To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. ― Thomas Campbell

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day when we honor the memory of the men and women who have died in military service.

For many people, it’s also a day to remember all departed loved ones, and for most of us, that includes our beloved felines. I’m remembering Amber, Buckley and Feebee today. All three of them changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. I miss them every day, and I treasure the legacy they’ve left behind.

As you remember your lost loved ones today, please take a moment to recognize the sacrifices of our military personnel and thank them for their service. I hope you enjoy this heart-touching slideshow of soldiers with cats:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZKOOtSTAB4

Who are you remembering today? Please share your memories in a comment.

Guest post by Angie Bailey

How much of your day is spent “playing?” Really — think about it. In a world where working overtime is applauded and rushing our kids from activity to activity has become the norm, who’s got time to relax, laugh, and truly enjoy life?

One of the reasons I am writing about this subject is to remind myself of this very thing. I spend much of my day working from home. I love what I do, but I sometimes become driven and look past a game with my kids or a walk in the woods because there’s always “something I have to do.” Some days I even eat while I’m working. I have to remind myself to take breaks, read a book, play with the cats, or enjoy some music with my husband. It’s not that I don’t enjoy doing those things, I just desire more balance in my life where play comes more naturally.

Honestly, sometimes when I’m working at the computer and my cats are playing with a catnip toy, I feel inspired. They remind me how easily it can be to cut loose and be completely present with something so incredibly carefree. And they create play out of anything, right? A milk jug ring becomes a batt-able little piece of magic they carry around in their mouth or even pick up with their paw. A box transforms into a secret hideaway and a drippy faucet is suddenly a toy and a tasty refreshment. I love to more regularly find simplicity and joy in the simple things. I want my own magic milk jug ring!

When can I find these moments of perfect presence and playfulness?

• Taking a direct cue from my felines, I lie in a sunny spot on the floor and wait for one or all three of my cats to join me. For this to happen, it literally takes seconds. Together, we snuggle and play, completely forgetting about time and space.
• To reduce distractions, I physically close my laptop when I want to shift focus and relax. I am not tempted able to jump over and take a peek at my e-mails if the computer is not open. This is a big one for me and works wonders for my ability to play.
• Like my cats, I enjoy gazing out a window, bird-watching and daydreaming. When I am trying to meet a deadline, I call this procrastinating. When I turn off the computer and allow myself to enjoy the inner and outer view, I call this heaven.
•  I admit it. I sing to my cats. I like to make up little ditties about them, many times sung to the tune of popular songs. I especially relish this activity around the holidays, when my cats enjoyed the festive tunes, “The 12 Days of Phoebe,” “Away in a Shoe Box,” and “Cosmo, the Black-Nosed Tuxie.” It’s fun. You should try it.
• By far, the easiest way to experience playtime is to leave my house. When housework and other obligations aren’t around, it’s much simpler to embrace simplicity. I like grabbing a favorite book and biking to a local lake. I also enjoy hiking in the woods and watching the wildlife. Silly squirrels never fail to make me laugh! The move so quickly, freeze, then zip off again. It’s such a small thing, but aren’t the simple pleasures some of the greatest ways to embrace playtime?

Once again, cats remind us to savor life and remember to balance work and play. So go ahead, grab the brass ring. But don’t forget to grab a few milk jug rings along the way.

Copyright © 2012 Angie Bailey. All Rights Reserved.

This article was previously published in Edge Magazine and is republished with permission. Angie Bailey is an award-winning Minnesota writer/blogger, cat fancier, word game junkie, creative-project dabbler, music lover, food enthusiast, wife, and mother to two humans and three cats. She spends most of her days enjoying her family, writing, blogging, playing Scrabble, laughing at her cats’ shenanigans, and finding the silliness in most everything. Visit Catladyland for a daily dose of Angie’s cat-centric humor.

This week, we’re featuring two rescue stories involving torties. The Huffington Post featured Nina, who was rescued by Anjellicle Cats Rescue at the last minute from New York City’s crowded Animal Care and Control, where she was in danger of being euthanized. It turns out that Nina had not only found a home, but a purpose. Both of her new family’s older children have pervasive developmental disorder and are high-functioning on the autistic spectrum. Before Nina came to their home, the kids had been through many different types of ongoing therapies in order to help them cope with day-to-day changes and activities.

“While the therapies have helped them,” said the childrens’  mother, “I must say that Nina has brought them a sense of calm that my husband and I haven’t seen before. She is always by their side when they are going through emotional changes and she brings them a sense of peace as they rub her head and back.” Read the full story on the Huffington Post.

