December 2011

The Cat and the Toilet Paper: An Epic Tale

Does your cat like to eat the paper in your house as well?

The other night, I went inside of my master bedroom bathroom to, umm, do my business. Upon my arrival to the throne, I noticed that the toilet paper holder was completely empty. I swore that I had just refilled it a few hours before. Was I mistaken?

My eyes then glanced downward, where I quickly solved the case of the missing roll. It appeared that a fluffy furball ventured into the bathroom at some point and had a battle with the toilet paper. Not a single square of paper survived the ordeal. It all strewn about in a chaotic mess on the floor of the bathroom.

Dental Health is Vital for Cats

A few days ago, I noticed that one of my cats had really BAD breath - not the normal stinky, fishy, cat food breath, but breath so terrible that I had to turn my head away whenever he wanted to cuddle. I knew that something was wrong. The next day, he would not let me rub the side of his face without cringing. Of course, I wasted no time in getting him an appointment at the vet.

During his exam, the vet noticed that he had a few broken teeth. The put him under anesthesia and performed a dental cleaning. While he was out, they decided that three of his fractured teeth were unsalvageable. They were pulled.

Unique Cat Names

When it comes to naming a new cat, most people want to avoid the totally overdone Spots, Boots, Socks and Figaros.  Finding a unique cat name can be very difficult, though.  I really have trouble naming anything until I have had a chance to get to know its personality, and even then, it can be hard to avoid the cliché names.  They’re cliché names for a reason!

Protect Your Furniture From Kitty's Claws

No, my couch is not your scratching post!

Like many other cat lovers out there, I live with scratched up furniture. No matter how many expensive, fancy and cat-nip infused scratching posts I scatter throughout the house, my cats prefer to sharpen their claws on my sofa instead. It is very expensive to fix and maintain all of the upholstered goods. Declawing is out of the question. Can cat owners have nice things?

Surely there is a better way.

After searching high and low for a solution to this problem, I finally found a product that really works - Soft Paws.

Hypoallergenic Cats

Cats make some of the best companions.  Solid, steady and low maintenance, they can be your best friend and really help melt daily stresses away.  For anyone with allergies, however, owning (or being owned by) a cat can be a real nightmare.  Fortunately, some cats produce far fewer allergens than others, and while no cat is truly hypoallergenic, these breeds will often be suitable for those with allergies.

Ode to Mama Kitty

Growing up, we had a Persian/Siamese mix cat named, originally enough, Mama Kitty.  Mama Kitty came to us when I was four, and had the most distinct personality of any cat I can ever remember knowing.  Her face was something of a mix between the flat Persian and the pointed Siamese, but my mom always joked that she looked like she ran into a brick wall.  She had the most luxurious, silky black hair that she fastidiously cleaned constantly.

Cats and Christmas Trees: A Disastrous Combination

Keeping Kitty Out of the Tree

Last year, my husband and I spent hours putting up a Christmas tree in our front living area. It was beautiful. The lights sparkled, and the ornaments were all hung with love. I dreamt of sipping hot apple cider next to the tree, while watching snowflakes fall from the sky through the window.

My cat, however, had a different plan. He was excited that Mommy and Daddy put up a giant cat climbing obstacle course in the room. In less than an hour, he had ventured to the highest point of the tree, only to have it tumble down. I found my carefully erected tree on the ground, with ornaments scattered about.

Puss in Boots Packs Positive Cat Messages—and Fun

We took our daughter to see Puss in Boots during the Canned Food Film Festival this weekend, in which you can get free movie tickets in exchange for canned goods. It seemed as if the festival itself were smaller than usual, which is too bad since we usually raise a lot of cans for the food pantry. The staff seemed pretty cranky, too, which was weird. Anyhow, the movie itself was very enjoyable, and I’m glad we went to see it. (Spoilers ahead.)