Cats

6. Not noticing more pee in the litter box. Scooping litter pans can become a habit that we hardly even think about. However, it is important to pay attention to what’s inside the box. You want to take notice of the size, shape, and color of any contents in the litter pan—-both stool and urine. In particular, if the clumps of urine are becoming larger/heaver and you need to scoop them out more often, it means your cat is peeing a lot more than usual. This can be cause for concern and a possible trip to the veterinary hospital.,7. Ignoring strange litter box behavior. Is your kitty acting a little strange when it’s time to use the litter box? Are you hearing crying from the litter box when you never used to? Is your cat repeatedly hopping in and out of the box with little to nothing produced? Or do they suddenly jump out of the box and race around the house as if something is chasing them? All of these things can be indications of a health problem, so contact your veterinarian for a possible visit.,There are several reasons why cats may pee or poop outside their litter box, some of which may indicate a medical or behavioral condition. If your cat suddenly starts urinating or defecating outside of the litter box, talk with your veterinarian. A number of health issues can result in litter box issues, and these conditions should be ruled out before assuming that the problem is behavioral in origin. If you’ve ruled out medical issues, one common problem is when a cat finds something about their litter box that is not up to their standards. If you want to keep your cat using the litter box regularly, make sure you know some common mistakes that cat parents make with their cat’s litter box. 1. Not using the right litter. The litter used in the box is a critical choice, and many cats are quite particular about the type of litter they prefer. Ideally, a litter without a strong scent is best, as cats are very sensitive to odors. Litters scented with perfumes and other strong fragrances are produced more for the benefit of our noses rather than those of our cats. Strong fragrances and/or perfumes associated with the box may be enough to drive your cat away from it. In addition, some cats have preferences as to the texture of the litter. You may need to experiment with different litters to find one that your cat likes. Studies have shown that cats in general prefer unscented, dust-free, clumping litter.

Pancreatitis in cats is a serious condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. Although this condition is treatable, it can be tricky to diagnose, as the symptoms are often inconsistent and overlap with other conditions.    To help you better understand this condition, we spoke with two veterinarians about what causes pancreatitis in cats, the signs to look for, and how to help your feline friend start feeling better. 

A familiar phrase claims that the eyes are the windows to the soul. But in cats, it’s their tail position that provides the greatest insight into what a cat is feeling. Cats use their tail movements, along with their eyes, ears, and body postures, to communicate. Understanding cat tail language will help you to better understand your cat.

4. Make Sure Your Pet Has an Up-To-Date ID Even when taking all precautions, accidents can still happen. It’s important to make sure your pet can be easily identified and returned to you if they do get loose. Having your pet wear a collar with up-to-date contact information can make their prompt return more likely. Having your animals microchipped—and the microchip registered with all necessary information—provides an added method of identification if they happen to lose their collar. It’s also a good idea to have clear, up-to-date photos of your pets in case they go missing. Apple® airtags are a common addition to dog collars these days. These airtags work by tracking a pup’s movements through GPS, which is especially helpful for dogs that have a tendency to wander off. ,When gearing up for a fun-filled Fourth of July, it’s important to keep in mind all of the potential risks to our pets during the festivities. While this holiday will likely include many potential stressors for our pets, there are steps we can take to minimize the impact. Here’s how to keep your pets safe this Fourth of July.

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People say, “The great thing about cats is that they have no concept of time. So its not like they’re staring at the clock saying, ‘Man, where is he?’ Plus, cats sleep most of the day. How can I explain that to non-cat people?” There is a common misconception that it’s OK to leave a cat alone for hours every day without a human or other animal to interact with. Pet cats need stimuli and interaction. It is not uncommon for cats to develop behavior challenges because they are left alone without companionship. Many of my cat-behavior cases exist because the cats have been left alone all day long without stimulation, such as playing with cat toys, or another animal or person to interact with. If you’re gone for more than a day, arrange for a pet sitter come in and play with your cat during the day. Consider hiring a pet sitter to give your cat fresh food and water and clean the litter box when spending a night away. It’s true that cats don’t look at clocks, nor do they wear watches. They do have their own internal clocks and their own cat-concept of time, however, so cats become accustomed to activities occurring at the same time on a consistent basis. It is one of the ways they measure time. Cats know your regular schedule: knows when you normally wake up, provide breakfast and dinner, clean the cat box, bedtime, playtime, etc. Consistency is very important to a cat. Regular interaction with their human and animal companions is an important parts of cats’ worlds. Depending on the cat and the circumstances, cats can become stressed when taken to different environments. Bringing a cat to overnighters might not be the best option if other animals will be there. Also, many cats do not adjust well to new situations. Cats do best going into different places when they are acclimated to changing environments as kittens.

