Article by Darlene L. Norris

Have you ever heard any of these myths about feline diabetes? If you have a diabetic cat, you need to know the truth about this disease, not a bunch of old wives' tales. Don't be paralyzed by ignorance. Know the facts about your feline diabetic, and learn how you can help him.

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Myth #1. You'll Have To Put Your Diabetic Cat To Sleep

Not necessarily. Unless your pet has other health issues like kidney failure or is very elderly, it's possible to manage this disease. However, you do need to realize that it does take quite a bit of time, especially at first, to learn how to check your furry friend's blood sugar and then to give him an insulin injection, if needed.

Myth #2. You Can't Prevent Feline Diabetes

Actually, some experts firmly believe that this condition is a man-made disease, and that it's totally preventable by feeding your pet a high-quality canned food instead of dry cat food.

The biggest issue with dry food is that the carbohydrate level is much too high for your kitty. Felines are meant to eat meat, not grains, and most dry foods are overwhelmingly composed of grains. Although this is good for the bottom line of the pet food companies, it's not good for the bottom line concerning your pet's health.

Feeding too much of the wrong kind of food leads to an overweight feline, which is a sure recipe for many other health problems, including diabetes in cats.

Myth #3.You Can't Check Your Kitty's Blood Sugar Levels At Home

Of course you can. In fact, you should. It's essential to know what his blood sugar level is before you give him an insulin injection. You'll also save a lot of time and money if you don't always have to be taking your pet to the vet for a blood sugar check. Plus it's much less stressful for your furball if you can do it at home. Your vet can and should teach you how to to this.

Myth #4. Once Your Furball Is On Insulin, You'll Never Get Him Off

Actually, diabetes in cats can sometimes be reversed by changing your kitty's diet. As mentioned above, he shouldn't be eating dry food at all. Canned food is best. If he's overweight, he needs to lose weight, but slowly and carefully, as a too-rapid weight loss can lead to very serious problems.

Get your kitty exercising more. Encourage him to play by tempting him with a toy on a string. Exercise will help him lose weight, and is a great way to manage blood sugar levels naturally. Start slowly, and work up to two or three ten-minute sessions a day.

Myth #5. Natural Remedies For Cats Are A Waste Of Time

Research has shown that herbs, including goat's rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, are very effective in controlling blood sugar levels in pets, as well as in people. In fact, by using a combination of diet, exercise, and herbs and dietary supplements, you may be able to dispense with insulin injections completely.

Don't buy into any of these myths about feline diabetes. Stop feeling helpless and take charge of your kitty's health today. Learn more about how diet, exercise, and natural remedies for cats can control and even reverse diabetes in cats.

Darlene Norris has combined her experience working at a vet clinic with her long-time interest in natural healing to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Diabetes Control. Learn how you can use natural remedies for cats to treat your diabetic cat by visiting http://NaturalPetDiabetesControl.com

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Read this article by Dr. Peters of Hi Plains Animal Welfare Society before you try to remove kittens you find. You can also read more about Kitten Season there.

Just yesterday, a group of children brought me a box of kittens and asked me to "rescue" them. Their mothers had told them to put the kittens back where they found them. The kids were unhappy with that order and soon located me.

I'm the local cat rescuer, so it seemed logical to ask me. But the facts of the situation show how little people know about cats, kittens and proper rescue procedures. The mothers weren't too far off with their advice, except that it doesn't solve anything. It only would have helped these kittens survive in their current situation... maybe.

Are They Really Abandoned?

The first mistake the kids made was to assume the kittens were lost or abandoned. But when they approached and gathered them up, they saw the mother cat dart away. They then felt justified in assuming she was abandoning them, and if they were to survive, it would be up to them.

This action deprived the kittens of their mother, the one who is best equipped to raise them, and it deprived the mother cat of her young, to whom she is physiologically and instinctively committed. Without naturally weaning and releasing them herself, she will now go into heat soon and become impregnated again.

The overpopulation cycle actually speeds up with this simple theft of the young from the nest. It mimics what cats do: Roaming males, or tom cats, seek out females to reproduce with. If they find kittens they didn't father, they kill them, the female soon goes into estrus, and the male completes his mission to reproduce his own gene pool.

