The Healthy Feline

31/05/2024

Hello Healthy Felines! Here's your monthly reminder to clean the litter box.

Dump out all the litter, wash with unscented soap (no bleach and nothing ending in -sol) and water, and refill. Hooray!

Think of it as a bathroom reno for your cat.

Just a side note, sometimes cats can be extra sensitive to soap, even unscented. For these kitties, just wash the box with water.

Happy box cleaning!

27/05/2024

New blog post alert! Check it out!

Frequent vomiting in cats is not normal. We look at a few types of vomit that are commonly seen in cats with gastro issues. Any vomit is worth investigating further - don’t normalize vomiting!

25/05/2024

Hello my lovely Healthy Felines! It's been awhile since I've posted... I got a major spring cold in April and just totally fell off the social media train. I hope you've had a great spring so far and that your kitty kats are well.

Today's message is to feed your healthy felines a diet with as many animal-sourced proteins as you can!

Plant ingredients are often a significant source of protein in your cat's diet, which can lead to poor digestibility (large, gross smelling poops) and gut inflammation. Cats just can't digest plant ingredients very well.

The more animal ingredients in the food, the better the protein quality is, and the better your cat will be able to digest the food.

Tell me below if you're looking to improve your cat's food!

20/04/2024

Where is your cat carrier right now?

The first step to any carrier training is having your carrier out in your home, available for your cat to sniff, inspect, and (maybe) sleep in.

So get that carrier out of the closet, make it cozy, prop the door open, and toss in treats every day.

This is how you get your cat to *love* the carrier.

So, where is your cat carrier right now? Tell us below!

18/04/2024

Not sure if you're feeding enough food? Or maybe you are feeding too much?

The best investment that you can make for your cat's health is to purchase a kitchen scale. Start measuring your cat's meals to the gram.

Then assess your cat's weight.

Are they a little chonky? Reduce their food by 10%.

Are they a little skinny? Increase their food by 10%.

Once they hit their ideal weight, adjust their food intake so they maintain it.

Assess your cat's weight and food intake regularly. Every cat is an individual and the amount of food that will maintain their ideal weight will change over time. A kitten will need more food than an adult. A geriatric cat will need more food than an adult or senior cat. Exercise and their neutered status will also affect how much they need to eat.

So start weighing their food today!

Tell me below if you have a scale already!

16/04/2024

You aren't alone if you've been struggling with your cat's nutritional needs. Or with a particular behaviour that's driving you up the wall. Or you're just trying to trim their nails and they aren't cooperating.

Cats are emotionally intelligent beings... and there's a solution for these issues!

You don't have to *just live with it*!

What can we help with?
🐈Weight management plans
🐈Cat-cat conflicts
🐈Nail trimming techniques
🐈Carrier training
🐈Medication training
🐈Diet assessments
🐈Socialization and handling
🐈Pickiness

And lots more! Check out www.thehealthyfeline.com for the complete list.

Let's get started on a solution!

12/04/2024

A big, heartfelt thank you to all of you Healthy Felines! Thank you for being part of this community.

Helping cats and their humans live in harmony together is a dream come true for me. I feel so blessed to be doing this work.

I get to talk about cats all day - what's better than that?

I wouldn't be able to do this work without your support and engagement. So thank you for sharing my posts, commenting your experiences, and engaging my services.

Together, let's continue making a positive difference in the lives of our healthy felines and their humans.

❤❤❤❤🐈❤❤❤❤

11/04/2024

Issy is preparing for her work day. TGIF.

09/04/2024

On this episode of "how to speak cat!" let's tackle whiskers!

You might not have taken a second look at your cat's whiskers before.

You aren't alone! Whisker position is often missed when discussing kitty body language.

You might be surprised to learn that whiskers can tell us a lot about what our cat is thinking and feeling.

Let's break it down:
🐈Droopy = relaxed
🐈Elevated = alert or curious
🐈Flared = aroused (hunting or playing or saying "no thank you")
🐈Pinned back = fearful (or saying "no thank you")

In assessing pain with the Feline Grimace Score:
🐈Relaxed and curve = pain is absent
🐈Slightly curved or straight, strands closer together = moderate pain
🐈Straight and moving away from the face = pain is present

And ... I'm sure you know what I'm going to say... don't forget about context. What's happening around your cat? This environment and body assessment can help piece together what's going on in that feline brain.