Alloy, a tortoiseshell kitten rescued in Birmingham, England after she was found with her head stuck in a wheel hub, may have used up one of her nine lives in the process. The Daily Mail reports that a homeowner heard a desperate meowing coming from his shed, and was shocked to discover it was the call of a tiny stray kitten which had become trapped in a car tire.

After RSPCA officers were called, they realized the ten-week-old kitten could not pull its head through a hole in the old wheel hub. Officers were unable to free the kitten at the scene and took her, tire and all, to a local animal hospital. True to her tortie personality (and the fact that she was feral), little Alloy hissed and spit at her rescuers. She is said to be doing well and will eventually be available for adoption. Read the full story on The Daily Mail.

Matilda the cat is back on the job, greeting tourists and locals alike at Manhattan’s Algonquin Hotel. The hotel reopened Thursday after being closed for extensive renovations for almost six months. To celebrate the hotel’s reopening and the return of Matilda, you can book the Matilda Package which includes accommodations, a continental breakfast for two, a welcome cocktail in the lobby, a Matilda coloring book, a feline-focused book called “Fabulous Felines” by Sandy Robins, a plush stuffed Matilda cat, and a “catabulous” eye mask to help you with your catnaps. Read the full story on Hotelchatter.com.

I had the pleasure of meeting Matilda when I stayed at the Algonquin hotel last year.

What would your kitty do if she encountered not just one, but a whole herd of deer? Find out how one brave cat handled it in today’s video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8fxabvGV5Q

Have a great weekend!

Photo sources: photo of Nina from The Huffington Post, photo of Alloy from The Daily Mail, photo of Matilda from Hotelchatter.com

When I look at cat care guides, I typically review them to see if they are something I would recommend to other cat owners. I’ve spent almost three decades either caring for cats, working with cats, or writing about cats. I spend a good part of each day educating myself about the lastest in cat health and cat care. I love to learn about cats, and I learn something new every day -  but I don’t expect to learn much I haven’t read or heard about before from a basic cat care book.

At the same time, I knew that Your Cat: The Owner’s Manual: Hundreds of Secrets, Surprises, and Solutions for Raising a Happy, Healthy Cat wouldn’t be just another cat care book. After all, it was written by America’s veterinarian, Dr. Marty Becker, the veterinary contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show, and his writing partner, Gina Spadafori, a veteran journalist who has been writing about pet care for decades.

I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Becker at a veterinary convention in the late 90′s/early 2000′s. I’m sure Dr. Becker doesn’t remember meeting me, but I will always remember his lecture from that convention. Even though I don’t remember what it was about, I do remember that it stood out among all the other lectures because of the enthusiasm Dr. Becker brings to his work as a veterinarian, his dedication to the human animal bond, and his passion for sharing his knowledge about pets with others so their lives, and the lives of their pets, can be richer for it.

This passion comes through in every page of the book. From how to select a cat or kitten (or what to do when one selects you) to how to keep your cat happy and healthy throughout her life by providing proper nutrition, health care, environmental stimulation, and even training, the book covers all aspects of cat care.

Dr. Becker addresses a few topics I have not seen in other cat care books. “Financial Planning for Pet Care” covers pet insurance, setting up a dedicated savings account for pet care, explains why veterinary care costs what it does, and offers money saving tips that won’t compromise your cat’s health. “In Sickness and in Health” includes everything from finding the right veterinarian for your cat and getting the best medical care to what to do in an emergency.

The book is written in a highly engaging and entertaining style, sprinkled with a dose of humor, which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

I loved almost everything about this book. The one area that didn’t resonate with me was the author’s take on nutrition.  While Dr. Becker stresses that cats are obligate carnivores and that they need moisture in their diet, and while I didn’t expect him to endorse a raw diet, I would have preferred to see a stronger emphasis on feeding canned food.

Even though I respectfully disagree with Dr. Becker on this one area, I highly recommend this book. If you’re only going to get one cat care guide, this is the one to get.

We’re giving away one copy of Your Cat: The Owner’s Manual to one lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, tell me in a comment why you would like to win. For an additional chance to win, tweet about this giveaway or share on Facebook, and post the link in a separate comment. This giveaway ends Friday, June 1.

This book was sent to me by the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

BestFriendBox is a fun way to spoil your cat: this monthly subscription delivers a box filled with an assortment of all natural treats and hand-picked toys directly to your door.

The friendly folks at BestFriendBox sent a box to Allegra and Ruby, and it was a big hit with both of them. The box contained a bag of natural treats, grooming foam for cats, a tin of high-test organic catnip, and two fun toys. Ruby is particularly enamored with one of the toys, which looks like a stuffed bumblebee.

