I have yet to have the opportunity to meet a cloned cat in person. I’ve heard of the phenomenon many times over the years, but I have never personally considered having any of my cats cloned. However, I have always wondered who the first cloned cat was, how long they lived, and what their quality of life was like. If you’re curious about the same thing, you’ve come to the right place!
If you’re like me, then you understand me when I say that there’s something about cats that is so irresistibly charming. These furry friends serve as great companions, whether your cat silently stares at you from across the room or silently cuddles with you.
One thing that a huge number of cat lovers across the world have in common is that their cats are rescue cats that were adopted through shelters, rescues, or directly from the street. After all, some of us don’t adopt our cats so much as our cats adopt us by showing up one day.
No matter how you came into the ownership of your cat, you probably see the importance of providing cats with shelter, safety, and veterinary care, which are all things that shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries are perfect for achieving.
One cat rescue you may not have ever heard of is De Poezenboot in Amsterdam. There’s one thing that really sets this shelter apart from all the others, though: De Poezenboot is located fully on water.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made working from home more common. Many people have had to learn to make adjustments to new work habits and lifestyles. Consequently, pets have also had to get used to spending more time with their parents.
Cats may have a reputation for being introverted and preferring solitude. However, many social cats enjoy being around people, and cats can form strong bonds with their humans. So, regardless of your cat’s personality and temperament, there’s a good chance that it enjoys having you home with them. Here are some ways to create a harmonious space for you and your cat as you work from home.
Cats are interesting animals that often do things that remain a mystery to us. One behavior that some cats engage in is collecting random items. There’s yet to be a concrete explanation for why cats will collect, hide, or hoard certain items. This behavior may be connected to resource guarding, mothering instincts, or hunting instincts.
While it makes sense for cats to hoard and hide food and toys, some cats may develop a hobby of collecting unusual items. Here are some things that cats may end up collecting.
Cats communicate and use body language that’s very different from humans. So, it can be a bit challenging to determine if your cat cares about you. Fortunately, cats do give off signs and display certain behaviors that indicate that they like you. They may seem subtle to us, but some of these signals are very obvious displays of affection to cats. Here are some ways that cats show that they care for their humans.
It’s not a secret that most cats don’t like water. Just a few days ago, my old wobbly cat, Aslan, had a litter box mishap and needed a bath, so I can personally vouch for just how much some cats hate water, even when that water is warm and provided in a jacuzzi bathtub. But what can I say is that while some cats are ungrateful for the care, other cats just legitimately don’t like water.
Some people really like to push the envelope when it comes to their cats, though. The increasing number of people who are training their cats to wear a harness and walk on a leash have managed to prove that many cats can do well in unusual situations, as long as they are set up for success before entering that situation.
One way that some people have started to push the envelope with their cats is by taking them on sailing trips, but is this safe or practical?
After times of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom calls seem to have become the standard way of doing things. We’ve all become familiar with video calls for everything from doctor’s appointments to work meetings and job interviews.
While some people might find interruptions by their cats during an important meeting to be aggravating, I think that cats add a certain amount of fun and levity to Zoom calls!
It may sound wild to some people, but those of us who are bonded with our kitties want to make them a part of our wedding ceremony and/or celebration afterward. It’s something that I did with my cat, Lady. She was my best friend at the time of my marriage, so I wanted her to be a part of my special day just as much as I wanted anyone else there (including my to-be husband!)
Sadly, Lady passed away from old age a few years ago. But my memories of her being a part of my wedding will last a lifetime. So, if you are wondering whether your cat can be a part of your wedding, the answer is yes! How they will react isn’t so easy to answer, though. Here is my story of how I made my cat a part of my wedding, along with a few fun ideas of how you can do the same!
Research shows that cats have systems of emotions that trigger certain emotional and behavioral responses.1 While cats and humans don’t experience the same range and depth of emotions, happiness is an emotion that cats feel.
Cats may not express their feelings as humans do, so it’s important to identify cues that indicate specific emotions. Learning how cats show happiness can strengthen the bond between you and your cat and make your life together even more enjoyable.
Most people know to include their children in their estate plans. However, figuring out how to provide for your cats if something happens to you is also vital. Once I had kids, I realized I needed to get my estate plan written down and set in stone. However, I quickly realized it’s a bit more complicated than just writing down some stuff on paper.
Plus, besides my kids, I had my pets to consider. While I’d like to think that someone would care for my pets if something happened to me, I can’t know this for sure. Plus, I can’t expect others always to have the resources to care for my cats. Things happen, and my pets likely wouldn’t be at the top of others’ priority lists.
Therefore, I had to figure out how to care for them even if I wasn’t around anymore. Luckily, there are several options out there.
Alzheimer’s runs in my husband’s family. Nearly everyone in his family was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s sometime after their turned 60. As you might imagine, this has sent me on a path of researching brain health in later life, especially regarding memory.
Strangely enough, one of the studies I’ve come across, again and again, found that owning a pet (including cats) may protect owners from memory issues later in life. This study has yet to be published, so you can’t just wander on the internet and find it. However, those involved in the study have done various interviews for news outlets, which lets us take a look at the study before it is officially published.
