Ingrid King's Blog: The Conscious Cat, page 458

Cats and Babies: Friends for Life

Every year, a large number of cats are surrendered to shelters because a new baby has arrived and parents believe well-meaning relatives or old-school obstetricians who have convinced them that keeping a cat risks the health and well-being of their child.

The relationship between cats and children can be very special if you nurture it from an early age. Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets have higher self-esteem and improved social skills. They learn to care for others at an...

Conscious Cat Sunday: A Personal Retreat

Sometimes, no matter how much you love your life, it’s good to get away from it all. And one of the best ways to really get away from everything is a personal retreat. When you work from home the way I do, it’s challenging to unplug completely. There’s always one more email to check, one more comment to moderate, and one more cute photo of Allegra and Ruby to share.

The idea of a personal retreat is to disconnect from the business and distractions of every day life, and to have a chance to reg...

Mews and Nips: Skateboarding Cat Captures Viewers Hearts

Didga, a skateboarding cat in Coolangatta, a beach town on the Gold Coast of Australia, has been capturing viewers hearts after animal trainer Robert Dollwet posted a video of the talented feline on YouTube earlier this week. The video has received more than 800,000 views to date. It shows Didga riding past pedestrians and fellow skateboarders, and pulling off a few tricks along the way, including leaping over a large Rottweiler. The New York Daily News reports that it took a staggering 18 mo...

Review: The Lap-Reluctant Cat by Stephanie Bouchard

Most of us have had one or more of these cats: they are happy, sweet, maybe even affectionate on their own terms, but they simply refuse to sit in our laps. Allegra is one of them. It took months after I first adopted her at seven months of age before she would even come near my lap. She liked being in the same room with me, even sit right next to me, but my lap? That was off limits territory as far as she was concerned. After almost four years with me, she has just recently started to come a...

Giveaway: $100 Shopping Spree at Entirely Pets

Entirely Pets is an online retailer specializing in pet products and pet medications.They carry more than 15,000 products,ranging from pet food to accessories, with more products being added every day.They provide fastshipping, with a majority oforders shipping the same or next day.

Enter to win a $100 shopping spree

To enter this giveaway, please visit the Entirely Pets website, and then come back here and leave a comment naming one item you might want to order. For an additional chance to win...

Morris Animal Foundation Study Helps Cats With Blood Clots

Guest post by Katie Friedson on behalf of Morris Animal Foundation

Blood clots are a potentially deadly complication of heart disease. These clots can form when changes in the shape of the heart walls cause blood to move through the heart in an abnormal flow pattern, leaving stagnant spots were coagulation can occur. The vast majority of these clots lodge at the very end of the aorta, the biggest artery in the body, where it branches off to supply the rear legs and tail. When this happens, the...

Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl Elevates Cute to a Whole New Level

I’m not a football fan, and I couldn’t care less who wins the big game. So why will I be watching football come Super Bowl Sunday this year? Why, it’s because I’ll be watching Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl! After years of having to wait for Animal Planet’s Kitten Halftime Show during their annual Puppy Bowl, cat lovers finally get their own event.

In this feline showdown, there will be two preliminary playoffs and a championship match. Along with basic obstacle courses of hurdles, tunnels, ho...

Hospice Care: An Alternative to Premature Euthanasia

As more cat guardians understand the importance of regular preventive care, and as veterinary medicine is becoming more and more advanced, cats live longer lives than ever before. However, despite all the advanced treatment options, some illnesses are considered terminal. In the past, euthanasia was often the only option pet owners would consider at that stage. An alternative to premature euthanasia that is garnering more attention in the world of pet care is hospice care.

I provided what woul...

Conscious Cat Sunday: Beat the Winter Doldrums

I try to embrace each season for its special gifts, but I’m a summer girl at heart. I thrive on warm weather and sun light. Come to think of it, I’m much like a cat in that respect! I don’t like cold weather, and I definitely don’t like snow. As a result, this time of year is challenging for me: the winter doldrums have definitely set in for me. Even though the days are already starting to get longer, spring still seems a long way off. And while I don’t have a true case of seasonal affective...

Mews and Nips: Real Men Love Cats Edition

Today’s Mews and Nips edition celebrates men who love cats. Here at The Conscious Cat, we love prominent cat guys like Jackson Galaxy and , but a cat man doesn’t have to be a celebrity for us to be a little smitten. We simply have a soft spot for any guy who loves cats. Why? We think a man’s love for cats also makes him a good person. Cat men tend to be more responsible than your average guy. Coached by the cats they love, they understand the spirit of independence most women treas...