The Science Behind Why Cats Love Catnip

Does your cat go crazy for catnip?  Approximately 70-80% of cats are affected by catnip to some degree.  What is it about this plant that provokes such a strong reaction in cats?  Here’s a quick look at the science of catnip. Catnip, also called catmint, is a member of the mint family.  The scientific name …

Kitten Checklist Helps New Owners Pick the Perfect Cat

  An organization of cat care professionals in the UK called The Cat Group has created a very helpful “Kitten Checklist” for anyone thinking about adding a new kitten to their family! This user-friendly checklist was designed to help owners choose a happy and healthy kitten, whether it comes from a shelter, rescue organization, friend, …

New Study Proves Cats are Strongly Attached to their Human Caregivers

A new research study published in the journal Current Biology has come to a conclusion that cat owners have known all along—cats form strong emotional bonds with their humans! The authors point out that although studies on canine behavior and cognition far outnumber those on feline behavior and cognition, the research that does exist shows …

How Our Personalities Affect Our Cats’ Care and Well-Being

A new research study on personality type and cat ownership provides some interesting insights into how our personalities can impact our cats’ lives. Researchers surveyed over 3,000 UK cat owners on their personality types based on the “Big Five Inventory” Agreeableness Conscientiousness Extroversion Neuroticism Openness They also asked the owners several questions about how they …

How to Encourage Good Scratching Habits in Cats

As more and more cat owners are realizing the risks and hazards of declawing and letting their cats roam outdoors, they are faced with the issue of unwanted cat scratching behavior in the house. Why do cats scratch and how can you encourage appropriate scratching?  Here’s some great information from the American Association of Feline …