Cats love to scratch anything they can dig their little claws into.  Cats scratch for many reasons and unfortunately, they often tear up something they shouldn’t.  My carpet has certainly seen better days as well as the boxspring on my guest bed.  Once a cat picks a place to scratch, it can be tough to deter her.

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A friend of mine recently had an issue with her siamese cat.  Every night, around bed time, the cat would start howling and would not stop for at least an hour.  My friend was losing sleep and had no idea what to do. 

Siamese, as well as Burmese, have a tendency to make a lot of noise.  They are genetically predisposed to howling and meowing loudly.  So, most likely the case of the howling cat had nothing to do with any medical issues.  This is always a possibility, however, and visiting the vet before trying to correct any behavior is a good idea.  In the end, my friend concluded that her cat was howling for attention.

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                               We, as people, take our dental health quite seriously.  We brush our teeth twice a day and floss once a day, at least we know we should.  We go to the dentist once or twice a year.  But what about our cats?  How much dental care do they need?

Aside from bad breath, neglecting your cat’s teeth can and probably will result in gum disease.  They can also develop plaque, gingivitis, periodontal disease, mouth sores and ulcers, and heart, liver, or kidney disease, just to name a few concerns.

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One of my two cats, Beaker reminds me of a cow.  Why you ask?  She grazes.  Her favorite plant to eat, so far, is pansy.  Currently, they are out of season in our neck of the woods, but when I can, I bring her home a nice potted pansy.  She sticks her whole head into the plant first and then begins to selectively bite and chew her way through the leaves and flowers.  My other cat will occasionally bite at the leaves, but she doesn’t enjoy it nearly as much as Beaker.

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We have all heard for years now about the rising rates of obesity and consequently diabetes in people.  More recently, pets, and specifically cats, have mimiced this trend.  According to an article in the Rochester, MN, Post-Bulletin, diabetes in cats is on the rise.  Different vets have different ideas about the causes and preventions for this.

All vets agree that, like people, many cats eat too much and exercise too little.  According to Friskies, adult cats should eat 3/4 - 1 ounce of food per pound of body weight each day.  If you have the type of cat who will eat like a dog, not stop until the food is gone, you need to limit what you put out.

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                              Our cats communicate with us and with each other in various ways.  We all know what it means when her hair stands up, her back arches, and her tail puffs up.  Body language is very important, but so are the different sounds a cat makes.  Scientists and vets have identified 16 unique cat noises, which all communicate different messages.  The sounds fall into three categories: murmurs or purring, vowel sounds, like meows, and loud, intense sounds.

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Recently, I watched a show about big cat rescuers.  They were raising a baby leopard in a house with two bulldogs and a boxer.  It was interesting to watch how the dogs reacted to the kitten.  The kitten pounced and attacked the dogs and the dogs patiently let him.  When the cat had reached a size comparable to the dogs, then they began to wrestle with him.  It was all very playful and nobody got hurt.  So, can cats and dogs always get along?

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Publix, which has about 600 locations throughout the Southeast, offers seven different types of antibiotics for free.  The store has advertised these freebies largely through physicians and pediatricians, but with a prescription from your vet, you can also get these for free.

The store offers Amoxicillin, Chephalexin, the generic for Keslex, Penicillin VK, Ciprofloxacin, Ampicillin, Erythromycin, and Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim.  They will provide you with up to a 14 day supply for free with a prescription.

These seven antibiotics represent 50% of all prescribed antibiotics and are used to treat anything from ear infections to bladder and skin infections.  If you can’t find a Publix near you, try Target or Walmart, both of which advertise more than 300 common prescriptions for only $4 each.

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The Scottish Fold, and its long-haired cousin, the Highland Fold, are two of the more unusual looking cat breeds out there. The “Fold” in the name comes from their folded ears. As kittens, they have normal ears, but by two to three weeks old, their ears begin to fold forward. The ears fold to varying degrees depending on the cat, and for some not at all, and the fold becomes permanent. They look a bit like owls, and a bit like angry cats.

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There are many dangers to your kitty lurking in your home at any time of the year. Here are some Christmas and New Years hazards to watch out for.

1. Plants. Holly, lillies, mistletoe, and other holiday plants are toxic to cats. Unless you are absolutely sure your kitty will not nibble on the leaves, keep these out of your home.

2. Ribbons. Do not tie a bow around your cat’s neck. It may look cute, but she could easily choke if it gets hooked on something and she panics.

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