Have a Plan

So how can we end the overpopulation cycle? First, we have to be smarter than the cats. Simply collecting kittens without a plan only contributes to the stray cat problem. Even with barn cats, I no longer accept what farmers often call "excess" kittens without their mother, who must be spayed before they are returned to their barn life. (After accepting 3 litters from the same cat at one farm, I learned that these people weren't going to fix the problem, so I did, and it became a policy of my shelter that mothers, if available, must accompany surrendered kittens.)

This is how the children should have handled yesterday's litter:

When they discovered the crying kittens, all nestled together in a grass thicket or a wood pile, they should have called their local shelter (or some responsible adult who understands cats) to request help rescuing this little family. While waiting for help to arrive, their mission would be to keep an eye on things from a non-threatening distance. The mother cat would most likely return, and then might remove her babies to another, safer (in her mind) location. Cats seek privacy when they have babies to care for.

Call an Experienced Rescuer

Ideally, help would arrive before she moved any, in the form of someone with a trap. One or all of the kittens could be placed into it, as "bait." Then, when mama kitty goes in, you have them all safely confined and they can be moved.

Admittedly, that kind of luck is not common. Therefore, the next method is to gather the kittens and take them to a safe place, while a trap is set for the mother at that location. Keep enough distance so she will return to see if the babies are still there. Instead of using food as bait, place a cloth that has the kittens' scent on it inside the trap. If you put food in it, some other cat might go in to eat, and you will collect the wrong cat.

Never Leave a Trap Unwatched Too Long

The trap needs to be watched so you can take her quickly to join her young ones, probably to a shelter where she can attend to them in a comfortable, quiet setting. If they are put into a cage in the general, noisy or bustling surroundings, she might kill them, as mother cats often will refuse to raise a family in what they consider to be a threatening environment.

This is most likely to happen with feral cats, as they are afraid of humans. Strays, on the other hand, are usually abandoned former housecats and may be wary, but not terrified. (Warning: It's still wise to deal with all loose cats cautiously to avoid injury. Even a tame mother animal can be a tornado if frightened. Therefore, do not try to touch them.)

Feral moms should be spayed and vaccinated before being returned to their territories, while strays may be adoptable after they have weaned the little ones and have been spayed.

Though cats can reproduce at any time of the year, spring and summer are the most common seasons to bring new cats into the world. It's called Kitten Season, and is the time when most people encounter kittens in all kinds of scenarios and may try to "rescue" them. It's critical to do it correctly if you truly want them to survive. Dr. RJ Peters established a rescue shelter in 2002 and likes to share the lessons learned to help others.

Article by Thomas Hapka

Each year, scores of pet owners receive the shocking news that their beloved cats have been diagnosed with FIV (also known as the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). But there are many things veterinarians typically don't tell these pet owners about the realities of this disease and the available treatment options. Here are a few examples.

1. A diagnosis of FIV is NOT an automatic death sentence: Cats with FIV can live for many years and enjoy a good quality of life. Even those felines showing symptoms often bounce back with proper treatment.

2. FIV can be treated: Veterinarians often tell pet owners there are no treatment options available for cats with FIV. This is simply NOT true. Natural treatments have proven remarkably effective in the treatment of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Holistic modalities like homeopathy and herbal medicine, used in concert with nutritional supplements and a quality diet, can support and revitalize a faltering immune system. Such therapies work well as preventative measures for cats not yet showing symptoms, and they can also be lifesaving for those in the advanced stages of the disease.

3. Cats with FIV do NOT always have to be isolated: Unlike other feline diseases, FIV is not wildly contagious. It is typically spread through deep, penetrating bite wounds like those exchanged by unneutered males during violent street fights. FIV is not spread through mutual grooming, shared bedding, food dishes, water bowls, or litter pans. FIV is rarely spread amongst cats living in the same house, and the isolation strategy recommended by so many vets is generally misguided.

The bottom line is that FIV+ cats can live long and healthy lives, and pet owners can adopt and keep these animals, secure in the knowledge that they've chosen well.

