Cat Behavior

Happy 14th Birthday to Zoey!

A true Bengal, Zoey is a wild thing at heart.

One might think that perhaps as one ages, it would be done gracefully, with a certain slowing down, calm, and reserve. That, however, is not how our dear Bengal, Zoey, rolls. Today is her birthday, and at 14 she remains loud (breaking sound barriers loud), playfully active – running, jumping, and climbing up onto to anything she can, as well as an avid and skilled hunter of plush stuffed animals.

That said, she does have a quieter, softer side. One that is a beautiful biscuit-making, motor-purring machine when she’s ready to settle in your lap for a nap. From loud to quiet and everything in-between, we love you dearly, sweet Zoey, and wish for many more happy birthdays!

Zoey can also be wonderfully sweet and loving.

The Ordinary Life of My Cats Made Extraordinary When the Egyptian Geese Arrived

The feeding assembly line!

Life in our household of eight felines is relatively militant, especially when it comes to their morning routine and breakfast. It’s a dizzying, exhausting affair, at least for me. I wake up at 5:45 a.m. and begin my trek to the kitchen. First stop – scooping the litter boxes. If I’m lucky, it’s a quick scoop and go. Often, however, one of them will decide my scooping is a signal for them to go again, so I must wait for that pomp (or poop) and circumstance to end so I can finish. Read more

Happy 13th Birthday to the Senior Kittens at Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles

Early on the morning of February 12, 2009, four gloriously beautiful and healthy kittens were born to cat mom, Zoey, and cat dad, Zee. We kept three of the kittens – Peanut, Rolz, and Mia. And the fourth, Zeuss Catt, moved to his wonderful forever family in Boston, MA. How absolutely surreal is it, then, that thirteen years later we are all seniors! The “kittens” are 13, which equates to 68 human years according to the guidelines of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).* I’m 61, clearly a senior and so are Zee and Zoey. Read more

Ten Healthy Playtime Tips and Exercises for Your Cat in a Sedentary Environment

I’ve been working remotely from home on and off since March 2020 when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and President Donald J. Trump declared a nationwide emergency. I actually prefer it – I’m highly efficient in a home environment, I don’t need supervision, I don’t have to worry about commuting, I don’t have to stress over health issues associated with my eyesight, and I’m grateful for any extra time I’m able to spend with my cats who are also thrilled when I’m home all day.

Last week, I got the news I’ll be working permanently from home. While I’m happy about the change it doesn’t come without challenges. One of them being my physical fitness because if I don’t make a conscious effort to step away from my computer for some exercise, I could be sitting for hours on end without a break. Not healthy. Now, imagine your indoor cat – in a sense, they have always been working remotely, trapped in whatever four-wall environment we have created for them, and their need for exercise is equally important. As guardians of our pets, it’s up to us to provide them with the exercise and stimulation they need to keep their bodies fit and their minds sharp because the fact is, a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for us and it is unhealthy for a cat, too. Read more

Plants and Cats – Keeping Them Safe for the Holidays

The best rule of thumb – decorate with faux flowers, and if you’re not sure if a plant is poisonous, look it up at www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Thanksgiving is over. December is here, and there’s a cool nip in the air which can mean only one thing – for many of us it begins the mad dash of holiday decorating, shopping, baking, and more. It can be a wonderful time of year, but it can also bring certain dangers to our feline friends, especially all those gorgeous plants associated with the holidays, such as poinsettias, mistletoe, lilies, holly, amaryllises, and paperwhites, to name a few. Read more