13th Street Cat Rescue

'In Touch' With Your Cat's Health

The Humane Society of the United States

Regular visits to the vet are an essential part of keeping your cat healthy. An excellent way for you to keep tabs on him in between vet visits is to do your own nose-to-tail checkups at home.

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A Shot in the Dark: Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma

The Humane Society of the United States

Thanks to the wide use of pet vaccinations in the U.S., diseases like distemper and rabies are rare in cats. But vaccinations come with their own set of risks. For cats, one of the most serious is fibrosarcoma, a type of cancer that appears at the injection site and spreads rapidly.

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Aggression Between Cats

The Humane Society of the United States

Your cat’s best friend may not be another cat. Cats are very territorial creatures and often vehemently defend their turf.

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Bringing Your New Cat Home

The Humane Society of the United States

Congratulations! You have a new cat. No doubt you’re looking forward to years of happy companionship. But what do you do now?

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Related Adopt a Shelter Pet

Cat Aggression Toward People

The Humane Society of the United States

It’s distressing to have an animal you lavish with love show her appreciation with bites and scratches. Here are several scenarios to explain why cats can be aggressive toward people, along with solutions to keep you from visiting the first-aid kit.

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Cat Care Essentials

The Humane Society of the United States

Your cat might act independent, but he still counts on you to provide him with food, water, safe shelter, veterinary care, a clean litter box, love, and more. Take care of these essentials, and you’ll develop a rewarding relationship with your feline companion.

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Related Feral Cats , Pet Overpopulation

Cat Chat: Understanding Feline Language

The Humane Society of the United States

Body language, behavior, and vocalizations are keys to understanding the feline mind.

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Cat Toys

The Humane Society of the United States

Play is a vital activity, not only for kittens, but for adult cats, too.

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Cat-proofing Your House

The Humane Society of the United States

Curiosity and playfulness are part of your cat’s charm, but they can sometimes get her into trouble. Take these steps to make your home a safe environment.

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Catnip: Why Cats Go Crazy For It

The Humane Society of the United States

You find your cat rolling and twisting on the floor, rubbing his face against it and drooling everywhere. Right away you know--he’s been in the catnip.

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Choosing the Right Cat For You

The Humane Society of the United States

There are lots of important things to think through before picking your new pal. The first step to starting a long and last friendship with a cat is, of course, choosing the cat – or, more to the point, choosing the cat that’s right for you.

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Related Adopt a Shelter Pet

Collars, Tags: Your Cat’s Safety Net

The Humane Society of the United States

Whether it’s an engraved sterling silver disk from a fancy boutique or a make-it-yourself aluminum circle from a pet store, your cat’s ID tag is more than feline jewelry. It’s a vital safety net for keeping you and your companion together.

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Related Feral Cats , Pet Overpopulation

Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than a Manicure

The Humane Society of the United States

Declawing is a topic that arouses strong feelings. Some people believe it’s cruel and unnecessary, while others think it has its place.

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Destructive Scratching

The Humane Society of the United States

Some people think a cat's scratching behavior is a reflection of his dislike of your favorite piece of furniture or an attempt to get even. Cats actually scratch objects in their environment for many reasons.

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Detecting Illness in Your Cat

The Humane Society of the United States

Cats can't tell us where or when it hurts. In fact, they often mask illnesses, an instinctive behavior left over from their wild origins when showing weakness advertised that they were easy prey. That's why it’s so important that you get to know your cat's regular habits and behaviors.

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Favorite Hiding Places

The Humane Society of the United States

Cats love to hang out in small, dark, enclosed spaces. That’s why you find them inside paper bags, cardboard boxes, drawers, closets, and plenty of other strange places. It gives them a sense of security and uninterrupted snooze time. And it seems the fatter the cat is, the smaller the space is!

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Fearful Cats

The Humane Society of the United States

Every cat is different, and each has his own way of dealing with a crisis and deciding what is a crisis.

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Getting a Cat

Now that you’ve decided to bring a feline into your life, one thing is certain: You won’t have any trouble finding one.

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Related Adopt a Shelter Pet

Home, Sweet Home: Bringing an Outside Cat In

The Humane Society of the United States

Are you one of those people who think that a cat must go outside in order to be happy, that it’s cruel to keep a cat inside? Actually, it can be more cruel to allow your cat to roam.

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Introducing a New Cat to Other Pets

The Humane Society of the United States

Wouldn't it be nice if all it took to introduce a new cat to your resident pet were a brief handshake and a couple of "HELLO, My Name is...." nametags?

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Related Adopt a Shelter Pet

Just Say No: Aversive Training Your Cat

The Humane Society of the United States

As much as you love him, it can be hard to maintain warm, fuzzy feelings when your cat scratches the furniture, jumps on the counters, or gnaws on plants. Of course, he’s just doing what comes naturally.Yelling or hitting won’t deter the bad behavior, but it will make your cat fearful of you, which is certainly not your goal. So what can you do?

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Keep Your Cat Happy Indoors

Although many cats enjoy being outside where they can hunt prey and explore their surroundings, it's a myth that going outside is a requirement for feline happiness. Playing regularly with a cat easily satisfies her stalking instinct, keeps her stimulated, and provides the exercise she needs to stay healthy and happy.

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Related Feral Cats

Kitten Behavior Basics

The Humane Society of the United States

Well-socialized cats are more likely to have well-socialized kittens. Here are general guidelines for kittens' stages of development, and what to expect during their first 18 months of life.

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Kittens At Play

The Humane Society of the United States

A kitten’s life is all about play, and play is all about prey.

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Marking Territory

The Humane Society of the United States

In the wild, animals are a lot like Gold Rush miners – they lay claim to their territory. Your own cat is not that far removed from his wild roots. He still has that instinctual urge to stake his claim, and he uses scent to do it.

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Preventing Litter Box Problems

The Humane Society of the United States

Keeping your cat’s litter box up to his standards is very important. The following suggestions should keep your cat from "thinking outside the box."

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Solving Litter Box Problems

The Humane Society of the United States

You can resolve litter box issues by taking a closer look at your cat’s environment.

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Training Your Cat With Positive Reinforcement

The Humane Society of the United States

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That’s the theory behind positive reinforcement. Don’t punish your cat for unwanted behavior; instead, reward her for doing something you like.

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Trimming a Cat's Claws

The Humane Society of the United States

Trimming a cat’s claws every few weeks is ah important part of maintaining your pet’s health and protects him, you, your family and visitors as well as the sofa, curtains and other furniture.

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