Catégories
La vie du chat

A Kitty Sampler: A to Z


The post A Kitty Sampler: A to Z by Sandy Robins appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Kittens are funny, curious, independent and beautiful. They amaze and entertain with their leaps and impressive hunting skills. Want to know more? We’ve got it all in our quick and easy guide to kittens from A to Z.

Activity Level

Kittens begin exploring at around 3 weeks of age and, as they grow, their activity level is off the charts. They don’t seem to have an “off” button. This is the time to start interacting with and socializing them around people and other pets in the household. Introduce small crinkly balls to bat about and even a nice fluttering object on a wand for them to practice their innate chasing and pouncing skills.

Brachycephalic breeds

This term describes cat breeds that have “squished,” flat faces (brachy means “short” and cephalic means “relating to the head”), such as Persians, Scottish Folds, Himalayans, Burmese and Exotic Shorthairs. Because of the shorter bones of the face, these breeds can suffer breathing difficulties and require extra care to ensure they don’t experience respiratory issues — like making sure they don’t get overheated or over-exerted. Cats can be mildly (mouth breathing, snoring) or severely affected (coughing, gagging, tiring easily).

Carnivore

Cats are termed “obligate carnivores,” which means that meat proteins (beef, poultry, fish) are essential to a well-balanced diet.

Diet

If you are adopting, your kitten should be fully weaned. Place your kitten on a diet formulated for kittens for proper growth through the growth phase, which is up to a year old. First feed wet food and then introduce kibble formulas. Serving a combo diet of wet and dry food ensures cats get extra moisture and proper hydration. Always make sure there is fresh water next to the food bowls.

Enrichment

Lots of toys and safe places to climb are essential for both a kitten’s physical and mental well-being. Play should always be supervised when they are young. Close off hard-to-get-to areas, such as behind the refrigerator and the stove, to avoid a kitten getting stuck.

Feeding

Kitten formulas have extra calories for energy and essential growth, but don’t overfeed. The meal suggestions on the packaging are a guideline but may be a little too much or too little for your own kitten. Discuss the best portion size of food for your kitten with your veterinarian. Must-do tips: Use a proper standard measuring cup and don’t top up by heaping, which can lead to overfeeding. Kittens under 4 months can be free-fed a controlled amount or fed three to four small meals a day. Slowly reduce to twice-a-day feeding for kittens 4 months or older, watching their weight carefully and discussing any concerns with your veterinarian.

Grooming

This is a great way to spend quality time with a kitten and allow her to get used to being handled. Start with a soft rubber brush and gently groom from the neck downward. Play with her paws so she gets used to this and won’t resist when she is older and needs mani-pedis.

Hunting instinct

Initial pouncing and playing is nothing more than a kitten learning about her innate hunting instinct. Help her hone her skills by introducing wand toys for fun games. Choose something with a light, fluttering “critter” on the end. When playing, always swing the wand away from you to ensure when in “attack mode” the kitten doesn’t inadvertently scratch you.

Indoor only

Kittens and adult cats are much safer and healthier if they have an indoor-only lifestyle. This way, they can avoid encounters with predators, traffic and unkind people. If possible, try and give them access to a safe outdoor enclosure like a catio. Placing a tall cat tree near a window is a great substitute and lets them watch the world go by and also lets them get some privacy from the household as they get older.

Jumping

You say “Jump” and a kitten automatically thinks “How high”?! A tall cat condo, preferably one with lots of different platforms, is a great playground for kittens. So are steps and shelves set up along a wall to give them vertical space and places to go.

Kitten behaviors

Watching a litter of kittens at play, it’s all about tumbling, chasing and wrestling. Then, lying in wait and getting ready to pounce! Normal kitten play. But don’t encourage biting, because then they grow up believing it’s OK to lie in wait and nip ankles and fingers.

Litter box

Most of the time, the use of a litter box filled with litter is instinctive. If a kitten has been trained on newspaper instead of litter, place her on top of the litter in her litter box after mealtimes. She will soon get the hang of it and transition over to litter. Make sure the litter box has a low entry point for a small kitten to come and go with ease. There are many kinds of litter on the market. Do some homework to find the right brand from the get go, then you don’t have the bother of trying to transfer over to something else later.

Meow

This is the most common word in a cat’s vocabulary. And yes, as they grow older, if you talk to them, they will talk back with a range of different sounds. Meow can mean “Look at me,” “I’m hungry” and when it’s a really small kitten, it can also be “Help! I’m stuck!”

Neuter and spay

There are long-term health benefits to spaying and neutering your kitten apart from preventing them from fathering or conceiving way too many offspring from a pretty young age onward. Veterinary opinion now suggests the best time to neuter and spay is before they are 5 months old. Spaying prevents mammary cancer developing later in life, too. Learn more at felinefixbyfive.org.

Odors

If your kitten is stinky, especially in the litter box, it could be the food. Try another brand. Mishaps outside the litter box are rare, but if it happens, make sure it isn’t a medical problem that’s the cause, and use special pet-safe enzymatic sprays for clean-up operations.

