Fur and Feathers 4 Ever

Studies have concluded that cats don't recognize themselves in mirrors, but I'm not so sure about that. I've walked in to find my orange tabby peering into my dresser mirror more than once. He also sits in front of the curio cabinet, seemingly watching something, but is he self-aware?  My Cat Was Self-Aware for at Least a Moment The first time I saw him gazing at a reflection, I was walking into my bedroom. He doesn't typically get on the dresser, and I was just as surprised as he was. Through the mirror, he watched me enter the room and quickly turned back to look my way directly. He turned to the reflection again, and a look of realization came over his face. His eyes widened like saucers, and he looked stunned to say the least. It was then that I realized that he was self-aware, at least for a moment.  Cats Understand More Than Humans Think! The study I mentioned concluded that cats don't recognize their reflection because they didn't try to remove something ...

Clumping cat litter is fantastic when it works as it should. Before its invention, the entire pan had to be dumped and refilled at least once a week. It was a huge chore back in the day.  You could scoop out the solids to make it a bit cleaner, but the urine didn't form a removable lump. Try to scoop out the wet spots and it falls through the slats.  Are More Expensive Brands Better? Basic clay kitty litter is cheaper initially, but that doesn't make it the best value for your money. The clumping variety works better at controlling odors and lasts considerably longer. I'd never go back to the basic clay kind, but I've had it stop clumping. These are the reasons it stopped working for me, and I'm also sharing my favorite brand. Price doesn't always equal quality.  Why Your Usual Clumping Cat Litter Stopped Working If your cat litter is not clumping but used to work great, consider how long it's been since you changed the entire box. Each time it's scooped...

Even as adults, cats continue to enjoy playtime. It not only provides the health benefits of exercise, but also nurtures their primal hunting instincts. That's why it's important to provide the right toys. Interactive varieties are great since humans aren't required to make them move, light up, or whatever they do. My cats, Teddy and Mitsy, are young adults now, and they love playing with their favorite toys while the humans are asleep. The upstairs hallway becomes a hockey rink, and they bat around and chase balls, springs, and whatnot. During the day, they aren't nearly as active and often show signs of boredom. By signs, I mean meowing to get my attention. That's why I began searching for interactive toys for adult cats.  My Cats Love Their Interactive Play Mat I spent a lot of time searching for interactive rechargeable toys for cats, and the one I chose was a hit. Teddy and Mitsy absolutely love this play mat, and I love that it doesn't require batteries! I...

Hello, my fellow cat and bird-loving friends. My cats love to watch streaming videos of birds on TV, and I was recently gifted a bird feeder cam. I didn't know what to expect, including camera quality or if my backyard birds would even like the new birdfeeder. After using it for a few weeks, I'm posting my honest review of the Birdbuddy Pro Solar Bird Feeder with Camera for my followers and anyone interested in learning about it.  Capabilities of the Birdbuddy Solar Feeder Solar panel for continual charging HD camera Supports HDR (high dynamic range) for amazing photos and videos Up to 2K video resolution Image and video notifications Collect and organize favorite photos on the app Alexa compatible  AI nature chat  Species recognition  Name returning birds (if desired) Real-time notifications Sharp details Slow-motion video option Ignore specific species Predator alert  Watch birds posted by community members from around the world  Report sick or injured bi...

Three years ago, on a warm and breezy autumn evening, I heard what I first thought was the cry of a kildeer in the far end of the backyard. As I sat at the dining room table, I soon realized that it wasn't a bird. It sounded more and more like a kitten in distress, and I had to investigate. I had been secretly wishing for a kitten, and maybe the cat distribution system had finally worked in my favor.  My cat Panda Bear was 13 years old, and the dreaded thought that he wouldn't always be around had crossed my mind more than once. Having a kitten or another cat to care for would soften the inevitable blow. I'll save that story for another post.  Anyway, after digging through one of two kitchen junk drawers for a working flashlight, I ventured outside as the sun sank below the trees and darkened the landscape. Following the sound to the far corner of the one-acre yard brought me to a scrubby-looking bush and thick weeds in the neighbor's yard. I bent down to see the source...

Welcome back to my new blog and my second post. If you read my first entry, I said that I'd follow up on how I helped the feral kitten I rescued from the backyard, and I'm posting it a day earlier than expected. I plan on posting a few times a week, and it may be more often until my site is established.  Anyway, after bringing Mitsy inside, I was able to examine her. Thankfully, she wasn't trying to bite me or escape. I quickly retrieved the carrier I used for my shih-tzu and lined it with a towel. I also offered her water, a little wet food, and a small litterbox made from a shallow plastic lunchmeat container. The cage would also keep her safe when I couldn't actively watch her. Kittens are like toddlers, and they must be supervised.  Mitsy My Little Feral Either Mitsy was at least partially weaned, or she was extremely hungry and finished the food. At this point, she seemed to realize that I was a friend. She became relaxed enough to play with a cat dancer toy, and w...

