Are There Human Smells That Cats Hate?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: In researching before adopting a pair of furrever friends from the rescue/shelter, I’ve found that odor is a powerful feline ability, important in territory and behavior and in food appeal, etc. Catnip is used as an incentive in many cat toys, scratching posts, etc. But I haven’t read anything about whether or not human or human-caused scents have an effect on cats. For example, there are many products commonly used to control odor; e.g. Febreze or other human products; and of course there are things like witch hazel, perfumes and things like that. Do these affect cats? Will use of these products cause cats not to like us? ~…
Pets Add Life: There’s A Reason Cats Always Come in Pairs …
When I heard about the Pets Add Life campaign — designed to demonstrate the joys and benefits of pet ownership and hopefully increase adoption of pets and responsible ownership of pets — and their latest effort to share the many good things about living with multiple pets, I had to get in on the action. For as long as I can remember, the cats in my life have come in pairs. It started when on my 13th birthday, my mother gave me the present I wanted more than anything else–she said I could adopt a cat! We hopped into the car and went to our local shelter, and the minute I walked in the door…
Do My Cats and I Have a Fungal Infection?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My three cats which are the love of my life are coughing, wheezing, gaging on mucus, vomiting without any warning, and lethargic. Two of the three cats have scabbing which I am certain is not ringworm as I do not have it. Not only that, but I’m having the same symptoms. The cats and I are also very dehydrated and lethargic. I have been to a doctor four times in the last year and he just chalked it up to stress. I have lived a high stress life all of my adult life, but my cats? Not so much. We do have a chicken pen in the back yard,…
I’m a New Cat Owner, and I Need Some Advice
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a question about my 9-month-old cat Luna. I just adopted her from someone four days ago, and she’s my first cat. She seems okay to me, she sleeps with me sometimes and lets me rub her, I’ve seen her knead my blankets, she likes to play, and she is okay in the litter box. I have been busy with work the last week — I’ve been gone for eight to thirteen hours a day. She has been meowing incessantly and just this night it has gotten very sad/whiny sounding. I’m not too sure what to do; I pet her as much as I can when she does…
Is It OK to Keep My Cat Outdoors?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: Can I put my new adopted kitten (from a shelter) in an outdoor kennel? It will be very spacious and roomy, it will have a cathouse that will protect against extreme hot or cold temperatures, it will have food, water, toys, and the kitten will recieve lots of attention. I may also take it out for walks to let it get more exercise. I cannot bring the kitten inside the house due to severe allergies that others have, but it will be treated the best way possible outside. Please help, I really want this kitten. ~ Mark Siouxsie: To be honest, Mark, I was totally flabbergasted when I first read your letter! But Mama…
How Can I Get My Parents To Give Me a Cat?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I really need your help. I’ve been asking my parents for a cat ever since I was in second grade (I’m in seventh grade now). My dad agreed that I could get one, but the problem is my mom. I tell her I can handle the responsibility and she says that it’s not about the responsibility and that animals are not allowed in our house, unless they’re fish or turtles, because they don’t make any noise. After a long time she said I could get a cat, but only if I memorized 15 parts from the Quran (I am a Muslim) But my father said 15 parts was too…
Why is my cat biting us when we pet her?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: We just adopted a 9-month-old cat four days ago. She has been quiet and hiding, but yesterday she started to come out and explore a bit more. Today my son held her and she seemed very happy being held in his lap and was purring and drooling. At one point during this petting she licked his face and then bit him. Afterwards, she ran and hid under the bed. We left her there for six hours, and we did not scold her. I just went under the bed and petted her and she began purring, so I scooped her up and brought her on the bed with my son…
