Leftovers! Leftovers! Leftovers! That is one of the best things to look forward to in the days following Turkey Day. But as you’re enjoying delicious post-holiday food keep in mind the following foods not to share with your four-legged friends: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, corn, and yeast bread rolls. While these foods should be avoided when giving your kitty a treat, there are still plenty of alternatives. Pumpkin puree, green beans, and carrots are only a few but keep reading here for more options that are safer for your furry feline while enjoying Thanksgiving Day leftovers together.
10 DIY Cat Treats
Looking to spoil your kitty this holiday season? Well, then look no further. I have found a list of 10 homemade cat treat recipes for you to try out for your feline friend. From cheese to fish to catnip – you’ll find it all in this article. Moderation is key though so only give a few each day to maintain your cat’s healthy lifestyle. And what’s nice about DIY treats is that you know exactly what is going into your furry friend’s snacks and that alone provides peace of mind. So make sure to pamper your furbaby with love, affection, and TREATS!
Signs of Deafness in a Cat
Does your all white cat have blue eyes? Do they sometimes not come when called? Does it seem like they are not always listening? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be dealing with something a little bigger than simply being ignored…deafness. This topic is actually news to me too. I didn’t know hereditary deafness was a major concern in white cats with blue eyes until one of my Facebook followers mentioned something to me. Per the Cornell Feline Heath Center, “researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf. The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye, while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with both eyes blue are deaf.” Here are a few more things to note if your furry feline is white and has one or both eyes blue.
Hairballs 101
Picture this: you wake up in the middle of the night due to that tall glass of water you drank right before bed. You’re stumbling, barefoot or slipperless, towards the bathroom and BAM your foot steps into something soft, wet, and slimy. Ahhhhhh!!! As a cat owner we can all say that we have experienced this at least once. But, as your hopping around and saying things you might not mean in the morning, keep in mind that hairballs are a sign of a healthy grooming routine by your kitty…because we all know that cats do not like baths.
Cats have these fancy little hook-like features on their tongue (think sandpaper mixed with Velcro) that collect loose hair upon licking which in turn, once swallowed, forms into a ball that eventually comes back up. Note that hairballs are more common in the spring as your cat begins to shed their winter coat and the bigger the cat, the bigger the hairball.
At the end of the day, hairballs are purrfectly natural and are imperative to a healthy feline. Wanna know more? Read this article to learn 7 facts about hairballs.
Crazy for Catnip
Have you ever wondered what is so special about catnip that makes cats go crazy? With over 250 species, this fragrant natural plant from the mint family contains an oil that releases pheromones which gives our kitties a sense of euphoria or extreme happiness. Also known as catmint or catswort, catnip is not only for domestic felines but big cats too. Note: when a cat eats this green stuff, it acts as a sedative. In order to see your cat in their euphoric state – they must smell it. However, only about 50% cats are actually affected by catnip. The others, well, they just don’t care. What does catnip do to your cats? Do you have any funny stories? Share with us in the comments below!
Read more about how catnip came about and what other effects it has on our furbabies here.