by Nomi Berger
 
After birds, cats have the widest range of vocalizations of any domestic pet. They’re capable of making many distinct sounds with multiple variations of each – all indicative of their mood.
 
Meow
Purr-haps the most common is an adult cat’s meow, first uttered when kittens as more of a “mew” when in need of their mother’s milk. Used solely to communicate with humans, a meowing cat usually wants something – food, attention, access to a room -- or simply to say hi. Occasionally, a meow signals loneliness or even illness. Older cats may meow more due to failing senses. Rapid-fire meows demand your prompt attention, while longer, plaintive and throaty “meow-w-w-s” may indicate worry, annoyance or displeasure.
 
Purr
This pleasurable sound is a soft, deep, throaty rumble, made when cats are their most content – usually while nesting in their owners’ laps as they stroke them. In rare instances, purring indicates they’re concerned about something, especially if their ears are back and their bodies seems tense.
 
Chirps, Trills and Chirrups
Learned as kittens, these birdlike utterances are more like declarations. Originally used by mothers to “tell” their offspring to pay attention and follow her, adult cat may chirp to get their owners’ attention or urge them to view something they deems vital. They may also emit little chirrups and trills when they’re especially happy and excited.
 
Chatter
Cats often chatter their teeth while gazing longingly out the window at a bird or a squirrel. Sometimes accompanied by a chirp or a squeak, chattering is thought to indicate a cat’s predatory excitement and frustration at not being able to pursue that perceived prey.
 
Hiss
This unmistakable sound -- like a steak sizzling on the grill -- means a cat feels threatened. Add an arched back, puffed hair, twitchy tail, flattened ears and open mouth, and kitty is poised and ready to fight.
 
Snarls and Growls
Often accompanying the hiss are random snarls and growls – another indicator of fear, anger or territorial threat (especially in outdoor cats). High pitched, starting or ending with a yowl, these sounds will be coupled with the classic defensive body posture of the hiss.
 
Yowl
Resembling a long, drawn-out moan, it signals worry, discomfort, territorial concerns or mating issues (in roaming or outdoor cats). It can also occur when cats aren’t feeling well, when their senses or cognitive functions decline, or when they’re just bored.
 
Caterwaul
Uttered by intact females in heat, this brief, plaintive, hollow-sounding version of a yowl is their seductive version of a “come hither” call to any and all prospective mates milling about nearby.
 
Scream
An ear-splitting sound released at the painful end of the mating process or after a fight, complete with paw swats or vicious bites, the near purr-fect solution to both of these issues is sterilizing your cats and keeping them safely indoors.
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Are your pussycats’ purr-sonalities written in the stars? It may be more fancy than fact, but consulting the cosmos for clues can be both entertaining and illuminating. All you need are their birth dates to see if they match the birth signs below.

Aries (March 21 – April 20)
 
Aires cats are adventurous, bright and brave, and are seldom deterred by obstacles. Often impulsive and always energetic, they thrive on exploring, eliciting appreciative grins from their humans as they frolic like kitty cat clowns. But what these amiable kitties love most is being the center of their owners’ attention.
 
Taurus (April 21 – May 20)
 
Taurus cats relish the finer things in life, especially food, making exercise an absolute must to maintain their fit physiques. Their stubborn streak requires both a set routine and a pristine litter box, and although they may play hard to get, once you win them over, these terrific kitties will be loyal to you and only you.
 
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
 
Gemini cats are chatty and charming, flitting airily about, and winning hearts wherever they go. True to their “twin” sign, they may also display a duality in their temperament, mischievously manic one minute and startlingly sullen the next. And yet their undeniable magnetism makes these glorious kitties hard to resist.
 
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
 
Cancer cats were born to love and please their owners. Emotional and expressive, they have the most nurturing and sensitive natures. Their demonstrative side is clear in the tender way they lick their humans’ foreheads and cuddle up close to them. How lucky, then, are the recipients of these caring cats’ ministrations?
 
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
 
Leo cats are lions in miniature, endearingly extroverted, regal yet rakish, who covet being the center of everyone’s undivided attention. Ever so entertaining, whether “fighting” themselves in the mirror or hunting dust bunnies under the furniture, these lovable kitties wear their royal robes with a saucy sense of humor.
 
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
 
Virgo cats give new meaning to the word “purr-fection”. Fastidious self-groomers, they not only tend to themselves daily but they expect the same from those tending to their litter box. Firm fans of labor and fixed foes of laziness, they may make marvelous mousers, but their most appealing asset is the way they venerate their chosen people.
 