Picky eaters

Cats have a reputation for being picky eaters. But just like humans, they develop a taste for particular flavors and textures. Varying the textures in kittenhood will help develop a taste for all food types and hopefully your kitten will not be too picky when she’s older. Another reason to feed both wet and dry food is because kibble helps to remove tartar and wet food is ideal for hiding medicine.

Queens

Female cats are called Queens. This term applies whether the cat is purebred or a mixed breed. Similarly, male cats are called Toms.

Rescue

Adopting a kitten from a shelter saves a life and the payback for this kindness is unconditional love and loyalty from your new family member. While most kittens in the welfare system are mixed breeds, there are special adoption agencies that work with purebred kittens that need loving homes, too.

Socialization

The most impressionable age for a kitten to become comfortable around people and other pets is from as young as 2 weeks old and the following six weeks, until they are 2 months old. Never overwhelm a kitten with too many people. Take it slow. Gentle petting and lots of talking is the way to go.

Trilling

The more time you spend with your kitten, the more sounds you will hear her making. Trilling sounds are typical and often referred to as cooing or chirrups. These soft sounds are somewhere between a purr and a meow. It’s a friendly greeting and sometimes an acknowledgement or confirmation of something you’ve done.

Urine

Cats talk with their pee: marking territories, telling other cats they are ready to mate and informing veterinarians about their health. Cat urine is mostly water and 2% urea. It has quite a pungent smell because of the high levels of protein cats eat as carnivores

Vaccinations

Vaccinations give a kitten a great start in life. Your kitten will need two sets of vaccinations. The first set at 9 weeks old and a second booster set at 3 months old. The combination FVRCP vaccine protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), panleukopenia virus (the feline version of distemper) and calicivirus. Rabies is also recommended.

X-ray

Kittens can be notorious for eating things they shouldn’t. An X-ray (also known as a radiograph) will tell if there is an intestinal blockage, which can be serious and even life-threatening.

Yarn

Forget the cute photographs of kittens and balls of wool. Yarns of any thickness can be extremely dangerous. Never leave knitting or any kind of sewing materials lying around. Ever!

Zoomies

Those crazy bursts of energy that are very amusing to watch are all part of being a kitten and a fully grown cat. Kittens don’t react to catnip until they are about 9 months old, so when they are young they are just expending energy. As they get older, catnip brings on bursts of hyperactivity, which usually last around 10 minutes and induces play with a favorite toy.

The post A Kitty Sampler: A to Z by Sandy Robins appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Catégories
La vie du chat

A Kitty Sampler: A to Z


The post A Kitty Sampler: A to Z by Sandy Robins appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Kittens are funny, curious, independent and beautiful. They amaze and entertain with their leaps and impressive hunting skills. Want to know more? We’ve got it all in our quick and easy guide to kittens from A to Z.

Activity Level

Kittens begin exploring at around 3 weeks of age and, as they grow, their activity level is off the charts. They don’t seem to have an “off” button. This is the time to start interacting with and socializing them around people and other pets in the household. Introduce small crinkly balls to bat about and even a nice fluttering object on a wand for them to practice their innate chasing and pouncing skills.

Brachycephalic breeds

This term describes cat breeds that have “squished,” flat faces (brachy means “short” and cephalic means “relating to the head”), such as Persians, Scottish Folds, Himalayans, Burmese and Exotic Shorthairs. Because of the shorter bones of the face, these breeds can suffer breathing difficulties and require extra care to ensure they don’t experience respiratory issues — like making sure they don’t get overheated or over-exerted. Cats can be mildly (mouth breathing, snoring) or severely affected (coughing, gagging, tiring easily).

Carnivore

Cats are termed “obligate carnivores,” which means that meat proteins (beef, poultry, fish) are essential to a well-balanced diet.

Diet

If you are adopting, your kitten should be fully weaned. Place your kitten on a diet formulated for kittens for proper growth through the growth phase, which is up to a year old. First feed wet food and then introduce kibble formulas. Serving a combo diet of wet and dry food ensures cats get extra moisture and proper hydration. Always make sure there is fresh water next to the food bowls.

Enrichment

Lots of toys and safe places to climb are essential for both a kitten’s physical and mental well-being. Play should always be supervised when they are young. Close off hard-to-get-to areas, such as behind the refrigerator and the stove, to avoid a kitten getting stuck.

Feeding

Kitten formulas have extra calories for energy and essential growth, but don’t overfeed. The meal suggestions on the packaging are a guideline but may be a little too much or too little for your own kitten. Discuss the best portion size of food for your kitten with your veterinarian. Must-do tips: Use a proper standard measuring cup and don’t top up by heaping, which can lead to overfeeding. Kittens under 4 months can be free-fed a controlled amount or fed three to four small meals a day. Slowly reduce to twice-a-day feeding for kittens 4 months or older, watching their weight carefully and discussing any concerns with your veterinarian.