Thomas Hapka is the award-winning author of Feline AIDS: A Pet Owner's Guide, a book outlining natural treatments for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). He has served as a consultant to pet owners from more than eleven countries, including the cathouses of two U.S. zoos. To schedule an interview with Thomas, call 920.285.8055, email felineaids@hotmail.com, or visit http://felineaids.org/

Article by Rebeca Rambal

Even the most ardent fan of the feline species has to admit that cats can be little trouble makers. While dogs can cause quite a bit of mischief themselves, your cat's intelligence, size, and nimbleness can help him or her cause more than a little bit of aggravation for you from time to time. But don't worry. The two of you can learn to live a harmonious life. Here are some strategies that can help you when you have cat trouble.

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Strategy #1: Learn Feline Nonverbal Communication

You'd be surprised how much easier your life would be if you simply understood the nonverbal communication messages your cat is sending your way. For example, if your cat has a habit of nipping you as you pet him, start watching for a few key signs, such as pinned back ears and a flicking tail. These are all signs that affection time is over. If you don't take the subtle hints, your cat has to give you something you will notice: a nip with her tip. By stopping when you see these signs, you can end this problem for good.

Strategy #2: Appreciate the Value of Scratching

While scratched up furniture might not be much of a value, your cat's claws are valuable to her. She uses them to give her a sense of safety and to help her manipulate her environment. Sometimes your couch just gets in the way. The best way to stop these types of unwanted behaviors is to invest in a scratching post and rub some cat nip on it. This will encourage your cat to use the post and to leave your furniture alone. There are also special adhesive strips to avoid this problem. NEVER think of declawing. This surgery is cruel and unnecessary.

Strategy #3: Learn Their Language

Cats are like human babies. An infant cries to get what it wants, but because the baby can't articulate what it wants in a vocabulary we understand, fulfilling the child's needs can sometimes be frustrating. That's the way it is with cats and their meowing. Incessant meowing can, admittedly, be annoying, but it is not being done to make you go crazy or to make ear plug manufacturers wealthy. Your cat is trying to say, "I want this. Please give it to me." As the human, you have to learn what "it" is. Sometimes it's food, a change of litter, or affection. A non-spayed female will meow a great deal when she is ready to mate. Trial and error is the best approach. Just remain calm and remember the meowing is a cry for assistance and not a tool for torture.

Strategy #4: End Bad Digging

Cats enjoy digging - something you may have noticed. They use digging to cover up their waste in the litter box, but they will also go digging as a way to entertain themselves. Your cat might, for example, decide to dig up your garden or your houseplants. Be proactive. Go to the grocery store and buy some fresh citrus fruits. It doesn't matter what kind you get. Cats aren't font of anything citrus. Remove the rinds from the fruits and bury them in the soil where you do not want your cat to dig. This will work wonders. But it might be a good idea to give her a safe outlet for her digging passion, such as a small sandbox in your fenced in backyard or a pot of dirt of her very own.

Following some of these strategies can make living with your cat much more enjoyable for both of you.

If you want to read more stories and find very useful information about your cats and dogs, please visit me at http://www.yourpetsuniverse.com

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Article by Dr. Peters

When we catch a cold, we are usually plagued with watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, coughing and sneezing. Anyone who has had cats for any length of time has seen these same symptoms from time to time. But did the cat actually have a cold?

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If we go by the definition of a cold as an upper respiratory infection, then yes, cats can catch colds, and the mechanism and course of infection are similar to ours. Usually, the immune system must be diminished to allow it, as healthy individuals will not be debilitated by an assault of the causative agents.

The causes include viruses and bacteria, primarily. Often, a virus will appear first and weaken the tissues in the respiratory tract, at which point, certain bacteria may gain a foothold, creating symptoms as a secondary infection.

The various "cat colds" include FVR (feline viral rhinotracheitis), which is caused by a herpes virus; FCV (feline calicivirus), an RNA virus which is most similar to the human cold viruses; and feline chlamydia, or pneumonitis, caused by a bacterium, chlamydia psittaci. This is the infection that leads to the eye infections that may accompany respiratory symptoms.

Those caused by bacteria are arguably the easiest to fight, as they can be treated with antibiotics, but there are no antibiotics that specifically target viruses. The best approach, then, is to treat the symptoms while supporting the cat's physiology with remedies that promote health and strengthen the immune system.

Those "treatments" involve common sense approaches, such as proper diet and reducing stress in the environment. When these are part of the cat's everyday lifestyle anyway, colds and other illnesses are much less likely to appear in the first place.

