by Nomi Berger
 
Are you surprised when you return home to find that your cat has urinated on your sofa or shredded your favorite shirt? Are you receiving complaints from your neighbors that she yowls or mewls all day? Although an underlying medical condition may be responsible for some of these behaviors, the most likely culprit is separation anxiety.
 
While many cat owners don’t associate cats with separation anxiety, a recent study by researchers at Oregon State University and Monmouth University found that when cats were given a choice between food, human companionship, scent and toys, half of them chose human companionship and only 37 percent chose food.
 
Orphaned kittens or those weaned too early from their mothers are the ones most prone to developing separation anxiety. A divorce, the death of an owner or some other abrupt change in the household and the familiar rhythm of its regular routine may also trigger separation anxiety, particularly in senior cats.
 
Cats with separation anxiety may express apprehension over their owners’ unexplained absence (ranging from a medical emergency to a vacation with advance care arrangements made) in highly destructive and/or annoying ways. Some of these “acting out” behaviors include scratching the furniture, pacing, crying, fighting with the other cats, refusing to eat and compulsively grooming themselves -- licking or chewing at their fur until they create large bald patches. While others sulk or become depressed, some begin urinating and/or defecating outside their litter boxes or spraying urine on their owners’ bed and/or clothing.
 
The reason for spraying is simple: spreading her scent around may actually help an anxious cat feel more secure. Mixing her odor with that of her cherished and absent owner is a way to feel closer to her owner.
 
If yours is an anxious and clingy kitty, don’t despair, there are ways to reduce her anxiety and improve her quality of life. The first step is to visit your vet to rule out any underlying health conditions that may be causing the problem. If your vet concludes that your cat does indeed have separation anxiety, consider the following ways to make her more comfortable and less fearful when you’re away from home.
 
Enrich her environment. Food puzzles and other interactive toys can engage your cat’s brain and help take her mind off the fact that you’re not there. Having the food released from a puzzle toy will both challenge her intelligence and keep her constructively occupied.
 
To reduce the risk of her growing bored, rotate her favorite interactive toys, bringing out the best ones only when you’re ready to leave.
 
Screen a nature DVD featuring a variety of birds, squirrels, and fish. Their quick movements and high-pitched noises should keep your cat intrigued and entertained for hours. Alternatively, set up a window perch with a view of a bird feeder outside or a wall perch with a view of an appropriately secure aquarium inside that she can watch but not access.
 
Plug in a diffuser that emits feline pheromones. They mimic the natural pheromones produced by a mother cat and appear to have a soothing effect on some anxious cats.
 
Because cats so dislike change, set up and stick to – as much as possible -- a fixed schedule of feeding and playing with yours at the same times each day to help relieve some of her stress.
 
In severe cases of separation anxiety, however, consider consulting a veterinary behaviorist whose trained observations may give new insight into your cat’s behavior. And, when necessary, your vet can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to help her stay calm in your absence.

by Nomi Berger
 
Coprophagia is the act of eating and ingesting feces. Although far more common in dogs, it does appear occasionally in cats. There are times when eating feces is part of normal feline behavior. A new mother will often eat the feces of her newborn kittens as part of her daily grooming routine, while her kittens may copy her in an effort to learn new behaviors. Cats may also eat their own feces as a way of keeping their personal areas clean.
 
Oftentimes, however, coprophagia is the result of an underlying medical condition that can lead to an extreme increase in appetite. In order to satisfy this extreme hunger, cats will eat anything available to them, including their feces. The most common medical conditions are parasites, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, vitamin deficiency, malnutrition, thyroid disease and neurological disease.
 
If your kitty is eating her own feces, your vet will have to determine whether it’s medical or behavioral in nature. A full blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. If her coprophagia IS the result of an underlying medical condition, it often stops once treatment begins, with follow up visits recommended during the first few months.
 
If it’s the result of a behavioral problem, provide your vet with a thorough history of your cat’s general health, diet, appetite, handling practices, recent activities and environment, and then take steps to remedy the situation.
 
The simplest way to prevent your cat from eating her feces is to eliminate her access to it by scooping her litter box several times a day. It can also be useful to change the location of the box, moving it to an area that affords her more privacy when she uses it.
 
A fixed routine of vigorous play and exercise can help distract her from engaging in coprophagia. Exercise aids in reducing anxiety and stress, and when a cat’s had enough stimulation to keep her active and tire her out, she’ll be less attracted to eating non-food items. But if your cat isn’t used to being exercised regularly, keep your initial play sessions short (begin with only a few minutes) and slowly work up to longer sessions as she becomes more accustomed to it.
 