Tell us below: what are your cat's whiskers doing right now?

07/04/2024

Happy Sunday all! Here's the cute story behind this quote to brighten your day.

From the International Churchill Society:
[Churchill's secretary] took the basket [of kittens] up to his bedroom, and told [Churchill]: “Now you are not to have these, they are just here for a visit.” An hour later he summoned her back. The kittens were everywhere, tearing into his newspapers, climbing around the room, investigating his bedclothes. “Take these kittens away,” Churchill commanded, “before I fall in love.”

05/04/2024

Sweet talking cats can make the difference between your cat getting into that carrier, accepting nail trims, or even socializing them to humans and kids.

It's pretty powerful!

Use a soothing voice to tell them how pretty they are and how much they mean to you.

I bet you won't run out of things to say any time soon!

Try sweet talking your cat and see what they do! Tell us below!

03/04/2024

Happy April! Here's your monthly checklist for cat guardians:

🐈If you haven't already, it's time to go see the vet for an annual visit. Regular check ups mean we can delay and prevent illness as our cats age. It's much easier (on the cat and the wallet) to prevent illness, then to react.

🐈It's time for nail trims!

🐈 Clean that litter box: dump out all the litter, wash the box with water and unscented soap, rinse and dry and refill. Your cat will thank you!

🐈Clean the water dishes and any other bowls or dishes. If your cat drinks from the faucet, clean that too!

🐈Switch out toys. This is a good time to clean them and throw out any toys that are beyond repair. Bring out toys that you've put away so your cat can "kill" them again.

I hope you have a wonderful April!

01/04/2024

April fools! You know I love both dogs and cats equally ❤🐈🐕

31/03/2024

It's that time! Time to do a full clean of the litter box. It's like a bathroom reno for your cat.... 🛁

What do I mean by a "full clean"?
1. Dump out all the litter.
2. Wash the box with unscented soap and water (or no soap at all). Avoid strong smelling detergents like bleach and any products ending in -sol.
3. Dry and refill with fresh litter.

Your cat will thank you! (Possibly by using the box right away.. :D Then you know a clean was needed!)

28/03/2024

Check out my Instagram highlights to see my foster cats from Annex Cat Rescue! https://www.instagram.com/thehealthyfeline/

You can watch them blossom!

These are cats who are TNR'd (trapped, neutered, returned) but before they're returned to their outdoor colony. There's some indication that these cats *could* live with humans and get adopted. They come to me for behaviour assessment.

You can also see some of my go-to training techniques for socializing cats:

🐈From hissing to purring: Check out Betty.
🐈From fearful to chill: Check out Lion and Garnet. (Also the cutest duo ever.)
🐈From painful to loving: Check out Werther.
🐈And if you just want to see some very handsome tall drinks o' water: Check out Russell and Claude.

I love each and every one of my fosters. I love buying them things. I love when they discover they're safe. I love finding out what food they love! It never gets old.

I hope these fosters bring you joy today! ❤️ 🐈

27/03/2024

There's nothing better than a cat *just being a cat*.

They're fulfilling their cat-quota. They're achieving cat perfection. They're fulfilling their mission statement.

They are Peak Cat.

What behaviours makes a cat a cat?
🐈Eating
🐈Scratching
🐈Stretching
🐈Napping
🐈Grooming
🐈Hunting and playing
🐈Sniffing and scenting
🐈Sunning themselves
🐈Climbing, hiding, and perching

And of course...

🐈Being cute.

If we, as their guardians, can provide our cats with an environment that supports these behaviours, our cats will be a Peak Cat. This will bring them (and us!) great joy.

Did I miss anything in this list? Let me know below!

26/03/2024

Welcome to another Cat Behaviour 101 session! Today, let's talk about facial cues.

There's a lot going on here.

🐈The brow: Is the brow furrowed? Is there tension? Or maybe little wrinkles?

🐈Ear position: Are the ears directed toward a sound? Are they turned away from you? Flat against their head?

