EVERYDAY CAT CARE

Among all threats to feline health, none is more fatal than rabies. The threat also applies to cat owners who are bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Rabies is caused by a bullet-shaped virus called a lyssavirus, and this microorganism affects many warm-blooded animals, most commonly in skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and bats. However, notes Dr. Orla Wages, a specialist in internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts, the virus can affect all warm-blooded animals, including domestic dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated.

In a Portland, Oregon, variant of garden tours, a growing number of people are taking part every year in the Catio Tour. Organized by the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, the tour highlights the wide variety of screened-in enclosures that allow cats to safely enjoy the outdoors. What the tour does is puts the name with the actual structure, and that helps people see that these do exist, says Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon director Karen Kraus. Plus, having the tour will raise the bar and inspire more people to do this on their own property.

Luckily, we experienced a relatively mild winter here in the Northeast. And as the weather stays more temperate with each passing day, its so nice to throw open the windows, do a little Spring cleaning and simply daydream about the gardening that can get underway in another month or so.

We like to think of our homes as our castles, complete with proverbial moats as part of a defense system against invading armies. But how do you safely protect your castle, family and pets from invading armies of pests such as ants, roaches, spiders, fleas and rodents? Your first response may be to grab a can of Bug Blitz - but nowadays, theres an impressive arsenal of safe and non-toxic defenses to try before reaching chemical extermination.

At eight years of age, your cat Boris continues to look terrific - the way hes always looked - and to behave with nearly the same mischievous vitality that hes displayed since he was a kitten. Unfortunately, this isnt going to go on forever. Considering that the feline age of eight is roughly equivalent to the age of 40 or so in a human, your beloved Boris - as trim and spirited as he is at present - is likely to start showing the normal signs of aging in the not-so-distant future.

Even though you may assume that a teaching hospital is a very hectic place, a lot of effort is devoted to providing a stress-free environment for cats. Here's how.

By helping to curb feline overpopulation, you are making the world a better place for cats.

It requires a special kind of devotion to care for a chronically ill pet. Here are expert tips to make some of the necessary tasks easier for both of you.

Although this may be old news to cat owners, new research reveals the feline tongues microstructures are uniquely suited to pull out snags and tangles in a cats coat. While the tongues texture is also helpful to the cat while eating and drinking, it is first and foremost a grooming tool.

Q My son and I recently adopted an older cat from our local shelter. We named him Vincent and so far, so good. He came with his necessary vaccinations, etc. so we havent needed to take him to the veterinarian yet. One night while watching television, Vincent was rubbing on me and I noticed something strange about his teeth. He is missing one of the big fangs!

Q I have been breeding Singapura kittens on a very small, informal scale for several years and will soon be ramping up the scale with three fertile females and the launch of a small online cattery.

The University of Missouri plans to study the benefits of placing shelter cats in homes of children with autism thanks to fundraising help from the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction. The project - called Feline Friends - is important because one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism, according to Rebecca Johnson, PhD, Director of the center.