• Created on 6/15/13 by Anne

Why Adopt a Stray Cat?   A stray or abandoned cat is in danger from predators, cars, stray dogs and unfortunately, people. Food can be hard to come by and in winter, fresh water is frozen over. A warm place to sleep might be under someone’s car. Adopting a stray is a gift for both the human and the cat. A stray cat is different than a feral cat. Feral cats won’t come near or let you touch them where a stray cat is more willing to be around humans. An abandoned cat who had a family, will look for another.    If you feel a stray cat is in danger and don’t want to... read more

• Created on 6/2/13 by Anne

The rates to adopt a shelter cat can vary widely, depending on how much care the cat has needed and what tests are done before he’s ready for adoption. In general, between $50 and $150 is common.    You can expect the cat to be spayed or neutered or you’ll be given a certificate for the surgery at a shelter-approved veterinary hospital. “In California, it’s state law that pets be spayed or neutered before they leave the shelter so this might happen as early as eight weeks of age or if the age is unknown, when the cat weighs at least two pounds,” says Aimee... read more

• Created on 5/15/13 by Anne

The fastest and easiest way to determine the age of a cat is to make a trip to the veterinarian’s office. In an adult cat, it’s harder to tell but in a kitten, there are more variables to go by. Even with all the clues, determining the age of a stray cat is a best guess effort.  Eyes  When kittens are born, they are blind. After about a week or so, they open their eyes. At ten days, the eyes should be fully open. Eye color is another indicator for tiny kittens. All kittens are born with blue eyes. The color gradually changes as they grow and at as early as seven... read more

• Created on 5/5/13 by Anne

Kittens are playful by nature and will play with anything and everything. If you’re not careful, they can damage your home or worse, hurt themselves. Read more about cats and the hidden dangers in your home.   Most cats are very playful during the first year of their lives. Some seem to stay very playful as adults, but most gradually lose some of their kittenish playfulness in favor of a more relaxed lifestyle. They will still play occasionally but not as fervently and for as long as kittens do.   If you have... read more

• Created on 4/21/13 by Anne

When shopping for cat supplies, take a moment to look at more than price and quality. Ask yourself: Is this product recyclable? Is it made of recycled materials? Will it bio-degrade in the landfill, or will it contaminate the earth for centuries to come?   We can all make a difference when it comes to the future of the planet. Small choices can have a big long-term effect. Need inspiration? Here are ten eco-friendly cat products for you to try out. From natural kitty litter to recycled bowls and pet beds, it's easy to make a difference.    Word of caution - if... read more

• Created on 12/20/12 by Anne

36 Tips to Prevent Your Journey from Turning into a Nightmare Most cats are not good travelers. They like having their familiar established territory and couldn't care less about seeing the wonders of the Great Beyond. You're not very likely to ever come across a cat sticking its head out the window with its ears flapping in the wind...   But sometimes long-distance traveling with cats is inevitable. If a-20-minute car journey to the vet is a loud vocal nightmare, the prospect of spending long hours on the road with cats in the car can be absolutely... read more

• Created on 12/6/12 by Anne

"You can take the cat out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the cat." Indeed, it almost seems like our cats' wild ancestry hard-wires them to interact with trees. It's little wonder that when we bring a tree into our house, it proves to be a source of infinite fascination for our felines. We usually don't stop there, either: We make the extra effort of hanging these wonderfully attractive jingling cat toys decorations all over them. It's little wonder that these trees become cat magnets the moment they're put up. Over the years, members of... read more

• Created on 11/8/12 by Anne

Photo by Jack's Cat Shack Anyone who's ever volunteered at a cat shelter knows that kittens are the easiest to find homes for. Most people seem naturally drawn to the playful charm of these active little furballs, so easy to pick up and cuddle. Older cats, and specifically senior cats, aged eight years or older, tend to wait much longer for their forever homes.   While it's not always easy to determine the exact age of a cat by looking at it, there are telltale visual cues. Senior cats, especially the ones in their mid-teens or older, are often... read more

• Created on 10/10/12 by Anne

What's TNR   TNR stands for Trap, Neuter and Release. These three words describe the recommended protocol for managing a colony of feral cats.   Photo by Wikipedia Feral cats are not wild animals. They are domesticated cats, biologically identical to pet cats raised at home. Feral cats are cats no longer habituated to people, having been born and raised with little or no contact with humans. Depending on age, temperament and other factors, some feral cats can be socialized and become adoptable once again. However, with some help from... read more

• Created on 9/6/12 by Anne

Cats are famous for their self-grooming rituals. Cats use their paws to reach those places they can’t reach directly with their tongue. They lick the paw, and immediately use the wet paw to groom their head and ears. There is something meditatively soothing about watching a cat meticulously and thoroughly licking its own body. So, should you even groom your cat? Can’t the cat just take care of its own grooming needs without any human intervention? While feral cats and cats living outdoors can often manage their own grooming needs to some extent, we do actually... read more