Lifestyle

We are told over and over that we should keep our beloved cats indoors to protect them from cars and other animals. But for those of us who work full-time or travel for business, what do our cats do when theyre home alone? There is some controversy as to whether or not cats need other cats as companions when their humans are away. And there are different views as to how elaborate to get when it comes to leaving toys and amusements for your cat.

The cat toy industry is booming in the United States partly because we love our kitties, but largely because our lifestyles make it difficult for them to engage in instinctual behavior without them. According to Dr. Julia Albright, resident in Animal Behavior at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, "Adult feral cats spend a good portion of the day looking for prey, whereas our indoor domestic cats do not."

If you think snoring partners are bad, consider this: Iris Hunter, 53, from Durham, North Carolina has five cats. The youngest is three and the oldest of the crew is 17. All are domestic short-hairs, with three tabbies among them. And, unfortunately, all of them snore. "At first I thought it was my husband," says Iris, but the snoring actually came from her cats. Snoring pets may bring just as many laughs as snoring spouses, but neither is all that funny. As with humans, snoring in cats can cause sleep deprivation for those who hear it - and is sometimes a sign of serious illness for the snorer.

After the flurry of kitten adoptions during the summer months, many shelters are now overcrowded with adult and older cats. Just ask Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com. "Kittens at shelters tend to get adopted very quickly," Saul says. "We need to make sure that adult and older cats dont get overlooked. Publicizing them on websites like Petfinder.com can help."

You need to take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup. When you retrieve the cat carrier from the closet, your cat disappears. The ensuing chase tires you out and stresses your cat, making his heart beat faster and possibly elevating his temperature. Sound familiar? For many cat owners, getting their cats into a carrier is a battle of wits and wills but necessary preparation for veterinary visits, emergency evacuations, or moving to a new location. "You may want to put your cat in a carrier to keep her from escaping when painters or housekeepers come," says Ellen Lindell, VMD, CatWatchs behavior columnist and a board-certified member (a diplomate) of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. So why wait until an emergency arises? Getting your cat used to the carrier simply takes foresight and training.

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

Houseplants help add a natural look and feel to any home, but cat owners need to be very careful when selecting plants to spice up their dcor. Our feline friends are notorious for snacking on houseplants. According to ELise Christensen, DVM, animal behaviorist with NYC Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan, there may be several reasons for this: …

Nothing is more appealing to many feline-loving people than snuggling up with a favorite cat companion, whether it be while watching television, reading a book or even catching some Zs. "A lot of people really enjoy sleeping with a cat as long as the person does not have allergies or medical conditions that would make getting a scratch potentially dangerous," says Ellen Lindell, VMD, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who operates a private behavior specialty practice and is a monthly columnist for CatWatch. "Aggressive cats should be kept out of the bedroom, but if the cat behaves normally, there is no harm in sleeping with her."

The warmer weather brings sunshine, fresh breezes, singing birds - and bugs. Maybe youre the sort of person who encourages your cat when she swipes at a moth, catches it, plays with it and then devours it. Or maybe you cringe when your cat pounces on a beetle and starts crunching on it. Whatever kind of person you are, its likely that you wonder if its safe for your cat to eat bugs. The answer depends on what kind of bug youre talking about.

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.

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

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