CAT OWNERSHIP

Q My husband and I have lived with our cat, Sebastian, for the entire 18 years of our marriage. Unfortunately, Sebastian is starting to show distinct signs of his advancing age (kidney disease, for one thing), and we know its only a matter of time that our family will need to say goodbye to our beloved pet.

In each monthly issue of Catnip, we try to provide a good mix of topics that will hopefully appeal to the wide variety of cat owners who subscribe, and tangibly benefit the beautiful menagerie of cats that grace our lives. Its sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly what makes a good issue versus a great one. …

Q For years, I adopted kitten siblings who required little to no socialization to adjust to living in my home. However, the last four cats Ive adopted from shelters took a long time to feel comfortable enough to come out of hiding from under my bed or behind my sofa. I am happy to report that they are all now well adjusted and contented. …

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Q Our cat, Dusty, recently escaped from our house, which is in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Dusty was missing for about ten hours before a neighbor spotted her in her backyard.

Obviously, we were very relieved to have our cat back home, but our question is this: Could she be in any medical danger from her brief jaunt outside our home? She is an indoor-only cat, and the only pet we live with currently. There is a feral colony about a block away, but we really have no idea if she interacted with those cats or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Linda Belham

My ten-year-old daughter recently asked me a very good question - and I didnt know how to answer her. While playing with our male cat, Henry, she rubbed his belly and discovered that he has nipples. She wants to know the purpose of them. And quite frankly, so do I. Hopefully, you can help!

If youre like most of us, youve taken some form of personality quiz either in a magazine or online. You may have even done so on behalf of your pet. Well, researchers in Australia have found out something interesting: Our cats are not too different from us. Some human psychologists believe in the theory that we all possess five main personality traits: agreeableness; openness to experience; conscientiousness; extroversion; and neuroticism. And according to a research team…

I love my three cats a lot. And before this group, I loved those cats a lot, too. All of my cats are - and have always been - the smartest, the funniest, the most loving, the most handsome, the most athletic ... and the list goes on. And I am guessing you have those exact same perfect cats living in your home and your heart, as well! I guess it simply is impossible to remain…

Bringing a kitten or cat into a home with a baby - or vice versa - can be a beautiful experience for your family. The majority of the time, it will go smoothly and become a positive relationship, explains Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, DACVB, Professor of Behavior Pharmacology and Animal Behavior at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, adding, Of course, Ive heard of kids getting scratched, but its not one of the more common…

It started out as a quiet evening in late autumn for Renee C. - a Massachusetts housewife and part-time yoga instructor - but it certainly didnt end up that way. She, her husband and their two-year-old daughter had just finished dinner and were relaxing in their living room when there was a knock at the front door. It was a neighbor, recalls Renee, with some very bad news. Our cat Shady had been struck by…

[From Tufts April 2011 Issue]

A few years ago, I lured a stray cat into my housebecause I felt sorry for her withwinter approaching.I named her Smokey. I had my veterinarian spay her and give her all the necessary vaccinations.However, there is a problem. My neighbors approached me and told me I have to keep her inside (she was killing chipmunks and birds) or they would notify animal control and have her picked up.

I realize that it is better for Smokey to be inside because she once became quiteinfested with ticks and fleas.Now, she sits in the bay window and watches the squirrels and birds, but when a cat comes into my yard and I approach her, Smokey turns on me.She hisses and growls and a few times, she was ready to attack me.I show her that I am not afraid of her, but her behavior is quite annoying.I tried to spray her with water, but that makes matters worse.

[From Tufts January 2010 Issue] Before Dave and Jody Rundle embarked on a major home renovation project two years ago, the Santa Barbara, California, couple sat down and planned every step of the process - including a discussion on how to make life as stress-free as possible for their three cats, Izzy, Smudge and Blue. …