but I’m pretty sure my kitty is the cutest cat ever.  If you think you have a cuter cat, post your cat pictures.

I'm Mickey! I was found on the street when I was only 5 weeks old.

A Look inside the Feline Mind

Cesar Millan is our expert on “dog psychology.” TV psychic Sylvia Browne reveals secrets of good health and great relationships. Victims of crime speak to Allison Dubois, the psychic hero of the hit show “Medium.” What we’re missing, is a cat psychic.

A seething hiss or a peaceful purr tells us when our cats are mad or happy. But just what are our enigmatic felines thinking, and why do they do the things they do?

One way to gain answers into their world, is to pay attention to their body language, habits and behavior. Dog domestication began 15,000 years ago. Cats? Only half as long ago. Housecat behavior continues to reflect their wild origins.

Some cats think that “night time is the right time” for fun and games. In the wild, cats are the most energetic during twilight hours, prime time to hunt for small birds and rodents. To conserve energy, they sleep 12 to 16 hours during the day, taking numerous “cat naps.” To keep your pet sleeping through the night, give your cat stimulation during daytime hours, especially an hour or two before bedtime. Play, such as chasing a toy mouse on a string, helps to tire your cat and alter his natural sleep cycle.

Anyone with a cat knows that felines have the natural instinct to dig and bury their urine and feces. A 2007 study published in Science affirms that house cats are descended from a group of self-domesticating desert wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica). It’s no surprise that our cats prefer to bury their feces in sandy places. So if your cat avoids the litter box, switch to a litter that is softer and resembles sand, yet contains no chemicals or fragrances, such as Feline Pine Scoop. Also, keep the litter box clean and in a quiet place where your cat feels safe. To learn more about litter box training, visit www.healthylitter.org.

If your cat is fond of high places, that, too, is natural. In the wild, height gives cats an observation point and sense of security, allowing them to hunt their prey out of site and away from predators. Cat towers and window seats help housecats satisfy this yearning for height.

Dogs wag their tails when their excited, but do you ever wonder why cats swish their tales? One, to entrance and distract prey, and two, to balance before leaping. A gentle wagging of the tail can mean that your cat is in deep concentration and vigorous thrashing can communicate anger or annoyance.

Feline 15 is the New 5

According to the ASPCA, about 5 to 7 million companion animals enter shelters nation wide each year. Of the millions of animals that enter shelters, 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized. A great number of cats in shelters are elderly, and while many people go straight for the cute kittens, a mature cat can make a great companion and might be the perfect pet for you.
“Due to advancements in veterinary diagnostics, medicine and vaccinations, neutered indoor house cats are living longer than ever before,” said Dr. Michele Gaspar, DVM, a board-certified feline specialist. “It’s not unusual for cats to reach their 20th birthday.”
When you adopt an older cat, providing the right care can go a long way in ensuring you have a long and happy life together. Just as it’s important to take good care of ourselves and pay attention to our own bodies, aging cats also need special care.
Older cats have different nutritional requirements. Prevent your cat from becoming overweight by feeding the proper proportions and providing a healthy diet that is high in protein, as extra weight can lead to other health complications. Avoid treating your cat with table scraps and discuss any changes in your feline’s diet with your veterinarian.
No matter how old your cat may be, exercise is important. Introduce your cat to new toys that will get him or her  excited to keep moving, even if it is only for a short period of time every day. However, keep in mind, as cats get older, they tend to like privacy and look for relaxing environments to get away from other pets and children. Create a place where your cat can do a little catnapping throughout the day without being disturbed.
Some aging felines develop conditions that lead to increased or irregular urination, such as loss of litter box training, diabetes or kidney dysfunction. If this happens, increase the number of litter boxes and space them throughout the home. Keep litter boxes dry by using a highly absorbent, odor eliminating cat litter, such as Feline Pine. Learn more at www.healthylitter.org.
It is recommended that senior cats visit the veterinarian for a comprehensive examination every six months or more frequently if they are diagnosed with a condition. Some veterinarians specialize in working with geriatric cats and others make house calls for cats that can no longer handle the stress associated with going to the veterinarian’s office.

Put a Stop to Cat Litter Dust and Tracks

If you have a cat, undoubtedly one of the problems you face is the litter from the litter box being tracked throughout your home. You’ve probably been jarred awake on your way to the restroom in the middle of the night by a loose piece of cat litter. Not only is litter tracking a nuisance, but it can lead to frustrating problems around the home.

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation, an increasing amount of scientific evidence indicates that the air within our homes can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air in even the largest, industrialized cities. Since we spend much of our time at home, it’s important to keep the air clean and free of dust and other airborne allergens.

