Kittens

Kittens could be the model for understanding an infectious, sometimes deadly, diarrheal disease in both animals and children, according to new research from North...

Amazing as it may sound, kittens born with a different blood type from their mother are at risk of death. In this condition, called...

You just brought home an adorable ball of fluff. She has all-new accessories, from toys to food and water bowls to a cat tree and bed to curl up in. But dont forget a cat carrier!

Choking is an emergency. Cats can choke on kibble or toys, but most commonly, they come to the emergency room choking on a foreign object due to chewing on thread or swallowing needles, says Dan Fletcher, DVM, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Emergency and Critical Care at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

When your cat develops a problem that might be neurologic, get her right to your veterinarian. Theres no time to waste.

It makes us purr when we hear of an effort to help cats remain in their homes. A veterinarian in Australia is using education to help prevent relinquishment of cats by educating new owners about cat behavior.

Weve recently acquired a new kitten and want to make sure that we do all we can to give her a long and happy life. With so much information available, I wonder if you can give me a quick rundown of the things you feel are most important to assure that our baby has the best chance to live a long and happy life.

I understand why you may want to use these devices for cleaning the air with three kitties in the house, and you are certainly not alone in doing this. Although kitties smell great to me, households with cats can sometimes generate odors that some people find objectionable, and there are a number of ways that owners choose to deal with this. Ionic air cleaners are one of the newer technologies that have been developed to address air pollutants.

A growing number of animal shelters and veterinary clinics around the country are offering kitten kindergartens in an innovative way to socialize kittens and increase their adoptability. Australian veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kersti Seksel developed the program about a decade ago.

Come spring and fall, animal shelters across the country are flooded with newborn kittens often in need of round-the-clock care to help them survive, thrive and eventually be adopted. As adorable as shelter kittens may appear, how can you tell if theyre healthy?

Most of us recognize obvious signs of stress and anxiety in our cats - taking up residence under the bed being high on the list - but we may not be aware of more subtle signs, such as lowering the head and eyes, lifting a paw and staring at middle distance. These are among nearly 40 behaviors that may require intervention, according to the American Animal Hospital Associations 2015 Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines, published this past summer. Behavioral problems affect more dogs and cats than any other medical condition and are one of the most common causes of euthanasia, relinquishment or abandonment of pets, the association says, adding that their management is essential in veterinary practice. It urges a culture of kindness that avoids the use of forced restraint.

As engaging as kittens play fighting is - and hours of YouTube can attest to it - the behavior serves a serious purpose. Thats how kittens learn to stalk, to hunt and how rough to be, or not to be, with people and each other, says animal behaviorist Tracy Kroll, DVM. Kittens learn from each other what hurts.The challenge for owners is determining when to intervene in unbridled chases, leaps and attacks. If one kitten is no longer enjoying the play behavior and is hissing and trying to escape, he wants the game to be over, Dr. Kroll says. With young cats, each has a time limit for games.