Cats

Cats can become pregnant as early as 5 or 6 months of age, says Bethany Hsia, DVM, mobile veterinarian and co-founder of CodaPet in Clovis, California. “This can vary slightly depending on the breed and individual development of the cat,” she says.   “Each pregnancy lasts about 64 days, although it can range from 58 to 70 days in some cases,” she explains, noting that cats can become pregnant multiple times a year, typically two to three times.  “Signs of pregnancy can be very subtle and usually not noted until late into the pregnancy,” says Mandi Shearhart, DVM, staff veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Society in Fayetteville, Arkansas.   Signs of a feline pregnancy may include:   Weight gain, particularly around the belly  Increased appetite  Swollen or pink nipples  More affectionate or clingy behavior  Seeking out quiet, cozy places   Milk leaking from nipples  If you suspect your cat is pregnant, take her to the vet for a checkup. ,If you’ve just rescued a cat who’s about to give birth, you might be wondering: How many kittens are in a litter? While it’s common for cats to have multiple kittens at once, litter size can vary based on a few things.   Here’s what you need to know about typical litter sizes and how to keep your mama cat comfortable and healthy throughout her pregnancy. 

Litter is part of daily life with a cat, and how you handle used litter matters. Learning how to dispose of cat litter properly helps protect your family, your plumbing, and the environment. Below, we’ll share simple and safe options for how to best dispose of cat litter and what to avoid.

Caring for a bearded dragon requires the right habitat, handling, and food.  Bearded dragons need lots of heat and humidity, with temperatures reaching as high as 100 degrees F.  With proper care, beardies can get up to 2 feet long and live more than 10 years. ,Learn how to properly care for a pet bearded dragon.  Unlike the fierce dragons portrayed from ancient myth to modern fantasy, bearded dragons are friendly pets to care for. Native to Australia, bearded dragons—or “beardies”—are great for beginners and long-time reptile enthusiastsalike.   Whether you’re new to caring for bearded dragons or need a refresher, here’s what you need to know about caring for your beardie. 

Part of the appeal of cats is they are rather quiet pets in general. However, cats have evolved a multitude of specific vocalizations to communicate with humans, from soft “I missed you” chirrups to “feed me NOW” demanding yowls. But when a cat meows at high volume, it can be anything from a call for attention to a cry for help. So, how do you know why your cat’s meowing loudly? Any time you find yourself thinking, my cat meows a lot more than usual or my cat’s meows have gotten a lot louder lately, further investigation is warranted. There are many reasons a cat might be meowing loudly or meowing a lot, from illness to loneliness to hunger.

In the wild, turtles live in everything from muddy swamps to crystal clear, spring-fed rivers. Knowing what species your pet turtle is and what type of body of water your turtle prefers helps tremendously. However, no matter the species or the habitat, every pet turtle prefers a turtle tank with clean water. Clean water is essential for your pet turtle’s tank, especially since aquatic turtles spend most of their time in the water, and that means removing waste.

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A long stretch, a dramatic yawn, and half-closed eyes—your cat may spend much of the day looking bored, but beware: sometimes these behaviors have a deeper meaning. What looks like boredom in cats are often signs of stress or frustration caused by a lack of stimulation, according to veterinary behaviorists.

Yep, seriously. Some cats love to go for walks (others don’t and that’s OK too.) “The benefits of going for a walk with your cat includes mental, emotional and physical stimulation and exercise that they wouldn’t get otherwise, especially if they are indoor cats,” says Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM. However, it’s important to put safety first, and that means investing in a well-fitting cat harness, like the PetSafe Come With Me Kitty Harness & Bungee Cat Leash. (No, don’t use the one for your dogs!) “The main safety concern is making sure that your cat is wearing a properly fitted harness that they can’t slip out of, and keeping appropriate distance between your cat and anybody who is walking their dog,” Dr. Wooten explains. “Appropriate distance means far enough that there is no physical contact between the animals, far enough so that your cat feels comfortable and doesn’t display signs of fear.”,Have you noticed that sound lately? It’s like our cats’ purr button has been constantly switched on for the last year or so thanks to us being home more often. Our cats may not understand why we turned the dining room table into a WFH space, but they do know it means extra attention and cuddles. It’s important to spend time with your feline friend no matter what is going on in the world at large. That quality time—whether it’s playtime or snuggle time—strengthens the human-animal bond and provides them with much needed enrichment. Looking for something new to do with your four-legged companion this weekend? Here are five fun things to do with your cat that will ensure their purr button stays on!

Moderation is crucial when offering sweet potatoes to your kitty. For an adult cat of average size (between 8 and 12 pounds), 1-2 teaspoons of cooked sweet potato is an acceptable amount. If your cat likes the taste, giving them this size portion of this tuber once or twice a week is OK. The rest of your cat’s nutritional requirements should be met with a balanced, meat-based cat food. When giving sweet potato to your cat, ensure it’s just the flesh, cooked and plain—without added salt, butter or spices.,Jump to section How Much Sweet Potato Can My Cat Have? 6 Ways To Serve Sweet Potatoes to Your Cat Benefits of Sweet Potato for Cats Risks of Sweet Potatoes to Cats FAQs About Sweet Potatoes and Cats

For many cat parents, there’s nothing better than curling up in bed at the end of a long day with a purring kitty beside them. So few things could be more distressing than an unwelcome surprise beneath the sheets, and finding your cat pooping on the bed. If you cat is abandoning their litter box for your bed, it can, of course, be a huge problem —and a confusing one at that. Especially if your cat seems to be a happy, healthy feline, this behavior can cause you to wonder what the heck could be causing this unpleasant issue. Such was the case with a couple who previously called me, in need of my cat behavioral services. They sent me photos and videos of two very happy Ragdoll siblings, playing and grooming each other contentedly. But, suddenly, one of them defecated in their bed! It wasn’t an everyday occurrence, but it was happening enough to cause stress in the household. After meeting the family and the cats in person, and asking a lot of probing questions, I began to understand what was going on and solve the problem. If your household is suffering the same smelly issue, here are some possible reasons why your cat is pooping on the bed, as well as what you can do about it.