Most cat owners have encountered the plume of dust that rises when you pour litter into the litter box, or the tracks of dust that kitty has left behind. However, within recent years a new breed of natural litter has hit the market. Unlike outdated clay based cat litters, many of the natural litters, such as Feline Pine, are virtually dust free. More information is available online at www.stopcatlittertracking.com. Taking this one small step and changing your cat litter can improve air quality and cut back on dust levels that can potentially harm your family.

Filling the litter box with an all-natural pine based litter will not only cut down on tracking and dust, but also cut back on toxins. The US National Center for Health Statistics reported that one in three people today suffer from asthma, allergies, bronchitis or sinusitis. One suggested treatment for these conditions is reducing synthetic chemicals within the home. Search the market for a cat litter that is silica dust free and has no chemical additives or artificial fragrances.

Cat litter tracking can also be particularly harmful to home furnishings. Clay litters contain an extremely abrasive substance, silica, that can damage hardwood and even some tile flooring. One way to protect your floor is by using a mat at the front of the litterbox; also switch to an all-natural litter, such as a pine litter, that touts less tracking and has smoother surfaces than gritty clay litter. Most floors are made of “hardwoods” — maple, oak or cherry; they’ll lose the scratching battle with clay every time. Cat litter made of “softwood,” such as pine, is non-abrasive and will keep your floors looking their best.

Expectant parents pore over book after book and list after list to come up with the perfect name for their child. Pet parents are no different. While sometimes a unique physical feature can help conjure up a pet’s name, other times individuals need some help with the naming process.

If a new pet joined the family this year, perhaps reviewing the list of the 10 most popular names of 2008, compiled by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the country’s largest and oldest provider of pet insurance will offer some inspiration.

Most Popular Cat Names

1. Max

2. Chloe

3. Tigger

4. Tiger

5. Lucy

6. Smokey

7. Oliver

8. Bella

9. Shadow

10. Charlie

There are also some pets that showed up in VPI’s database that were quite unusual. Here are the five most unusual names.

Most Unusual Cat Names

1. Edward Scissorpaws

2. Sir Lix-a-lot

3. Optimus Prrrime

4. Buddah Pest

5. Snoop Kitty Kitty

If these names do not seem to fit your pet, you will need to think of your own name. Keep in mind that experts say giving your pet the wrong name could potentially lead to learning difficulties, behavioral issues and problems with name recognition. There is an art to picking the right pet names. Here are some tips to consider:

* Choose one- or two-syllable names, which are easier for pets to understand and respond to.

* Avoid names that are similar to obedience commands. For example, “Joe” may sound too close to “No.”

* Don’t give pets and children similar names or it could cause confusion.

* Choose a name that is easy to call and not embarrassing.

* Select names that coincide with breed lineage. A German Shepherd could be Bernard or Fritz.

* Personality traits could also work well for names.

Are fleas torturing your feline friend?

If you have a pet or are frequently around pets, chances are you will experience one or more brushes with fleas in your lifetime. Fleas can quickly overrun your life, and knowing how to effectively and safely treat your pet and living spaces for fleas is essential.

While there are no concrete statistics indicating how many cats, dogs and other pets are afflicted by a flea infestation every year, there is research that indicates fleas account for more than half of all dermatological conditions requiring veterinary assistance in pets and people.

Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They are not finicky as to where they arrive at their warm meal. Consequently, it’s not uncommon to find that anyone in a household where fleas are present can become game for the hungry flea. The parasites use this blood meal to produce eggs — as many as 50 per day. In general, fleas are more nuisance than nemesis. Their bites inflict itching and redness. In hypersensitive individuals and animals, the irritation can be very intense.

To understand how to win the war on fleas, it’s important to learn about their behavior and preferences. Warm, moist weather is a haven for fleas, which is why many people equate the summertime with flea season. However, in areas where the mercury rises above 60 degrees earlier in the year, fleas may be more than just a summertime concern.

Adult fleas spend most of their time feeding on a host animal. Eggs that are laid drop off into the surrounding areas, such as in carpeting or in a pet’s bedding. These eggs hatch into larvae, which feed upon flea dirt (dried blood feces) and other organic matter (like shed skin cells) that are in their proximity. The larvae then spin themselves into a cocoon, where they are virtually protected from any insecticide. They will remain there until they sense the heat of a passing animal or the carbon dioxide from an animal’s expelled breath. Then the young flea hops onto its new target, restarting the cycle.

Treating both the animal and the environment is key to getting rid of fleas. However, many products are geared at treating one or the other. Typical flea carpet powders contain harsh, toxic chemicals, which cannot be used on animals and should be applied when people are not around. Flea collars and other medicinal applications are good for keeping fleas off of animals, but don’t address fleas in the environment. Plus, both of these types of products are virtually ineffective at tackling fleas outdoors.

