Understanding the natural social organisation within cat colonies

A subordinate cat waits while a higher ranking cat eats

With more multi-cat, full-time indoor cat arrangements, it’s important that people understand the natural social organisation of cats. And perhaps the greatest problem for a cat caregiver when looking after cats in a multi-cat home is adding a cat to the “colony”. In effect a multi-cat home is a managed colony of cats. They …

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Taurine is essential for cat health AND it may extend the lives of humans

Red Bull contains taurine which may extend human lifespan by 8 years!!

Taurine has been discussed a lot on the internet in the context of the domestic cat’s diet as it is an essential nutrient. For cats a diet lacking in sufficient quantities of taurine can lead to taurine deficiency the symptoms of which can include feline taurine retinopathy, or more commonly, feline central retinal degeneration …

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Pet food emulsifiers might be harming our cats. Can you trust it?

Cat eating wet cat food

I don’t believe that we can entirely trust the cat and dog food we buy in the UK to be safe for our companion animals. I have just watched a BBC programme about ultra-processed human foods which might harm us. In the UK the FSA (Food Standards Agency) regulates the food industry including pet …

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Is your cat a picky eater or do they have good alternative reasons?

Why do cats sometimes reject their food?

The so-called ‘picky domestic cat’ eater is a concern to many cat owners. But they will reject food for a good reason and here are 8 possibilities. These possibilities do not reflect the behaviour of a cat who is a picky eater. These are genuine alternative reasons. So, it should not be puzzling to …

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Taiwan’s silkworm cat food versus China’s industrial waste cat food

Silkworm cat food

I think this comparison is reflective of the culture of these two countries. I’ve made a mistake already by calling them ‘two countries’. According to China they are the same country: China. But they have different cultures as shown by their attitude towards making what I have described as ‘artificial cat food’. You know …

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Domestic cats over 7-years-of-age prefer wet food at 37°C

Heated wet cat food is more palatable to ageing cats

A scientific study confirms that ageing cats, over seven-years-of-age, prefer warmed up wet food and particularly wet food at 37°C (98.6°F). Like many people, I know that warming wet cat food makes it more palatable to all cats and particularly ageing cats who may lose their appetite as it brings out new flavours and …

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Stable isotopes in cats’ whiskers tell us that domestic cats who hunt tend to leave prey uneaten

Cat with mouse at door locked out as forbidden to bring prey animals in

Stable isotopes in hair can reveal dietary protein sources. Scientists from the University of Exeter, UK, trimmed a whisker from each domestic cat participating in their study; once at the start and once at the end of the study. These domestic cats were allowed outside to hunt. They measured the stable isotope ratios in …

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