Grooming

This is a great way to spend quality time with a kitten and allow her to get used to being handled. Start with a soft rubber brush and gently groom from the neck downward. Play with her paws so she gets used to this and won’t resist when she is older and needs mani-pedis.

Hunting instinct

Initial pouncing and playing is nothing more than a kitten learning about her innate hunting instinct. Help her hone her skills by introducing wand toys for fun games. Choose something with a light, fluttering “critter” on the end. When playing, always swing the wand away from you to ensure when in “attack mode” the kitten doesn’t inadvertently scratch you.

Indoor only

Kittens and adult cats are much safer and healthier if they have an indoor-only lifestyle. This way, they can avoid encounters with predators, traffic and unkind people. If possible, try and give them access to a safe outdoor enclosure like a catio. Placing a tall cat tree near a window is a great substitute and lets them watch the world go by and also lets them get some privacy from the household as they get older.

Jumping

You say “Jump” and a kitten automatically thinks “How high”?! A tall cat condo, preferably one with lots of different platforms, is a great playground for kittens. So are steps and shelves set up along a wall to give them vertical space and places to go.

Kitten behaviors

Watching a litter of kittens at play, it’s all about tumbling, chasing and wrestling. Then, lying in wait and getting ready to pounce! Normal kitten play. But don’t encourage biting, because then they grow up believing it’s OK to lie in wait and nip ankles and fingers.

Litter box

Most of the time, the use of a litter box filled with litter is instinctive. If a kitten has been trained on newspaper instead of litter, place her on top of the litter in her litter box after mealtimes. She will soon get the hang of it and transition over to litter. Make sure the litter box has a low entry point for a small kitten to come and go with ease. There are many kinds of litter on the market. Do some homework to find the right brand from the get go, then you don’t have the bother of trying to transfer over to something else later.

Meow

This is the most common word in a cat’s vocabulary. And yes, as they grow older, if you talk to them, they will talk back with a range of different sounds. Meow can mean “Look at me,” “I’m hungry” and when it’s a really small kitten, it can also be “Help! I’m stuck!”

Neuter and spay

There are long-term health benefits to spaying and neutering your kitten apart from preventing them from fathering or conceiving way too many offspring from a pretty young age onward. Veterinary opinion now suggests the best time to neuter and spay is before they are 5 months old. Spaying prevents mammary cancer developing later in life, too. Learn more at felinefixbyfive.org.

Odors

If your kitten is stinky, especially in the litter box, it could be the food. Try another brand. Mishaps outside the litter box are rare, but if it happens, make sure it isn’t a medical problem that’s the cause, and use special pet-safe enzymatic sprays for clean-up operations.

Picky eaters

Cats have a reputation for being picky eaters. But just like humans, they develop a taste for particular flavors and textures. Varying the textures in kittenhood will help develop a taste for all food types and hopefully your kitten will not be too picky when she’s older. Another reason to feed both wet and dry food is because kibble helps to remove tartar and wet food is ideal for hiding medicine.

Queens

Female cats are called Queens. This term applies whether the cat is purebred or a mixed breed. Similarly, male cats are called Toms.

Rescue

Adopting a kitten from a shelter saves a life and the payback for this kindness is unconditional love and loyalty from your new family member. While most kittens in the welfare system are mixed breeds, there are special adoption agencies that work with purebred kittens that need loving homes, too.

Socialization

The most impressionable age for a kitten to become comfortable around people and other pets is from as young as 2 weeks old and the following six weeks, until they are 2 months old. Never overwhelm a kitten with too many people. Take it slow. Gentle petting and lots of talking is the way to go.

Trilling

The more time you spend with your kitten, the more sounds you will hear her making. Trilling sounds are typical and often referred to as cooing or chirrups. These soft sounds are somewhere between a purr and a meow. It’s a friendly greeting and sometimes an acknowledgement or confirmation of something you’ve done.

Urine

Cats talk with their pee: marking territories, telling other cats they are ready to mate and informing veterinarians about their health. Cat urine is mostly water and 2% urea. It has quite a pungent smell because of the high levels of protein cats eat as carnivores

Vaccinations

Vaccinations give a kitten a great start in life. Your kitten will need two sets of vaccinations. The first set at 9 weeks old and a second booster set at 3 months old. The combination FVRCP vaccine protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), panleukopenia virus (the feline version of distemper) and calicivirus. Rabies is also recommended.

X-ray

Kittens can be notorious for eating things they shouldn’t. An X-ray (also known as a radiograph) will tell if there is an intestinal blockage, which can be serious and even life-threatening.

Yarn

Forget the cute photographs of kittens and balls of wool. Yarns of any thickness can be extremely dangerous. Never leave knitting or any kind of sewing materials lying around. Ever!

Zoomies

Those crazy bursts of energy that are very amusing to watch are all part of being a kitten and a fully grown cat. Kittens don’t react to catnip until they are about 9 months old, so when they are young they are just expending energy. As they get older, catnip brings on bursts of hyperactivity, which usually last around 10 minutes and induces play with a favorite toy.