Ensure that your cat is not only eating the required amount of food for her age and weight each day, but that she’s receiving all of the essential minerals and vitamins she needs. If not, have your vet recommend the best nutritional supplements to keep her diet the best balanced diet paws-ible.

by Nomi Berger
 
Due to the increased availability of both medical and recreational marijuana, as well as its use in foods, pills, oils and tinctures, marijuana is more accessible than ever before. It’s also stronger because new hybrids and cultivation techniques have resulted in plants with significantly more THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound) than in decades past.
 
It therefore poses an even greater threat to one’s cherished cat since THC and other cannabinoids affect the central nervous system, causing disruption of normal movement and behavior. The most common ways for cats to be exposed to marijuana is by inhaling its smoke or by ingesting the dried marijuana itself. Because of the cumulative effects of inhaling this smoke, cat owners who use marijuana, whether medical or recreational, should never smoke anywhere near their cats, particularly ones with asthma or any other lung diseases.
 
In some cases, cats may nibble on the leaves and/or buds of homegrown marijuana plants. Unthinking owners may also feed their cats cookies, brownies or candies infused with marijuana, posing a double threat to their health because anything containing chocolate or the artificial sweetener, xylitol, can lead to a double dose of toxicity.
 
As with all products, plants and medications dangerous for pet consumption, cat owners using marijuana in any form should store it somewhere out of reach of curious noses and even more curious paws – in a tall shelf, cabinet or drawer with a child-proof lock. The use of a thick glass container with a twist-off lid provides additional security because even if kitty does discover it, the lid’s impossible to pry open.
 
The most common side effects of marijuana intoxication are dilated pupils, lack of coordination (falling over or walking “drunkenly”), sedation or lethargy, vomiting, urinary incontinence, and slow heart and respiratory rates. However, about 25 percent of those who have ingested THC become stimulated instead, with agitation, excessive vocalization and high heart rates being possible side effects. After ingestion, cats can become affected in minutes to hours, and signs can last for hours.
 
If you suspect your cat has ingested marijuana and is unable to walk or cannot be roused, contact your vet immediately. Know too that veterinarians are NOT required to contact the police, even in states where marijuana is illegal. What’s of utmost importance is getting your cat prompt medical assistance.
 
Treatment for marijuana intoxication can include confinement in a kennel to prevent injury, intravenous fluids to keep her blood pressure normal and medications to lower her heart rate. Cats most severely affected may also benefit from intravenous lipid emulsions to help decrease the amount of cannabinoids circulating through their system.
 
The takeaway from this -- keep a watchful eye on your cat if there’s marijuana around.

by Nomi Berger
 
Does your cat come to you when you call her name? Does she run to the door when you arrive home and call out to her or does she simply yawn and go back to sleep?
 
For cat owners curious enough to see if they can train their cats to come to them when called, cat trainers offer the following tips:
 
Since cats respond excitedly to treats, use healthy, morsel-sized treats (“morsel” is the operative word, vital to preventing any unwanted weight gain) so that she considers training a “paws-itive” thing.
 
Since cats react eagerly to higher-pitched voices, use a higher than usual tone of voice when you call out her name. 
 
Since cats are more attracted to a happy tone, make your tone upbeat and light to keep her from thinking that she’s being punished.
 
Since cats respond more easily to shorter names, if yours has a long one, try shortening it, turning it into more of a nickname. For example, if your kitty’s name is Vanessa, you might want to use “Nessa” when calling her. This, then, will become her training name. 
 
Since some cats react better to sounds than to names, clap your hands or use either a bell or a whistle to begin her training. Whatever method you choose, use it ONLY for this particular exercise.
 
Since repetition is key, be patient and take it slowly, paw step by paw step. Start out a few feet away from your cat. Call her name/clap your hands/use the bell or whistle, and place a morsel-sized treat (or a favorite toy) on the floor several feet in front of you. The smell of the treat or the sight of the toy should attract her to it. If she responds by approaching you, lavish her with praise, and once she’s eaten the treat or played with the toy, pet her, and in your best, happy and high-pitched voice, say “good job!”
 
If your cat doesn’t respond, repeat the exercise. Try it several more times before stopping to give both you and kitty a rest. Then begin the process again, and keep repeating it until, hopefully, you achieve the result you want. Increase the distance between you slightly and continue practicing the same exercise at this same distance for another few days.
 
