The Egyptian Mau cat   The first time you see an Egyptian Mau, you might say to yourself what the exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy, who introduced the Mau to the western world said: I have to have one of these cats.   The Egyptian Mau is a spotted like a tiny cheetah, and you may be forgiven for thinking that the animal belongs in the wild, not in your living room. But you’ll be captivated, if not by the Egyptian Mau’s exotic coat pattern, then by its appealing expression. Some say the Egyptian Mau always has worried look on its face.   But not so fast: the Egyptian ..read more

Are nail caps or claw covers for cats safe?   Your cat may be your “baby” but cats have at least 10 deadly weapons on the front paws alone to remind us that our sweet little darlings are really killing machines.   Outdoors, those claws would keep your cat alive: fighting enemies, making quick escapes, and bringing home the bacon.   But indoors, those scalpel-sharp nails can wreak havoc on your furniture and skin.   There’s a solution for most indoor cats that will allow them to be their cat selves AND civilized indoor citizens: nail caps.   What are nail or claw ..read more

Should I give my cat fish oil? (*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.)   When my doctor suggested that I start taking fish oil for my health, I found it easy to get good information about the health benefits of fish oil in humans.   But what about my pets? If people benefit from taking fish oil, could fish oil be good for cats, too?   The short answer is yes, fish oil can be very beneficial to a cat’s health, although there isn’t nearly enough scientific research about this topic as any of us cat lovers ..read more

Do cats land on their feet?   Cats are magical. Anyone who has ever loved a cat already knows that. But do they have special powers?   One of the seemingly mystical abilities attributed to cats is their apparent ability to land on their feet no matter which way they fall, and no matter the height from which they fall.   Is it true? Do cats land on their feet? And do they always land on their feet?   Spoiler alert: cats do have a special, innate ability to twist themselves right-side-up during a fall, that seems to defy the laws of physics. And there are documented cases of ..read more

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)   Are you thinking of adopting a FeLV-positive cat? Or perhaps a cat you already love has just been diagnosed with this disease.   Whatever brought you to this post, I’m sure you have many questions about Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). It’s my goal to answer them all here.   I’ll start with explaining what the FeLV virus is, how it behaves inside your cat, what the prognosis is for a cat with FeLV, and what treatments are currently available.   But before diving in, there are four things you should know upfront about Feline Leukemia Virus:   ..read more

Can I feed my cat a vegan or vegetarian diet?   If you are thinking about feeding your cat a vegan or vegetarian diet, your heart is in the right place.   But I’m here to tell you not to do it.   You might be concerned about the ethics of meat production, or its environmental impact. Maybe you think a vegan or vegetarian diet is healthier for your cat.   But cats cannot safely and healthfully live a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Cats need to eat meat to survive.   In this post I explain the science behind why cats can’t be vegans or vegetarians.   I also talk ab ..read more

The Korat cat   The Korat, a silvery-blue cat from Thailand, is a truly ancient breed of cat. (Well…probably.)   If you’ve been reading my blog for a while know, you know that many cat breeds that claim to be ancient, aren’t. But the Korat is one of the few cats that have likely changed very little over the centuries.   It’s actually a little more complicated than that, because the Thai people have a very different way of looking at cat fancy than their Western counterparts. But we’ll dive into that in a minute.   The Korat is an unusual cat in many other ways, too, and it ..read more

Why do cats wiggle before they pounce?   I don’t like to play favorites, but this particular cat behavior is one of mine: the butt wiggle before the pounce.   Hunting is serious business for cats, and there’s not a cat alive who would appreciate being called “adorable” when they’re about to ambush a house fly. But that’s exactly what this behavior is: cute as all get-out.   But cats don’t waste energy being cute, especially when they’re in the middle of an energy-sucking activity like hunting. There must be a scientific reason why cats shake their backsides before attacking. &n ..read more

All about gray cats   Gray is a word used to describe gloomy moods and rainy days. It’s the color of concrete and ash. It’s a hue decorators consign to “neutral” and dictionaries can only define by what it is not: neither white, nor black.   But in cats, gray is an astonishing color. From dove to oyster, and all the way to the deepest, darkest slate, gray cats of any shade are stunners. Emerald, gold, or sapphire eyes against a lustrous gray background only adds to the magic.   But how do cats come by their gray fur? Is gray a rare color for cats? And what cat breeds can be gra ..read more

Why does my cat’s breath stink?   A little yawn…a little meow in your face…and whoa!! What the heck?   Let’s face it: kitty breath is rarely a bouquet of roses. There’s a perfectly good reason for that.   But if your cat’s breath is suddenly worse than normal, it’s something to take notice of.   Let’s jump into all the possible reasons why your cat’s breath might smell bad, and when it’s time to call the vet.   What does “normal” cat breath smell like?   A somewhat-unlovely breath odor is normal for any animal who eats meat, and cats, who are obligate carnivores ..read more