Cats

Maternal Aggression Maternal aggression may cause a female cat that has recently given birth to become agitated and attack either familiar people or strangers who come near the kittens. Providing a quiet, low-stress, private space for the mother cat can be helpful. Limit the number of people who visit your home and avoid contact with the mother cat and kittens if the mother is showing signs of aggression. Maternal aggression should decrease with time as the kittens grow.,Redirected Aggression When cats can’t respond to a threatening stimulus outside their territory, they may show redirected aggression toward other cats in the household or toward people. This may affect your family members as well as unfamiliar visitors who happen to be around when your cat becomes agitated by an outside stimulus. Aggression redirected toward people can be managed in a manner similar to aggression redirected toward other cats. To resolve redirected aggression toward people, try to direct the aggressive impulses toward more appropriate outlets, such as a variety of toys with different textures: Small, light, catnip-laced toys Ball toys with bells in them Wand toys Toys stuffed with food or treats Cats may also benefit from more play during the day to help them use energy and to provide adequate mental stimulation. You can also manage the behavior by removing or avoiding the outside threat, such as covering windows if your cat is reacting to unfamiliar cats or other animals outside. Redirected aggression can also be managed with calming products such as Feliway diffusers, specifically multi-cat formulations that produce a synthetic maternal pheromone to promote calm and security. Aggressive cats may also benefit from anti-anxiety medications such as fluoxetine and gabapentin.,Have you ever been peacefully petting your cat, and they suddenly attack you? Or maybe you were just sitting near them and they decided to bite and swat at you. Why do cats do this? What causes a cat to attack you when unprovoked? If this is a sudden change in behavior, have your cat checked out to rule out pain-induced aggression caused by an underlying health issue. Otherwise, take a look at these most common reasons for a cat being aggressive toward a person.

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Most pet lizards range from 5 inches to 24 inches long. Lizards’ lifespans vary, but in general, these pets live between 5 and 20 years. Geckos can climb walls and ceilings thanks to their sticky feet. Some lizards have a parietal eye (referred to as the “third eye”), a light-sensitive organ on the top of their head. Lizard lost their tail? Many species, including geckos and bearded dragons, have the ability to regenerate a new one. Some lizard species communicate with each other by doing “push-ups,” aka raising and lowering their body using their front legs. Like snakes, lizards shed their skin as they grow, a process referred to as molting.,Jump to section Fun Lizard Facts Lizard Supply Checklist Creating the Perfect Habitat for Your Pet Lizard What Do Lizards Eat? How To Hold and Touch Your Lizard Common Lizard Health Problems Lizard-Keeping FAQs