The post A Kitty Sampler: A to Z by Sandy Robins appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Catégories
La vie du chat

Bladder Infections In Cats: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments


Sad calico maine coon cat overweight constipated sick after megacolon, enema, trying to go to the bathroom in blue litter box at home looking

(Picture Credit: ablokhin/Getty Images)

Bladder infections in cats usually refer to bacterial infections inside the bladder. There’s often another underlying cause.

These infections are often also referred to as cystitis or urinary tract infections (UTI).

If you see signs of an infection in your cat, then you must get to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for bladder infections in cats.

Symptoms Of Bladder Infection In Cats

Bladder infections in cats can usually be spotted by observing changes in the cat’s litter box behavior.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Urinating more than usual
  • Urinating outside of the litter box
  • Having difficulty urinating
  • Presence of blood in the urine
  • Urinating in smaller amounts than usual

Causes Of Bladder Infection In Cats

Close-up, high-angle view of a tabby kitten urinating in a portable cat toilet.

(Picture Credit: Yuko Yamada/Getty Images)

Sometimes the causes of bladder infections in cats are not precisely clear. But some conditions have been found to commonly cause the condition.

Some of those conditions include:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Crystals in the cat’s urine
  • Environmental stress
  • Being overweight

Treatments For Bladder Infection In Cats

If your veterinarian suspects that your cat is suffering from a bladder infection, they’ll carry out a full physical exam. It can be helpful to bring along a urine sample, if possible, so that your vet can check it out. In some cases, they might use an ultrasound to investigate the cause.

Once the vet has confirmed the diagnosis, the course of treatment they prescribe might include a combination of anti-inflammatory medicine to help alleviate any pain, along with antibiotics if there’s a bacterial infection.

If crystals are found in the urine, then the cat might require a surgical procedure to remove crystals from the bladder.

While your cat recovers at home, it’s important to provide a calm and stress-free environment for them. In some cases, vets may recommend a change of diet to help ward off the chances of any further infections.

Has your cat ever had a bladder infection? What advice did your vet give you to help your cat recover? Let us know in the comments section below.

Catégories
La vie du chat

Ask the Cat Doc: Cat Doesn’t Want to Be Picked Up, End Stage Kidney Disease, and More


Ask-the-Cat-Doc-with-Dr.-Lynn-Bahr

This post contains affiliate links*

Welcome back Dr. Bahr! After a three month absence, our “Ask the Cat Doc With Dr. Lynn Bahr” segment is back! Once a month, Dr. Bahr answers as many of your questions as she can, and you can leave new questions for her in a comment.

Dr. Bahr is a 1991 graduate of the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine and founder of Dezi & Roo, a company that designs, manufactures, and sells solution-based products that enhance the lives of cats and their owners. She volunteers at numerous animal-related charities and causes and serves on the Fear Free Advisory Board, the Parliamentarian of the Society of Veterinary Medical Ethics, the Cat Committee of the Pet Professional Guild, and the Alley Cat Allies’ Feline Forward Task Force.

Dr. Bahr is co-author of Indoor Cat: How to Enrich Their Lives and Expand Their World, available from Amazon.

For more information about Dezi & Roo and their unique and innovative cat toys, please visit Dezi and Roo on Etsy.

Do you have a question for Dr. Bahr? Leave it in a comment and she’ll answer it in next month’s column.

Cat is not very friendly, does not want to be picked up

Dr. Bahr, Sophea is going to be 3 years old. She is a very fussy cat. We can’t pick her up and by chance, we do she growls, spits, and jumps out of our arms. Once in a while, we can pet her. She is a Tortie. We have had her since she was born and treat her with kid gloves. Will she ever get over this? When we have friends in she runs and hides. She is very unfriendly. Is there something we can do so she gets over this or will she be like this the rest of her life. Thank you, Delores

Hi Delores,

Thank you for giving Sophea a loving home and for understanding her personal preferences for physical contact. While it is sometimes difficult to resist picking up a cat to love on, not all them enjoy such public displays of affection. In fact, most don’t. In the wild, being picked up typically only occurs when a cat is being carried away by prey. So, the feeling of being lifted off the ground often evokes fear, stress, and anxiety. My own cat, Roo, is extremely skittish and will likely remain so for her entire life. That is her personality and being a scaredy cat is who she is at her core. So instead of trying to change her, I simply honor her peculiarity and accept that she will always bolt at the slightest sound or movement and will never feel comfortable being held.

I am sure you already know that in Sophea’s case, for her to feel safe it is best not to attempt to pick her up and only pet her when she seeks physical contact on her own terms. Otherwise, it will likely exacerbate her level of stress and increase her anxiety.

There are many suggestions in my book, Indoor Cat: How to Enrich Their Live and Expand Their World, that may help your situation. One entire chapter is devoted to “Purrfecting” PDA and there are plenty of helpful tips that you may find useful. However, first ask yourself if making her more friendly is in her or your best interest? Are you attempting to change her catitude because she will be happier if she is more social, or will doing so make you happier? If the answer is the former, then there is a lot of hope that she can learn to trust her environment over time. She is still an impressionable young girl with lots of room for personal growth. If the latter rings truer, then it is best to honor Sophea’s wish for more purrsonal space.

