Posts in Category: The Cat’s Meow
What’s the Real Deal with Cats and Milk?
Of the myriad myths about cats, their misunderstood proclivity for cow’s milk ranks near the top. Despite modern conventional wisdom, the idea that cats love, need, and want milk remains ubiquitous among cat owners and admirers alike. Cats and milk used to go together like mice and cheese, dogs and bones, but today a different view takes center stage.
High Fat
The cats and milk myth is actually based in truth. Cats love the high fat content of cream, especially if it’s fresh from the cow. Similar to other infant mammals, kittens are born with the ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk. However, as they age, lactase, the enzyme that triggers digestion of lactose, disappears. Many cat owners out there can relate to that terrible grumble after a pint of ice cream! Continue…
The Curious Cat: Answers to Your Most Pressing Cat Questions
Have you ever found yourself observing your cat’s behavior and wondering why they do some of the odd things they do? We’re right there with you! Cats have their idiosyncrasies – just like other animals and people – but some of these curiosities are unique to felines.
At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we receive many questions and comments from our cat-loving clients. Below are answers to some of the most frequent cat questions we hear.
Spay and Neuter FAQ
Spay and neuter are surgical procedures to remove the reproductive organs. But many pet owners have concerns about whether to spay or neuter their pet and, if so, when to do it.
Questions like these are par for the course in veterinary medicine, and at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we talk to clients all the time about this procedure. We thought we’d share the most frequently asked questions (and answers!) to help put your mind at ease and give you some things to consider.
The Cat’s out of the Bag! Cat Health and Preventive Care
If you already have cats as a part of your household, you likely know what wonderful and unique creatures they are. Cats are agile, intelligent, and loving, but keeping your cat healthy takes more than bringing them to the veterinarian when something is wrong.
Here are the basics of cat health, from Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, to keeping your cat happy and healthy for their lifetime.
Five Feline Facts You Might Not Know
We’re always amazed at how knowledgeable our clients are. During a cat’s routine wellness exam, we often find ourselves utterly immersed in soaking up all there is to know about the feline in question, and you know what? Their owners typically deliver so much fascinating detail, we know we’ve just been schooled in the most productive way. After all, the entire point is to ensure Fluffy’s lifetime health, a concept made easier when communication is open and flowing.
This leads us to wonder: are there really five feline facts out there that our devoted clients might not know? Let’s find out!
Is Holiday Cat Safety a Real Thing?
We are swiftly sliding toward year-end, a fact that many cat owners brace themselves for. Is Fluffy going to bring down the Christmas tree again this year? Burn their whiskers from getting too close to festive candles?
With our holiday cat safety measures firmly in place, you won’t have to worry quite as much. And Fluffy? Ringing in the new year in style, comfort, and top health.
Everything You ever Wanted to Know About Cat Whiskers!
One of the most prominent and striking features on any Questionable Feline Behavior: Do Cats Enjoy Rolling Around in the Dirt?
Cats are remarkably clean creatures. Sure, they groom their own private parts and paws (and those belonging to other animals), but they do it well, don’t they? To be sure, cats are clean by nature – certainly not like some other pets they know and tolerate.
The feline behavior known as “dirt bathing” directly contradicts their otherwise meticulous methods. While this is a normal and natural thing to do, it does raise questions about why Fluffy would display such odd, “dog-like” behavior.
The Great Feline Mystery: What is it With Cats and Boxes?
Most feline fanciers have come to know and love their cat’s appreciation for the cardboard box. A year’s worth of new toys cannot come close to the attraction of cats and boxes and empty containers. Besides their interest in pouncing on unsuspecting prey, many of us have pondered why – after spending good money on new cat toys – the family cat prefers a plain old cardboard box?
To help clear up some of the mystery behind this behavior, your friends at Leon Valley have set out to investigate the fascinating connection between cats and boxes.
Caring for a Mother Cat and Her Newborn Kittens
If you’re expecting a litter of kittens, congratulations! Newborn kittens are quite possibly the sweetest, cutest little bundles of joy around, but that doesn’t mean you can sit idly by oohing and ahhing. Your queen, or pregnant mother cat, deserves your full attention during this special, yet nerve-wracking time. She’ll be tuning into instincts we can only guess at, but with your support and calm assistance, she’ll be mama cat of the year.