When it comes to litter boxes, things might not be as black and white as they appear. If you notice your cat doesn’t especially like using the litter box or even outright avoids it, it could all come down to a single, seemingly unimportant detail: location. But as any realtor would say, it’s all about location, location, location. It applies to litter boxes, too!

Where you place a litter box in your home can drastically impact the relationship you have with your cat. It can get frustrating if your cat won’t use the litter box and eliminates around the house; and it’s not only stressful for you, but for your cat as well. 

So where are the best and worst places to set up your cat’s litter box? We’ve compiled a list of advice from cat behaviorists to help you decide the purr-fect place for your cat to do its bathroom business. Short of training your kitty to use the toilet (which you can totally do), there are many ways to make sure your cat uses their litter box. Read on for more! 

1. Too Hidden

The best places for litter boxes, according to cat behavior specialists Paula Garber and Blair de Jong, are usually in quiet, easy-to-reach corners in the home. 

Garber notes that as a rule, cat owners don’t want to see or smell litter boxes and avoid the mess of scattered litter. So they may tuck them in places that are out of the way for the pet. But this can be inconvenient for a cat, and may discourage them from using the box.

“Check out where your cat spends the most time,” Blair de Jong adds. “If your cat never goes up to that weird attic room, don’t put the litter box up there.”

Instead, place the box someplace that the cat can easily get to, preferably a low-traffic area, Garber recommends. Cats usually like to hang out with their humans, so one of those favorite spots may be perfect for a litter box.

To help avoid litter mess, use mats outside the litter box to help trap any litter your cat may track outside the box. 

2. Danger Zone

Even though cats have been domesticated, they still have natural wild instincts. When your cat uses the litter box, they know they are vulnerable to attack. Litter boxes placed around corners, in cabinets, behind couches, in closets, and small rooms are perfect setups for an ambush. A cat can be easily trapped in this situation, or be pounced upon by another cat or animal in the home.

Make sure the box is in a location that offers a clear and easy escape route for your cat and, even better, make sure you have several boxes in different locations so your cat has litter box options.

3. Keep It Away From Food And Water

Keep your cat’s litter box well away from its source of food and water. You wouldn’t want to eat your dinner right next to the toilet, would you? The same goes for your feline friends.

The main reason to keep the litter box away from your cat's food and water is to avoid cross-contamination. Cats can track litter outside their box and if it ends up in their food or water it can cause illness or digestive issues if ingested. 

Cats also have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, as well as an instinct to keep their food and water separate from where they defecate and urinate. It is part of the reason that cats bury their feces in the first place, to hide the scent from potential predators to stay hidden. 

4. No Loud Machines

While the laundry room may seem like a convenient place for the litter box (out of the way, generally smells like fresh laundry) the noise from appliances like the washer and dryer may scare your cat away from using the box. And as it happens, heat radiating from a furnace or hot dryer can also amplify the smell coming from the litter box. And nobody wants that, you or the cat!

5. Multiple Boxes in Multiple Places

As a general rule of thumb from cat behaviorists such as Jackson Galaxy, each cat should have one litter box, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes total. This ensures that every cat has their space  

Consider Your Cat's Needs First

When it comes down to it, finding the perfect litter box location for your cat should be about the cat. It's all about finding the right balance between your cat's needs and your wants.

Cats prefer litter boxes that are placed in low-traffic, quiet areas that have expansive views. These areas should be easily accessible to the cat, placed away from their food and water, and offer a good view and an easy escape route. 

In a small bit of relief in a sea of awful news regarding Ukraine being invaded by Russia, a cat was saved from a destroyed building.

Russian soldiers ravaged the multi-story building in Borodyanka. As the rescue operation was looking for survivors, sharp eyes spotted the terrified feline on the 7th floor of the bombed-out building. 

Rescuers were able to get a firetruck and cherrypicker to reach the stranded cat. It was a difficult rescue as the building only had one stable wall remaining. 

⚡️ A cat was rescued from a multi-story building in Borodyanka destroyed by Russian soldiers. The video was published by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/dZ8xt7Knfw

— Flash (@Flash43191300) May 3, 2022

Thankfully, the bedraggled cat was rescued and taken in by volunteers; cleaned up, fed, and cared for. 