🐈Distance between the ears: Are the ears close together, directed towards something? Or are they spaced out and relaxed?

🐈Orbital position (eye socket): Is it round? Oval? Are they squinting into the sun? Or looking lovingly at you?

🐈Pupil dilation: Are the pupils enlarged? Or pinpricks?

🐈The muzzle: Is there tension in the muzzle? Are they sniffing something?

🐈The whiskers: Are the whiskers flared? Or drooping down?

There's a lot to unpack here!

When we start to look at our cat in these smaller pieces, we can start to get a sense of how they're feeling.

But! We have to also look at the bigger picture. A cat with ears flat against their head could be saying "no thank you"... or they could be listening to something behind them.

Never forget about context.

I bet you are pretty good at this already. We humans pick up body language fairly well. It's harder to put to words what we intuitively understand.

Take a look at your cat and tell me about their facial cues. Let's practice!

24/03/2024

Remember to give your cat a treat today.

(Your cat told me to write this.)

22/03/2024

We've got another playtime tip for you: End every play session with a snack.

Your cat has a prey sequence that repeats itself multiple times a day.
Hunt/stalk > pounce/kill > eat > groom > sleep

If your cat doesn't get a chance to eat something, they'll be stuck in the pounce/kill phase. They won't be able to move on to the next phases of grooming and sleeping.

Ending playtime with a snack will allow your cat to complete the prey sequence.

If you play with your cat right before bedtime, and end with a snack of course, they will have a better, restful night... and so will you!

19/03/2024

Welcome to another session of Cat Behaviour 101: How to speak cat!

Today, it's all about the tail.

A cat's tail can tell us a lot about what the cat is feeling and experiencing.

🐈Tail up, possibly vibrating with a little curl at the top, is a friendly and confident greeting. You'll see this a lot between two cats who really like each other. You may even experience your cat greeting you this way!

🐈Tail flicking has a wide spectrum of intensity. From little flicks that indicate mild arousal to tail wagging that can mean this cat is highly aroused. She could be saying an emphatic "NO THANK YOU" to whatever is happening or could be in the middle of an intense hunt.

🐈A tucked tail indicates fear. She is trying to protect herself from a real or perceived threat. She will try to make herself appear smaller or larger depending on the situation. This is indicative of the flight or fight response. Is she gearing up to defend herself? Or can she avoid conflict? Cats are both a prey and a predator species so they are very good at both fight and flight responses.

🐈A "puff tail" or, more scientifically, piloerection, is the ability of a cat to puff up the fur on their tail. You may also see piloerection along the spine. This is a response to a perceived or real threat. She is making herself appear larger, which will hopefully dissuade the threat from attacking her. She's saying "you're going to get worse if you attack me." You may also see a puff tail if your cat is surprised by a loud sound or suddent movement.

Cats have a vast repertoire of body language that helps them communicate. Once we start looking for their body language, "speaking cat" becomes easier and easier. Many of these behaviours have evolved with the express intent to dissuade threats. It's better to say "no thank you" with a tail flick than get into a fight with the potential of getting hurt.

I hope you found this deep dive into the cat's tail helpful! Remember to put it together with context and you'll be speaking cat in no time!

18/03/2024

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And there will be cat puns! You've been meowrned. 🐈

Get behaviour and nutrition tips for your cat. Get easy-to-implement behaviour and nutrition tips so that you and your cat can live in harmony. First Name Last Name Email Address Join The Community! Thank you for joining The Healthy Feline community! It’s so great to have mew.

17/03/2024

Happy St Patrick's Day to all those cats who celebrate!

15/03/2024

Happy Ides of March everyone!

14/03/2024

85% of cats who are aged 3 years and older are thought to have some sort of dental disease. This is a staggering statistic.

So if your cat has needed a dental, you are certainly not alone!

There are many factors that affect whether your cat may need a dental. And genetics is one of them: sometimes its just out of our hands (or paws!).

The number one thing that we can do for our cats is brush their teeth. Imagine if we didn't brush our teeth? We'd need dental cleanings way more often!

However, brushing your cats teeth just might not be possible...

