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.
Chattering Explained
Imagine this: Your cat is perched at the window sill, stiff postured and staring out the glass panes. Her jaw starts to open slightly and then begins to vibrate at a fast speed, letting out an interesting sound. Her tail begins to twitch excitedly. But don’t worry as this is completely normal for your furbaby. This fast and intense teeth chattering behavior can often be observed when your feline friend spots a bird or other animal through a window and might be a sign of frustration because they cannot get to their prey. Behaviorists also say that this behavior is a form of excitement or your kitty’s way of performing the act of killing while in the absence of performing the actual behavior. Read this article to learn another possible meaning behind the chattering behavior of cats.
10 Puurfectly Safe Houseplants for Cats
Did you know that certain flowers are toxic, and maybe even deadly to your furbaby? If you have any four-legged friends frolicking around your home then check out these non-toxic plants now. The money tree, spider plant, and boston fern are three of ten air purifying plants that will look nice in your home and won’t compromise the welfare of your kitty. Do you have any houseplants? Which ones do you have? Tell us in the comments below.