As you can see in the video below, the girls had fun checking out their goodies. Allegra was particularly interested in the crinkly filler paper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyZS-DoWpvk

This innovative service offers several subscription levels. Gift subscriptions are also available for a single box, or a 3-month of 6-month subscription. A single box is $35.00.

BestFriendBox was created to provide pet-owners reliable access to the best pet products available. Each box is hand-packed with lots of love and care. 10% of all profits are donated to cats and dogs in need. The company supports shelters, foundations, and other animal charity groups. For more information, please visit the BestFriendBox website.

One lucky Conscious Cat reader is going to win a box for their cat!

To enter the giveaway, tell me in a comment why you would like to win. For an additional chance to win, tweet about this giveaway or share on Facebook, and post the link in a separate comment. This giveaway ends Thursday, May 31, and is limited to readers in the US and Canada only.

The other day, I was sitting in my living room reading when I heard a commotion on the landing below. I got up to check, and found Allegra and Ruby intently following the movements of a small moth, and occasionally pouncing on it. They rarely play together, so even though I felt sorry for the moth, it was delightful to see the two of them in cahoots like this.

True to form, Allegra mostly watched and waited, while Ruby batted the moth around. Occasionally, Allegra would take a half-hearted swat at it, but she seemed to have more fun watching Ruby play. After a minute or two, I went to get the camera.

As I was filming the video below, I reflected on how this was a reminder of our housecats’ true nature: even while they enjoy a happy and safe life indoors, they’re still hunters at heart. It’s easy to forget this when they bat around cute stuffed mice or go after fake birds attached to wand toys.

Watching Ruby go after the moth also reinforced for me why it’s so important to nurture this hunting instinct with interactive play. The best kind of play is the kind that mimics hunting in the wild. Make it interesting for your cats. Don’t just toss a toy. Wiggle a wand toy across the room, up and down furniture, and around corners. Vary your speed. When your cat catches her “prey,” let her bat at it or grab it, but then try to get it away from her again, just like a prey animal would try to escape from a cat in the wild.

At the end of the play session, slow things down. Show your cat that her “prey” is getting tired. Always end a play session with your cat catching her toy, otherwise you’ll find yourself with a frustrated cat who will take her leftover excess energy out in ways you may not approve of, such as scratching your furniture, or biting your ankles.

Here’s the video of Allegra, Ruby and the moth. Viewer discretion is advised: the poor moth does not stand a chance against Ruby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGkzY99sD44

How do you nurture your cat’s hunting instinct?

I frequently get questions from readers who are looking to add a new cat to their family. How do I find a cat that will be a good match for my cat? Should I get a cat who’s the same age as my resident cat, or should I get a kitten? Male or female? Will the resident cat accept the newcomer?

Whether it’s a companion for a single cat, or whether another cat in the household has passed away and left a void, adding a new family member is a big decision.

I wish I could give you definitive answers to all of these questions, but the reality is that while you can do some homework, ultimately, each cat’s unique history and personality will determine the outcome.

Ideally, we’d all like our cats to be best buddies who play together, groom each other, and snuggle together. Some cats will bond like that, others will get along but may not ever become close friends, and some cats are confirmed only cats who will never accept a companion. While there is no guaranteed outcome, there are things you can consider when adding a new cat to the family.

Age

A cat close in age to your resident cat may be a better match than one that’s much younger or much older. Young cats do better with a playmate close to their own age. They will get frustrated with a senior cat who prefers napping to playing.  Conversely, a senior cat may not appreciate a young cat or kitten disrupting her golden years.

A word of caution if you have an elderly cat who is ill: I do not recommend bringing another cat into the home until your resident cat has passed. The stress of a new addition to the family may aggravate your older cat’s condition, and could actually shorten his life.

Kitten or Adult

Kittens do better with other kittens or young cats in the household. They need to have an outlet for all that energy, and if they’re paired with an older cat, both cats may be very unhappy. This is the reason why many rescue groups adopt kittens only in pairs. Adult cats may do better with another adult close to them in age, or slightly younger.

Temperament

Consider your resident cat’s temperament. If you have a timid cat, she would probably do better with a laid back, calm, mellow cat. A dominant cat will most likely do better with a self-assured, calmer cat. If you’re fortunate enough to have one of those happy-go-lucky cats who love everyone, she will probably get along with a cat from either end of the personality spectrum.

