Ingrid King's Blog: The Conscious Cat, page 356

Fitness Toys for Your Cat

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Regular exercise is just as important for our cats as it is for us. Exercise not only helps keep your cat physically healthy and prevents her from becoming overweight or obese, it also keeps her mentally stimulated. Helping your cat get more exercise can also be a wonderful way to increase and strengthen the bond between you and your cat.

Admittedly, it can be challenging to get some cats to exercise for any length of time, but as with so many othe...

Coconut Oil for Cats: Superfood, or a Bad Idea?

Coconut oil is big in human nutrition these days. It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, boost the immune system, and prevent diseases ranging from heart disease to cancer to Alzheimer’s. It can also be used as a skin and hair conditioner. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether these benefits apply to cats as well.

Fatty acids and cats

Cats only need to obtain two essential fatty acids from their diet: linoleic acid (LA) and arachadonic acid (AA), bot...

Conscious Cat Sunday: The Importance of Self Care

Most of us know how important self-care is to our physical, emotional and mental health. Then why are so few of us good at actually doing it (unless we’re a cat?)

Is it because we’re conditioned to think that it’s selfish to put ourselves first? The reality is that unless you make taking care of yourself a priority, you won’t have anything left to give to those around you. It’s like the oxygen mask on an airplane analogy: you’re supposed to put your own mask on before you help others.

Perhap...

SureFeed Sealed Pet Bowl Winner

Congratulations, Becky! You’re the winner of a SureFeed Sealed Pet Bowl.

Look for an email from Ingrid.*

For more information about The SureFeed Sealed Pet Bowl and to purchase, please visit theSureFlap website.

**Winners are selected by random drawing. Winners need to provide a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours of receipt of notification e-mail or announcement of winner’s name(s) on The Conscious Cat. If this information is not received within the timeframe...

Mews and Nips: Special Needs Kitten Is Proof That Every Life Deserves a Chance

A very special rescue cat named Kevin is capturing hearts around the world with his permanently surprised look on his face. Kevin, a 4-year-old Russian Blue, was brought into his guardian’s clinic when he was four weeks old after he was found in a parking lot. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain.) His sight, hearing, balance, coordination and reflexes are all impaired. His guardian hopes Kevin’s story can prove to people that every little life deserves a chance. “I was we...

Review: If It Fits, I Sits: Cats in Awkward Places

With a title like If It Fits: Cats in Awkward Places really doesn’t need much of an explanation. Inspired by the hugely popular internet meme, this little book features more than 100 photos of cats in, well, awkward places.

From cats in boxes to cats in bowls to cats in shoes, these gorgeous photos celebrate cats in all their beauty and silliness.

If It Fits, I Sits is available from Amazon and everywhere books are sold.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Re...

Review: MAXI/GUARD Oral Cleansing Gel

Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in cats. Seventy to ninety percent of cats have some level of dental disease. If left untreated, it can lead to health problems for your cat, ranging from bad breath, dental pain and loose teeth to systemic illnesses that can be life-threatening.

The most effective way to prevent dental disease is to brush your cat’s teeth. Ideally, you get your cat used to this when she’s still a kitten, but even older cats can learn to accept h...

Are Cats Neurotic?

Trying to understand our cats is key to keeping them happy and healthy. But no matter how much we learn to read feline body language or try to interpret the sounds cats make, cats still remain a little mysterious. A study at the University of Edinburgh looked at both wild and domesticated cats to compare the cats’ personalities. The results may surprise you.

A comparison of the personalities of domestic cats and wild cats

The study included 25 Scottish wildcats from three zoos, 100 domestic...

Review: Almost Invisible Speed Scoop

When it comes to litter boxes, cleanliness truly is next to godliness. Cats are fastidious creatures, and being forced to use a dirty litter box is, at best, uncomfortable for them, and at worst, will cause them to eliminate outside the box. At a minimum, boxes should be scooped twice a day, and even more frequently if you’re home.

I’m a big believer in “the right tool for the right job,” especially when it comes to something you do multiple times a day. I was intrigued when the makers of An...

Sudden Onset Blindness in Cats

Is your cat suddenly bumping into furniture? Does she have trouble finding her food bowl? Is he becoming unusually withdrawn or fearful? These sudden behavior changes can be an indication of a condition called “sudden blindness.” Causes for can include sudden trauma, high blood pressure, or a neurological event. In rare cases, the antibiotic enrofloxacin (brand name Baytril) can cause sudden blindness.

The difference between “sudden onset blindness” and “suddenly noticed blindness”

It is im...