This information was obtained from The Cornell (University) Book of Cats. For additional general information about cat health, visit Dr. Peters' website:http://www.theproblemcat.com/articles/cathealth.html

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If you're like most cat owners, the thought of any connection between feline diabetes and dry cat food never crosses your mind. But it should. The ugly truth is that a steady diet of dry cat food often leads to major health problems like feline obesity and diabetes in cats. Here's what you need to know if you think your kitty is doing just "fine" on dry food.

Cats Are Obligate Carnivores

What is an obligate carnivore? Simply put, it's an animal who needs to get her protein from meat, not grains. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Meat contains all the amino acids needed by an obligate carnivore. Grains do not. People and dogs are able to make the missing amino acids, but cats can't. This is why you can't make your feline into a vegetarian. You can't argue with Mother Nature.

The problem is that dry food is made up mostly from grains. Why? Because grains are cheaper than meat, so using more grain is better for the bottom line of the pet food companies.

Don't be confused by protein percentage on the dry food bag label. It looks like dry food has more protein in it than canned food does. You have to look at the dry matter basis, which is the accurate way to compare them. On a dry matter basis, canned food has more protein. Also remember that the type of protein is critical too--whether it comes from grains or from meat.

Too Many Carbohydrates Leads To Feline Obesity

Another problem with grain-based dry food is that it contains too many carbohydrates. In the wild, your kitty would be eating mice and other prey animals. This diet contains only three to five percent carbohydrates. Compare this to dry food that contains 35 to 50 percent. Cheap brands contain even more.

The pet food companies recommend "free feeding," which means leaving dry food out in a dish for your kitty to nibble on whenever she wants to. Too many carbohydrates plus too much food leads to overweight cats. This problem is becoming an epidemic among the feline population, and only leads to health problems like a diabetic cat.

Can You Prevent Feline Diabetes?

I blogged about six diseases caused by dry cat food before, and now, Darlene Norris is writing about dry cat food and diabetes, one of the six diseases.

Some experts believe that diabetes in cats is a man-made problem that can be avoided completely by feeding kitties the right kind of diet. Since this disease can sometimes be reversed in cats with a change in diet, this may be true. It's much easier to prevent your pet from becoming a feline diabetic than it is to treat the disease once it's developed.

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Start by feeding your feline friend a high-quality canned food. Lots of exercise is essential to burn up extra calories and keep her in top shape. Set aside time for two or three energetic play sessions every day.

Studies have shown that natural remedies for cats are also helpful in preventing diabetes in cats. Look for a product that contains astragalus, goat's rue, fenugreek, bilberry, and chromium picolinate. These ingredients are effective in maintaining normal blood sugar levels, and they're safe and effective.

Now that you have this information, what are you waiting for? Start making changes today to prevent feline diabetes.

Darlene Norris has combined her experience working at a vet clinic with her long-time interest in natural healing to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Diabetes Control. Learn how you can use natural remedies for cats to prevent and treat feline diabetes by visiting http://NaturalPetDiabetesControl.com

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Author: Dilani Mallikarachchi

Although cats don't have to deal with rush hour traffic, exams, paying bills or missing deadlines, which causes stress in we humans, they also get stressed with their own problems in life.

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A new member in family can make a cat stressed. That member can be another cat, a new dog or simply a new person. Cats are animals of habit. So, sudden changes in their schedules can easily make them stressed. So when you are doing changes in your house, do them smoothly as possible, giving your cat a little time to adjust to the new surrounding.

Cats treat your furniture as their own. They mark them, so they can identify them with the scent. Sometimes they scratch them to visually make item their own. So sometimes, new furniture can make them stressed. Now think about rearranging your furniture. You can't let your pet know that you are rearranging the place, when your cat arrives; he would be shocked as he just can't recognize the things with smell or anything. The places he knew very well have suddenly become unknown. It will easily put him in tension. So, when you are rearranging the house, always leave a little space for your cat which contains his toys and most familiar things, when he get use to new arrangements you can slowly change that space too(if you wish to).

Moving to a new house will also put him in stress because he doesn't know the reason to be in a new house. You better keep and eye on him as sometimes otherwise he will try to go to old house and get lost in unknown land.

