Category: Basic Care

Total 12 Posts

Why Cats Scratch (and what you can do about it)

Scratching. When you share your life with a cat, it’s just part of the deal. But although scratching is one of the most natural feline behaviors, it is often met with frustration or fear by humans. It’s no secret that the Cat Connection is emphatically against declawing cats (for more info, see here, here and here), so whenever someone is willing to listen, we educate our friends about why cats scratch and how people can…

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Declawing: What You Need to Know

Declawing, or onychectomy, is the amputation of the last digit of each toe. Because a cat’s claws grow directly from bone, the bone itself must be amputated; it is not simply the removal of claws. The surgery is performed with either a scalpel or a laser on either the front or back set of paws. It is the equivalent of amputating a human’s fingers or toes at the first joint. Because cats walk on their…

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Surrender Yourself, Not the Cat: An Interview with Cat Behaviorist Daniel “DQ” Quagliozzi of Go, Cat, Go

Daniel “DQ” Quagliozzi is the cat behavior guru behind Go, Cat, Go – San Francisco’s leading in-home resource for cat behavior advice. With more than a decade of experience working with cats in shelters and in homes, DQ’s custom designed Action Plans save cat lives, educate frustrated cat guardians and restore peace in homes. Go, Cat, Go is all about the cat, teaching clients to see the world through their cat’s eyes to arrive at a…

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Just Don’t Do It: An Interview with Dallas’ PRO-CLAW Vet, Dr. Raina Weldon

Dr. Raina Weldon has the distinction of being the only veterinarian in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on the official Does Not Declaw List of Declaw.com. The owner and sole doctor of The Cat Hospital of Dallas, Dr. Weldon kindly sat down with us to answer a few questions about her decision not to declaw cats, her experience with the surgery and what Cat People absolutely need to know about a decision that will change your…

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Talking Cat Shop with Groomer Priscilla Rodriguez

As our DFW clientele know, the Cat Connection is proud to offer professional grooming services that leave your cat looking and feeling great. But as nice as kitty may look after her grooming appointment, it’s important to remember that proper and regular coat care is also an essential part of your cat’s health. Cat Connection co-owner and groomer Priscilla Rodriguez sat down to answer the most frequent questions she receives about her profession, her life…

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Road Warriors: Car Rides with Kitty

At one time or another, most cat people will wind up making a long drive with kitty. But even for the most seasoned feline traveler, car rides are rarely fun. When you think about it, this is understandable: your cat was minding her own business when you suddenly put her into a box, then put that box into a bigger box that also moves, and then made her stay in the box for what seemed…

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Preparing Your Cat for Boarding

For so many cat lovers, making arrangements for your cats while you are away from home can be at best stressful and time consuming, and at worst panic attack-inducing, with a touch of guilt thrown in for good measure. The agony of writing down exactly how kitty needs to be cared for (“Be sure to feed Snowball from the bowl in the kitchen and Rocket Raccoon – the kids named him – from the bowl…

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Costumes: Your Cat Hates Them

Yup, it’s that time of year again. From October through December, normally well-adjusted pet parents go a little crazy, dressing up their cats, dogs and… iguanas, we guess… in costumes that range from the most elaborate homemade creation to the worst last-minute store-bought mess. To put it bluntly: it’s weird. Unsurprisingly, the Cat Connection is regularly asked why we don’t sell costumes, antler ears, Santa hats, etc., during this time, especially when the larger pet supply…

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Toxoplasmosis: Don’t Panic! Kitty Isn’t Going Anywhere.

As you all know, toxoplasmosis made the news recently due to a maniac increasing the cost of a life-saving drug treatment by 5,000%.  For many, this is likely the first time they’ve ever had to think about the parasite, but for cat people, toxoplasmosis is a dreaded topic. Of course, this feeling of dread is not because toxoplasmosis represents any significant threat for most people, but rather because we’ve all encountered the tragically misinformed person who, “just had to…

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Reality check: Making Arrangements for your Pets for After you are Gone (this just got real)

As many of you know, the Cat Connection is currently trying to find suitable homes for more than 25 feral and semi-feral cats. These cats were cared for by a long-time customer of the store, who literally opened her door up to a large feral population of needy cats around her home. Unfortunately, due to a recent accident, she is no longer able to look after her feline charges. At present, all 25 cats are being held…

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