I appreciate your concern and interest in alleviating her anxiety. If it affects her quality of life, then I would suggest you discuss the situation with your veterinarian to see if medical intervention if warranted.

End stage kidney disease

My rescue cat, age estimated to be between 13-15, has kidney disease and has been losing weight. At the weekend, our vet advised we try her on a course of steroids over 2 weeks to see if she can gain weight. If this doesn’t work, the vet has said we need to talk options. Am I right in thinking we’re nearing the end and the humane thing would be to let my girl go? I’m scared of giving up on her too early. – Jo

Hi Jo,

I appreciate how much you love your girl and want what is best for her. You have my sincerest sympathy and healing prayers during this sad time.

Knowing when to say goodbye to a beloved pet and making the decision to humanely allow them to pass is the most difficult one a pet parent could face. It is often clouded by negative feelings like guilt, sadness, pain, helplessness, and grief which creates an even bigger dilemma for the grieving parent. I am sorry you are facing this now with your baby.

The decision should be made together with your veterinarian. He/she is in the position to give you the best advice regarding your girl’s physical health while you are the appropriate person to assess her mental well being. Keep in mind that cats don’t look ahead to the future and, enviably, live in the meow. For them, quality is a priority over quantity of life. Your girl will never feel like you gave up on her EVER and you should not worry about letting her go too early. A regret I hear often from clients is that they waited too long to make the decision to ease their beloved pet’s pain or suffering. I haven’t had many situations where caregivers regretted letting them go too soon.

The loss of a pet can be absolutely devastating. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help those who have a hard time coping with the pain. Please reach out if you find yourself in a similar position.

My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. Let me know how else I can be of service to you.

Cat is anxious and depressed after move

Dear Dr Bahr, My indoor cat is 13 years old. I moved recently and am staying with a friend while I find a new place. My cat is anxious and seemed depressed. I started taking her outside and it really perked her up but now she is kind of obsessed and wants to go out every day like a dog! I monitor her but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not. What do you think? Thank you. – Carol

Hi Carol,

I am so glad you recognize and acknowledge your cat’s anxiety and depression.  Bravo to you for being an astute pet parent.

Your intuition to help her with enrichment is spot on. The best way to boost mental well being is with exercise, activities, fun, joy, and new and exciting pawsibilities. Safely monitored trips outside are a wonderful way to introduce positive mood-enhancing experiences. The great outdoors allow her to explore new things, breathe fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, eat grass, scratch tree trunks, or climb on fences. No wonder she wants to go out all the time.

On days when she cannot be monitored outside, you can add indoor enrichment to help her cope better too. Get her chasing a wand toy, open the windows, provide scent enrichment with silvervine, catnip, honeysuckle, or valerian, warm a towel and let her roll in it. There are lots of ways in which you can keep her active, engaged, and entertained indoors and doing so will go a long way in keeping her happy and healthy.

Thank you for reaching out and for recognizing your cat’s emotional needs.

,

Horned claws on 21-year-old cat

I look forward to your book.

Recently I discovered a claw sheath growing between the toe pads of my 21 year old cat’s front paw. I think these are called “horned claws”. Could you comment on cause and treatment. My vet trimmed it and discovered one on his back foot, too. He is limping and having difficulty getting around. The growth on his front foot looks like it must be painful. I am very concerned. He has arthritis, too. Thank you. ~Debbie Chapman

Hi Debbie,

Congratulations on being lucky enough to parent a 21-year-old kitty. You are so blessed.

If your cat truly has horned claws, then these are benign growths. Most are not painful but that is not always the case. Did your cat begin to limp before or after the horns were trimmed? If after, then I would recommend a recheck to make sure they have not become infected.

At your boy’s age, I would highly recommend medical intervention to alleviate his pain (whether due to arthritis or the horned claws). There is no reason he should have to suffer with discomfort when there are several available medications and modalities that can help.

I wish you both lots more quality time together.


Kitten’s back legs shake when he’s asleep

I would like to ask a question please. I have a six month old kitten. He has had regular vet visits and seems to be in great health. I have noticed the last few days that when sleeping he has very rythmic and steady shaking of his back legs. It does not seem as if it is like he is dreaming, as it doesn’t look like a run, jump etc. It is very steady. Should I be worried? – Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Hopefully you will understand and forgive me, but without more information at my disposal about your kitten’s leg spasms I am unable to answer your question. However, I do recommend that you investigate it further with your veterinarian.

It would be greatly beneficial for you to film the episodes as they happen to show to your veterinarian. Take as many videos as you can so that he/she can fully evaluate the situation.

Thank you so much for taking time to write in. I appreciate it.

indoor-cat-lynn-bahr
Click the image to order

*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The Conscious Cat is a participant in Etsy’s affiliate program. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.  