Temperament and personality can be hard to detect if you meet a cat in a shelter. Most cats are stressed in that setting and won’t show their true personality until they’ve been in a new home for several weeks and sometimes even years.

Size

Size can make a difference, especially if you have a slightly dominant cat. The theory is that cats of similar size and build will accept each other more quickly. Try to choose a new cat who is the same size or slightly smaller than your resident cat.

Gender

Male (neutered) cats are generally believed to be more accepting of other cats, both male and female. Even though this has not been my experience, female cats may not get along as well with each other. I personally believe that gender, other than as a personal preference of the guardian, is the least important consideration when it comes to choosing a good match for your resident cat.

Of course, for many of us, a new cat just seems to find us. Or we fall in love with one on Petfinder, or at our local shelter. And even though on paper, the new cat may be a bad match, some of the best feline friendships arise out of these seemingly random meetings.

Regardless of how you choose your new feline companion, introduce the newcomer slowly. Proper cat to cat introductions will go a long way toward ensuring harmony in your home.

If you’ve been going into My Cat From Hell withdrawal, your wait is almost over: Jackson Galaxy returns to Animal Planet with ten new episodes of the hit show on June 30.In this new season, for the first time, Jackson is taking his skills and signature guitar case filled with cat toys on the road to New York City.

As we’ve seen in the two previous seasons, it’s often the humans in the household that need Jackson’s help far more than the cats. “Each cat has a distinct personality and temperament and the actions of humans can easily lead to a claw in the face,” says Galaxy. “Dealing with these out-of-control cats can be easier than dealing with out-of-touch owners, and fixing people first can often be the cure all for feline vexations.”

I can’t wait for the new season to start. In the meantime, if you need a “Jackson fix” and haven’t already bought his new book, Cat Daddy: What The World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean, reading the story of Benny and how he became Jackson’s teacher and ultimately saved his life will hold you over quite nicely. I’m currently listening to the audio version of the book, read by Jackson, and it’s (almost) like having a conversation with the Cat Daddy himself.

Pica is the term used when cats eat non-food items. Most commonly associated with “wool-sucking,” a behavior where cats suck or chew on woolen, cotton or synthetic cloth, this compulsive disorder can progress to true pica where cats chew on and sometimes ingest anything from wood to litter to plastic grocery bags.

The cause of pica is unclear. Wool sucking is believed to be displaced nursing behavior and is sometimes observed in cats who were weaned too suddenly or too young when they were kittens. Most cats outgrow this behavior as they age, but in some, it becomes a lifelong habit.

Why pica can be dangerous

As long as a cat only sucks or chews on the offending substrate, pica in itself is not a threat to your cat’s health, but even as simply an obsessive compulsive disorder, it affects the quality of life of your cat. As humans who are plagued with OCD’s can attest, nobody chooses to indulge in that type of behavior. However, when cats actually ingest the things they suck or chew on, it can lead to life-threatening intestinal obstructions that may require emergency surgery.

Causes of pica

Nobody knows for sure what causes pica. It has been associated with a number of medical conditions, ranging from nutritional deficiencies to endocrine disorders to brain tumors. The disorder seems to be more prevalent in oriental breeds. Genetics and temperament may also play a role. Stress has been identified as a possible risk factor, and for a cat, stress can mean anything from changes in the household to boredom.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will want to do a thorough medical exam, including bloodwork, to rule out any medical causes.

Treatment

If there is an underlying medical condition, addressing the problem may provide a cure. If pica is caused by behavioral factors, the following behavior modifications may help:

• Remove temptation: placing the items your cat likes to chew on out of reach is often the easiest solution. If your cat likes to chew on clothing, keep it in a hamper and make sure closet doors are firmly closed. If you cat chews on plants, remove them. Keep plastic bags out of reach.
• Make targeted items unattractive: use double-sided tape or spray on products that taste bitter but are safe for cats, such as Bitter Yuck.
• Provide acceptable alternatives for chewing: provide catnip filled chew toys, cat grass or other kitty greens.
• Structured playtime: spend 10-15 minutes, twice a day, playing with your cat. Use interactive wand toys such as the Da Bird, and really tire your cat out.
• Environmental enrichment: provide cat trees and window perches so your cat can watch the world outside. Scratching posts and kitty tunnels provide distraction and mental and physical challenge.

When all of these fail, consult with a veterinary behaviorist. In some extreme cases, cats may benefit from psychoactive drugs.

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

After having just celebrated a birthday, the subject of aging was on my mind this past week. Even though this birthday wasn’t one of the “traumatic” ones – you know, the ones that have a zero at the end – I like to take time each year on my birthday not just for celebration, but also for reflection.

