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A bored cat is likely an unhappy cat. Just like humans, cats need stimulation; and when left on their own too long, they can experience loneliness and even depression. An unhappy cat may lose or gain weight, stop grooming itself, or become destructive. And a cat with nothing to do will often sleep the day away instead of getting needed exercise. For those of us who must leave our pets alone for long hours while at work or elsewhere, the solution is only a click away: Turn on the TV and put on a cat movie.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) have released the Feline Friendly Handling Guidelines. These guidelines were developed by a panel of experts to create a less stressful experience for cat patients while meeting their medical needs. The Feline Friendly Handling Guidelines - endorsed by American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) - were developed to provide the best care for cats and to increase vet visits.

Due to the demonstrable effectiveness of vaccines in preventing a wide variety of infectious feline diseases, veterinarians used to recommend that every cat be injected every year with every available vaccine. In the past two decades or so, however, this approach to preventive therapy has come into question for several reasons.Although the vaccine safety and efficacy record is very good overall, it has now become clear that vaccination can sometimes lead to clinical disease. It is remotely possible for vaccines to damage developing fetuses in pregnant cats or to stimulate allergic reactions, and for improperly placed injections to cause severe nerve injury. And although uncommon, vaccines and the equipment used to administer them, if poorly maintained or stored, can become contaminated with infectious agents that can be transmitted by injection.

Whether happily playing with its favorite toy, vigorously pursuing a tiny mouse, or frantically fleeing from a dangerous predator, all of your cats activities rely on the controlled transmission of electrical signals among the billions of nerve cells (neurons) that are jammed into its little brain. In a normal cat, the transmission - or firing - of these signals is well controlled within the central nervous system. These neurons either fire or are inhibited from firing according to an animals shifting needs and desires. In the brains of cats affected with the disorder known as epilepsy, however, this elegant process goes awry.

Fleas are parasites that suck blood for their food, leaving small lesions that are similar to those of mosquito bites. "They are more than a skin problem," cautions Williams Miller, Jr., VMD, professor of clinical science at Cornells College of Veterinary Medicine. "They can become a serious health problem." Cats are fastidious groomers, so healthy adult cats will keep the number of fleas on their bodies low. "But if there is a significant number of fleas feeding on the animal, they can cause severe anemia," explains Dr. Miller.

You think to yourself: "Whats the matter with my cat?" For the second time this week, your cat has barely touched his food. You begin to worry if hes sick - or merely sick of the usual mealtime fare. Healthy cats will occasionally eat less or skip a meal, but it isnt normal for a cat to consistently refuse food. Generally, cats are content eating the same food over and over again. But if your cat refuses to eat for several meals in a row, it should be a cause for concern.

Moving day can be a miserable, hectic blur - one of those times youd really like to be able to just twitch your nose and be done with it. Unfortunately, it just isnt that easy. And cat owners have the added stress of worrying about how their cat(s) will react to the disorder and mayhem. However, there are several precautions that can be taken to help ensure that your pet will remain safe during the move - and to promote a quick adjustment to his new home.

Unfortunately, our beloved cats can face many ailments that develop as they age. Chronic renal disease is among the more serious of age-related conditions. It affects many older cats, but acute renal failure can be caused by other factors such as eating or drinking toxins, or kidney infection.

You have a wonderful vacation planned: a two-week escapade to the Caribbean after a long year of hard work and stress. Youve been looking forward to it for months, but a nagging problem remains: Who is the best person to take care of Whiskers while youre away? This important decision should depend on your cats personality, health condition, age and the resources available where you live. Hiring a pet sitter, kenneling your cat or even boarding him with a veterinarian are options for care when you arent home.

Just days after you’ve invested in new furniture, your cat decides she really loves it, too. It’s the place she’s chosen to give herself a pedicure, and soon the arms of that beautiful new sofa look like they’ve gone through a shredder. You may notice your cat flexing her nails when she first gets up and stretches or suddenly stop to sink her nails into the wall-to-wall carpeting as she crosses a room. She may scratch at the end of a burst of energy after playing with her favorite toy. Fabrics, carpet, wood, cardboard — there are numerous materials in your house that can soon become a target for your cat’s clawing.

Japans "cat island" - known formally as Tashirojima - was found to be relatively intact after Marchs devasting 9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami, according to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support. The small island is home to at least 100 people - mostly elderly - and many more cats. The animals are valued by the residents for their beauty, companionship and ability to keep the rodent population down in this fishing area.

Blood can be the gift of life not just for us, but also for our cats. "A cat suffering severe injury or trauma may require blood transfusions," says Marjory Brooks, DVM, associate director of the coagulation section at Cornell Universitys Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. Other indications for transfusion include surgical complications and anemia caused by autoimmune disease, renal failure, chemotherapy, parasites in the intestinal tract or fleas. "Young kittens are especially at risk for blood-loss anemia caused by flea infestation," says Dr. Brooks. Cats that need plasma proteins to combat liver disease, clotting problems or rat poisoning may also require a transfusion.