Keep increasing the distance between you until she’s coming to you from any part of your home. And if she’s graduated gracefully and graciously to this phase, reward her with only praise – no treat, no toy – but with an especially relaxing rubdown or extra armfuls of affection.
 
In short, if your cat is now running to you whenever you call her name, you’ve succeeded!
 

by Nomi Berger
             
Salmonella is the bacterium behind enteritis or salmonellosis in cats and lodges itself in their intestinal tracts. Cats typically contract the infection from the saliva or feces of other infected animals, or from ingesting contaminated meat or foods.
 
Rarely seen in cats and seldom causing complications, most cats will simply remain carriers of the bacteria without exhibiting any clinical signs. However, kittens and cats with weaker immune systems are more likely to present symptoms, while the infection itself can be shed, thereby INFECTING other pets and people.
 
The incubation period is between two and four days with symptoms appearing AFTER this time. These symptoms include chronic vomiting, chronic diarrhea (the feces may become very liquid and kitty may eliminate in unusual places, not in her litter box), swelling of the lymph nodes, elevated fever, lack of appetite and weight loss, a general state of weakness, lethargy, enlarged liver (only in advanced infections), and abortion in pregnant cats.
 
Only bacterial cultures and rectal swabs taken by your vet can determine whether your cat’s symptoms are indicative of salmonella or another type of bacterial infection altogether. Once the precise source is identified, antibiotic treatment will be started immediately, while in kittens or severely dehydrated cats, IV fluids may also be added. Following the treatment, your cat MUST be tested to see if she’s shedding the bacteria – either through her saliva or feces.
 
Because the salmonella bacteria can be so easily transmitted to humans, and because most cats are asymptomatic carriers, it’s essential that cat guardians avoid direct contact with their cat’s feces and saliva. Since bleach has the power to kill the bacteria, keep her environment scrupulously clean by using it weekly on such items as her litter box and tray, her food and water bowls, and the toys that she chews on. Always rinse them thoroughly in soapy water and dry them before allowing her access to them again.
 
Soft furnishings like cat beds and blankets should be put into the washing machine on the hot cycle, then either air dried in full, direct sunlight or misted with a safe disinfectant from a spray bottle, and permitted to dry before your cat uses them again. 
 
And since the salmonella bacteria can also be present in certain meat and fowl, proper cooking by conscientious cat owners at elevated temperatures is essential in order to kill it.

Guest Blog Article by Jenny Spiers
 
Even if your cat is an indoor pet, it still needs exercise and stimulation. Not only do they keep your kitty healthy through ample movement, it also makes it happy. Cats love to hunt and to be challenged, and by introducing the right activities at home, you can continue to stimulate these instincts.
 
The great news is, you do not need a huge place or a lot of money to keep your cat entertained. Kitties love the attention and are happy when their humans play with them. They are not picky about toys and will play with anything they see around the house. Here are some tips to make sure that you are keeping your cat stimulated and active the whole day.

1. Invest In Cat Toys
   

 
There are toys specifically designed for kitties, like feathers on a stick or balls they can chase around. You can also keep your cat very happy by using a scratching post.  These are great because they can also sharpen their claws there instead of in your furniture. Buying ones with a place to sit on the top are something your kitty will love as well.
 
You do not need to invest in a lot of toys. A good idea is to rotate what you have, hiding some that your kitty is bored with and giving them back after a few weeks.

1. Let Your Cat Search for Food

 
Wild cats survived by foraging for their own food. You can keep your kitty active and stimulated by hiding some treats or dry food all over the house and let your pet search for it. Moreover, it is good because your cat will not eat too much at once, and instead, eat a few times during the day.

1. Stimulate the Senses

 
Cats have a wonderful sense of smell. They love pacing around the house and smelling around. You can stimulate this by spreading old socks with various scents all over the house. Simply dab a drop of perfume, extract, spice, or other aromatic things. Scatter them all over the house and your pet will have interesting things to smell as it walks around. You can also do a scent trail using some cheese and having a real piece of cheese to eat at the end as a treat.

1. Watch the Outside World

 
Cats love having a place in the window pane or somewhere beside the window to observe the world outside. Make it comfortable by putting a soft pillow or blanket and your kitty will enjoy hours of watching. You can also put a bird feeder outside the window so that birds will come and your feline friend has lots to see. Just make sure the window is closed to keep your cat from unexpectedly jumping out.

