by Nomi Berger
 
Is your cat one who’s never met a treat she didn’t love? Does she meow at the mere sound of a bag crackling, shaking or opening? Does she salivate at the scents wafting her way? Does she purr in anticipation of a tasty dream about to come true?
 
Then yours is a kitty cat “treat-aholic.” Although some caring cat guardians are guilt stricken at the thought of depriving their cats of the treats they crave, the consequences of constantly caving are, in fact, detrimental to their health and wellbeing. 
 
Feline obesity, like human obesity, is a condition that can’t be dismissed with a wave of the terms “big boned” or “husky”. Overweight, is simply that: overweight. And it’s caused, quite simply, by consuming more calories than are burned. And so, as with people, pets must ingest fewer calories and focus more on burning them.
 
According to most experts, a HIGH QUALITY cat food should comprise 90% of a cat’s diet, with treats comprising the remaining 10%. Those treats, meted out in moderation, should be tailored especially for YOUR cat or after seeking the advice of your vet. Because, as with everything else in today’s competitive market – be it for people or pets -- there are treats touted not only for every palate, but for every problem as well.
 
Most cats crave catnip and  “cat grass” (a cereal grass such as wheat or oats), which are easily grown in a sunny window or bought both dried and fresh at a pet store.

Bonita tuna flakes, a favorite of felines, are low in fat and high in protein, feathery light, sinfully smelly, and oh-so-easy to eat. Again in moderation! If, however, your cat has ever suffered from urinary tract infections, either omit this treat altogether or provide her with only the occasional tasty flake. For the home cook, prepare your own treats by cooking small bits of liver, fish or eggs -- whether ordinary or certified organic. For the non-cook, there are freeze-dried treats made from chicken or meat, which are not only healthy and tasty, but are excellent for cats suffering from food allergies.
 
Coupled, of course, with a reduction in your cat’s caloric intake is an elevation in her exercise time. There’s no better substitute for snacking than loving, and you can prove to your precious puss just how much you love her by interacting with her more often and for longer periods of time on a daily basis. From rods with flying feathers and poles with dangling fish to laser light beams and tossed crunchy balls, the name of the game is movement. And paw-lenty of it.
 
But the key to success is remaining steadfast in the face of lengthy kitty hissy fits and heart wrenchingly piteous meows, persistent paw banging on cabinet doors and repeated efforts to “knead” you into submission. If overeating is detrimental to your health, “over treating” is just as detrimental to your cat’s health. Hence the word “treat” – given on occasion to make that occasion special.

by Nomi Berger
 
The fear of a pregnant woman’s contracting toxoplasmosis should never be a reason to relinquish the family’s cherished feline companion. In fact, people are more likely to become infected with toxoplasmosis by eating unwashed vegetables from their garden or by ingesting undercooked meat than from their pet.
 
If yours is an indoor cat and neither hunts nor eats raw meat, the risk of her contracting toxoplasmosis is slim. But that said, simple common sense and the proper precautions will keep you and your family safe from potential harm.
 
What then, IS toxoplasmosis? It’s a disease caused by a one-celled parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii that can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with an infected cat’s feces.
 
When an expectant mother becomes infected with toxoplasmosis, her unborn child can also become infected by way of the placenta. The dangers posed to this unborn child include birth defects and fetal death. A woman infected with the parasite PRIOR to becoming pregnant, however, poses NO threat to her unborn child.
 
Most cats infected with toxoplasmosis show no symptoms whatsoever and shed oocysts (the infective stage in the life cycle of the Toxoplasma organism) in their feces for only a few days. Since it takes a minimum of 48 hours for the oocysts to become infectious, scrupulous cleaning of your cat’s litter box DAILY will prevent its transmission. But the cornerstone to true protection is practicing good hygiene.
 
And that means donning a pair of disposable gloves, using a plastic or metal poop scoop, properly disposing of the feces, and then thoroughly washing your hands. Or a pregnant woman can avoid cleaning and changing the family cat’s litter box altogether by having another household member do it instead.
 
To further err on the side of caution, pregnant women should wash their hands thoroughly before handling or eating any food. They should avoid handling or eating raw meat. Wearing gloves while preparing meat and washing their hands afterwards will also help avoid infection. Pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening since both sand and soil may contain the infected feces of neighborhood cats. All fruits, vegetables and herbs from the garden should be washed thoroughly before being eaten. Any outdoor cats should be kept inside and never fed raw meat while a woman is pregnant.
 
And so, by taking these simple, but basic, precautions, all loving cat guardians can be assured of keeping their cats precisely where they belong – at home.

by Nomi Berger
 
Do cats really need to knead? This question abounds with as many ideas, theories and suppositions as answers, and yet it remains an endlessly fascinating topic for feline aficionados.
 
While not all cats knead, most cat guardians know a “knead” when they see or feel one. That unmistakable motion cats make by rhythmically alternating their front paws, pushing in and out against a soft, pliable object such as a lap. And not every cat kneads the same way. Some push out their claws, some don’t, and some even use all four of their paws.
 
Cats begin kneading as kittens, doing so instinctively to help stimulate the production of their mother’s milk. Why then, do they continue this behavior long after being weaned? Some animal behaviorists believe that adult cats forever associate the motion of kneading with the rewarding comfort of nursing.
 
When a cat is curled up and kneading your lap as you pet her, this is her way of returning the affection and “saying” that she loves you too. If, however, her kneading grows increasingly intense and rather painful, either insert a soft pillow between your lap and your cat, or gently roll her onto her back and pet her belly instead. But, to better ensure your mutual comfort, keep your cat’s nails closely trimmed or cover them with specifically designed nail guards.
 