There is one solution that can eradicate fleas and other pesky parasites on the pet and in and around the house. RESULTS Flea & Tick Killer is a contact killer comprised of pyrethrins (naturally occurring plant oils), diatomaceous earth (ground fossils of shelled sea algae, which extracts moisture from the insects), and other organic oils. These ingredients are deadly to insects yet they have minimal impact on people and pets. In addition, RESULTS leaves no residual contamination, since the active ingredients break down quickly. You don’t have to apply it repeatedly — once a week for five weeks is recommended for standard treatment — to keep fleas, ticks and even lice at bay, and to halt their life cycle. The product can also be mixed with water and sprayed outdoors to stop fleas where they begin.

To learn more about treating fleas and where to buy RESULTS products, visit www.diatect.com.

SIDEBAR: How Do I Know If I  Have Fleas?

* Pet is frequently scratching or biting at the same areas.
* Visible sign of adult fleas or flea dirt. Fleas are a golden brown color and roughly the size of caraway seeds. Flea dirt resembles black pepper.
* Noticeable raised red bumps on your ankles or legs.
* Signs of fleas bouncing on the floor or in the carpet

Does kitty really need to be declawed?

The number of pet owners opting to declaw their cats has declined over the past few years as pet owners and veterinarians learn more about the effects of the surgery. Get the facts straight about this controversial procedure.
Declawing, or onychectomy, is not just the removal of the claws, but amputation of the last bone in each of the ten front toes. The series of amputations can sometimes sever tendons, nerves and muscles. Among the many organizations that have formal statements opposing declawing of cats: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Humane Society of the United States and The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.
“Feline declaws have one of the highest rates of owner complaint and complications,” said Dr. Michele Gaspar, DVM, a board-certified feline specialist who does not perform declawing. “Infections and nail re-growth can occur. Some cats appear to suffer from phantom pain post surgery.”

If you choose to declaw your cat, vets recommend using a soft litter that will not infect the surgical site or re-open a healing wound. Litters such as Feline Pine Scoop, that are all-natural and especially soft, are ideal. More information is available at www.healthylitter.org. If you plan on introducing a new litter post-surgery, familiarize your cat with the new litter before the procedure to avoid litter box aversion.

Softer, all-natural litters are also suggested for cats suffering from long-term paw pain, as some declawed felines experience pain long after surgery, which may lead to litter box problems. In a much-discussed article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published in 2001, Gary Patronek, VMD, PhD reviewed a study that showed that among abandoned shelter cats, 52.4% of declawed cats were reported to exhibit litter box avoidance, compared to 29.1% of non-declawed cats. A cat whose paws hurt when scratching in a litter box may avoid the litter box altogether.

There are alternatives to declawing your cat. Ask your vet to teach you how to trim your cat’s nails. When done properly, regular trimming poses little to no risk. Before domestication, cats used tree trunks to exercise, stretch and mark their territory. It is possible for cats to be trained to use a scratching post in order to fulfill their natural instinct to scratch. Another option becoming widely available is replaceable soft plastic caps that can be glued directly onto the nail.

Cats Get Allergies Too

People across the country feel the effects of outdoor seasonal allergens. Sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy nose and even serious respiratory difficulties are all symptoms allergy sufferers know all to well. But did you know that like people, our feline friends can suffer from allergies?

Much like in the human population, the occurrence of allergies in pets seems to be on the rise. Cats show comparable allergy symptoms to humans, even to the point of developing asthma. Pet allergies fall into three main categories: food allergy, an allergic reaction to an ingredient in a pet’s food; flea allergic dermatitis, or “flea bite hypersensitivity”; and lastly, atopy, an environmental allergy.
Atopy in pets is the most unfamiliar type of pet allergy. Just like humans, cats can suffer an allergic reaction to airborne substances such as dust, pollen or molds. Depending on the allergen, or agent causing the allergic reaction, your cat may demonstrate symptoms seasonally, such as in the case of pollen, or year-round, as in the case of dust or molds. More information is available online at www.kittyallergies.com.
Many people have long blamed pets, particularly cats, for causing allergies and breathing problems in people. However, in the past few years, scientists have found that humans may be introducing agents triggering asthma in cats. Dusty houses, human dandruff, chemicals, artificial fragrances, and certain types of cat litter can all create serious inflammation in the airways and worsen cats’ asthma.
With a rising number of cats suffering from feline asthma, which causes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, the condition is fairly common. Once your cat is diagnosed with feline asthma, you have several treatment options depending on the severity of the case. The first step is to try and eliminate any environmental allergens that are causing respiratory distress in your cat. Look closely at your current cat litter. The dust that rises from clay litters as well as the artificial fragrances used in silica litter, can wreak havoc on a cat with allergies or feline asthma. Make the switch to an all-natural, fragrance free, dust free cat litter, such as a Feline Pine. Also eliminate firewood smoke, clean up mildew and mold, and vacuum often.

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