1. Recycle Old Cardboard

 
It is common knowledge that cats go crazy over old boxes, preferring them over the toys actually inside them. One cheap and easy way to keep your kitty occupied is to recycle old boxes. You can even connect them together with tape and design tunnels or mazes. You can also hang toys inside the boxes for some additional fun. If you have a cat, you will find yourself never throwing away any cardboard ever again.
 
There are many simple and very cheap ways to keep your cat stimulated at home. Hiding things or letting your kitty chase things will also give it the exercise it needs so it stays healthy. By installing some of these things you can keep your cat happy and avoid loneliness especially when you are at work. Moreover, these activities will trigger its instincts so that even if it is an indoor pet, it can still chase and hunt.

by Nomi Berger
 
Fur-get kitties’ funny quirks! Pussycat parents may unwittingly be rubbing their own feline friends the wrong way. How? Consider the following:
 
Taking them on car rides: As opposed to their canine counterparts, cats do NOT enjoy spontaneous rides in the car. Being highly territorial and passionate about routine, they dislike abrupt changes in their environment. They’re also prone to motion sickness, and coupled with anxiety, the results can be rather unpleasant. Cars should be reserved for vet visits or meticulously prepared road trips.
 
Bringing them on play dates: Unlike dogs and their dog parks, felines, unless especially friendly, prefer to remain in their own cozy realms rather than visit unfamiliar felines in unfamiliar surroundings. Cats don’t enjoy meeting new cats or smelling strange cats’ scents. Nor do they like seeing themselves in mirrors.
 
Giving them baths: Most cats are superb at self-grooming, and accomplish with their tongues what we humans accomplish with soap and water. On the rare occasion that a bath is absolutely necessary, wary cats should be approached with caution, patience and a plan.
 
Neglecting their litter boxes: Although kitties always cover up their urine and feces, their litter boxes should be cleaned at least once a day. Their sense of smell is 14 times stronger than ours is, and if they begin eliminating OUTSIDE the box instead of in it, their message is more than clear!
 
Petting them too much: Cats can become over-stimulated very easily and with very little warning, shifting from purring contentedly one minute to hissing or scratching the next. To avoid over-stimulating your kitty, study her personality, learn her likes and dislikes, and respect her limitations.
 
Making too much noise: Whether it’s door bells or roaring traffic, slamming doors or thunderstorms, many cats are very sensitive to and scared of loud sounds. Because of this, conscientious cat owners are conscious of their own tone of voice, the volume on their TV and stereo, and all other sources of potentially frightening noise.
 
Serving stale or cold food: Leaving wet food out not only allows it to get stale, but allows dangerous bacteria to grow, often within the space of a single day. To prevent this, mete out smaller, more frequent portions. And because some cats dislike cold food, allow any refrigerated, canned leftovers to “thaw” to room temperature before serving it.
 
Ignoring them: While felines fend well for themselves, they don’t appreciate being alone or ignored. The solution is to create regularly scheduled play times with them every day particularly before bedtime to burn off their pent-up energy and strengthen the bonds of love and trust between you.

by Nomi Berger

As the days grow darker and shorter, and the thermometer plummets, so does the mood of millions of people living in the Northern Hemisphere. But humans are not the only ones affected by what scientists refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Our cats – even the happiest, most active and energetic ones -- can suffer the same dramatic downturn in mood.
 
Signs of the kitty cat blues include a drastic change in appetite, excessive fatigue, nighttime restlessness, reduced social interactions, and/or extreme hair loss.
 
According to scientists, the reason for these behavioral changes in both humans and felines appears to stem from the effect that light has on two significant hormones. The first is melatonin, produced in the pineal gland. The second is serotonin, produced in the brain.
 
Melatonin, often referred to as the “hormone of darkness”, plays a vital role in regulating the sleep cycle. The pineal gland is light sensitive, and because melatonin is usually secreted at night, the less light there is – as in the shorter, darker days of winter -- the greater the production of melatonin.
 
Serotonin, often referred to as the “feel good” substance in the brain also affects mood, appetite and sleep – but in an entirely different way. In this case, it’s sunlight that’s needed for the production of serotonin.
 
There are ways, however, to combat the effects of daylight’s diminishing hours on your cat’s mood before the full onset of winter. The simplest solution is one used by many humans with SAD: spending an increased amount of time in natural daylight. If your kitty has a lounge or bed, put it next to a window or underneath a skylight. If you have a cat-proof window, open it and let her perch awhile on the ledge. If she’s comfortable outdoors, allow her some playtime when the sun is brightest.
 
