Pet Haven

No, they don't always fall on their feet. Sometimes they fall off a low lying place and the distance to the ground is too short for them make a turn in mid air. If the place is high enough, the cat will certainly turn so she will land with her feet first.

Having said that, please bear in mind that any cat will be seriously hurt and maybe even killed if she falls from a great height.

American veterinarians have a new term called the "high rise syndrome". Due to the rising human population high-rise buildings are erected and 3 stories and higher apartments are becoming more and more available, which results in more and more cats falling out of the window with horrible results.

There are window safety guards available for your windows. Please be a responsible cat owner and save yourself and your cat from such terrible accidents.

If your cat makes a mess on the carpet, rub her nose in it.

Wrong – this will not only confuse your cat but also scare her off.

Possible causes are:

• Health Problems - Urinating is sometimes the only way for a cat to tell you that something is wrong with her. Listen to her!
• The litter box is too dirty. 
• Your cat doesn't like hooded or open litter boxes. 
• Your cat disapproves of the location of the litter tray (might be too busy, too loud, too dark, too light, you name it! Cats are vulnerable while going potty, keep that in mind).

Cats can have cow's milk

Wrong - Most cats and kittens are lactose intolerant. Feeding them milk will result in diarrhea which is especially dangerous to baby kittens that can dehydrate quickly and even die. Always use the commercial milk replacer. There is no valid reason for an adult cat to have to drink milk at all.

My female cat should have one litter before she is spayed

Wrong – Research has proven that it is better to have her spayed before 6 months of age to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Since cats can't talk to us in words, we have to learn to understand their language.

Purring, of course, is the sound we all like to hear the most. Some reasons for purring are:

• As a sign of contentment, relaxation
• Mom purrs to reassure her kittens
• Kittens purr to let mom know that everything is ok
• Cats also purr out of nervousness and fear or sick.

I'm happy
If your cat is elaxed she will have her eyelids half-closed with her ears pointing forward and a little bit outward. If she stands up, her tail will be straight up with the tip bent forward.

I'm defensive
A threatened cat's pupils will dilate and the ears will be flat down. She might arch her back to make herself look larger and more intimidating, that's also the reason why the hair usually stands up.

I'm angry
An aggressive cat looks similiar to the defensive cat, but in addition she will also hiss and growl. Her teeth and claws might be exposed and she looks like she could jump into your face at any moment. Once the tail starts thrashing from side to side, it's time to clear the danger field, because kitty is about to attack!

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus and was named as such because of the way it behaves within infected cells. Retroviruses in general produce an enzyme which allows them to make copies of itself and it’s own genetic material.

Infected cats will transmit the virus easily. It is spread in high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions. The virus is also present in the urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. All it takes is nose to nose contact, grooming each other or even a fight, and the virus is transmitted. It does not survive for more than a few hours outside the host.

If your cat is not a roamer or a fighter and otherwise healthy, he can get just as old as any healthy cat.

An obese cat is a cat that's suffering. This is not a laughing matter but rather serious. An overweight cat can be prone to all kinds of health problems, including fatall conditions related to the liver, heart, and kidneys. In addition to the health issues too many pounds inhibts the cat from being a cat, because she won't be able to move smoothly.

Remember, no cat choses to be fat!

Can your cat lose weight? Of course!

1. Measure the daily food intake and do not feed your cat more. Having food available at all times is not an option anymore!
2. Feed a very low carbohydrate diet (5-10, read the label!)
4. Stick to low calories treats, if you have to continue to give your cat treats.
5. Exercise - encourage your cat to play.

Do not put your cat on any drastic diet that makes her lose weight fast. This can be extremely dangerous and could cause liver failure! Allow your cat to lose weight slowly. If your cat is pregnant or nursing, postpone the diet until the kittens are weaned.

Love bites are the strangest thing. One minute you are petting and cuddling with your cat, he is enjoying himself, purring up a storm and then all of the sudden he bites your hand. What just happened?

This was not an angry bite, don't worry. He simply got a little bit ahead of himself and over excited. The bite was his way or releasing that tension. Usually those so-called "love bites" don't break skin or even hurt, but should your cat's love turns out to be painful for you, the best thing you can do is to completely ignore him. Do not even look at him, walk by him and do not fall for his begging for attention. Give him treats when he is calm and refuse to pet him when he attempts to nibble on you again.