What's Inside
1. Cat rescued from storm
2. Cat vision
3. Pet peeves
4. More on cats' eyes
5. Make your own calendar
6. Natural Pet Care
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4. Pet Food News
The Year in Review in
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods
Wishing you and your pet the best –
From Susan Thixton, petfood advocate
Suggested for you:
Download this free ebook on feeding your cat, by Dr. Lisa Pierson, at catinfo.org
The link is on the first page of the website.
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4. More on Cats' Eyes
This slideshow covers seven common cat eye problems and what can be done about them.
If your cat's eyes are not clear and bright, as shown here, it's probably time for a checkup with your veterinarian.
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5. Make your own calendars for 2023
If you would like to make your own calendar for 2023, here are some options that will allow you to share your own photos or artwork:
6. Natural Pet Care
For
a comprehensive care regimen for your pets, this website contains
information, educational courses (many are free), and product advice to
help you treat your pet naturally.
https://vitalanimal.com
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About the Newsletter
We would love to hear from you!
Published
on the first of the month. Submissions, stories, comments and questions
are welcome. If you'd like to see your cat under Photo of the Month,
please send it to us here:
hi_paws @ yahoo.com
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Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends. If they would like to have their own subscription,
send them to TheProblemCat.com to
fill out the form on the upper left of the page. This is a private list
and is not shared with others, certainly not any advertising
companies.
If you would like to see past
issues, or are having trouble
viewing this one, you may
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Many thanks to Paul DeCeglie, an American writer now based in Pattaya, Thailand, for sending us more helplful and fascinating articles every month!
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1. Cat Rescued Just in Time From Winter Storm Elliott
A happy ending as 2022 came to a close; this cat will live to enjoy the New Year in 2023.
A cat sat outside, hunched over and frozen to the ground. Winter Storm Elliott had passed through Michigan, leaving bitterly cold temperatures and snow.
Stuck in place and unable to escape the cold, the fluffy cat’s eyes crusted shut. His body temperature began dropping.
Then a woman in Muskegon noticed the “poor older boy” and stopped to help...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/with-eyes-sealed-shut-cat-frozen-to-ground-is-found-just-in-time-michigan-vet-says/ar-AA15Kdb2
We know you wouldn't risk your pets' lives by leaving them outdoors, but you can help save others by telling people you know to please keep their pets indoors during severe weather.
All cats deserve to be indoors or provided
shelter during severe weather.
2. Cat Vision
Did you know that cats are farsighted? Well, kinda. But don’t go fitting them with reading glasses just yet. Despite their remarkable ability to see in virtual darkness, they are not able to clearly see objects close up; any object within about 10 inches is a blur. That’s because cats do not have the muscles to change the shape of their lenses.
Conversely, their long-range vision is approximately 20/100 - 20/200--not nearly as good as most humans, who typically have 20/20 vision. “This means that if a human can see an image very well from 100 feet, a cat would have to be 20 feet from that same object for it to appear sharp,” according to DJ Haeussler, the veterinary ophthalmologist who runs the Animal Eye Institute in Southern Ohio.
But, one might argue, they have the advantage of being able to see in the dark. Yes and No. They can see better in the dark than we can, but they do not have the vivid night vision you might imagine.
Dr. Gaylord Brown, chief veterinarian at DELTA Rescue, a large no-kill, care-for-life animal sanctuary, notes that cats “only need about 15 percent of the light humans need to see.” Their slit-shaped pupils can control the amount of light that gets into the eye in daylight, which keeps it from getting damaged and also provides more control over how much light reaches the retina. Humans, with our round pupils, don’t have the same abilities. A slit pupil can also dilate more than a round pupil, which allows more light to enter in the dark. It is estimated that cats can see six to eight times better in the dark than humans.
Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.
A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.
Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than call your vet. Eye problems should be considered an emergency so make an appointment immediately.
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Photo of the Month
3. Pet Peeves
Ask your cat how she would like to be petted and odds are you won’t like her answer. (Actually, the odds are that you won’t get an answer unless your cat can talk, in which case send the full story to us here, at the Kitty Times!)
What could be more comforting than holding your cat and rubbing her tummy? Comforting for you but maybe not for Ms Kitty.
Most cats do not enjoy belly rubs, according to the experts; in fact, many hate being touched on their bellies or near the base of their tails.
A research paper published last July concluded that people think that cats like to be touched in a variety of areas. Even veteran cat owners don’t understand where their feline friends prefer to be touched. In fact, the study showed that older cat owners are the most likely to pick up and hold their cats. But that also is a no-no because it robs the cat of its freedom of movement. These cat fanciers were found to give their cats less choice about being touched and they were more likely to rub the "danger zones."
Whether a cat likes to be touched on the rest of her body — its back, sides, tail, legs, etc. — is a matter of personal preference. (Hers, not yours.)
Experts identified three areas of the body where almost all cats liked to be touched: the base of the ears, the cheeks and under the chin. That's about it.
While some cats prefer not being touched at all, others ask for more.
Before petting your cat, bend down and offer your hand. Let her smell it and decide if she wants to move closer to you for cuddling. Then pay attention to her behavior and body language. If she sits near you and purrs, she’s enjoying the experience. But if she flattens her ears or licks her nose, she’s had enough.
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