What Your Cat Wants You To Know

If your feline friend could speak your language, here a few things she would probably like you to know.

1) I am the boss of you. Get used to it. I decide when I want your company. I am not a dog who relies on you to make these choices in our relationship.

2) I am finicky. I like the food I like and I will not eat the cheap stuff. I prefer to have the nasty, overnight water left in my dish dumped first thing in the morning. If you cannot accommodate this need, Do Not Yell At Me when you see me desperately dipping my head into the toilet for some fresh water. Believe me, it's not something I Want To Be Doing - But If You Don't Take Care Of Me Properly - I simply have no choice.

3) I like my space. I choose my space. I pick special places through out Our House to lay in the sun, take my afternoon nap, relax after dinner etc... Deal with it. Do not expect me to clean up my own hair. I cannot help it if I shed on your precious sofa, and I personally don't really care if I leave a little bit of me behind on my Favorite places.

4) I do not want to have a new "sister" or "brother" ie: feline relative. If they came to live with you when I did that's fine. If you're trying to improve the quality of my life by giving me a new friend, Forget About It... I don't want one. I like being the Queen/King of Our Domain. I do not want to share my palace with anyone.

5) I like you and I like your children (or most of them). But I chose when I want to be bothered with the youngsters. Please do not push them on me when I'm clearly not in the mood to play, which consequently results in me being forced to let them know I do not want interact with them in the only way I know how - by hissing, scratching, or trying to run away. My actions inevitably lead to you yelling at me for showing my feelings. So we could make life much simpler, if You prevented this whole scenario from the start.

6) I have certain innate needs - like the need for something to scratch - Please make both of our lives easier by getting me something just for this purpose... So I do not have to resort to using the back of the chair, the carpet, the comforter or the front porch screen (which will definitely result in you having to Yell at me yet once more for something that I have a natural desire to do...)

7) Remember You picked me. You decided to bring me into your home. I did not pick you. I had no choice. Yet I treat you with respect and love, thus you should treat me equally as well...

Credit: Danielle Hollister

Pretty Deadly for Your Cat: 8 Toxic Plants

Houseplants and gorgeous gardens are the pride of many homeowners. We spend hours and lots of money selecting the perfect plant, tilling the soil and helping them to flourish. Plants inside the home have been shown to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air. Cut flowers from the florist can show someone that you care and can brighten up the room. But all of this beauty can be deadly... if you have a cat.

Many houseplants are toxic to both cats and dogs. Some can cause mild digestive upset while others can cause irreversible organ damage and death. It is important for all pet owners to be aware of these toxic plants and avoid having them in your home. Cats are especially at risk for poisoning, as they are very curious creatures and can jump up high to reach almost any plant for tasting.

8 Common Toxic Plants:

Lily

Lilies are beautiful and many varieties make beautiful bouquets and houseplants. Easter lilies are popular during the spring and Tiger lilies make their debut in the gardens all summer long. If your own a cat, think again before introducing any variety of lily into your home or garden. All parts of the lily are deadly if eaten by cats, including the pollen! Pollen from cut lilies in floral arrangements has been known to cause death in cats. The toxic principle is still unknown to science but something in the lily causes acute kidney failure in cats. If you have lilies nearby and your cat begins to show signs such as vomiting, anorexia, lethargy and less urination - seek veterinary medical care immediately.

Amaryllis

The amaryllis plant has large, showy blooms in red, white and other colors. It is a common gift around Christmas and Easter each year and bloom indoors and outdoors. The leaves and blooms are toxic to both cats and dogs, causing diarrhea, depression, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, anorexia and seizures.

Oleander

Oleander plants are common in subtropical and tropical areas as outdoor ornamentals. They have long, slender leaves and pink to purple blooms. Outdoor cats and dogs can be exposed to oleander poisoning if they decide to take a quick bite of a bright bloom or clippings from landscaping crews. Signs of toxicity include heart arrhythmias, lethargy, hypothermia, vomiting, diarrhea and even sudden death.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is a popular plant to keep at home as a remedy for minor cuts and burns. Just snip off a portion of the plant and rub it on your skin... if you're a human! Aloe plants are toxic to cats and dogs, causing vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and change in urine color.