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
 
Libra cats are all about balance. When relating to their owners, they expect their displays of affection to be equally reciprocated, and they blossom in the companionship of other cats. Fair and kind, yet occasionally indecisive when it comes to completing “projects”, these levelheaded kitties are never indecisive about whom they love.
 
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
 
Scorpio cats are intense! Fiercely loyal, they flourish in deep, meaningful relationships with their owners -- to the point of possessiveness -- and can tend to resource guard around other cats. But their innate desire for intimacy and love make these infinitely social felines the most impassioned of fur-ever companions.
 
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
 
Sagittarius cats delight in staring dreamily and endlessly out windows. Never bashful about “meowing” their mind, they’ll happily knead your chest to drive home their point any time of the day or night. And yet, their overall positive attitude and encouraging nature combine to make these sassy cats sincerely indispensable.
 
Capricorn (December 23 – January 22)
 
Capricorn cats are both ambitious and goal oriented, never stopping until successfully completing the task at paw. Fearless risk takers and fiercely competitive, they’re also extremely playful, making these capering kitties not only sources of inspiration but welcome additions to any active and loving household.
 
Aquarius (January 23 – Feb 18)
 
Aquarius cats favor their freedom above all else and are famous for getting lost, making microchips a must. Often aloof, rebellious and quirky, they nonetheless adore their friends, particularly their pet parents, and never tire of showing them how much they truly care in spite of their active attempts to wander.
 
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
 
Pisces cats excel at being empathetic which makes them excellent service animals for those suffering from depression or anxiety. Instinctively intuitive, they possess the ability to “read” their owners’ minds, and while they may cling to them like ivy or pout when things aren’t purr-fect, they make the most purr-fect soul mates.
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Not only are white cats rare and valuable, they are also vulnerable. Why? Because the white of their coat isn’t actually a color, but the ABSENCE of color. And why is this so vital? Because these exquisitely beautiful cats have no protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
 
The variety and distribution of natural “dyes” in the skin and fur of cats are responsible for their coats’ colors and patterns. One such “dye” is melanin, the main protector against ultraviolet radiation in cats just as in humans. White cats have either no melanin or very little, putting them at high risk of both sunburn and skin cancer.
 
For the owners of white cats, protection is paramount: keep kittens indoors from birth and keep adopted or grown cats’ sun exposure to a minimum. If, however, your particular kitty is content to simply BE outdoors without roaming, tether her to a tree or post in a shaded area and watch her closely as she watches the birds and squirrels. For cats used to coming and going, apply a sun-block cream to their ear rims, nose, eyelids and lips, and restrict their outdoor time to the late afternoon and early evening.
 
In the absence of protection and often, despite it, white cats exposed to the sun are likely to get sun burnt. With repeated exposure, these sunburns will, more often than not, become cancerous. Concerned owners should check for reddened bumps on kitty’s ear rims and around her nose, eyes and lips, which, unlike insect bites or allergic reactions, are seldom itchy. The sooner kitty’s seen by a vet, the better the chances of controlling her cancer since this form of skin cancer often responds well to treatment. It is, of course, only a temporary solution if the cat remains exposed to the sun.
 
Cats with pure, snow-white coats are part of a diverse population depending on the color of their eyes. Example: white cats with blue eyes are missing a surface “dye” in their eyes as well as in their coats. Blue eyes in adults signify an absence of color in the upper layers of the iris. What appears blue is, in reality, black, due to the “black dye” melanin in the deeper layer of the iris.
 
These cats are also often deaf, since the gene responsible for iris color is linked to the gene responsible for hearing. Quite naturally, deaf cats require extra care. They should never be left outdoors where they’re vulnerable to dangers such as approaching cars, aggressive dogs and other assorted predators. If taken outside, they must be walked on a leash or tethered nearby and closely monitored. In addition, deaf cats make poor mothers because they can’t hear their kittens’ mewing.
 
Many white cats have one blue eye and one green eye. Green, unlike blue, means the presence of color. These particular cats are deaf in only one ear, although not necessarily on the same side as the blue eye. Other white cats have orange eyes, resulting from a color located above the black melanin. Albinos suffer from a total lack of melanin in their skin, fur and eyes (their eyes seem red because you can see through their colorless outer layers to the blood vessels in the iris), and are exceedingly rare.

by Nomi Berger
 
Can cats catch colds? Paws-itively!
 
The culprits behind a cold, or upper respiratory infection (URI), are bacteria or viruses, sometimes both, and its symptoms can include sniffling, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, wheezing, clear to pus-like discharge around the eyes, and lethargy. Fortunately, cats can’t pass their colds on to people just as we can’t pass ours on to them, but they can affect every other cat in a multi-cat household. 
 