Another remedy is an artificial sunlight lamp. These therapy lights use special bulbs that mimic the natural light of the sun and can be bought at any major general retailer or online. Simply keep it turned on in a place where your kitty spends most of her time when she’s awake in order for her retinas to take in all of the light.
 
Hopefully, following all or some of these suggestions will spare your cherished feline companion an unnecessary case of the kitty cat blues.

by Nomi Berger
 
Cats can experience nosebleeds (epistaxis) for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t require that great a trauma for a cat’s delicate nasal blood vessels to begin bleeding as a result of a blow to her nose or face.
 
The most common reason for nosebleeds is fighting with other cats and being struck by a moving vehicle. Whereas some cats are prone to nosebleeds, most only get nosebleeds when there’s a problem. Ranging from simple to serious, these problems should be taken seriously by cat owners with either a prompt phone call or an immediate visit to the vet.
 
Some of the more serious reasons for nosebleeds include: a foreign body that’s gotten lodged in the nose and is irritating it; parasites that have make their way into the nose; nasal infections; dental problems; ingestion of rat poison; hypertension (high blood pressure); blood clotting disorders such as hemophilia, and nasal tumors.
 
Whenever something negatively affects a cat’s nose, it’s usually accompanied by a sneeze or a series of sneezes. So it is with nosebleeds. Cats with nosebleeds often begin to sneeze frequently, and this repeated sneezing only exacerbates the situation. Such sneezing can slow down the blood’s natural tendency to clot, and any cat losing a great deal of blood is a cat in crisis.
 
Only a thorough physical examination by your vet and, if needed, a progressive battery of tests can determine the cause – common, simple or serious -- of your cherished cat’s nosebleeds. Only then will you have your answer, and a comprehensive plan to deal with it.

by Nomi Berger
 
September is Happy Cat Month and what better way to show your feline friends how special they are than by dedicating a full MONTH to making them happier than happy!
 
As toppings on your celebratory “cat cake”, purr-haps you might consider the following:
 
Feed Kitty the Highest Quality Food
 
As carnivores, felines are happiest when feasting on protein-rich food. If yours aren’t already on a diet where the first ingredient is meat – including various varieties of fish, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck and pork – treat them to some starting now. And if yours are usually fed dry food, remember that canned food is higher in protein and has the extra water cats require.
 
Keep Kitty Entertained
 
Most curious cats have their own form of feline reality TV. And it’s as near as your nearest window. If yours crave the sights and sounds of the great outdoors, simply set up a perch or a cat tree beside a window to keep them both comfortable and safe while they watch the birds, squirrels and butterflies “purr-form.”
 
Teach Kitty Some Tricks
 
While some guardians may be skeptical, with patience, clicker training and paws-itive reinforcement, your cats may welcome the added mental stimulation and the joy of working for treats. Some of the most popular “tricks” -- touch a stick or your hand; sit; high five; jump on a chair or a stool, and jump through a hoop.
 
Let Kitty Try Hunting
 
Having long been used to eating from bowls, a cat’s natural hunting instincts may long to see the light of day. Now soft food pods have been manufactured that allow you to hide their dry food inside small, hidden pockets before placing the pods throughout your home. This allows kitties to literally hunt, track down and consume their “prey” as a novel way of eating their regular, daily meals.
 
Provide Kitty with Boxes
 
Definitely a feline fixation, boxes allow cats to cuddle up safely and securely in a private place of their choosing. A box is a cat’s form of a child’s security blanket, and some studies have suggested that boxes reduce stress and help calm shelter cats not yet acclimatized to life in a home.

Stimulate Kitty’s Senses
 
Catnip, long known for producing euphoria and happiness in a majority of cats, has recently been joined by several other plants that produce a similar effect. To tickle your feline’s fancy, consider trying Tartarian Honeysuckle Sawdust, Cat Thyme, Silver Vine Valerian or Indian Nettle.
 
Keep Kitty Warm Inside
 
As the days of September grow shorter and cooler, kitties may start to miss the comforting rays of the summer sun. To replicate this healing heat, provide your sun-starved sweetie with a warming blanket to nap on, or ideally, your own warm lap to snuggle in.
 
Given a month to fill with HAPPY, every loving feline fancier’s imagination should be happily limitless.