Following a brief nap or a longer snooze, cats will vigorously “work out” any of the “kinks” in their bodies that result from remaining in one position for too long. Kneading is also one of the many ways they keep themselves supple and limber.
 
In the wild, the ancestors of today’s felines favored lying down on soft, comfortable surfaces both to sleep and to give birth to their young. By pressing or kneading down tall grasses or leaves, they created a natural cushion for themselves that not only allowed them the comfort they sought, but also afforded them protection from unwelcome visitors lurking nearby.
 
Being territorial creatures, one of the ways cats safeguard their purr-sonal space is to scent mark it. By kneading their paws into the surface of any given area, they’re activating the scent glands located inside the soft pads on the bottom of their paws, thereby marking that area as theirs.
 
Females are famous for kneading their paws just before going into estrus or “heat.” The very act of kneading alerts males on the prowl that they both want and are able to mate.
 
And so, whatever the reason or rationale, assumption or answer, it appears that cat kneading is natural, instinctive, and commonplace.

by Nomi Berger
 
Although “appropriate” chewing (to relieve the pain of teething, for example) may be acceptable in kittens, it’s far from acceptable in fully-grown felines.
 
Contrary to the old adage, curiosity may not kill your cat, but introduce chewing into the equation, and curiosity can certainly cause both hurt and harm. Some of the many tempting targets for little mouths and teeth -- as any experienced cat guardian knows -- include human fingers and hair, cardboard cartons and electrical cords, purse and shoe straps, shoelaces and socks. And since excessive chewing can eventually erode the surface of your cat’s teeth, this, in itself, is reason enough to find ways to exchange old habits for new.
 
Because boredom and its resulting stress bred by inactivity is one of the main culprits behind a cat’s inappropriate chewing behavior, replacing inaction with action is the simplest solution. Consider then, the following ways to re-direct your own kitty’s unspent energy towards more acceptable, more satisfying outlets.
 
1. If your cat is young and possibly experiencing the final pains of teething, provide her with a tempting assortment of chew toys to gnaw on. Starting early is the surest way of keeping her on the “straight and narrow” as she matures into full-fledged adulthood.
 
2. Change the type of food you feed your kitty or add healthy, low calorie treats to her diet. Some felines favor the tantalizing and crispy crunch of dry food, while others relish the challenge of munching on freeze-dried cat treats.
  
3. Augment your cat’s diet with various, natural grasses grown in your own, home made and hand sown miniature cat garden. Not only do these sticks, strands and shafts of wonderfully waving green provide her with some succulent snap, crackle and pop, but those same green and growing grasses can alleviate some of her boredom by virtue of being nature’s own play toy.
  
4. Minimize her boredom by creating her own, unique form of feline amusement park -- from cat play structures and stepped “highways”, puzzle toys and videos, to cat tunnels and catios – that invites her to exercise and play. This will ensure that she’s kept both emotionally stimulated and physically satisfied.
 
5. Strengthen your own personal bond with your kitty and keep both her boredom and stress at bay by engaging her in interactive playtime at least once a day.
 
6. Should your puss’s penchant for inappropriate chewing persist or intensify, take her to the vet for a thorough medical and dental assessment. Then, if she’s found to be in the pink of good health, consider consulting an animal behavior specialist to work with you on various management techniques that you, in turn, can use to turn kitty from cheeky to cheery.  

by Nomi Berger
 
Familiar with the axiom: “There may be snow on the roof top, but there is fire in the furnace”?
 
Now, imagine it this way: “There may be snow on the fur/hair, but there is fire in the soul.”
 
Not to mention a springy step, a feisty spirit and a loving heart. Describing both a senior cat and a senior citizen, when these two are placed paw in hand, more often than not, they form the perfect forever pair.
 
While understandably attracted to the “idea” of a kitten, the “reality” of one –brimming with energy, climbing everything in sight and scampering underfoot – may paint a rather exhausting pussycat picture for the average senior.
 
The solution to this purr-plexing problem is as clear as the whiskers on a fine feline’s face: match a senior cat with a senior citizen.
 
There are many benefits to adopting an older cat, a true “adult” in every sense of the word. One who has long been comfortable inside her own “skin”. One who is likely to relish sitting on a warm lap or atop a cat tree to watch the birds fly past the window. One whose appetite is no longer ravenous but reasonable. One for whom litter box training is not a learning experience, but a lifetime habit. One who will take the occasional absences of an active senior companion during the day with good grace and a genial “welcome home” meow.
 
For less active seniors or those in assisted living facilities that allow pets, felines make fabulous roommates. Unlike their canine counterparts, they don’t require a daily regime of being walked and exercised outdoors -- whether it’s hot or cold, raining or snowing. Whatever the weather, cats will remain contentedly indoors, provided their food dish, water bowl and litter box are near by. Playing cat-specific videos whose themes range from birds and butterflies to squirrels and mice will keep them endlessly entertained whether their humans are with them or not. Entranced and stimulated by the movements and sounds, they can happily view the same tape over and over.
 
Some cats adapt easily to a harness and leash, enabling their humans to take them for walks in the hallways of their seniors’ residence, outside in the garden, into the common areas, and on visits to those without pets of their own. For more finicky felines, there are specially designed, enclosed strollers, allowing them to ride safely and stylishly both indoors and out.
 
As beneficial as senior cats are for senior citizens, senior citizens are equally as beneficial for senior cats. More difficult to adopt than younger cats and kittens, but just as deserving of permanent homes, they’re all too often overlooked at shelters, humane societies and rescue groups -- and for all the wrong reasons. Senior cats seem to sense when they receive a second chance at the rest of their lives. And any senior citizen savvy enough to adopt one, will not only reap the rewards, but will be the lucky recipient of a love as endearing as it is enduring.