Editors Note

I dont know about you, but I experienced a lot of ups and downs over this past year. I moved into a new house in a new town; I encountered far more this old house types of problems than I anticipated; my new home experienced a fire a couple of months later; and I added a new (adult) cat to my peaceful multicat household. …

Do you think your cat loves you too much? Ive lived with numerous cats over the course of my life, and each came with a specific and unique personality - there were a few that were perfectly suited to playing with a child, happily enduring the dress-up sessions and the staged horse races (Tip: Johnny West was always a better rider than Malibu Barbi). …

It is Autumn in the beautiful Hudson Valley, and Im starting to dismantle and clean up my expansive summer garden to prepare for the impending upstate New York winter. I have lived in this new house for close to a year now, and I truly cant believe how quickly time passes.Like the readers of Catnip, I live with cats of various ages and different backgrounds - but the same reality exists for all of them. What would happen to them if something happened to me? Its a sobering thought (probably morbid to some), and just like many people, …

As we all ring in the new year, many people also reminisce about the twelve months weve left behind, and how we could have done things differently. Thats probably when the various resolutions come into play - how life would be so much sweeter if we joined the gym and lost those nagging 15 extra pounds; how a weekly call to our aging parents would alleviate our guilt that we live on the other side…

Now that the holidays of 2012 are merely warm and fuzzy memories and were forging full-steam ahead into the new year, its important to consider the cautionary tale that weve all heard by various experts: Avoid giving pets as holiday gifts. Pet adoption still remains very popular during the holiday season - with many well-meaning people seeking out the perfect kitten or puppy to give to a loved one. Unfortunately, many of these furry four-legged gifts…

Lets face it: The majority of us are feeling the financial pinch these days. One expense most of us are not willing to significantly cut corners on, however, is pet care. According to experts, its typical for cat owners to spend between $500 to $1,000 yearly per cat. The expenses of the first year of ownership can be considerably higher. For starters, you should consider adopting a cat from your local animal shelter instead of purchasing…

In the past two issues of Catnip, Ive shared the plight of my new adopted cat, Tony, and the trouble its been causing for my two resident cats (not to mention my quality of life). Taking the time to make gradual and safe introductions, I thought I was following the best advice of our own Dr. Nick Dodman. I even felt the relative ages made sense (all adults over the age of two but under nine).…

Its clear as day to me that the readers of Catnip love their cats dearly. It resonates in the letters and Emails we receive each month, sometimes with adorable photos attached. Occasionally, a letter will include a reference to a beloved cat long gone - which isnt surprising to me because the bond we share with the extra-special ones can certainly live within our hearts for a lifetime. …

Last year, I adopted an aging cat who was living in a difficult situation: She was one of too many former shelter and stray...

Recently, one of my mothers friends passed away after a lengthy illness. I had heard a lot of stories about Susan, and the close bond my mother had developed with her after they met in the choral group they attended on Long Island. One thing I didnt know about Susan, however, is that she was a big animal lover. During her younger days, she loved the company of big, gamboling dogs; but as she grew older,…

Earlier this year, one of my oldest friends mentioned some of his concerns about his cats health. It was at my urging six years ago that my friend David adopted Callie - a young tortoiseshell kitten unsuited to living in a horse barn, and urgently in need of a good home. …

I moved from New York City to western New York about four years ago, and said goodbye to my rent-controlled apartment and the various stresses of urban life. I packed up all my earthly possessions and my four cats, who had lived their entire lives in our two-bedroom apartment. Up in the Finger Lakes, I bought an Arts and Crafts-style house, over 100 years old, with an expansive sun porch and a mudroom in the back.…