Positive Purrs

08/11/2024

Interactive playtime should be fun and rewarding. Be careful that you don't create frustration by keeping the toy out of reach and never letting your cat enjoy successful captures. Playtime is not just about physical exercise -- it's also for mental stimulation, stress relief, and confidence building.

24/09/2024

Be mindful of your cat's sensitive nose.

21/09/2024

Has your cat lost interest in the same old solo playtime toys? You don't have to keep buying new ones. Part of the problem may be that they have turned into dead prey. Rotate toys every week to create renewed interest. Maybe a toy needs a little marinating in catnip before being reintroduced. Also, be creative in placement. Strategically place toys in interesting spots around the house for your cat to discover. Place some toys on different levels, such as on the top perch of the cat tree. Place them in ways that just the slightest touch will cause them to move. This taps into your cat's natural hunting instincts, helping to keep boredom at bay and making solo playtime more fun.

14/09/2024

09/09/2024

06/09/2024

Offering choice will build trust.

28/08/2024

Do you know how to recognise fear, anxiety and stress in your companion cat? Take a look at this poster to see how many signals you recognise.

Canine Influenza, also known as “dog flu” or CIV, is a viral disease caused by two major strains within the United States. The original H3N8 strain was first reported in 2004 in racing greyhounds, but the more recent H3N2 strain was responsible for the 2015 epidemic that spread rapidly to over h...

28/08/2024

Good pointers here in this short blog about ways to engage your cat in play.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Share onNature designed cats to be efficient little predators and to hunt even when they’re not hungry (because who knows when the next meal will scamper by?). Play is the indoor cat’s version of hunting. It’s an expression of a host of hardwired feline behaviors. Cats ...

27/05/2024

In this video viewers will learn how to teach their cat to touch a target with their nose. This can later be a useful gesturing tool to get the cat to follow the target to where you would like them to go such as in to their cat carrier! This is a basic foundation behavior […]

18/04/2024

Tortoiseshell cats, sometimes called ‘torties’, are known for their uniquely beautiful multi-coloured coats. 😻 Tortoiseshell isn’t actually a breed, it’s a coat pattern, just like tabby. 🐈

The science behind the ‘shell 👇

🧬 Tortoiseshells have not one, but two co-dominant colour genes (black and orange) working together to make the unique coat patterns.

🧬 Most tortoiseshell cats are females because it’s the two X chromosomes that carry the genetic information for coat colour. The Y chromosome that males have, doesn’t impact on their coat colour. But sometimes a male cat can be born with XXY chromosomes, making it possible but unusual for a tortoiseshell coat!

11/03/2024

Cats are creatures of habit. Your cat has a daily routine and it’s important to note when it changes. Even a small change can lead to a big problem if unnoticed. If your cat’s eating, drinking, sleeping, or bathroom habits change, contact your veterinarian for a checkup. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3P2JTRK.

13/01/2024

🐈 The ideal weight isn’t the same for every cat because each one is an individual and it depends on their age and breed. A scale, known as a body condition score or BCS, is often used by veterinary clinic staff, and you can use it at home too. Take a look at our slightly simplified version below.

Reach out to your veterinary clinic if you think your cat might be above an ideal body condition score, they can help support you and provide nutritional advice. ✅

Learn more 👉 https://icatcare.org/advice/obesity-in-cats/

20/12/2023

🎄Did you know some festive plants can be harmful to cats?🙀Keep these ones out of reach during the holidays 👇

🌺Poinsettia
🍒Christmas cherry
🌲Pine trees
🌺Amaryllis
🌿Mistletoe
🌿Holly
🌿Ivy
🌸Lilies

☎️ If you think your cat has eaten a plant they shouldn’t have, contact your veterinary clinic immediately for advice
Artificial plants could be a good alternative that can be reused every year ♻️

More tips to keep cats safe at Christmas ➡️ https://icatcare.org/advice/christmas-safety/

😻Share this with your friends to keep Christmas cat friendly😻

30/11/2023

⁉️Who leaves their cat’s carrier out in your home? 🤔

🙌🏻 We do! We make is cosy, & it lives where Olive likes to be & to rest 😻😴

❓Why? Because vet visits & occasional transport are inevitable throughout a cat’s life. Being taken away from their safe place, & taken to new & stimulating social & physical environments can be stressful 🙀

👍🏻 🧺 By having the carrier as a safe place, cats can feel confident & have familiarity around them, & this can really reduce distress 😺

💭 The carrier being freely available also provides a cosy hidey hole, which all cats appreciate ✅

✨ And it’s the first step in training for comfort for vet visits & transport 👍🏻

💡So, if you’re not making your cat’s carrier a safe & cosy permanent spot for them in the home, what are you waiting for?! Go set it up 😉🧺😻

12/11/2023

You may have noticed that we love to talk about ways to enrich the lives of cats! 😻 Here are some of our handy links to help you ⬇️

🏠 Make your home cat friendly 👉 https://icatcare.org/advice/making-your-home-cat-friendly/

🪴 Make your garden cat friendly 👉 https://icatcare.org/top-tip-make-a-cat-friendly-garden/

🧩 Feed your cat creatively 👉 https://icatcare.org/feeding-cats-creatively/

😸 And don’t forget to keep playing with your cat every day! 👉 https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day/

22/10/2023

Cats sleep on human laps mostly because they're looking for warmth, but it's also a sign of social inclusion and affection.