Photo: Facebook / Eugene Kibets

In an update posted May 7th - it turns out that the rescued cat is in fact female, and she was recognized by her owner's thanks to all the coverage the cat’s rescue received. The lucky cat’s name is Gloria and she is 10 years old. 

According to Gerashchenko’s Twitter, when the bombings began, Gloria hid so well that her owners couldn’t find her and they had to make the difficult decision to save themselves and leave Gloria behind. Gloria’s owners hope to be reunited with her. 

Another cat was also saved from bombings and was adopted by the Ukrainian government: 

Remember the survivor cat from #Borodianka? I was sent a happy sequel to his story! He now lives in the Ministry of Internal affairs, fed, bathed, and loved. He will participate in all important meetings, of course.#UkraineUnderAttack #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/yvQYy6QljC

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) April 9, 2022

1. Cat Stud Earrings

2. Pinot Meow and MosCATo Cat Wine

Photo by Meowingtons Ambassador @nym_n_noms

3. Meowter Space Cat Socks (3-Pack)

"What do you do with such wonderfully color- and theme-coordinated socks but wear one from one pair and a different design from another Such fun! I actually kept my favorite non-matching set and gave the other two pairs as gifts to cat-loving friends." - Reva B. 

4. Clowder Cat Scarf

"Love the scarf. Ordered extra to give to my other friends who love cats.
All were very happy. Very Very Happy." - Mary N.

 

5. Crystal Paw Print Bracelet & Matching Paw Print Ring

"Great piece, especially for a cat lover. It was a present for my cousin and she loved it! Great fit, nicely made. I got it on sale and it came fast and was a great deal!" - Maite

 

 

6 & 7. Milton the Cat Squishy Pillow Plushie and Milton's Cat Butt Beanie

"Cat Butt Purrfection! Super warm and purrfectly cute for the colder season! I just love the Milton cat butt patch on it! Very well made!" - Darya K.

 

 

8. Millie the Cat Squishy Plushie

"Arrived on time and in excellent condition - Millie is too cute has to order another one for my mom!" - Mary L. 

 

 

9. Rescue Mom Tank Top

Whether you’re a proud Cat Mom or need a gift for the “crazy” cat lady in your life, say “Happy Mother’s Day” from the cats with our Rescue Mom Tank Top!  

10. Cat Hair Don't Care T-Shirt

With this cute cat graphic tee, people will finally stop asking if you are part Sasquatch. “No, it’s just cat hair. And I just don’t care!”

 

 

It's Hairball Awareness Day! So, why do hairballs deserve their own PSA day? If you're a cat owner, you're already plenty aware of hairballs. We don't need a whole day to be aware of them.

But for new cat parents, and even seasoned ailurophiles that have cleaned up their fair share of hairballs, it's always good to know ways to help out with these hacked-up chunks.

Hairballs, also known as trichobezoars, are pretty much the bane of every cat's (and cat parent's) existence. They are no fun for your kitties to hack up, and even less fun for us humans to clean up. Despite their repellent, slimy nature, hairballs are a normal, natural result of healthy feline hygiene. It's normal if your cat has the occasional hairball. 

Okay, okay. We know what hairballs are and how they happen. So what are some hairball hacks?  

1. Groom your cat regularly.

It stands to reason that the more fur you remove from your cat, the less fur they'll end up swallowing. Combing or brushing your cat on a daily basis can be an effective way to minimize hairballs, and it can also provide a wonderfully relaxing way to bond with your cat!

Cats are fastidious groomers who lick themselves with their rough tongues to make sure their coats are shiny and dirt-free. Normally, your cat's digestive system can handle all the fluff, which passes through the intestinal tract without worry and ends up in the litter box.  

Longhaired cat breeds such as Maine Coon and Persian cats are more prone to hairballs, as well as anxious or bored cats that can overgroom as a form of self-soothing. 

2. Give your plumpkin some pumpkin! 

Finally, a use for pumpkin outside of Thanksgiving and Halloween! Plain, canned pumpkin (without sugar or flavor) can make an excellent natural hairball remedy.

While it won't completely do away with hairballs, pumpkin is a natural source of fiber for cats, aiding digestion, while also providing a few beneficial vitamins. Many veterinarians turn to pumpkin as a remedy for constipation in feline patients.

Mix between one and four teaspoons of canned pumpkin in your cat's food one to two times a day, or a couple times a week.