 

Catégories
La vie du chat

165+ Orange Cat Names In 2022


orange names
An orange kitten is unique on its own. That’s why you should find a name that would be a a good fit.

Whether its a male or female, finding the best name for your beloved ginger cat or orange tabby cat can be a really hard task, especially when their name should have something special to say about their unique orange fur or character.

Day to Day Cat Care FREE EBOOK!

Raising a cat, even though very fun, can be hard at times. Depending on how organized you are, a lot relies on understanding your feline’s routines and needs. But where should you start in order to be better planned?
To help you out and about, we have created the “Day to Day Cat Care EBOOK”, and it’s 100% free RIGHT NOW! (we can’t promise it will stay free forever).
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Cute Orange kitten Names

1.Orange– Very straight forward and right to the point.
2.Portokale– Means orange in greek.
3.Ember- Only for the fiery orange ones.
4.Alani- Which in Hawaiian is the orange blossom tree.
5.Amber- In glassware, it’s a dark orange color.
6.Dorito- Our favorite orange snack.
7.Garfield- Τhe famous cat from the movie ”Garfield” whose color is orange.
8.Paprika- It is a sweet orange spice.
9.Peaches- Orange fruits that are delicious!
10.Poppy- Referring to the red/orange poppy flowers.
11.Pooh- From the cartoon ”Winnie the pooh” in which pooh is an orange fluffy bear.
12.Prince harry- Since prince harry has orange hair.
13.Pumpkin- Our halloween special…a pumpkin!
14.Red- What is there to say?!
15.Rosy- Gaelic, meaning ”Red king”.
16.Roughy- Like the very scary looking orange fish.
17.Rusty- The color of oxidized metal…orange and red.
18.Rufus- Means red in latin.
19.Rojo- Means red in spanish.
20.Saffron- Another orange spice which comes from the flower ”Crocus Sativus”.
21.Russet- A dark brown color with a reddish- orange tone.
22.Sandy- Sand is golden and many times under the sun seems to be having a tone of orange.
23.Scarlet- A brilliant red color with a tone of orange.
24.Sherbert- An iced dessert, only for the sweetest kitten.
25.Tiger- Might lack the size,but its spirit matches that of a tiger.
26.Tulip- A flower which comes out in many colors including the beautiful orange/red.
27.Treasure- In the pop culture, treasures are usually depicted as gold/orange.
28.Vincent- Like the famous artist ”Vincent Van Gogh” who was a redhead.
29.Tabasco- Hot sauce made of tabasco in colors of Fiery red and a tone of orange.
30.Charmander- The cute little pokemon, as orange as fire (and he has a tale with a little flame on it too!)
31.Nemo- Like the very popular cartoon clown fish nemo.
32.Black- A kinda funny reference name to the ”orange is the new black” TV show.
33.Kenny- The character from the cartoon series South Park, that is always wearing an orange suit.
34.Carrot- A classic orange vegetable.
35.Haz- Short for Hazman suits, which are usually orange.
36.Pennie- All pennies have a light brownish orange color.
37.Ernie- The orange muppet from sesame street.
38.Beeker- Another muppet with orange hair.
39.Sacral- Reffering to a chakra, this particular chakra is depicted as orange.
40.Foxy- Matches a kitten with a big fluffy tail perfectly, just like a fox.
41.Bell- An orange colored pepper.
42.Monarch- Referring to the monarch butterflies,perhaps the most beautiful butterflies out there…and they are orange!
43.Mango- Just like the mango fruit.
44.Dono- When your cat resembles Claudia Donovan’s orange hair.
45.Αpri- Orange like an appricot.
46.Lilie- Resembling the fire red and tiger orange colored flower.
47.B- ball- Referring to an orange basketball.
48.Nectar- Like a nectarine fruit..
49.Clementine- How sweet and juicy is your cat?
50.Sunset- The time of the evening when the sun meets the horizon and the orange color is just so beautiful!

51.Tic- tac- Everyone’s favorite tic- tacs are the orange ones.
52.Coral- The color is kind of pink with a tone of orange.
53.Chipmunk- It’s so cute when your cat has a tone of orange on its side, just like a chipmunk.
54.Crimson- Very light red color.
55.Katom- Orange in Hebrew.
56.Kamala- Orange in Bengali.
57.Karaka- Orange in Maori.
58.Daidaiiro- Orange in japanese.
59.Fanta- Liking everyones favourite soda.
60.Flame- What is there to say..?!
61.Ginger- Those who have red hair and in this case have plus 7 souls.
62.Nacho- Very similar to the Dorito but a little more light in color.
63.Oren- Orange in welsh.
64.Macaroni- The world’s most tasty food whose colors are light and might sometimes even resemble orange.
65.Simba- The Lion from the movie ”Lion king” that as an adult has red hair on his head and golden haired body.
66.Sunflower- One of the most beautiful flowers, with a yellowish orange color.
67.Rajah- The orange striped tiger from ”Aladin”.
68.Stimpy- The cat from ”The Ren and Stimpy Show”.
69.Aslan- The majestic lion from The ”Chronicles of Narnia”.
70.Toulouse- From the movie ”Aristocats”.
71.Crookshanks- The orange haired witch’s pet in the ”Harry Potter” Movies.
72.Jeruk- Which means orange in Indonesian.
73.Ed Sheeran- Name of the red- headed famous singer.
74.Marmalade- A fruit preserve which sometimes has an orange color.
75.Sun- Just like our sun which is orange and yellow.
76.Jupiter- The only orange colored planet in our solar system.
77.Mars- Has brownish red that resembles fire colors.
78.Cheeto- Another one of our favourite orange snacks.
79.Mimosa– Name of the yellow/orange mimosa Cocktail.
80.Conan O’Brien- Referring to the late night show presenter and his orange hair.