Around the holidays, turkey leftovers are as traditional as pumpkin pie. But after you’ve served the last turkey sandwiches, keep that bony carcass around so you can cook for your cat. As cat parents know, poultry bones are hazards for pets to chew, but when simmered into broth, those bones and joints serve up a rich nutritional feast. Bone broth has a long health history—the clichés about chicken soup’s healing powers stem from its aid in reducing cold symptoms and preventing cell inflammation. And since the Victorian era, the British have sipped “beef tea,” and Chinese medicine still relies on bone broth to help kidney strength. Bone broth’s benefits to your cat include: Detoxifying his liver: Bone broth delivers lots of glycine, the amino acid needed by the liver to clear out all the toxins present in food, water and even pest treatments. Boosting his digestive tract: Collagen helps strengthen the intestinal lining so bacteria from undigested food doesn’t seep into the bloodstream. Strengthening his immune system: Bone marrow carries oxygen to the body’s cells, bolstering the immune system’s ability to battle illnesses. Helping joints: Cats with arthritis or other joint issues benefit greatly from bone broth’s easily-absorbed minerals, including magnesium and glucosamine Keeping bones healthy: Bone broth is rich in calcium and phosphorus, which is crucial for maintaining and healing bones and teeth, and for generating energy. Boosting nutrition, juicing poor appetites: For cats with food sensitivities, or senior cats whose appetites lag, bone broth’s taste and ease of digestion invites them to chow down. Making bone broth is easy but time-consuming, so include patience in your recipe. Plenty of great recipes can be found online or in cookbooks specializing in meals for pets. Start with the simplest version from your leftover turkey bones, then customize next time with bones from chicken or other meat. You’ll need a slow cooker because standing over a pot of simmering bones on your stovetop for 20-plus hours isn’t practical! If using turkey drumsticks, please heed the excellent advice of natural pet expert Kimberly Gauthier, who makes certain to remove the long sharp leg bones when she prepares broth for her dogs. Place bones in pot and cover with water. For each gallon of water, add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, for the natural acids that break down bones to release their minerals. Slice in some carrots for flavor; before adding any other vegetables or seasonings. Make sure to consult your vet to be sure all ingredients are feline-safe. Cats should never eat anything containing onions, chives, scallions or garlic—these are all toxic for cats. Simmer on low heat until any remaining meat residue falls off the bones. Remove meat and vegetables. Let the bones simmer for another 20-24 hours. Your cat will hover, curious about the yummy scent. When cooking time is up, skim off the separated fat, remove and discard all bones. Let broth cool completely and transfer to small containers and ice cube trays for easy freezing. Get bone broth on your cat’s menu by serving it over dry cat food, letting the nuggets soak up the flavor and nutrients. You can also spoon it over canned food like gravy. Or offer a broth cube as a savory ‘popsicle’ that your cat will eagerly lick. That’s another of bone broth’s many health benefits—your cat will definitely enjoy the treat. Want to give your pet superior health and nutrition? Chewy offers a variety of premium cat food so you can feed your feline the highest quality ingredients. Shop Chewy’s selection of premium cat food here.

On a basic level, kitten constipation is when your cat can’t go poop. Generally, constipation gets diagnosed if your kitten hasn’t passed a bowel movement in 24-48 hours. That being said, dry, hard stools can also be a sign of constipation. In other words, your kitten may be going a little bit, but not enough to fully relieve themselves. Straining and abdominal distress are also closely tied to kitten constipation. Constipation or obstipation (producing no feces at all) can lead to serious problems such as illness due to being unable to pass stool from the colon and even rectal prolapse if the kitten is straining with too much force to pass stool, says Dr. Byron de la Navarre, DVM, chief of staff at Animal House of Chicago in Chicago.,Jump to section What Is Kitten Constipation? Signs of a Constipated Kitten When Do Kittens Start Pooping? And How Often Should Kittens Poop? Kitten Poop Chart Why Is My Kitten Constipated? How to Help a Constipated Kitten and Treatment Kitten Constipation Home Remedies Diagnosing Kitten Constipation

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As a cat parent, you’re undoubtedly familiar with that unmistakable guttural “glurk” or pre-puke “howl” that signals an impending vomiting episode. And while occasional senior cat vomiting that isn’t accompanied by other symptoms likely isn’t a cause for concern, frequent vomiting may indicate more than just an upset stomach or hairball. Your elderly kitty could be grappling with an underlying illness or disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or diabetes. To help you better understand this messy conundrum, we spoke with a vet expert about potential causes of senior cat vomiting, treatment options and prevention.

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A barn cat (aka farm cat) lives on a farm and helps control rodents and other pests. They’re “working cats” with an important job to do, and they’re well-cared for and safe. Mice and other wild rodents can wreak havoc on farm structures, gnawing everything in sight, including support beams and insulation. Pests can also get into animal feed, which can spread diseases like leptospirosis. Luckily, a barn cat or two can help keep rodents at bay. These kitties also keep horses and livestock company. “Barn cats are known to snuggle up to their livestock friends,” says Ellen Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline), and a co-founder of the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation in Marshall, Virginia. Some barn cats are more interactive than others. While one kitty might avoid people, another might enjoy spending time with farm workers and visitors. Not all kitties are suited to the barn cat lifestyle, though. If a cat relies on human companionship or doesn’t like being outside, they should be kept inside a home. Their health can also determine if they should be indoors-only. ,When you think of a farm, images of horses, chickens, and cows no doubt come to mind. But don’t forget about the useful barn cat! There are many cats on farms throughout the country, living their best lives while providing a valuable service to their human caretakers by taking care of pests. You have many options when picking a barn cat.

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