Ingrid King's Blog: The Conscious Cat, page 189

Feline Pheromone Products: They’re Not All Created Equal

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Products containing artificial pheromones can be an important tool for dealing with feline behavior problems, whether it’s territorial aggression, urinary marking, or simply a stressful trip to the vet. Cats naturally emit these pheromones. They are used to mark their territory as safe and secure by rubbing the side of their face against against furniture, or even against you.

When a cat smells a pheromone emitted by its own species, it triggers a natural re...

Sunday Quotes: Capacity

I came across both the above quote, and an article on how our brains are struggling to process the level of stress we’re all currently experiencing, and I thought it was worth sharing during these challenging times.

The headline Your ‘Surge Capacity’ is Depleted – It’s Why You Feel so Awful caught my eye in my Facebook feed. Written by science writer Tara Haelle, the article explores the concept of “surge capacity.”

“Surge capacity is a collection of adaptive systems — mental and physical — th...

Mews and Nips: Dennis Quaid the Actor Adopts Dennis Quaid the Cat

In one of the best feel good stories of the year, actor Dennis Quaid recently adopted a black cat named Dennis Quaid from the Lynchburg Humane Society in Virginia. “It was really off the wall but we couldn’t resist,” he said, adding: “I’m out to save all the Dennis Quaids of the world.” The two Dennises met via Zoom, and Quaid’s The Pet Show cohost Jimmy Jellinek will fly to Virginia to pick up the new member of the Quaid household. For more about how this adoption came about, visit CNN.

If yo...

Review: The Key Lime Crime

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I love Lucy Burdette’s  Key West Food Critic mystery series. After all, what’s not to love! With cats, a tropical setting, and mouth-watering food (with some recipes included), this series has all the ingredients for purrfect escapist reading. And who doesn’t need to escape from reality these days!

Last Wednesday, Lucy introduced you to T-Bone, the newest feline character in the series, joining the two cats and the dog who already live on a houseboat with ma...

SmartyKat Happy Hammock

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I came across this kitty hammock the other day, and I like the simplicity of this idea as well as the execution, so I wanted to share it with you.

The SmartyKat Happy Hammock can be hung under chairs and side tables to create a cozy hideaway or napping spot for your kitty. It features a soft, fleecy top on one side, and a sturdy fabric on the other. It even includes an attached feather toy for added interest.

Put a chair with the hammock in front of a slidin...

Cat Writers Association Shojai Mentor Award

I am delighted to announce that I won the 2019 Shojai Mentor Award from the Cat Writers Association (CWA.) This award, sponsored by past-president Amy D. Shojai, recognizes the CWA member “who has offered guidance, encouraging counsel, support, or other help that has had a direct and positive influence on another’s writing/publishing success. The recipient shall exemplify the highest ideals of the CWA vision, that is, to promote communal support, networking, and mutual respect between colleagu...

Review: Petlibro Automatic Water Fountain

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Water is critical to keeping your cat healthy. Cats as a species don’t have a high thirst drive, and this can lead to chronic low-level dehydration if a cat is fed mostly dry food, which in turn, can lead to urinary tract and kidney problems. Proper hydration can help prevent urinary tract disease and promote healthy kidney function by flushing toxins. Fountains are a great way to encourage cats to drink more water.

With so many fountains available, it can b...

Litter Box Issues: A Round Up of Solutions for a Frustrating Problem

Dealing with a cat who pees outside the litter box is one of the most frustrating issues cat guardians may be faced with. It’s also one of the most common reasons why cats are returned to shelters. The reasons why cats eliminate outside the litter box vary, and include litter box aversion, urine marking, hormonal problems, and medical issues.

Peeing outside the box is often referred to as inappropriate urination, but it’s important to understand that from the cat’s perspective, this behavior ...

Sunday Quotes: Meditation

There is no question that meditation is good for us: it helps us handle the stress of daily life, it has numerous health benefits, and it is a wonderful way to get in touch with our true spiritual nature. In fact, there is so much evidence that meditation is good for you that it seems like meditation should be as much a part of our daily lives as breathing. Never has this been more true than right now.

Today, I’d like to share a resource with you that I’ve found incredibly helpful over the las...

Mews and Nips: Cat Comforts His Buddy During Storm

Noah and Norman are two of four rescue cats living with Emma Patricia. “They love to be close to one another,” Patricia told the Dodo. But even so, she was surprised when she looked up one afternoon during a thunderstorm to find the two best friends sitting by the window watching the storm, with Norman seemingly comforting Noah. For more about the pair, and some wonderful photos, visit The Dodo.

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap: on Sunday...