Fear can also make a cat stressed. A mean dog in household or fireworks in holidays are few things that cat may get afraid of.

Whatever the reason your cat get stressed you can lower it simply by showing much love and sympathy to him. Time he spend with you is the most valuable time he got, so play with him, give praise and kind words, spend little more time with him and enjoy the moment.

Dilani is really interested in cats and their behavior. She writes with the inspiration she got from her two cats' behavior and the books she read. You can read more at Understanding your cat

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Article by Dr. Peters

Cats are vulnerable to certain viruses, but generally, they are not the same ones that afflict us. For example, the flu viruses come in different "strains," basically A, B, or C. And they affect different species in different ways.

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Anyone who has watched the news recently may have noticed that public health authorities have given the Swine Flu a new name: H1N1. As for the strain that affects cats, it's called H5N1... a different form of it altogether.

Since the Swine Flu is considered more likely to be found in swine, and not cats or dogs, that's probably how it got its name. But more importantly, because it's transmissible to humans, it became a huge health issue for the first time in 1976. However, at that time, more people became ill or died from the vaccine rather than the disease, which is now remembered as the "swine flu fiasco." However, this time around, not even swine are infected. Only people.

The biggest lesson learned from the 1976 episode is that it's useful to prepare for an epidemic but without committing to it prematurely.

The same lesson should apply to how we manage ourselves in relation to our pets within the potential crisis. And that is, not to panic and begin treatments that do not apply and could be harmful in themselves, either to us or to our pets. However, it is extremely important to monitor everyone in the household and to exercise good hygiene.

Even if your cat becomes ill, and it turns out to be a cat version of the flu, or H5N1, there is absolutely no reason to believe you will be infected. For this virus, there is no evidence of a trans-species infectiousness in either direction. In other words, if you fall ill, you can't pass it on to the cat, either.

Public health officials have announced that cats and dogs seem to be safe and that there is no evidence anywhere that these pets can contract the infection.

For now, it appears that pigs are in more danger from us than the other way around.

Dr. R.J. Peters established a rescue facility in 2002 and has worked with more than 1,000 cats and dogs. Visit her website, http://www.theproblemcat.com for more articles and information about pets.

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Is your cat going to be an indoor cat or outdoor cat or an indoor cat with outdoor access? It is a big decision to make for the well being of your cat and your sanity.

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You need to think carefully about the positives and negatives before deciding which way to go. Some things to consider are the dangers to your cat from other animals and mean humans. Fleas, ticks, scorpions, snakes, coyotes, rabies, etc. and do not forget annoyed neighbors.

Cats can be happy indoors, if you see to their needs. Any window with a birdfeeder and bird bath in the view can provide hours of pleasure for your cat and satisfy their stalking and hunting instincts. Open the window on nice days with a secure screen in place. A handful of chemical free grass will supply their need for green grass to eat. We keep a special patch to pick from. In the Winter months we plant a big pot of rye grass.

We lived on a 41 feet sail boat for ten years with two cats. For 5 of those years we were on a mooring and for the other five we were at a dock. We trained both cats to wear a harness when we were under way and when we were going to come into a dock. Then they quickly accepted the idea of walking on a lease, so that they could investigate their new environment. They played on the deck and went up and down stairs, dozens of times a day.

Later when we moved into a house, we continued to walk them on the lease. One cat even got to the point that we could carry him down the block and put him down. Then he would walk home on his own. He did not like to walk away from home, only the return trip. Being accepting of walking on a lease is also great for traveling purposes. It is a safe way to have your cat be outside.

Now we have two rescued cats who want nothing to do with the outdoors.They had enough fearful experiences outside. They both enjoy watching the birds from inside the patio doors, but they prefer their food in a food bowl. Just hearing a neighbors dog bark or seeing one from a window can freak them out and send them running for their safe hiding place.

We live in SE Arizona and outside cats do not last too long with coyotes, snakes, scorpions, rabies and other terrifying things.

Cats with outdoor access can treat you to fleas and ticks. They can bring you special gifts of a dead mouse or bird. They can be hurt by another cat, dog or other animals. Chase the wrong thing and it could be the last thing the cat does chase. But they do have the freedom to roam and upset the neighbors by using a flower bed as a litter box or hunting birds in the neighbors yard. Just because you think they are adorable, does not mean that others do.

