeably, along with coat, pelt, or pelage, depending on what animal you’re talking about. From a scientific point of view, the words are the same. How we use them is more…

It’s hard not to notice a tortoiseshell cat. Their appearance is striking, with distinctively colored fur. No two cats are alike, and genetics controls the differences. The majority are also female, which adds to their mystique. The pattern is more prevalent in some breeds, but tortoiseshell is not a breed; it only describes the color pattern. The term describes animals that are spotted with patches of orange and not orange. They can be black or some variation, from ginger to chocolate to cream. Calicos are the same color, with the addition of white, making it a tri-colored variant of the…

The Maine Coon already grabs your attention without even looking at the cat’s paws and their polydactyly or extra toes. This trait can add extra digits to their feet. Polydactyl felines generally have an aura about them, no doubt, due to their association with author Ernest Hemingway. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum houses an estimated 60 cats, although they are not Maine Coons. However, this breed is particularly known for carrying the polydactyl trait. Let’s learn more about these strange cats with extra digits. Race OverviewColors:All colors and patterns except pointedSuitable for:Active families looking for an outgoing cat with…