by Nomi Berger
 
Confronting the global pandemic and how it’s affected our daily lives is being compounded by the challenge of separating fact from fiction. Whether you’re now working from home, self-isolating or even ill with COVID-19, here’s what you should know about the novel coronavirus and your cherished kitties.
 
According to the experts, you CANNOT catch COVID-19 from your cats nor can you give it to them. The web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states: “At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including cats, can spread COVID-19.” One caveat: until more is known about this particular virus.
 
According to a vet with the American Veterinary Medical Association, there have been no cases of cats testing positive for or showing signs of the disease. And although there is a coronavirus specific to cats, it isn’t contagious to humans.
 
Are you self-isolating and symptom-free? Some authorities suggest stocking up on two weeks worth of food, medications, paper products and sanitizing supplies for yourself and the same amount of food, cat litter and other items for your kitty. Other crisis response experts, however, urge stocking up on at least a month’s worth for both of you. Why? Not only because of the unfortunate reality of hoarding and empty store shelves, but the possibility of your exhibiting symptoms only towards the end of your self-isolation.
 
If, however, you’re sick with COVID-19, you should restrict contact with your cat just as you should restrict contact with every other member of your household. Avoid petting and snuggling your cat, being kissed or licked by her, and sharing your food with her. Wash your hands before and after you interact with her and wear a facemask.
 
Why? If you sneeze or cough on your cat and someone in your home pets her, that person could potentially pick up the infection. While the CDC hasn’t YET recorded any cases of this happening, they still recommend exercising an abundance of caution. When in doubt, have a healthy person in your household be your cat’s primary caregiver temporarily (if you live alone, ask a family member or reliable friend to act on your behalf). Being sick is NO reason to either surrender or abandon her!
 
If you’re ill and your cat has a non-urgent, wellness appointment with the vet, call your vet, explain the situation and reschedule your appointment. Even if you’re not ill, err on the side of caution, and call your vet to reschedule the visit anyway. If, on the other hand, you’re ill, quarantined, and your cat needs urgent veterinary care, contact your vet and your public health officials so that she can receive the attention she requires (this is where your kitty’s temporary guardian comes in) while you remain in quarantine.
 
For more information on this continually evolving situation, visit the Centers for Disease Control web site at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/whats-new-all.html

by Nomi Berger
 
1. It gives your kitty some purrs-onal space: Cats aren’t as sociable as dogs. At times they may curl up beside you on the couch while at others they may choose to be alone -- particularly in a multi-pet household. A cat tree provides them with a safe space that’s solely theirs.
 
2. It’s entertaining: Curiosity is part of a cat’s nature, and being agile and athletic, they will happily jump onto kitchen counters, the refrigerator, and high cupboards – not to mention your furniture -- to satisfy their need to explore and stay active. A cat tree, particularly tall ones, can afford them hours of stimulation and fun as they leap from perch to perch and play with, bat about and swat at the tree’s attached toys.
 
3. It provides exercise: Not only should cats maintain a healthy weight, they must also exercise – and that means frisking and frolicking and jumping around. An elaborate cat tree is the ideal structure to keep them constructively occupied and engaged especially if you’re not home for long periods of time.
 
4. It helps reduce anxiety: If your cat hides beneath beds or underneath furniture when she hears a loud noise or when guests come to call, provide her with a sense of safety, a “go to” place, in the form of a cat tree. As an added incentive, spray some catnip on its perches and dangling toys and watch her fearfulness slowly dissipate, turning her from anxious to appeased, from cautious to calm.
 
5. It encourages sharing: Since cats are extremely territorial and would rather fight than share – whether it’s a couch or a windowsill – a cat tree is the perfect solution. Ensuring that all of the cats in a multi-cat household feel safe and “at home” is vital for their mental health. Put up an oversized tree with various levels and perches, thereby enabling them to “mark” their own area and to co-exist peacefully without treading on one another’s paws.
 
6. It’s a cat’s “castle”: Whatever the breed, all felines feel the need to be kings or queens of their “castles” and the meow-sters of all they survey. In fact, nothing delights them more than climbing onto the highest spot in the room and gazing for hours at their owners below. A tantalizingly tall tower will not only give them a sense of control but also provide them with an attractive alternative to scratching your furniture and covering other high surfaces with their hair. What better place to self-groom in satisfaction while sitting at the highest level of the tree and staring down at the room – and people -- below or gazing out the window at the wide and wondrous world?

by Nomi Berger
 
Why do cats have whiskers? For more reasons than they can count on one paw. Consider then, these seven scintillating snippets about a kitty’s wondrous whiskers.
 
1. They are especially sensitive: Since a cat’s whiskers are rooted more deeply in the skin than ordinary fur, the area around them has a very generous supply of blood and nerves. This makes the whiskers’ tips so sensitive that they can detect the slightest change in the direction of a breeze. On the downside, such hypersensitivity can actually cause your cat pain if you “toy” with them in any way. And because eating from a narrow bowl that presses on her whiskers can also be painful, try putting her food on a plate instead or buy her a wide, flat feeding bowl.
 
2. They aren’t only on her nose: Besides the eight to 12 whiskers your cat has on either side of her nose, she has shorter whiskers above her eyes, on her chin and on the backs of her lower front legs.
 
3. They help her figure out where she’ll fit: Because your cat’s whiskers are usually about as long as she is wide, they assist her in determining the width of various openings and whether or not she can safely and successfully slide her body through them.
 
4. They assist her in effectively hunting prey: Cats are farsighted (they don’t see well up close). This means that when they catch their prey, whether that prey is a live mouse or a favorite feather toy, they need a way to sense their prey is in the proper position for the “fatal” bite. Most crucial for this purpose are the whiskers on the backs of her forelegs and to a lesser degree, those on her chin and the sides of her nose.
 
5. They serve as an emotional barometer: The position of your cat’s whiskers can be an indicator of her mood. If her whiskers are relaxed and sticking out sideways, it means that she’s calm. If they’re pushed forward, it means that she’s alert and excited. If they’re flattened against her cheeks, it means that she’s angry or scared. But to confirm the message her whiskers are sending, examine the position of her ears and tail as well.
 
6. They should never be cut: While your cat sheds a few whiskers from time to time, you should never, ever trim them. She’ll become disoriented, dizzy and confused because she’s no longer receiving the vital navigational signals she needs. Imagine if you were suddenly blindfolded and unable to remove the blindfold for WEEKS! This is precisely how your kitty will feel if you cut her all-important whiskers.
 
7. They can change color: Don’t be surprised or alarmed if you discover a white whisker growing in your kitty’s otherwise solid black fur as she gets older. Like most people, cats will begin going gray with age, but it’s more noticeable in cats whose fur is a dark, solid color as opposed to patterned.