All posts tagged: cats

Why do dogs and cats get the zoomies? Scientists explain the sudden bursts of energy

Why do dogs and cats get the zoomies? Scientists explain the sudden bursts of energy

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Does your cat or dog suddenly get a burst of energy and perform athletic feats around the house that would make even a gold medallist jealous? Welcome to the world of zoomies. Zoomies involve intense periods of high-energy activity including running, spinning, jumping and rolling. All at top speed. A proposed scientific name is frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs). In rabbits these high activity periods are called “binkies”. But many cat and dog owners simply call them “zoomies”. A proposed scientific name is frenetic random activity periods (Getty Images) So why do our animals experience the zoomies? And is it something we should be worried about? Why do animals get the zoomies? Think about when your cat or dog gets the zoomies. You might see post-bath zoomies, dog park-zoomies, midnight-zoomies and good ol’ out-of-nowhere zoomies. The trigger may be excitement or …

The pet I’ll never forget: Puff Puff, the stray cat who stayed by my side during chemo | Cats

The pet I’ll never forget: Puff Puff, the stray cat who stayed by my side during chemo | Cats

Published by Sam Flores

Three of our cats had died of old age, leaving my family heartbroken. So Brandy, my wife, looked at our local animal shelter website and saw it had a 13-year-old stray cat with no teeth, a broken ear and a cold. Betty, as the staff had named her, had one day left to live before the shelter was going to put her down. Brandy sent me along to see her. The warden said no one had visited Betty, but as soon as they opened the cage a Himalayan cat catapulted out of her blanket straight at me. I picked her up and knew I had to take her home. She settled in straight away, parking herself in front of the fridge, as if to say: “I’m home.” We renamed her Puff Puff, or Puffy, because she was so fluffy. Her cold cleared up with medicine, but she had trouble with her ear, on and off, as it was crumpled and pushed out. As her appetite improved, her appearance changed from a dull white coat and …

How one New York Knicks star is helping shelter cats get adopted

How one New York Knicks star is helping shelter cats get adopted

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more New York Knicks star OG Anunoby may have helped the franchise to its first championship in 53 years, but he’s also a hero off the court. The newly crowned NBA champion — whose game-winning tip-in helped propel the Knicks to a Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history — has dedicated time to helping cats in New York City shelters find their forever homes by partnering with Royal Canin, VCA Animal Hospitals, and Animal Care Centers of NYC. Anunoby picked five felines — Penne, Sammy, Roxie, Damu and Lil Leo, referred to as “OG’s Starting Five” — that were available for adoption by Knicks fans or anyone ready to welcome a cat into their …

Senior Cats: How to Keep Your Kitty Happy as They Age

Senior Cats: How to Keep Your Kitty Happy as They Age

Published by Jenni Sidey

This year, my cat Melina turned 16. Her beautiful tortoiseshell coat is a little faded, but she still has a fierce personality, living up to the tortie stereotype. As an older cat, though, she needs a little extra care. So how can we help our senior kitties to be as happy as possible? Cats are considered mature between 7 and 10 years of age, senior from 10 to 14 years, and super senior from 15 years. As cats get older, they experience physiological changes similar to those in people as they age. There is a lot that we can do to help make their lives better. Stay on top of medical issues Vet visits should be more frequent as cats get older. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association recommends that cats aged 10-15 years should have a wellness visit at their vet twice a year, becoming as often as every four months for cats over 15 (Ray et al 2021). That’s assuming they are healthy; if your cat has medical issues, more frequent visits may be …

Even wild desert cats love catnip

Even wild desert cats love catnip

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Cats are famously obsessed with catnip, but a recent social media post from the Bronx Zoo in New York City highlights that it’s not just bossy domestic felines that take an interest in the plant.  In the zoo’s video, a three-year-old female sand cat (Felis margarita) plays with a catnip-filled ball. Sand cats are the sole only species that live in the true desert. They can withstand both exceptional heat and cold, from 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) to -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degrees Celsius). They are found across northern Africa as well as southwest and central Asia. “The keepers added catnip to this ball to give the sand cats a novel item to stimulate them physically and mentally. Cats respond to …