I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about my age. Most of the time, it really is just a number to me. I haven’t felt my age for a long time, and I’m frequently caught by surprise when I look in the mirror. How is it possible that someone with grey hair and a few wrinkles is looking back at me, when, at heart, I still feel like a much younger version of me?

I won’t claim that I have the answers to aging gracefully, but I think maybe our cats do. When I worked at veterinary clinics, I was always drawn to the senior cats, especially the really old, grizzled ones. There was just something so beautiful about these cats who were clearly on a path of physical decline, yet their spirits were as full of life as that of a newborn kitten. Cats don’t care about getting white muzzles, they don’t complain about aching joints, and they don’t mourn the loss of their youth.

As cat guardians, there are things we can to help make our cats’ golden years easier for them. And not surprisingly, these same things can help us age gracefully, too.

Nutrition:  Feed your cats a species-appropriate raw or grain-free canned diet. Feed yourself with a diet consissting of quality protein, lots of vegetables and fruit, and whole grains. Look for organic whenever you can. Don’t overfeed your cats, and don’t overeat youself. A healthy weight is one of the cornerstones of graceful aging.

Excercise: Your cat needs exercise just as much as you do. Regular, structured playtime, 10-15 minutes at least twice a day, is a wonderful way to bond with your cat, and to get kitty some exercise. As you cat ages, she may not play as vigorously as she did when she was a kitten, but even if she’s just batting at a toy without moving around much, it’s still a good way to engage her hunting instinct. As for you: find an exercise you really love. Exercising doesn’t have to be drudgery. I love to walk, it’s the one exercise I’ve stuck with all my life, and I walk almost every day.

Supplements: I’m a big believer in supplements. I take a lot of them, ranging from a high-quality multi-vitamin to an 0mega-3 supplement to probiotics. For senior cats, at a minimum, I recommend a good glucosamine chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

Health care:  Finding a veterinarian you’re comfortable with and who shares your philosophy when it comes to caring for your cat is important for cats of all ages, but it becomes especially important for older cats. Your veterinarian will be your partner as you care for your aging cat. The same holds true for you: find a physician who shares your views on health care. More and more physicians are practicing integrative or functional medicine, which takes a holistic approach to wellness and treats the whole patient - body, mind and spirt.

Stress: Stress is a primary cause of many illnesses in both cats and humans. In fact, your stress could make your cat sick. Finding ways to minimize stress in your life is one of the single most important things you can do for your own and your cats’ health.

Love: This one goes without saying. Our cats love us unconditionally, and the least we can do is return that love to them each and every day.

Are you aging gracefully, or do you find getting older challenging?

Photo: Buckley was the poster child for aging gracefully

We usually think of Japan when we hear about cat cafes, but now, Vienna, Austria, boasts its first cat cafe, Cafe Neko. Neko is the Japanese word for cat. The Vancouver Sun reports that Takako Ishimitsu, 47, from Japan, opened  the cafe after three years of negotiations with city officials over hygiene issues. Five cats freely roam the café, entertaining customers. All of the cats came from an animal shelter. I really hope the idea of cat cafes catches on in the United States!

As far as rescues go, this one is quite unusual. Life with Cats featured a story about a baby fox injured and temporarily blinded in a car accident who has become friends and playmates with three kittens who may have saved his life by keeping him warm as he recovered at Kent Wildlife Recovery Service in the UK. The fox required intensive care, and has regained his sight during his recovery. He will be moved to a fox rehab facility before being returned to the wild in five or six months. For now, he has a special friendship with a very different set of kits … kittens. Read the full story on Life with Cats.

Glee star Chris Colfer recently adopted a senior shelter cat, and he gave an update on his new friend on Life with Kelly earlier this week. At 22 pounds, Brian the cat desperately needs to lose some weight, and I’m hoping that Colfer’s response on the show when asked whether he put him on a diet, “I did, but he keeps breaking into the food,” was meant as a joke. We’ve seen the heartbreaking effects of obesity in cats with another high profile cat, Meow, who died from complications related to obesity last week. Being overweight is no joke. Visit Catsparella for a video of Colfer’s appearance on Life with Kelly.

Today’s video, titled Who Was your Cat Born to Be?, featuring an adorable kitten named Cash, is a beautifully produced reminder of the true nature of our housecats, and why catification of their environment is so important. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgD6uOCph8

Have a great weekend!

Photo sources: photo of Vienna cat cafe from The Vancouver Sun, photo of fox with kittens from Life with Cats, screenshot of Chris Colfer from Catsparella