Category Archives: Cat Care

Is that new kitten driving your older cats crazy?

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Friend of Cat Faeries, Aldyth Beltane of All Creatures Healing Network in San Francisco places kittens in foster care until they are old enough or socialized enough for their forever home. Recently we talked about how those rambunctious kittens can drive older cats to a meltdown.

What to do?

Multi Cat Household to the rescue! It’s all about acceptance, tolerance (oh boy, you can say that again), giving space when it’s needed, not feeling your space is encroached upon, feeling that family bond, and chilling out from just about anything which annoys the modern housecat.

The other thing you can do is install as many Comfort Zone with Feliway diffusers as budget permits. The feline delighting pheromone spreads calm and friendship throughout the house as well as buys you insurance that someone won’t start peeing outside of the box.

Happy Spring! And hey: spay, neuter! Aldyth tells us that every year, it’s the same thing… far too many kittens are being born with few homes ready or able to take them and love them. Come on! Spay! Neuter! Donate to your shelter so they can help pay for spray/neuter for people who can’t afford it. Let’s solve this problem!

PS – you can tire out kittens with our cat toys and allow those older cats do get their beauty rest in peace!

Which air cleaning houseplants are safe for cats?

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Spring time has me cleaning, rearranging, and thinking of planting air purifying house plants. But are they safe?

NASA among others have done extensive research on common houseplants which can remove toxins which are unfortunately common in many US homes. Let’s keep disease causing cooties to a minimum! Plants are our friends!

However when Cat Faeries reviewed the lists of air cleaning plants which are considered to be the most effective we were disappointed to see that many of the hard workers are deadly toxic to cats.

NASA came up with their top 10 list of the best air cleaning plants. But nearly all of them are toxic to cats. But don’t despair, we’ll tell you what’s safe. Also just about any safe houseplant will help keep your air fresher and safer.

After Cat Faeries spent a lot time checking for safety there are only a few which we consider to be safe and which you can install in abundance throughout your home:


Indoor palms
Spider Plant
Boston Ferns

With that tiny list, kitty can chew on them while they rid of your home of evil toxins like Benzene and formaldehyde.

We learned that “air plant” Tillandsia species are epiphytes (also called aerophytes or air plants). They normally grow without soil while attached to other plants. Epiphytes are not parasitic, depending on the host only for support.

We like them because they are so crazy looking! And the containers you can put them in are really fun, you can get very creative.

Air plants are very good in bedrooms as they absorb carbon monoxide. Most of the plants are safe for cats. Also you’ll be planting them in very cool containers which can be attached to a wall, like a picture. You cat most likely can’t access them. Even if they do, we are told the plant itself might not survive, but kitty will! http://plants.web-indexes.com/airplants/airplant-basics.html

Many shops which carry Epiphytes (air plants) also carry succulents – note that many are toxic, so stick with Tillandsia.

The air cleaning plants that NASA likes, but which aren’t safe for cats, would be suitable in your work place (if it’s not in your home and where cats and dogs aren’t allowed).

If you want to read the NASA study with their list of the best air cleaning plants:
http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/best-air-filtering-houseplants-according-to-nasa

Here’s a list of plants to cats, including outdoor plants.
http://user.xmission.com/~emailbox/plants.htm

Worried that your cat has been poisoned with any substance? Call the ASPCA hotline 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the US – but note, there is a fee: 888-426-4435.

This is a list of safe houseplants – many are not on the top 10 list of air cleaning plants but any plant will help keep air cleaner.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/nontoxic-house-plantskeeping-y-137830

But be aware that most of the plants are not safe for cats. A few are not safe for dogs, and a few are not safe for children. We have given you the short list if you don’t want to read up on your own.

For a home as free of toxins as possible put a plant or two in the kitchen, near the fire place, the bathroom, and in all bedrooms. And while you are at it, ditch the carpet which is a nasty brew of countless toxins – consider that your cat is just a few inches taller than carpeting and is breathing it in at a faster rate than you are. Besides, what’s lovelier than hardwood flooring, with perhaps a handmade cotton scatter rug?

Carrageenan – a common canned cat food ingredient you need to know about and avoid

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Carrageenan is a common thickener and emulsifier used in industry to improve the texture of ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, soy milk and other processed foods. It also is in many canned cat foods.

This all too common food additive is extracted from a red seaweed, Chondrus crispus, which is popularly known as Irish moss. Carrageenan, which has no nutritional value.