The Science Behind Why Cats Meow And Tigers Roar

The Science Behind Why Cats Meow And Tigers Roar

Published by Sam Flores

Domestic cat vs lion’s roar Years ago, I was sitting in a friend’s living room with their cats when a lion documentary came on. A little bit of me wanted to change the channel – I worried the dainty pets felt a bit of “look what your cousin is doing!” shame while the majestic pride roared and pounced on-screen.  Then, I looked at their four-storey-tall scratching post, personalised beds, and recently-filled anti-slip food bowl. You know what, I figured, they probably feel just fine.  It has likely been millions of years since domestic cats split from their larger, wilder ancestors. In that time, our feline friends have become smaller, less aggressive, and possibly better at remembering things. But, a member of Reddit’s r/explainlikeimfive made clear, some of us are still unsure why the big cat’s roar quietened to a more demure meow among domestic species. Why do cats meow if tigers roar? According to BBC Wildlife, it’s down to a change in their throat’s anatomy.  Where domestic cats have an epihyal bone in their voice box, bigger cats, …

The pet I’ll never forget: Mush, the cat who taught me about life, love – and closing the cellar door | Cats

The pet I’ll never forget: Mush, the cat who taught me about life, love – and closing the cellar door | Cats

Published by Sam Flores

In July 2021, after a few beers on a summer evening, my flatmate, Lew, answered an internet ad. By 5pm the next day, we had a kitten. She was a swirl of tortie-and-white fluff, with a small pink snoot, and huge ears that made her look more bat than cat. We called her Mush, pronounced like “smush”. From the moment the result of our drunken decision arrived and hid behind the sofa in our south London flat, we were in love. Like many first-time parents in their 20s, Lew and I were fussy and overprotective. Neither of us had ever been responsible for a living creature before. When I held her tiny body against my chest, I felt anxious. Any little thing sent us running to the vet. A crusty eye. A single flea. Was she too small? Was she eating enough? “She’s in perfect physical condition,” the vet assured us during one of her many checkups. As a pandemic baby, Mush didn’t socialise much during her first year of life. She saw only me, …

‘I’m a vet and 4 ways can help keep cats cool during hot weather’

‘I’m a vet and 4 ways can help keep cats cool during hot weather’

Published by Sam Flores

The vet has shared four ways to keep your cat cool in summer (Image: Getty) As temperatures continue to climb across the UK, pet owners are being warned about the risks heatwaves present to dogs – but one vet has highlighted that we frequently overlook cats. Fortunately, according to the expert, cats are typically far more capable of caring for themselves during warm weather than dogs. However, that doesn’t mean owners cannot lend a hand to make conditions slightly more bearable for them. Offering her guidance, the vet, who goes by @cat_the_vet on TikTok, shared four straightforward methods owners can use to help keep their feline companions cool and comfortable during the heatwave. Among her key suggestions is purchasing a cooling mat, noting that cats spend the majority of hot weather resting and lazing about. She explained that having something chilled to recline on could prove tremendously beneficial during warmer days, even if some choose to disregard it entirely. Read more: easyJet passenger orders chocolate onboard is floored with what arrives Another technique involves creating …

Cats Lock for Mac Stops Your Cat From Causing Keyboard Havoc

Cats Lock for Mac Stops Your Cat From Causing Keyboard Havoc

Published by skeptic

If you have a Mac and a cat, you’ve probably run into a situation where your cat sits on your computer keyboard. Whether it’s because Macs are warm or because they want to distract you from the screen absorbing all of your attention, laptops tend to attract cats. A new Mac app called Cats Lock adds cat-proofing that keeps your cat from doing damage to whatever you’re working on when it gets on your keyboard, and it can even be set to shoo the cat off. You can click to turn on Cats Lock from the menu bar or use a quick keyboard shortcut, and it prevents cats from being able to activate the keys. Cats can be particularly good at finding odd keyboard shortcuts you never knew existed and making changes that are annoying to undo, so Cats Lock is useful for preventing that. It also has an option to cut sound, so there’s no more incessant beeping of keys when your cat gets on your keyboard and holds down a button. Putting your …