Cute Orange Cat Names

82.Heathcliff- Popular cat from the 80’s whose fur is orange.
83.Honey- Only for the sweetest kittens out there!
84.Kumquat- Small Orange fruit.
85.Marigold- A flower that is a beautiful yellow and orange.
86.Nutmeg- Another orange spice.
87.Orangina- A funny and feminine approach to the orange color.
88.Persimmon- An exotic and orange colored fruit.
89.Weasley- Just like Ron Weasley the read- head in the ”Harry potter” Series.
90.Curry- A spice used in indian cousine, that has a really intriguing orange and kinda yellow color.
91.Cheddar- Our favourite kind of cheese would make a perfect name.
92.Autumn- Surely the time of the year with lots of orange colored scenery.
93.Cayenne- A spice. Great for a cat with attitude.
94.Chuck Norris- Only for the most macho cats out there.
95.Copper- A metal that has a bit of an orange color.
96.Merida- The main character of Disney’s film Brave appears to be having some locks that are orange.
97.Oliver- The ginger cat from the animated movie ”Oliver and Company”
98.Blazer- Needless to say that your cat is going to be blazing awesome with this name!
99.Sangria- A red with a tone of orange drink, originating in Spain.
100.Peter Pan- Our favorite Ginger haired pixie.

101.Daredevil- When your cat reminds you of a daredevil, that pretty much always wears a fiery red and orange flaming colored jacket.
102.Lady- bug- For a female kitten,the beautiful red and sometimes orange bug that comes out at spring.
103.Cinnamon- A spice whose color is brownish orange.
104.Mayo- Named after mayo sauce, that can be light orange when mixed with ketchup and mustard, which gives us thousand island dressing. Yummy!
105.Daphne- The orange haired character from ”Scooby- doo” cartoons.
106.Ariel- Just like the red/orange haired mermaid.
107.Hercules- A fitting name for a male kitten. Hercules is depicted with orange hair in the disney classic.
108.Ivy- Resembling the comics character Poison Ivy.
109.Naruto- Based on the anime ”Naruto”,much fitting a stealthy ninja kitten.
110.Ichigo- Another orange haired character from a Japanese anime cartoon.

Badass Orange Cat Names

111.Caramel- A fitting name for your sweet little kitten.
112.Chili- A pepper which comes in colors of red and orange.
113.Daisy- Referring to the orange daisy flowers.
114.Muffin- Just like a sweet little muffin that comes in a typical brownish and orange color.
115.Pebbles- An orange haired character from “The Flintstones” cartoon.
116.Sunkissed- What is there to say?! A kitten that has been kissed by the sun and got blessed with its beautiful colors.
117.Tin- tin- The famous comic hero with orange hair.
118.Pharaoh- Brings in mind the orange colors of the Egyptian desserts.
119.Cheyenne- Stands for the orange cheyenne pepper.
120.Flash- The Marvel super hero with his Red/Orange suit, the best name for a fast and frisky kitten!
121.Firefox- Resembling the cute cartoon fox web browser logo..
122.Lantana- A tropical plant that is orange in color.
123.Hobbes- The orange cat from ”Calvin and Hobbes” comic.
124.Vatra- means fire in Croatian.
125.Lois- As in Lois from the Family Guy cartoon.
126.Mai- tai- The mai tai cocktail is orange.
127.Pineapple- A mostly yellow fruit but with a tinge of orange.
128.Sophie- Named after the famous actor from Game of Thrones and her remarkable fiery orange hair.
129.Citrus- Most citrus fruit are orange in color.
130.Fuego- Means fire in spanish.
131.Tann- Has your kitty been sunbathing for too long?.
132.FireFur- The name says it all. A cat whose fur looks like it’s on fire.
133.Flare- Look up in the sky! Its a flare!…. Naahhhh… It’s just my kitten sitting on the ceiling fan.
134.Firefly- Those beautiful bugs that light up the darkness.
135.Hocus pocus- From the all time classic movie with the orange haired witch.
136.Igni- Short for ignition or ignite.
137.Archie – Stans for Archie Andrew in the comic.
138.Chester- The official Cheetos snack mascot.
139.OJ- Short of orange- juice. So funny and so catchy!!
140.Floga- Flame in greek.
141.Pepper Ann- The red- head character from late ’90s Disney cartoon.
142.Firecracker- A nickname for an oranged fur kitten with an explosive spirit.
143.Pippin- The orange haired hobbit from The lord of the rings.
144.Merry- Pippin’s brother. Also orange haired!
145.Mad Hatter- The crazy orange haired character from ”Alice in wonderland”.
146.Ignis- Means fire in Latin.
147.Bumblebee- The orange/yellow transformer in the ”Transformers” movie and cartoon.
148.Slammer- Named after the alabama slammer red/orange cocktail.
149.Roni- A cool name for an orange cat.
150.Ferret- Just like a reddish fire ferret, with its amazing fur.
151.Jamra- Means ember in Arabic.