It's best to check with your veterinarian first before making any changes to your cat's diet. They can advise you on the proper amount and frequency of pumpkin to serve.  

3. Consider a specialized "hairball formula" foods.

If your cat doesn't take to canned pumpkin, "hairball formula" foods are high-fiber foods designed to improve the health of your cat’s coat, minimize the amount of shedding, and encourage hairballs in cats to pass through the digestive system. As always, check with your vet for recommendations!

4. Give them something fun to do. 

One of our previous foster cats, Louie, playing with our Mouse Hunt Cat Toy!

If your cat is grooming themselves excessively (and producing more hairballs than normal) gift them a new toy or play with them to distract from having to constantly groom. Excessive grooming in cats can be a sign of stress or boredom.

Distracting your cat with new toys not only helps cut down on excessive grooming (and thus hairballs) but also provides you with a great opportunity for social bonding with your cat. 

Note: If you notice that your cat is vomiting frequently with or without hair in the vomit, there may be other health problems and a vet checkup may be required. Abnormal signs and symptoms include vomiting or gagging up more than one hairball a day, constipation, diarrhea, lethargy, or lack of appetite. These symptoms could mean an internal blockage that can potentially be life-threatening.

Emergency evacuations can be scary for anyone, especially when you have small children and pets to contend with and a short time to get them to safety. But imagine having nearly 90 pets that need to be moved immediately.

That’s what happened to animal rescue Salty Cats of St. Andrews Rescue in Panama City, Florida. Jackie Mihal, who runs the rescue, stepped out into her backyard to care for her animals - only to be greeted by a wall of flames. The woods surrounding her home (and rescue) were completely ablaze. “No warning, none. The whole woods was on fire,” said Mihal. 

With no time to spare, she jumped into action to save her rescued feral, stray, and abandoned cats (and rabbits). Luckily three Good Samaritans were in the area offering to help with the evacuations and joined in to help move the animals - Brian Salmon, Scott Morris, and Scott Trunzo. 

The four formed a makeshift “bucket brigade” to get the animals to safety, with Mihal loading the cats into crates as quickly as she could and handing them off to be loaded into a waiting trailer. 

“The building was being engulfed in smoke,” Mihal said. “I keep all my windows open, and smoke was pouring in. We didn’t know how much time we’d have before the building went up. I never could have gotten it done if Salmon, Morris, and Trunzo hadn’t been there.”

All 87 animals were safely loaded in about 20 minutes between the four of them. "I don't know how we were able to do what we did, but someone was definitely on our side," Mihal says. "The guys were a big, big help."

The rescue moved all 87 pets temporarily to a large storage building for shelter. Thankfully, the winds shifted, and the fire didn’t reach Mihal’s home or cat buildings - but the property was heavily smoke-damaged and uninhabitable.

The animals stayed at the temporary shelter for ten days while Mihal worked to replace the multitude of cat trees, blankets, beds, and toys that were damaged beyond repair.

"Everything had to be tossed out because of the smoke," said Mihal. "Then we had to wash everything down, repaint, and reseal everything before the cats could come back. 

Thanks to an outpouring of support from the community, Mihal was able to get all the animals back into her property.

"It's been tremendous," she says. "People are bringing beds and toys and money. We're still getting towers in. We had about seven towers that had to be tossed,” Said Mihal.

"Someone donated the paint, which was huge. I had volunteers come help me paint. All that plays a huge part for us in terms of being able to continue helping animals."

The mystery of why cats purr has long been debated by scientists. While we're still not sure as to the why, we can now see what a cat's purr looks like - thanks to acoustical physics research scientist Casey Attebery, AKA Mr. E-Scholar, and a special cymatic device.

Cymatics is the study of sound and vibration made visible. Cymatics uses this device as a frequency generator that uses sand, powders, or liquids to create and capture animated patterns. 

While cymatics doesn’t really ‘show’ what a cat’s purr looks like, it can create patterns using liquids activated by the resonance of a cat purring. Using a small dish of fluid attached to a speaker, Attebery is able to capture in image form the unique purrs of four cats: Fran, Yuri, Tigger and Effie.

A still image of cat Fran's purr.

As the vibrations from the cat purrs move the liquid, custom-colored lights illuminate and capture the movement of the liquid, and thus the ‘movement’ of the purr.  