Hello again, and welcome to the third post at My Two Cats . I didn't begin with two cats as my blog name suggests. When I rescued Mitsy, I already had two seniors. That leads me to the topic of this article. I wasn't sure if the adults would instantly accept her, physically attack her, or hide in fear of this fluffy little invader. Turns out none of the above happened.  Why I Didn't Immediately Allow Contact  The initial introduction went better than expected, but it wasn't without challenges. As I said in my second post, I waited to introduce the feral kitten. She could have had anything from worms to feline leukemia, and I waited to protect my indoor cats until after a thorough veterinary exam.  How the Older Cats and a Dog Reacted to a Feral Kitten The two older ones hissed a lot but didn't attack or run off in fear. Mitsy was clearly put off by their not-so-welcoming reactions, but the hissing and lunging lessened each day.  As previously mentioned, I also had a...

My blog is primarily about cats, but I have to discuss a problem that I can't help but think must be common. I can't reach the clothes in the bottom of the washing machine. Do you have that issue too?  Deep Drum Washers and Struggling to Reach the Clothes After getting my new machine, I began by washing my cat's blankets and a few furniture coverings, and the first thing I noticed was the super deep drum! I'm about 5' 4" tall, and my arms are either short or manufacturers aren't considering height when designing these products.  A Reacher Grabber Tool is Safer than a Stool or Chair My first inclination was to stand on my little *Ad -  wooden stool , but I immediately envisioned falling into the drum and getting stuck with my legs up in the air. I have a good imagination, but I am more cautious these days. My mind went back to when I stood on the arm of the couch to reach a plant, and the padding shifted. After a two-second life review while falling to the ...

One of the worst odors a cat parent can face comes from urine, and it isn't always caused by territorial spraying. I found a puddle under my cat's pan; at first, I had no idea how or why it happened. The plastic wasn't cracked, and it was a fairly deep, newer box.  My second thought was which cat did it and why. The following possibilities crossed my mind: UTI Dirty litterbox Blocked access to the box Bad litter pan design  My Cat Pooped and Peed in the Bathtub!  The only other incident I had with inappropriate urination also involved feces. Years ago, I found cat poop and pee in my big garden bathtub. The only cat I had at the time was Patch, an older female calico, but she was impeccably clean and would never do that on purpose. No cat would since they're clean animals.  Upon further inspection, I discovered that after cleaning her pan, I had turned the opening toward the wall. She couldn't get in! It was smart to find the next best thing. The bathtub must have lo...

From the time my previously feral cat was tiny, her form of cat speak was atypical. Since ferals aren't around humans, they communicate differently than their domestic counterparts. They make a series of trills and other vocalizations, some without opening their mouths.  I call Mitsy 'my cat with a feral accent'. The sounds she makes are far different than any cat I've had in the past. She can meow, but she had to learn how by observing my senior cat Panda Bear. She had lots to learn! Mitsy's First Meow I hadn't really thought much about Mitsy not meowing, even though just about every sound she made came from her throat and through a closed mouth. One morning, she let out a big, loud meowww that surprised me and scared her! She wanted food, and she knew that she had to speak up.  Mitsy's eyes looked as big as saucers after her very first word. She learned by observing Panda Bear communicate with house-humans through meows. Since human beings are vocal creat...

Cat litter boxes have greatly evolved over the years. The first one I bought decades ago was a basic plastic pan. When the lidded type came out, I had to have one and would never go back to the open kind. Now you'll find motorized varieties that do the scooping.  I don't have a self-cleaning litterbox, but I'm happy to have one that doubles as decor. It's perfect for cat parents without a green thumb or those with limited space. I bought the original hidden litter box years ago.  I Love Hidden Litterboxes! Before buying my tropical plant litterbox, I considered one that doubled as a side table. Whoever thought of these was a genius!  Furniture cat litterboxes are the bomb because they look so much better than plastic ones.  If you can make it work, I highly recommend one that doubles as a side table or bench. If I had chosen this option, I would have topped it with a thick and comfy pet bed or cushion. It's the perfect height to place beneath a window.  I ended ...

My Aldi ficus tree was doing remarkably better - until my cat started chewing on it. Yes, I know that ficus is toxic to cats. I keep my bedroom door closed now. She didn't suffer any ill effects, and my title was dramatic, but I wouldn't risk it now that I'm aware of the dangers. Besides, the leaves are now riddled with puncture marks, and I'd like it to survive another 15 years.  That plant was about six inches tall and started as a bonsai when I bought it a decade and a half ago. It started out with a neatly braided trunk secured with gold twist ties. Unfortunately, one section didn't grow tall like the rest. I quit trying to keep it braided after it became obviously shorter.  Toxic Plants and Cats Back to the subject of my post, since I am covering the dilemma of my cat chewing on my ficus tree. Many houseplants are toxic, including common ones like poinsettia and lilies. You must keep the cat and plants separated or opt for other varieties. If you can't keep...

My female tabby, Mitsy, is seven months older than my orange male cat, Teddy. I initially thought that Mitsy was the dominant cat because she was older. Also, from the moment they accepted each other, Mitsy took on the role of mother. As I've said before, just as some people love children, some cats love kittens.  Why Would a Cat that Never Had Kittens Act Motherly? I thought it was adorable when Mitsy started licking Teddy's ears. My husband's late cat, Baby, would have never groomed my late cat, Panda Bear! They were older when first introduced. They were also still here when I brought Mitsy home.  Baby didn't exhibit motherly instincts toward Mitsy. It was like watching a cranky old lady scold a playful child. She tolerated other animals in the house, but they knew to keep their distance.   Mitsy still grooms Teddy's head, ears, and neck, and he often lies down in front of her as if to say, ' You can groom me now '. It's still as adorable as ever, but...