Blog

“No one can truly understand the bond that we form with the cats we love until they experience the loss of one.” – Unknown. (   thehappycatsite.com )   In our last Cats & Coffee meeting, we talked about cat loss. It’s not an easy topic to discuss, but it’s important to recognize that we are not alone. There are many people coping with the loss of pets and share the same emotions of grief and loss. I would like to emphasize that a loss of pet not only means the passing of a pet, but also involves families that have lost a beloved pet and are not able to find or reunite with them.   We also discussed the role of the “Caregiver” and what it means to take care of a terminally ill cat. As a caregiver, we focus on and invest so much time on the needs of our cat that we forget to take care of ourselves. The caregiver burden is a syndrome in people who care for geriatric, chronically and terminally ill family members, including pets.  As a caregiver, anticipatory grief i...

  “What greater gift than the love of a cat.”   – Charles Dickens  I'm FELINE fine!  In our last Cats & Coffee meeting, we discussed the importance of senior cat awareness. Learning the different resources for senior cat care is essential for a happy and comfortable life. Remember, cats start to show signs of aging around seven years.    Make sure to talk to your veterinarian if you start seeing any unusual changes in your senior cat, as cats are masters of hiding pain.  Some helpful online resources to understand the physical and mental changes in your senior cat and how to care for them.  Cornell Feline Health Center  - Excellent website for feline health information.  Basepaws  - Dedicated to research on cats DNA, owners are able to learn their pets breed, health and even their whole genome sequencing.   Pets WebMD  - Providing health information to the community and their pets.  The Spruce Pets  - A ...

At our last "Cats & Coffee" virtual meeting, we spoke about community cats and resources available to help care for them.  Community cats are defined as outdoor, unowned, and free roaming cats. The cats could be adult, kittens, feral, friendly, healthy, sick, altered and/or unaltered. These cats are the only cats that do not have owners, so it is important to know how to distinguish a community cat versus an indoor/outdoor cat.  We also talked about the difference between stray and feral cats.  Feral cats will not approach and will likely seek hiding places to avoid people. These cats will not meow, beg, or purr.   Stray cats on the other hand, may approach people, houses, porches, or cars. They may also be vocal, meow, or “answer” your voice.   To learn more about cat colonies, community cats, and to help you distinguish the difference between feral and stray cats, information and resources are provided to the public through many animal rescued groups:...

In our last meetup we learned that kitten season was upon us. Starting in late February, we see the rise of kittens being available for adoption in shelters and other animal organizations. If you were one of those people who adopted one of those lucky kittens, then you’re in for a treat! In their first year of life, kittens go through many growth stages. There are several resources available that can help you understand these growth stages. Going to your local veterinarian is the most important resource that you can have for any pet. Your vet can explain those first year of life changes in your new kitten. They can also provide you with great reading resources and a kitten wellness check.   Books that provide information on kitten care:  Tiny but Mighty: Kitten Lady’s guide to saving the most vulnerable felines  by Hannah Shaw Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens  by Hannah Shaw Kitten Care: A Guide to Loving and Nurturing Your Pet  by Kim Dennis-Bryan Do yo...

  Welcome to Cats & Coffee! A new year is a good time to reset to a healthy, stress-free environment for yourself and your fur babies. In our first virtual meeting, we discussed cat-related challenges during the pandemic, and how to identify and decrease stress in cats . We also learned the many ways cats communicate through sound, tail, and facial gestures.    Cat communication can be a mystery to owners, regardless if you have a new member in your family or have had one for many years. Fortunately, there are resources to help us understand the way cats communicate through their behavior:     Books: The Cat Behavior Answer book by Arden Moore Total Cat Mojo by Jackson Galaxy What Cats Want: An illustrated guide for truly understanding your cat by Dr. Yuki Hattori Think Like a Cat: how to raise a well-adjusted cat-not sour puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett   Understanding Cat Behavior: A compassionate guide to training and communication by Beth Pasek   C...