The choice to declaw or not is a big and very important decision. I would suggest that you do a search and read the available information and discuss it with your vet, to make an informed decision.

As you can see the choice of an indoor cat or an outdoor cat affects not only you and your cat but your entire neighborhood so think long and hard before you make your decision. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration.

Author: Judy Jantzen and her husband have owned cats for the past 25 years. Check out her website Cat Goodies Finder

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Experts say that it's impossible to get your cat to do something because of their independent nature. They also say that cats have chosen to live with humans to survive. Many people don't believe that but there are also people that support this belief. They are usually the people who don't like cats. You need to choose for yourself what you really believe.

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If you have or had a cat, you know what great animals they are and how well they bond with people. You also know that they have very special habits. They don't like just anyone and everyone; usually they choose one person that they bond with. You can easily tell if the cat is seeking a relationship with you for he will plop on your lap, seek your attention, or snuggle up at night. Usually when cats purr it means that they really love you.

Experts have looked for the answer but no one knows why cats choose particular people to bond with. There most definitely will be something about that person that this particular cat needs or likes. Maybe it's the tone of their voice, or their manners, or the way the person treats animals. Some cats like individuals who are gentle while some prefer those who are more forceful for this brings out the best in the cat.

Some researchers say that a cat chooses a person for the "psychic aura" of the person. According to this opinion, the cat chooses the person whose physic aura is compatible with the cat. It has to do a lot with positive and negative vibration. If cat feels that a certain person has a bad vibration, the cat will ignore him. Although there are people who believe that, most of cat owners will argue with this opinion.

There are many theories on that subject but no one really knows what is causing cats to like or dislike certain people. What basis they have to bond with us is still a mystery. One thing is certain; it might not be only a natural instinct of survival. Cat owners know best how cats crave attention. Cats need to feel needed. They are affectionate creatures if you give them a proper environment.

New cat owners may say it's impossible to get your cat to have a bond with people. It is true that cats bond differently than dogs or other animals. There is no wonder in it - cats are different than dogs and they shouldn't be expected to act like them. One thing is sure, the more time you spend with your cat the more of a bond you will have with them. With time you will see that your relationship with your cat is changing for the good. Sometimes it will take a long time because cats differ among each other. But finally you will find yourself in a place when you and your cat get along pretty well.

Article by Sandy Stone from No Bad Cats

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Choosing a cat breed can be a bit daunting, especially if you don't know very much about cats! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Look below to find the top five most popular cat breeds. You will also find a brief description about each breed's grooming requirements and personality type.

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The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed is a very intelligent, loyal companion and tends to bond deeply with its family. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.

The American Short hair is extremely popular with families, as they tend to be very affectionate and friendly. The American short hair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.

The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with long, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. They are affectionate without being too needy.

If you're looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they look like they have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don't have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. This breed does require a bit of extra care, particularly with room temperature, as this breed can easily become too cold.

A very mild and gentle cat breed is the Ragdoll, appropriately named such as it can be quite floppy and relaxed when picked up. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very careful not to use teeth or claws when playing around, so they would also make an excellent cat for children.

Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren't very active, you probably shouldn't choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa.

Article by Renee Hillam

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This video shows a really loving cat on her human's back while he does pushups. Monkey loves her human! Enjoy!

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These are very funny 'ailments' that cats suffer from! See if your cat suffers from any of these. And then read more at Flippy's Cat Pages:

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COLLAPSIBLE LEGS

Symptoms: The affected cat places one side of its head on the ground as though cheek-marking the concrete, carpet etc. After several such manoeuvres, the legs on that side of the cat suddenly collapse, leaving the cat waggling its feet in the air.

Treatment: This involves placing the palm of one hand on the exposed belly and rubbing gently. There are side-effects though - some feline sufferers attack the rubbing hand while others recover spontaneously, often after prolonged treatment. This condition is probably incurable and any cat which requires prolonged treatment after an attack will most likely suffer repeated attacks of collapsible legs throughout its lifetime.