Baby's Breath

A popular tiny white flower often used in floral arrangements, baby's breath is bite-sized for your curious kitten. Baby's breath's toxic principle causes vomiting, diarrhea and possibly dehydration in cats and dogs.

Diffenbachia

Diffenbachia, also known as "dumb-cane" is a popular houseplant. It is easy to care for and grows attractive tall, slender and sometimes striped leaves. It also contains a very irritating substances called calcium oxalate. Cats and small children often like to nibble on the leaves, causing numbness of the mouth and ulcerations if a large quantity is eaten. Other signs include excessive salivation, pawing at the mouth, difficulty swallowing, anorexia and vomiting.

Mistletoe

Christmas just isn't Christmas without hanging mistletoe. Even if it hangs high in your home, leaves can fall to the floor where dogs and cats can take a nibble. Kissing under the mistletoe may make your heart race, but it can cause just the opposite when eaten by your pets. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, low heart rate, erratic behavior, diarrhea, low blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

Cyclamen

These hardy potted plants are common gifts and are easy to care for. Their bright blooms, leaves and especially roots are toxic to dogs and cats. After ingestion, intense vomiting and diarrhea occur and some deaths have been reported.

"Curiosity killed the cat" and that is often what happens when cats are around the wrong plants. Taking a nibble here and there is annoying but can also be deadly. 

Do your pets a favor by doing a quick inventory of plants in your house and garden - it could save their life!

Credit: Deborah Shores

Cat Psychology - Is My Cat Happy?

As cat owners, we do worry that our cats are happy and want to do whatever we can to make them so. One of the best ways to make sure your cat is happy is to understand their body language and the signs of happiness to give you reassurance and to help spot potential problems.

Signs of happiness

Cats are quite good at body language because that's how they communicate with other cats. Cats have a range of vocalizations that they use to tell the world what they fell and think and when it comes to happiness and contentment, the purr is one of the most obvious. Cats purr when they are happy, feel loved and are comfortable and even if you can't hear them, you can always feel a purr as it rattles through their whole body. Other little noises can be signs of happiness, depending on the cat, little trills and chortles that show they are relaxed.

The physical signs of happiness in their body language is also quite obvious, more for their lack of signs. An angry cat is visibly angry with erect fur, wide eyes, ears forward and a tail slashing the air. Likewise a frightened cat may make themselves small, curl their tail around themselves and duck down to be submissive and less threatening. Yet a relaxed and cat happy cat will have their ears erect to listen to what's going on or swiveling around to follow the conversation. They will tuck their tail loosely around them or leave it lying across the floor. Their fur is smooth and their whiskers sit comfortably.

Happy behaviors

A sleeping cat is often a happy cat as this means they feel comfortable enough in their surroundings to have a nap. If they felt threatened or in danger, they would remain awake and on guard. Similarly, grooming is a sign of being happy. Cats groom themselves to keep their coats in order and do derive pleasure from the act. By concentrating on their grooming and not their wider environment, they are vulnerable to attack therefore will only focus wholly on their grooming when they are happy in their home.

Eating properly is a sign of happiness and healthiness. While cats might try to 'greed' from people for treats or other morsels, this isn't because they are hungry but more a type of game. They may really fancy a little of the fish you are eating but not because they are desperately hungry. A happy cat is one that eats normally, though different cats have a different sense of normal. Some eat their meals in a single sitting while others are grazers who come and go to the food bowl.

Happy kittens

Sometimes with kittens, they may seem angry or vexed at something but this may merely be a part of their play. Kittens learn about the world around them through play and most everything around the house will be a part of this. So while they might hiss or spit at something, whip their tail around or even bite and scratch something, this doesn't mean they are angry and unhappy but simply that they are working their instincts.

For all things cat from food to litter to toys, please see my articles at http://www.petcarechoice.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/productcategory.cat

Credit: Angela Tempest