Author: David

When a cat falls, it almost always seems able to land on all four feet. This ability – called the righting reflex – has been honed through thousands of years of evolution.

Ever wonder how a feline accomplishes this incredible feat? During a free fall, the cat’s eyes send a message to the brain, which in turn signals the muscles to twist around so the animal’s head becomes parallel to the ground. The body naturally follows.

It’s an amazing stunt, but don’t ever think about dropping your pet to test her abilities! Not only does an upside down cat need at least three feet to right itself – if the animal is nearsighted or farsighted, her self-righting mechanism could be off balance, and you could seriously injure your pet.

Do closed doors mean a cat is cooped up or kept from harm? Some people assume that it’s cruel to keep a cat in the house all day, but indoor cats are often better off. In fact, veterinarians say they tend to be healthier and live longer. That’s because an indoor cat is less likely to be exposed to viruses or bacterial infections, and it can’t get hit by a car or attacked by wild animals. Chances are, it won’t pick up any fleas or ticks, either.

Ultimately, an indoor cat’s biggest problem may be boredom, so give your bundle of fur plenty of toys, perches, and scratching posts, and play with him often. When it’s fun to be inside, many indoor cats who finally do go out want to come right back in.

Planting a custom cat garden for your kitty will make all of the other neighborhood cats green with envy. But what type of greens will your cat enjoy? As you might guess, no cat garden can be complete without a planting of catnip or cat mint. But that’s just for starters.

Let your garden double as a salad bar by adding wheat grass or oat grass to the mix. Some experts recommend planting cat thyme, also in the mint family, as well as valerian. Valerian makes people sleepy, but cats can get a lift from it.

As your cat garden grows, consider rounding it out with kitty-safe ornamental plants—creeping rosemary, alyssum, and heather are popular choices.

If you’re going out of town and have hired a pet sitter, you’ll need to hand over more than the keys.

Start by making a list of pertinent contact information including the names and numbers of your veterinarian, an after-hours emergency service; and a family member or friend you trust. Leave copies of your pet’s medical and vaccination records, too.

It’s also critical to write down explicit instructions for the type, frequency, and amount of food that each pet eats, as well as any medication that is needed. The more details you can leave about the pet’s daily routine, the better. This information will help the pet-sitter keep the environment consistent, so your precious bundle of fur says stress-free in your absence.

If you’re considering a cute, cuddly kitten companion, think about the commitment you’ll be making… for the next fifteen to twenty years.

Can you afford high quality food, litter, vaccinations, and annual veterinarian visits? Consider your lifestyle and travel routine, too. Kittens are cute…but they are also mischievous; you’ll need to kitten-proof your home, and spend time to teach some rules.

Cleaning and grooming are also part of cat keeping – not to mention the fact that you’ll need to spend quality playtime with your pet! And don’t forget – your chore list will need to include vacuuming hair and cleaning the litter box.

So before getting a new cat, consider the responsibilities. Then, if you’re ready, jump in with all four paws!

Here are some normal behaviors for each cat life stage:

Birth to 16 weeks

Just learning her way around, your kitten may be playful, but most likely shy. Click here for more information on how to care for your new kitten.

16 weeks to 1 year

Your kitten will likely still be very playful and spunky. At approximately six months old, you should spay or neuter if you are not planning to breed your cat.

1 to 8 years

Your young cat is in her prime. Remember your annual visits to the veterinarian.

8 to 12 years

Your pre-geriatric cat may begin to slow down, but her behavior shouldn’t change much.

12+ years

Your cat is entering old age. You may begin to notice some health problems. Your cat will move slower if her joints begin to stiffen. She may also become easily irritated.

Final Thought

In any health-related issue, whenever you have concerns about your cat, consult your veterinarian. He or she is familiar with your cat and her medical history and has the professional skill and knowledge to identify and treat whatever might be the problem.

Generally speaking, the average cat’s life span is twelve to fifteen years. But in a healthy, safe environment and with proper nutrition and good veterinary care, a cat can live to be twenty years of age or more. The oldest cats on record lived well into their thirties.

As a general rule, outdoor cats don’t fare as well or live as long as cats kept indoors. It’s often a hard-knock life for outdoor kitties – they risk injury from cars, dogs, predators, and even other cats in the neighborhood. They’re also more likely to pick up contagious diseases that are passed along by other felines. So as a general rule, indoor cats often live longer than their free-roaming counterparts.

Maturing — Aging

How can you tell when your cat is getting old? On the outside, she may look much the same, and she probably still loves to bat her toy mouse around the kitchen floor and take naps sprawled across your hand-knitted heirloom afghan. But inside her body, time may be taking its toll.

However tempting it may be to treat her to table scraps, it’s really not wise. Overfeeding a cat at any age — especially with fatty foods — is actually setting her up for obesity and related health problems in the future.

The Middle Years

You may barely have noticed the subtle changes your cat went through after the first year of her life, but when she approaches her equivalent of human middle age – somewhere between the ages of 8 and 12 – start paying extra attention. Your veterinarian may recommend that you modify your cat’s diet.

The Later Stages

Some veterinarians believe that cats reach their geriatric years around age 12. Other experts are more generous, categorizing cats as being “old” at about 15. When your cat is between the ages of 12 and 15, be on the lookout for behavioral changes. You may notice that she catnaps a lot more. It’s normal for some old cats to sleep more than 18 hours a day.

As a cat ages, her joints may stiffen and become difficult to move, making her lethargic about many types of activities, even her grooming ritual. But before you decide to do a thorough brushing for her, ask your veterinarian to make sure your cat’s not seriously ill — a lack of desire to groom can also be a sign of sickness.

However tempting it may be to treat her to table scraps, it’s really not wise. Overfeeding a cat at any age — especially with fatty foods — is actually setting her up for obesity and related health problems in the future.

Above all, you’ll need to start watching your geriatric cat very closely for hints of illness. After weeks of seeming healthy, a cat suddenly may display signs of being very ill, catching you, the owner, off guard. Too often, pet owners hope a small problem will go away, only to seek their veterinarian’s advice when their cat is beyond help.

The best thing you can do is watch for signs and, if you spot anything amiss, visit your veterinarian.

Bringing home a new kitten is an exciting experience. But before your little ball of fluff crosses the threshold, you’ll need to get a few items that will help make the transition safe, clean and fun. Here’s a checklist:

Collar and ID tag—essential even if kitty stays indoors. Covered litter box, litter, and a good strong scooper, check. Combs and brushes, check. Toys! Catnip mice are surefire fun, and feathered wands can help kitty develop strength and agility. Dried treats for a reward, check. Yummy healthy kitten food? Check. Ceramic or metal food and water bowls, check. A nice cozy bed for napping? … hmm. It might be hard to resist curling up with kitty in your own big bed.