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Youve been staying in a sweet little apartment in Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta. As in Italy and other Mediterranean countries, cats and kittens there roam the streets and share their territory with their human neighbors.

Life has gotten hard for Beth since her car accident. She is still confined to a wheelchair following multiple surgeries and a series [IMGCAP(1)]of skin grafts. Her children (whom she raised on her own) are all grown and gone, so Beth has only her beloved gray and white cat, Charity, to help her get through daily life at home. …

For many animal lovers, losing a beloved pet is one of the most heartbreaking experiences they will ever face. Feelings of denial, loneliness, depression and anger are common occurrences. Friends and family may try to be supportive, but after a while they cease to understand why the bereaved pet owner doesnt just get over it and move on.

Humans are very biased in assessing the intelligence of our cats (or dogs). Thats because we tend to judge them according to traits that we can relate to as humans. When cats do something entertaining or "display their independence, we think of them as intelligent," says Julia Albright, MA, DVM, animal behavior resident at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine. But there is actually far more evidence for cats intelligence than just our perception of it. According to researchers at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, the physical structure of our brain and that of cats are very similar; they have the same lobes in the cerebral cortex (the "seat" of intelligence) as we do. Our brains function the same way, conveying data via identical neurotransmitters.

Catastrophic events can and do happen in all areas of the country. Floods, tornados, hurricanes, forest fires, mudslides and earthquakes are all examples of natural disasters that force people from their homes often with little time to prepare for departure.

any cats, at some point in their lives, will contract an upper respiratory disease characterized by persistent sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelid), and in some cases keratitis (inflammation of the transparent outer covering of the front of the eyeball).

Cats, being the inquisitive creatures they are, appreciate things that are new and different. Because the holidays bring an array of novel and interesting stimuli into the home, the curious kitty can certainly get into trouble. While a child may wait for Santa Claus to come down the chimney, a cat may also wait for the perfect moment to climb up the tree. For the climbing kitty, a holiday tree offers the excitement of the…

Sometimes people adopt animals without thinking about the commitment, not only in time and effort, but also in costs.

When it comes to nosing around, a cat has a major paws up on its human caregiver. The furry feline that occupies your house has a whopping 60-to-80 million olfactory cells compared to a humans five-to-20 million cells.

You may think the more cats, the merrier--but it's important to know your household limits and what is best for your pets.

It's one of the unpleasant aspects of living with cats, but there are ways to make the chore a bit more efficient.

It's a hazard that can put your cat in a serious bind. Here's why.