Turtles and tortoises have varying lifespans from species to species. “Some of the longest-lived animals on the planet are tortoises,” says Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS, vice president of medical education and an educator of exotic animal medicine at Veterinary Emergency Group in White Plains, New York. The average lifespan of a tortoise varies widely, depending on the species, diet, and care they receive. Some tortoises who are kept as pets with proper care can enjoy very long lives; many are capable of living 100 years. Here are some popular pet tortoise species and their average lifespans:,Jump to section How Long Can Turtles and Tortoises Live? Why Do Turtles and Tortoises Live So Long? Why Do Some Turtles Live Longer Than Others? How To Give Your Turtle the Best and Longest Life Planning for Your Turtle’s Future

4. It’s Rare To Find an All-Black Cat While some cats are completely black from head to toe, this is actually rare. Most black cats have patches of fur, paw pads, or whiskers that are some other color, such as white. Whisker hairs are thick sensory hair follicles that originate deep in the skin. Cats are known to shed their whiskers, and often new ones will grow back in other colors. Paw pad color is often the same as a cat’s fur color. Darker-furred cats tend to have black or gray toes, while lighter ones have pink toes. Black cats with some white fur markings are more likely to have patches of pink or white on their paws.,5. There Are Many Famous Black Cats Animation has brought to the fore many famous felines from Bagheera, the black panther in “The Jungle Book” , to Luna, the black cat in “Sailor Moon”. Live-action famous black cats include: Salem in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”  Thackery Binx in “Hocus Pocus”  Isis in “Star Trek”  In addition to on-screen characters, other black cats have gained celebrity status, including: The official First Cat of the George W. Bush administration was named India. India was an all-black American Shorthair who lived to be 18 years old.  Blackie, the world’s richest cat, was left a $12.5 million fortune when his pet parent, British antique dealer Ben Rea, died in 1988. Oscar the Bionic Cat became the world’s first cat to have double rear-leg prosthetics in 2009.,You might think of a black cat as a witch’s familiar or as a bad omen when one crosses your path, but there is much more to the black cat than meets the eye. Here are some interesting black cat facts.

Kalmatsuy via Shutterstock,You might be familiar with your own cat’s acrobatic skills, from leaping tall bookcases in a single bound to pouncing on feet in the middle of the night, but which breeds take the cake when it comes to skills and athleticism? We’ve asked CABC Steve Dale to name the top sporty cat breeds, along with some tips on how to keep the busy.

5. Cats Have Variable Memories Short-term and long-term memories serve different purposes. Short-term memories are generally relevant immediately (where a treat was hidden, for example) but aren’t useful for very long. Long-term memories can have repeat value far into the future (learning how to navigate a scary encounter with a dog, for example). Research shows that cats’ short-term memory tends to fade pretty quickly (within 10 to 30 seconds or so) and their ability to find a hidden object completely disappears in 60 seconds. Studies about long-term memory in cats are lacking. One paper showed that cats have good memories for up to 10 minutes or so, but experts agree there is anecdotal evidence that cats can remember important events and relationships for much longer.,6. Cats Have Some Concept of Time and Numbers If you’ve ever been late feeding your cat a meal, it’s probably not too surprising to hear they have a good sense of time. But you might be astonished at just how good it is. One study found that cats could even discriminate between a five-second and an eight-second time interval. And while it may be pushing things to say cats have an understanding of math, it appears they can differentiate between quantities of food. A paper published in 2008 found that cats could understand three is greater than two. More recent research revealed that even kittens could differentiate between larger and smaller amounts of food—a skill that has obvious benefits when it comes to survival. Featured Image: RyanJLane/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images,Did you know that cat brains are smaller than they used to be? This doesn’t mean that our feline friends are less intelligent than their wild ancestors, just that their brains have adapted to living with us. Some facts about feline brains are linked to how cats used to live, while others probably developed more recently as a result of domestication. In either case, knowing how cat brains do (and don’t) work can help you answer the questions that inevitably arise after watching your cat do something strange, like knocking over your cup of water (again).