The video below demonstrates the results of cymatics to a beautiful effect - and as a bonus, soothing cat purrs. 

Do you see any recognizable shapes in these almost psychedelic patterns?

Scientists have learned that cats purr with a consistent pattern and sound frequencies between 25 and 150 Hertz; these fluctuating frequencies provide the varying visual patterns shown in the videos.

We may not know exactly why cats purr. But we know that many species of felid produce a “purr-like” sound. And in domestic cats, the sound is most prevalent when a cat is nursing her kittens or through human social contact. 

Many cat parents may assume that a cat’s purr is a pleasure response, but did you know that cats also use purring during stressful moments, or in response to pain? Some researchers believe purring acts as a form of self-soothing - and maybe even self-healing.

Remember those 25 and 150 Hertz frequencies we mentioned earlier? Investigations have shown that frequencies in this range can "improve bone density and promote healing" as per Scientific American.

[h/t Cole and Marmalade]

It's National Cat Lady Day. And it’s time to admit the truth: You’re a crazy cat lady. Say it with me: I’m a crazy cat lady. Feels good, doesn't it?

Every other day of the year, cat ladies get the short end of the stick. We're labeled as old maid spinsters who wear frumpy sweaters and don't get out enough. But we don't think that's fair. So-called "crazy cat ladies" are just ladies who happen to really, really like cats and would do anything for their beloved furry family members. 

Founded by CatCon creator, Susan Michals, National Cat Lady Day is meant to emphasize the modern Cat Lady as a powerful, independent and caring figure who's not defined solely by the furry company she keeps, or how many cats she may have. So, yeah, call me a cat lady? 

We think this fierce love and dedication should be celebrated. 

There's no better day than National Cat Lady Day to get started on this celebration and spend your day the cat lady way!

1.  Caturday Cat Tee

Cats, puns, and wine; the ultimate triple threat and perfect combination for an awesome t-shirt. Because it's not drinking alone if it's with your cat! 

Photo: msmakayla_marie

2. Catnip Cat Wine to Drink With Your Cat!

No, really. You can actually drink wine with your cats! Milton's Cat Wine is a catnip-infused non-alcoholic drink that your cat can enjoy while you sip on a glass of Pinot Noir. )

3. Milton's Cat Butt Beanie

There is no such thing as a bad hair day with a beanie on your noggin! And Milton is here to make sure you're looking and feline fine no matter the reason (or the season).  

4. Luxe Cloud Cat Bed

Nothing says "cat lady" like spoiling your cat to the cutest and comfiest beds there are! Now your kitty can catnap on a cloud with the Luxe Cloud Cat Bed.

5. LED Floral Cat Ears Headband

Some fun outtakes any cat lady can relate to:

6. You and your cat can twin it to win it with our Kitty Hippie Sunglasses - yes, tiny, purrfectly cat-sized sunglasses.

VIA INSTAGRAM

7. A chiffon scarf so cozy even your cat will try to steal it: Clowder Cat Scarf!

8. Friend to Street Cats Poster 

For the cat lover who doesn't hesitate to stop and smell the roses - or pet the stray kitty on the sidewalk!  

9. You can never have too many mugs! Especially if there's a cat on it.

Shop our Shit Together Mug here!

Photo via natnatnatitup, Instagram

10. Cat Stud Earrings

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but so are her cats!

Via @pafgreycat

As Easter approaches, those that celebrate this flower-filled holiday may be decorating their home with lilies. While these beautiful flowers make lovely springtime decorations, if you have a cat at home you should opt for roses in your vase instead!

Keep your cats AWAY from lilies. There are plenty of cat-safe decorations you can use to celebrate Easter. 

Many cat owners don't know that these beautiful flowers are 100% toxic to cats of all sizes and ages. 

If a cat eats even a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, or licks a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or even laps at water from the vase, it can result in fatal kidney failure in as little as three days. 

According to the FDA, lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are very dangerous for cats.  The lily plant is toxic in its entirety, including the stems, flowers, leaves, pollen, and even water in the vase.

If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. When in doubt, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for life-saving information. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently the lily poisoning can be treated. 

Not all lilies are highly toxic to cats, some are benign. It is important to know the difference! 

