cat well being Archives - Page 7 of 8 - MyThreeCats.com CatBlog

Do You Know Which People Foods are Harmful To Cats?

With all the delicious food that can be found during the holidays, it can be tempting to treat your kitty to human foods. But so many people foods are harmful to cats. Did you know that even tuna, which is used in many commercial cat foods, can be bad if your cat eats too much?

Dairy is another no-no for kitties, so that means no sharing leftover holiday party cheese and no sharing of Santa’s cookies and milk.

Speaking of holiday parties, it should go without saying that alcohol is toxic to cats and should be avoided at all costs. That means we must be careful of leaving holiday drinks unattended because even a very small amount of alcohol can be dangerous to pets.

For a comprehensive list of foods that are bad for kitties, please read this article and play it safe! If your cat gets into any of these foods and shows signs of lethargy or sickness, call your vet immediately.

Do you know of other foods that are dangerous for our pets? Leave a comment and let us know!

3833hrPeekandPrizeToyBoxsmaller — Peek N Prize Toy Box at MyThreeCats.com

What types of environmental enhancements do you offer your cat?

Caring for cats properly involves much more than simply furnishing food, water and a litter box. Environmental enrichment, such as toys, food puzzles, perches, and even hiding places, can really change the quality of life for almost any cat.

The Winn Feline Foundation recently took a look at this issue in a group of shelter cats on their blog. Environmental enrichment in shelter cats is an excerpt from a study which provided a food puzzle to a stable group of shelter cats and examined their reaction to the puzzle and their interactions surrounding the object. The study concluded:

“a stimulating item that can be shared by all individuals in a stable group, such as a puzzle feeder of appropriate size, can play an important role in promoting positive social interactions among cats and improving their welfare.”

Certainly, in shelter cats, this is an important study. It underlines the need for more than just basic care in the lives of these animals and the fact that this enrichment is easily achievable. After all, the ultimate goal is to give these cats the best chance for adoption. Cats that are comfortable in their environment and confident will show it in their behavior. And confident behavior is much more “adoptable” than a cat that is hiding in his cage or, worse yet, acting in aggressive manner out of fear.

However, this study also can be extended to those of us who keep multi-cat households. I have three cats and frequently see two or more of my cats interacting with the toys and puzzles at once. In fact, it seems as though if one cat shows interest, it generates interest in the other cats as well.

Many environmental enhancement toys, cat furniture and other items can be found at www.MyThreeCats.com, the experts in optimum care care and well being.

Hug Your Cat – And Live Longer

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people without felines were 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those without cats. No protective effect of dogs as domestic pets was observed.

Over 4,000 people were surveyed about pet ownership and risk factors. Dr. Adnan Qureshi, stroke expert at the University, said of the cat-dog differential, “We don’t understand this completely – it’s probably not a coincidence.”

I think we can help answer this phenomenon pretty easily.

Cats are creatures of peace and tranquility. They sleep on average 16 hours a day, they are generally quiet and they purr. They follow us around like we’re the pied piper, quietly observing us as we go about our daily activities. They force us to stay on the couch a bit longer as they purr away on our laps. Many have an uncanny sense of when we’re arriving back home, waiting in the window sill until we appear, then meowing and bumping up against our legs with a friendly hello.

Some are very conversational, wanting to tell us how their day went. Their meows are generally very pleasant and sweet. If they are hungry they tell us politely. If they are sick, their observant humans will know by the change in their habits or behaviors, but not because they complain.

These are just some of the ways they affect our lives in a calming, positive way.

So……give your favorite feline a big hug and enjoy them every minute you can! You may just add some years to your life in the process.

Nova, Mystic and Zen’s Holiday Fun

Nova, Mystic and Zen spied their new Cat Clouds that “Mom” had just mounted perfectly spaced on the wall. It didn’t take long for them to “cat”-apult up to the first perch, then position themselves comfortably on the second and third perches. Looks like they’re now on Cloud Nine, enjoying the view. A special thank you to their “Mom” Lorraine for sharing these fantastic pics. (Note: You can find more information about Cat Clouds at

http://www.mythreecats.com/products/cat-clouds-contemporary-shelves-shown-in-off-white-right-facing

Customer and Friends’ Cat Photos

We thought we’d share some great photos sent by our loyal customers and friends. Many were accompanied by stories about their rescue and adoption. Scroll down and then click “Older posts” for more new postings.

Our warmest and sincerest wishes to you and your loved ones, especially the feline variety, this Holiday Season. Carolyn, MyThreeCats.com