Cats are in a league of their own when it comes to unpredictability. Some kitties love to snuggle while others you are sure will murder you in your sleep. They are nothing if not unique in their personalities. When it comes to behaviors, though, they do have, ahem, dare we say wonky habits that they tend to share in common. If you’ve got a cat, you’ll surely recognize some of these purrrrfectly normal idiosyncrasies. If you don’t have a cat, well, you could be in a for a wild ride.

Cats seem so chill and even have a reputation for being a bit apathetic, but the phrase “scaredy cat” was coined for a reason. Would you know if your cat was experiencing stress? Where does feline stress come from, and how can you recognize the symptoms? Most importantly, what can you do to help? As veterinarians, we see this fairly often. That's why we wanted to share a bit about cat behavior, including the signs and how to help reduce cat anxiety below.

So you’re bringing him a kitty boo! There is nothing that will infuse more energy into your household than a roly-poly, light-chasing, box-loving, ball-bopping itty bitty kitten. “This kitten is so boring,’ said no one ever. Of course, they are a handful by nature but, with the proper preparations, your tiny ball of fur will be a happy and healthy member of your family in no time. So what’s on the new kitten checklist as far as essentials and other items that will simply make your life easier?

“But my Ellie loves being an indoor cat and would never try to leave.” These are the famous last words of every cat owner....before The First Great Escape. Whether it’s a true animal instinct or just sincere curiosity, nearly every cat - well-loved or not - will try to escape through a door left ajar or a cracked window.

Meow - it’s National Adopt a Cat Month! If you’ve ever adopted a pet, you know that it can be one of the most rewarding experiences for both you and your fur baby. As many adopters will tell you, it’s often a question of who saved whom, as these grateful animals bring us so much joy. If you’re considering adopting a kitten or cat, you obviously want your feline friend to be around for as long as possible.

Spring is in full swing, with summer fast approaching. This means that flowers are on every corner, freshly cut on most tables, and possibly blossoming in your own garden. If you’re partaking in this extravaganza, more flower power to you. Be aware, however, that if you’ve got a furry feline that is fairly curious (read: all of them), there are some plants and flowers that are toxic or at least potentially toxic to cats.

We’ve all seen the memes since this COVID-19 pandemic started about dogs who have had enough of you walking them, thank you very much. And in turn, the cat memes are all about them wondering when we are going back to work and giving them their much needed personal space back. We get it. Dogs tend to be goofy and friendly while cats are, ahem, a bit more discerning about their company.

We're all feeling it. While there have been some silver linings to these days of quarantine due to COVID-19, many of us are feeling a case of the BLAHS. And by "BLAHS", we mean that we're Binging Lots And Hoarding Snacks. It's completely understandable, and our pets might even become a bit of collateral damage.