Although most of the agents that cause a URI don’t survive very long (from a few hours to a few weeks) in the environment, they can last a very long time in a cat’s respiratory tract, in either a latent or potent form. Many cats carry these agents inside them throughout their lives, causing them to suffer from occasional flare-ups when stressed or when their immune systems are weak. They may also pass these agents on to other cats even if they themselves aren’t actively sick.
 
To help keep such paw-tential “predators” at bay, keep your own cat indoors and away from other sick animals. Keep her environment scrupulously clean, and that includes clean food, clean water bowls and a clean home. Keep the temperature consistent, and if she ever gets wet, either dry her off immediately or make certain that she stays warm while she dries off. Speak to your vet about annual vaccinations to ward off such infections.
 
At the sound of your kitty’s first “ker-choo”, separate her from all of your other pets since the incubation period for these infections is between two and ten days. Then increase the humidity inside your home by either using a humidifier or by taking your snuffling sweetie into a steamy bathroom several times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Make certain that her water bowl is kept clean and filled to keep her adequately hydrated. Encourage her to eat either by warming her usual food in the microwave to enhance its smell, by offering her canned instead of dry food, or by providing her with an especially tasty food that she hasn’t tried before. Wipe her face, eyes and nose with a warm washcloth several times a day to clear away any mucus or other discharge while murmuring soothingly to calm her as you do.
 
A minor infection will often clear up on its own, but if there’s no improvement within five to seven days, bring your cat to the vet. You should, however, see the vet immediately if your cat isn’t eating (cats who don’t eat for even a day or two can be at risk for hepatic lipidosis, a potentially lethal liver disease), or if she’s having extreme difficulty breathing.
 
The clinical signs and symptoms are generally sufficient to confirm a URI, but only diagnostic testing can determine its cause. Your vet, therefore, may recommend the following: a complete blood count to rule out blood-related conditions; chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver and pancreatic function, as well as sugar levels; electrolyte tests to ensure your cat isn’t dehydrated or suffering from an electrolyte imbalance; urine tests to screen for a urinary tract infection and/or other diseases, and to evaluate the ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine, and tests for both feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
 
In most cases, a URI can be treated successfully with a course of drug therapy -- antibiotics, decongestants, antivirals – accompanied by ongoing rest, nourishing food and copious liquids.
 
And, above all, your own TL(K)C – tender loving kitty care.

by Nomi Berger

Cats’ eyes, so large and so lovely, can also signal injury or illness.
 
Consider the condition called Anisocoria, where the pupil of one eye is larger than the pupil of the other eye. Odd sized pupils occur for a number of reasons and may or may not be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying cause.
 
An immediate visit to your vet is a MUST if you also notice: a change in the color of kitty’s eye, redness or cloudiness; a change in the position of the eye in its socket; any abnormal eye movement; a drooping eyelid; head tilting; pawing at the eye as if it hurts; obvious loss of vision, or confusion.
 
Anisocoria may be neurological or ocular and can result from any of the following:
 
Glaucoma: increased fluid pressure within the eyeball.
 
Anterior uveitis: inflammation of the uvea, the pigmented layer of the eye.
 
Corneal ulcers: open sores on the cornea.
 
Spastic pupil syndrome: a symptom of FeLV (feline leukemia virus) that may alternate between eyes.
 
Oculomotor nerve paralysis: caused by a head injury, tumor or aneurysm or by such systemic diseases as diabetes and hypertension.
 
Tumors: brain, eye or optic nerve tumors.
 
Horner’s syndrome: a condition that causes drooping of the upper eyelid and constriction of the pupil.
 
Stroke: a rupture or blockage of a blood vessel in the brain causing a loss of blood supply to that area of the brain.
 
Head trauma: it may cause bleeding inside the brain that produces increased pressure within the skull.
 
Iris atrophy: most often seen in senior cats, the thinning of these colored cells can lead to a change in pupil size in the affected eye.
 
Medications like atropine that causes the pupil to dilate.
 
Your vet will begin with a complete physical followed by a thorough examination of kitty’s affected eye. This includes tests to measure the intra-ocular pressure inside her eye as well as her tear production. He’ll search for evidence of any injury to her cornea by instilling an eye drop that stains her cornea with a fluorescent dye and by taking scrapings from the surface of her eye. He may order a complete blood count, biochemical profile and urinalysis to evaluate her overall health. He will also need to determine if the cause is ocular or neurological. In some cases, where the cause can’t be easily determined, he will refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for more highly specialized diagnostic work and a firm diagnosis.
 
Once you receive a diagnosis, you will also receive a treatment plan. Depending on the cause of kitty’s condition, her recovery may be partial or complete. But at least the question as to the reason for her Anisocoria will have been answered.