Posted on March 3, 2025

Nothing is more pitiful than seeing a cat (or a dog) with the dreaded e-collar (Elizabethan) on. However, this collar is paramount to protect your cat’s incision. Some cats adapt quickly to the collar while others panic and fly around the …

Posted on February 16, 2025

Head bunting – cats do this to show they like someone and to leave their scent on them.

Purring is a sign your cat feels safe in your presence.

Kneading on you is a sign of trust, and security.

Happy tail means your cat feels excited …

Posted on February 8, 2025

Scratching Behavior in Cats

There are several reasons why cats scratch.

🐱Communicate their presence and mark their territory

🐱Sharpen their claws and remove their layered sheaths

🐱Stretch

🐱Relieve stress and expend energy

Scratching is …

Posted on January 30, 2025

A few years ago, I had a cat that started hanging around my house. Over the course of a few weeks, he would come and go. I did my due diligence to see if anyone was missing this cat. I was unsuccessful in my pursuit to find his owner(s). 

Posted on January 11, 2025

Do you provide care for feral cats?

Here are some tips that can help our feral cats during cold weather.

Leave fresh food and water for them to access. If you know snow is coming, place it in an area where they can access it. If several …

Posted on December 26, 2024

For most cats, a trip to the vet can be an overwhelming experience. Some cats may get car sick or so stressed out that they need medication to calm them down before their visit. This stress all takes place before they get into the …

Posted on December 17, 2024

Water is a critical nutrient for cats. Access to fresh water is needed. It is important for digestion, moving nutrients throughout the body and excretion. Cats can become very sick if they do not have enough water. Issues like …

Posted on November 21, 2024

I’m feline good today!
We all need daily routines to help in many ways.
They help reduce stress, they help us plan our time more effectively and they help us focus and know what to expect throughout the day.
Cats need routines too. Cats …

Posted on November 11, 2024

There is a lot of work involved with running an animal shelter.
Shelters take in pets and then have to vet applicants so the animals can be placed in well suited homes.
They also look for people that are willing to be a foster parent.
Many…

Posted on October 3, 2024

Did you ever wonder why your cat has the underbelly flab that tends to swing when they walk? 

All cats have them, but they will vary in size. It’s what’s known as the primordial pouch, and it serves three purposes. 

The first is that it …

Posted on September 6, 2024

Do you pet your cat and he/she sinks their teeth into your hand? Then you may be petting your cat wrong.

Each cat has his/her own preferences for being petted. 

Some may only like to be petted on the head, or under the chin. While …

Posted on August 23, 2024

Just like us humans who need routine dental visits, so do cats. Taking your cat annually to the vet for a routine dental check can prevent dental disease and gum disease.

Brushing your cat’s teeth on a weekly basis can help to prevent …

Posted on August 15, 2024

The Maine Coon is one of the largest cat breeds. It has a semi-long shaggy, water-resistant coat. They have long, bushy tails and large oval eyes. Coats can be any pattern or color. Adult male cats range from 13 – 18 pounds and females …

Posted on August 7, 2024

The leading cause of cats being turned over to rescues is because of improper litterbox usage.

Causes include medical problems, aversion to the litter and litterbox, not enough litterboxes, marking behaviors through spraying, poor house …

Posted on July 25, 2024

Has your cat ever eaten a nonfood item that he should not eat like foam, plastic, or electrical cords? If so, your cat might suffer PICA. This can occur for a number of reasons including separation anxiety, boredom, nutritional deficiency, …

Posted on July 16, 2024

Upper respiratory infections – this is the feline version of a cold. 

Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, eye discharge, lethargy, lack of appetite and sometimes a fever.  Common causes are feline herpes Type 1 and feline calicivirus, …

Posted on June 24, 2024

People will often ask me what food they should be feeding their cat? They might have picky cats and they are at a loss as to what they should feed them. They may also be overwhelmed by the various types of foods at their local pet store.

Cat…

Posted on June 4, 2024

What is TNR? 

No, it is not the old 70’s song by AC/DC! TNR stands for Trap, Neuter and Release (or Return). TNR involves humanely trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, getting them vaccinations and releasing them back into …

Posted on May 2, 2024

The first time I volunteered in a cat shelter, I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew I wanted to help in any way possible. I had been in an animal shelter many years ago when my family was looking to adopt a dog. I remember the dogs and …

Posted on April 10, 2024

You can never be overprepared for an emergency when it comes to pets. Oftentimes, emergencies arise after business hours or on weekends when your regular veterinary practice is closed.

I encourage you to make a list of all 24-hour vet …

Posted on April 1, 2024

The best advice I can give to a new kitten owner is to focus on preventing behavior issues. It is much easier to prevent a problem behavior from occurring than to correct it once it happens.

Here is a list of things I recommend to new …

Posted on March 19, 2024

I am a huge fan of detective shows. I love to watch the Law-and-Order series (SVU is my favorite), old episodes of Columbo, Perry Mason and Monk. The characteristics in common with all these shows is to find out “who dunnit”. First, the …

Posted on March 12, 2024

I have been studying cat behavior for a long time. However, it wasn’t until recently that I went back to school to earn a certification in cat training and pet nutrition through Animal Behavior College in California. This was a new …

Posted on February 14th, 2024

Cats, those enigmatic creatures that grace our homes with their presence, have long been the subject of fascination and adoration. As a cat trainer at Hi 5 Cat Training, I've had the privilege of delving deep into the mysteries of …