In the Comfort of One's Own Home

You know cats aren't big fans of change. It stresses them out. That's why they hate it when you go out of town.

You can minimize disruption to your cat's routine and reduce his stress levelwhile you're away by hiring a licensed and bonded in-home pet sitter. Your pet will enjoy the comfort and familiarity of being in his own home and avoid dealing with the unknown sounds, people, and other animals at the local kennel. He'll also sidestep potential exposure to airborne pathogens.

Always interview prospective sitters in your home, where you can see how each one interacts with your cat.

How to Keep Kitty Tartar Away

Wonder why cats in the wild don't need yearly dental cleanings, but yours do? One theory suggests that the act of eating prey scrapes the teeth and helps keep them free of tartar, thereby preventing gum disease.

But short of providing your house cat with live rodents to munch, regularly brushing your cat's teeth offers the next best solution. (Never give your cat cooked bones. They can splinter and cause choking.) Ask your vet for tips to make brushing a painless part of your cat's daily or weekly routine.

Wet or Dry? Or a Balance of Both?

Which type of cat food provides the best nutrition for your cat: wet or dry? The jury is still out.

Some vets maintain that the blood from prey provides cats in the wild with ample moisture, so house cats should likewise have moist, domesticated diets. Many vets also believe that cats with diabetes, kidney disease, orurinary tract conditions may need to take in more moisture than an exclusively dry-food diet offers. If you are uncertain which to serve, do some research, ask your vet, and consider feeding both kinds.

The Many Purposes of Purring

Purring is an intriguing sound to cat owners and researchers alike. As you know, this low-frequency humming sound is often a kitty's way of saying, "Wow, I'm so happy that you're petting me." Mother cats and kittens use it as a bonding communication, much like a baby cooing, particularly during nursing. However, higher-pitched, more urgent purring can be a hunger call. And because cats may also purr when experiencing distress or pain or even while giving birth, scientists believe the sound might be a way of easing pain or discomfort.

Cat Lingo Is Louder Than Words

Your cat may not speak the Queen's English, but he does talk. And, boy, does he have a lot to say.

A cat expresses his many moods and needs with a wide vocabulary of trills, meows, yowls, purrs, hisses, grumbles, and snarls. But he also uses his body to communicate. An arched back and bristling bottle-brush tail express anger or defensiveness, while a swaying, upright tail says, "Hello. You may pet me now." Head butting and body rubbing can express love or the need to scent mark. The list goes on. By learning to "listen" to your cat with more than your ears, you'll build better understanding and a stronger bond.

Controlling Kidney Disease

Feline kidney disease cannot be cured, but it can be treated. With appropriate medication and simple in-home therapies, you can significantly slow its progression, extending your cat's life and making it more enjoyable. If you notice that your cat is drinking and urinating more frequently than usual, promptly take her to the vet for blood work. If she is diagnosed with kidney disease, ask about the following approaches to managing the condition:

•	Adopting a low-protein diet
•	Eating wet or moist food instead of dry
•	Doing fluid therapy (subcutaneous fluids)
•	Maintaining proper acid-base balance
•	Using appetite stimulants
•	Taking blood pressure medication
•	Undergoing hormone therapy for anemia

Got a Glum Gato?

Cats aren't immune to emotional highs and lows. Like us, they experience fear, anger, grief, and even depression. And their behavior will show it.

Is your cat more sleepy, jumpy, or withdrawn than usual? Not so interested in eating, playing, cuddling, or grooming? He may be depressed. Illness could be behind it, so your vet should rule this out. But more often it's a traumatic event, such as the loss of a human or animal companion, rehoming, a move, a vacation, or less time with you. Your moods can affect his, too.

Help your kitty chase away the blues with extra love, conversation, playtime, and petting. If that doesn't help, contact your vet or an animal behaviorist.