The most dangerous lilies include: 

• Easter lilies
• Tiger lilies
• Day lilies
• Asiatic hybrid lilies
• Japanese show lilies
• Rubrum lilies
• Stargazer lilies
• Red lilies
• Western lilies
• Wood lilies

Benign lilies include the Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies – these aren’t “true lilies” and don’t come from the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. They pose less of a risk, but can still cause discomfort and illness if ingested.

Can't tell the difference? When in doubt, just don't bring lilies into your home or opt for a fake lily instead - or a safer, cat-friendly houseplant. It's worth it to protect your feline family member. 

As cats are naturally curious, inquisitive creatures that actually do like to munch on plants, cats are capable of jumping up onto the taller spots where you might attempt to keep the lilies out of reach, like on a mantle, window, counter, and even fridge top. It is better to keep lilies completely out of your home if you have a cat.

Pet Poison Control Centers

• Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661, www.petpoisonhelpline.com
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435, www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

To ensure you and your cat(s) have a safe and happy Easter, don't bring lilies into your home! Please spread the word with fellow cat lovers who may not know. 

As we head toward the 7th week since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Ukrainian people continue to show the world their resilience.

This includes the Cat Café Lviv which is staying open during the invasion. The café, which has been open for six years, is a place to enjoy a meal and coffee while you interact with the café’s 20 cats. 

Even with the Russian invasion happening all around the country the café owners will be staying to take care of their 20 co-hosts.

“I have a small team of several close people who have been working with me for several years and have become my closest friends. The cats have also gotten used to these people, who help to take care of them and who play with them when there are few guests because our fluffy residents love people’s attention,” owner Serhii Oliinyk told The Dodo.

“Our cats have been living in [the] cat cafe since the age of 4 months. They are like family. We realized that we would never leave our country, that this was the only place where we could see ourselves in the future,” Oliinyk said.
 

Cat Cafe Lviv, Facebook

“We currently have fewer regular visitors, but there are people who have come from other cities and need hot food and positive emotions. There are three large rooms in our cafe, two of which are located in the basement, so in case of an air raid warning, there is a safe shelter for our guests and cats.”

The owner and staff want to continue to provide a safe and soothing place for people still living in the city to come and enjoy some stress-free time with the cats.

For a tour inside the cafe:

You can follow the cats and their amazing caretakers of the Cat Café Lviv via their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catcafelviv. 

A controversial gene-editing technology, CRISPR, may soon provide the hope of owning a cat for the more than 15 percent of the world’s population that is allergic to them.

Researchers at the Virginia-based biotech company InBio are using the CRISPR to attempt to reduce human allergies to felines through gene editing. Thus far, their research has shown promising results in impeding the most common trigger of cat allergies - a sneaky little protein called Fel d 1. 

When it comes to cat allergies, the allergen is normally thought to be a cat’s fur or dander. But scientists believe more than 90 percent of cat allergies are caused by the Fel d 1 protein, which is naturally present in a cat’s saliva and tears. The Fel d 1 protein is transferred to the cat’s fur when they lick themselves during daily grooming, and can then become airborne when dried.  

Publishing their findings in the CRISPR Journal, the team at InBio states they have collected evidence that the CRISPR can safely and effectively create cats that produce little-to-no Fel d 1 protein.

There are two genes that code for Fel d 1: CH1 and CH2. In attempts to determine if the Fel d 1 is a candidate for safe gene editing, the research team analyzed the DNA of 50 domestic cats and 8 wild cat species. The results showed important variations between the species that indicate Fel d 1 may not be an essential protein - and may be viable for gene deletion.

"The gene sequences don't appear to be that well conserved over the course of evolution, which suggest things about whether or not the gene is essential," told Nicole Brackett, study author and geneticist at InBio, in an interview with BioSpace.

"An essential gene, one that would be required for survival or viability, generally doesn't change much over evolution, and we're seeing change between the exotic and domestic cat that suggests that maybe those sequences are not conserved, and maybe the protein is not essential."

The first step in editing the CH1 and CH2 was done in cat cells inside a Petri dish, where the researchers deleted either CH1 or CH2. Per Smithsonian Magazine, the researchers’ next step is to determine if deleting both CH1 and CH2 simultaneously will successfully eliminate the Fel d1 protein.

If confirmed successful, the next step would be creation of felines without these genes - and we may be one step closer to a true hypoallergenic cat.