So, here are my go-to products for dental health for those non-brushing kitties:

🐈 Canident, a seaweed-based powder, added to your cat's food. Do not use if your cat has thyroid issues.
🐈 Check out Teef!, a prebiotic to help the oral microbiome. Make sure to watch the pre/probiotic space. This is a rapidly advancing area of research.
🐈Healthy Gums from Pet Wellbeing.
🐈 Your vet has some really great products! There are sprays and yummy gels available now.

And let's bust one myth: Regular kibble does not clean teeth. The only kibble that has research to back up dental care benefits is the vet prescribed diet called T/d.

Remember to clean your water and food bowls regularly. And if your cat drinks from the faucet, keep that clean too!

Tell us below: How are you providing dental care for your cats?

12/03/2024

Cat Behaviour 101 is back for another episode!

Previously on... How to Speak Cat: we talked about observing our cat's eyes, ears, whiskers, body, and tail.

Now let's consider context. Because context is *everything*.

When your cat is doing something (anything!), consider these questions:
🐈 What is your cat's ears, eyes, whiskers, body, and tail doing?
🐈 What is happening around your cat? Is it noisy? Are there a lot of people around? Are there new visitors? Children? Other cats? Dogs?
🐈 Has the daily routine changed?
🐈Does your cat have a choice to not interact?
🐈 What would you do in this situation if you were your cat?

Then, we can start to answer the question: why is my cat doing this!? What does it get them?

And the classic question: What is the function of the behaviour? Or, to make it easier to remember, WTF? What is The Function?

Then we can start speaking cat. 🐈

What sort of behaviours does your cat do that makes you say "Why are you doing that!?" Tell us below!

08/03/2024

If you haven't heard, here are a few details about the lawsuit against Hill's for perpetuating the myth that a grain-free diet is bad for dogs. I have seen this same narrative seep into the cat world, too.

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, a leading law firm in protecting consumers and small businesses against corporate fraud and unfair competition, r

08/03/2024

Happy International Women's Day!

Shout out to all the women and femmes in my life.

And especially to my cat, Issy. Who I hope to be more like someday. 😆🐈

07/03/2024

Shout it with me! Cats are not jerks!

The narrative that cats are jerks is insidious. Juxtaposed with the narrative that dogs are "man's best friend" and the "loyal dog", it makes cats all the less likely to receive compassion and care.

Let's make a few things clear:
🐈Dogs and cats are WONDERFUL!
🐈We are blessed to have them in our lives.
🐈And both have a wide spectrum of personality and needs.

Don't let these narratives dictate what a "good dog" and a "good cat" is to you. Your cat is wonderful. Your cat is intelligent. Your cat has agency and can assert that agency.

They can and deserve to have control over their bodies.

Calling a cat a jerk is a sure way for us to not address the reason WHY they are acting "like a jerk". Like when your cat pees outside the litter box. Or when your cat doesn't want their nails trimmed. Or they ignore you when you call them.

There are good reasons why your cat is protesting:
🐱They don't understand what's happening to them.
🐱They're in pain.
🐱They have agency.
🐱They have personality and preferences, needs and wants.
🐱They are intelligent, emotional beings.

So next time you catch yourself or others saying "my cat is a jerk!", ask instead "why is my cat doing THAT".

Then we can start to really understand them.

I should make t-shirts. :D

05/03/2024

Welcome to our new series: Cat Behaviour 101 - How to speak cat!

Reading body language is the first step in learning how to speak to our cats. Cats have a wide array of facial expressions and body language that will speak VOLUMES...if you know how to speak cat!

Your first task is to observe your cat doing something (anything!) and ask yourself these questions:
🐈 What are your cat's ears doing?
🐈 Are your cat's pupils dilated?
🐈 What are our cat's whiskers doing?
🐈 What is the position of your cat's tail?
🐈 What is your cat's overall body language?

Get in the habit of observing these specific areas of your cat's body: the ears, eyes, whiskers, tail, and overall body position.

We already know a lot about cat body language instinctively - especially if you've owned cats for awhile! - but let's practice more objective ways to describe our cat.

Share below what you observed your cat doing!

03/03/2024

You love cats? Say no more. We're best friends.