SNUDGING

Symptoms: The affected cat repeatedly headbutts any available part of a readily available human and turns its head slightly so that the lips and cheek are rubbed against legs, arms, clothing etc. This condition gets its name from a contraction of the phrase "soggy nudging". Snudging may well be a form of excessive scent-marking. A bad attack can result in soggy clothing.

Treatment: Give the sufferer lavish affection. Most attacks subside between 10 minutes to 1 hour after onset of symptoms. You may need to dry off snudged clothing or skin. Attacks recur frequently, usually when the most readily available human is engrossed in a TV program, book or telephone call.

BED-HOGGING

Symptoms: The cat spreads to take up all available free bed space at night. It then expands a bit more until any human occupants occupy the smallest possible area of bed. It may do this on top or underneath the covers or on the pillow. It is highly contagious - any other cats on the bed will also develop symptoms of bed-hogging.

Treatment: The most obvious solution is to evict the cat from the bed. If this is morally unfeasible, train yourself not to give way as the cat expands. Buying a bigger bed is probably pointless as most affected cats can easily expand to fill standard, queen-sized and king-sized beds. Otherwise, simply train yourself to sleep while hanging precariously off the side of the bed. Attacks of bed-hogging have been known to last up to 23 hours (in one case a 3-day attack was noted by a cat-owner who was confined to bed with flu; the cat thoughtfully kept her company during this time).

Red about more ailments at Flippy's Cat Pages.

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We have some HUGE news from freekibble!

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The biggest news is that we've reached over 1 MILLION MEALS of kibble generated for shelter dogs and cats! So THANK YOU ALL and on to the next million!

Here's the rest of the Big News:

1. We're super excited to introduce our new Dog Cookies. We worked with Castor & Pollux our kibble kontributer and created our own Freekibble Good Buddy Dog Cookie - I even got to choose the flavor (my favorite, Mac & Cheese). And for every box you buy, we'll donate another meal to shelter dogs and cats! They're really tasty! :-)

2. We now have FREEKIBBLE T-SHIRTS - you can find both the T's & cookies in our new Kibble Mart!

3. We have a new site design with some cool new features - including a link to our new page on Facebook.

4. Coming soon will be FKTV with freekibble kartoons, videos, contests and more!

So... Thanks again and please check everything out and let us know what you think! Here's the link, www.freekibble.com, have fun and let's keep on feeding hungry dogs and cats!

Announcement written by Mimi Ausland, founder of FreeKibble.

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Erase from your mind the old style cat condos where there was nothing more than a wooden frame with carpeting wrapped around it. Instead, consider a condominium, with its spacious snoozing room, a nice place to scratch and of course, a way to perch on top to see all that is happening around the area. That is the type of toy you can give your pet and they will love you for it.

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Why Cat Condos Are So Important

You may be looking for this type of place for your feline so you can retake your favorite pillow (which they have claimed) or you may be looking for a fun toy for your pets. There are many reasons why these condominiums work so well.

*They are stylish and fit into virtually any home's furnishings without being tacky or ugly. Look for those condominiums that are made with a steel framing, to give the best look to the condominium itself. You will not mind having it in your living room!

*Cat condos are a fantastic investment for your pet. Choose those with foam scratching pads. The cat can scratch to his heart's delight on these pads, which keeps them from scratching at your furniture or pulling down the drapes in your living room. Plus, it keeps them busy, which helps to keep them mentally sharp.

*Give your cat a gift that they will love. When you select a strong, well-made design, the cat will be able to use their condo for the long term, enjoying every bit of it. It is their secret hide out. It is a fantastic place to catch an afternoon nap. It can be a good lookout, to keep them apprised of what is happening around them. They can scratch all they would like to without being shooed away.

Giving your pet something like this does a lot for them, but it helps to keep your home your own. Other styles of cat toys and scratching posts are tacky and unattractive in most homes. You will not be embarrassed to keep these in your living room, though. The more modern cat condos are far better made and will last for a long time.

Cat condos are a great investment for your pet. Go ahead and let them enjoy the sunshine by perching on top of their condo. They will even stay off your pillow and out of the dog's way when you invest in these condos.

You can purchase cat condos right online. You do not have to spend a lot of money to get a great looking and durable condo. Best of all, a well-made condo will last and be loved for years to come.

Give your cat the gift of a quality modern cat condo.

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