This is what our trusted friend Susan Thixton has to say about with regards to cats and dogs in her Petsumer Report:

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/show-the-science-carrageenan

And for people, Andrew Weill, MD doesn’t like it either!

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401181/Is-Carrageenan-Safe.html

Recall of Natura Cat Food Expands

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The recall by Natura because of salmonella contamination has now expanded to include all Natura dry cat and dog foods with a range of expiration dates. A shocking number of VERY popular dry cat/dog foods which are considered to be superior to others have salmonella. The brands: Evo, California Natural, Health Wise, Innova, and the weirdest one: Karma. It’s bad karma that these corporations are so careless with preparing cat/dog food.

Read the article for specifics & expiration dates.

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/natura-pet-expands-voluntary-recall-of-dry-pet-foods-due-to-possible-health-risk

Also, here’s the first article on the Natura cat and dog food recall.

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/natura-pet-food-recall

Recall of Major Brands of Cat Food Including Evo and Innova!

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Yikes! Salmonella has been found in some very popular brands of cat food made by Natura including Evo and Innova! Please read the article below for all the brand names, flavors and lot numbers that have been recalled, then forward it to all of the cat and dog parents in your world.

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/natura-pet-food-recall

A Story from a Customer About Her Senior Cat and Hyperthyroidism

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THE SENIOR CAT

Written by: Alison W. Certified Veterinary Technician, Reiki Master

Zaichik the Magnificent came into my life while I was working in Moscow, Russia. I grew up in Connecticut but lived all over the US (personal choice – not military) before visiting a friend who was working in Moscow. I’m a country girl and never thought I’d live in a city (let alone one with a population of over 8 million!) – but I got a job working for US Agency for International Development. I managed environmental contracts and as part of my work travelled over the entire country. (That is a book in itself.) I will never forget seeing Siberian Tiger tracks in the Russian Far East.

Zaichik is a Japanese Bobtail and “Zaichik” [z-eye-chik] means “little rabbit” in Russian. “The Magnificent” part was his own idea. Valentina told me he was a very special kitten, and incidentally the grandson of the Japanese Ambassador’s cat. She insisted that I must have him! How could I resist?



Zaichik the Magnificent in my Moscow flat 1996

Veterinary clinics as we know them did not exist in Russia. Vets made “house calls” for everything, including surgery. Fortunately Zaichik was healthy and his only veterinary encounters were for vaccinations and neutering. I got him an international health certificate and passport and was thrilled when I could bring him to the US in 1997.

In the US cats are far less likely than dogs to have annual examinations. Indoor cats aren’t often exposed to contagious diseases, but they are not immune to other potentially life threatening conditions. This is particularly true as cats age.

Among the most common problems in older cats are:

– Kidney disease
– Diabetes
– Hyperthyroidism

When diagnosed in the early stages by your veterinarian these can all be treated. Prompt care will prolong and enhance the quality of your cat’s life. Symptoms to watch for include:

– Increased thirst (generally paired with increased urination)
– Weight loss
– Behavioral changes



Zaichik the Magnificent in NH 2006

Three years ago I noticed a marked increase in the amount of water Zaichik was consuming. He had also lost weight. My first thought was that he might be diabetic. However, blood tests revealed he was hyperthyroid.

Hyperthyroidism can be treated with a daily pill. Note – I did not use the adverb “easily” in the previous sentence. Does the thought of giving your cat a pill strike terror in your heart? The best medicine in the world is worthless if you can’t get your cat to take it. Fear not! Simply ask your vet to prescribe one of the new transdermal gels that are applied to the skin inside the ear – decreased anxiety for people and cats!

Zaichik’s advice for a long and happy life is “see your vet regularly and just say no to stress”. =^..^=



Zaichik the Magnificent in FL 2013


More from Cat Faeries regard hyperthyroid and medication:

1) When applying the transdermal gels you MUST wear either a vinyl glove or a finger cot because you will absorb the medication and this will affect your own thyroid. Gloves and finger cots can be bought at your local drug store.

2) Veterinary Pharmacy of America can take your cat’s prescription and turn it into a tasty treat. Most cats will gobble their medication in the form of a treat right up!

The treats come in these flavors: beef, chicken, liver, and venison.

We favor the venison because it’s gluten free which is something Cat Faeries feels is important. Wheat gluten causes many health problems and we feel cats and people should eliminate it to maintain health. When your venison flavored treats arrive they must be refrigerated right away.

VPA is located in Texas and can be reached by phone at 877-838-7979 or fax 877 329 7979.