Orange and White Cat Names

male orange tabby cat

male orange tabby cat

152. Blofeld- The white cat belonging to James Bond’s nemesis has no name
154. Casper– The friendly ghost offers another good name for pop culture lovers.
155. White Lightning- This is another powerful name that is fitting for a white, male cat.
156. ce Man- Whether you are naming your cat after a character from the X-Men or from Top Gun, the name fits white cats.
157. Bear- Pick this one when your cat reminds you of a polar bear.
158. Yeti- You could choose a name that belongs to the abominable snowman.
159. Snoopy- Why not pick the name of a famous white dog for your white cat?
160. Everest- You could name your cat after the highest peak in the world.
161. Avalanche- The falling wall of snow and ice is another strong snow name for cats.
162. Nimbus- You may want to name your cat after the fluffy, white cloud.
163. Stormy- Strong weather names make great choices for male cats.
164. Q-Tip- This is a fun name for any white cat.
165. Blanc- It’s French for white.
166. Shiro- This one means white in Japanese.
167. Blizzard- The power of a snowstorm is an evocative name for a male kitty.

Catégories
La vie du chat

The 7 Best Cat Treats For Training


Our Review Process

Our reviews are based on extensive research and, when possible, hands-on testing. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. Read more about how we’re supported here.

Every cat owner loves to spoil their feline friend with tasty treats. But too many treats can be a detriment to your cat’s health, at least in terms of excessive caloric intake.

Rather than simply doling out treats as a daily indulgent, why not make your cat work for them?

Training your cat is easier than you might think. All you need is the right motivation and an effective training method. Our in-house cat behavior expert, Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB) Julie Posluns, suggests clicker training for cats.

You can learn more about clicker training in our in-depth guide, but here we’ll be talking about the best treats to use for training cats.

At A Glance: Best Cat Treats For Training To Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Overall Best

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10.0

Picked by 31 people today!

Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes

  • Made with a single animal-based ingredient
  • Packed with flavor and strong aroma cats are drawn to
  • Rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids

Quick Overview Of Clicker Training

Positive reinforcement training is widely recognized as one of the most effective means of training cats and dogs. The concept is very simple – you teach your cat what behavior you want him to perform then reward him for doing it. The reward serves as motivation to repeat the behavior.

But how exactly do you go about teaching your cat what you want him to do? That’s where clicker training comes in.

A clicker is a small handheld tool that makes a clicking sound when you squeeze it. It’s a means of communicating clearly with your cat to help him identify the desired behavior. When your cat performs the desired behavior, you use the clicker then follow it up with a tasty treat.

Depending what behavior you’re trying to teach, you may have to do it in stages. You’ll also need to incorporate a verbal cue or hand signal to indicate to your cat what you want him to do.

3 Qualities Of A Good Cat Treat For Training

While dogs are known for eating just about anything you set in front of them, cats can be motivated by food as well. The trick to training is to choose a treat your cat finds irresistible. If they’re not interested in the treat, they won’t be motivated to perform the desired behavior.

So, what makes for a good training treat for cats?

1.The Best Training Treats Are Packed With Flavor And Have An Appealing Aroma.

The key to clicker training is to use the treat to encourage your cat to perform the desired behavior. A nice smelly treat will attract your cat’s attention and, once he’s learned how to get it, he’ll be eager to do what you want in hopes of attaining that reward.

Look for a meaty treat made primarily of animal ingredients. Plant ingredients simply aren’t appealing to cats, and they aren’t worth much in terms of nutrition either.

2. The Best Training Treats Are Healthy.

Treats should only make up about 10% of your cat’s daily calories. This means you’ll have to factor them into his daily intake which may require you to slightly reduce the size of his meals. Another option, of course, is to use pieces of cat food as training treats.

Again, cats will prefer meaty treats over anything else because they are obligate carnivores. They’re biologically adapted to consuming other animals. Make sure the treat is made primarily from animal ingredients with limited carbohydrates and no artificial additives.

3. The Best Training Treats Are Small And Low In Calories.

To teach your cat what behavior you want him to perform, you’ll need to repeat the training sequence multiple times throughout the training session. When you first get started, you’ll want to reward your cat every time he performs the behavior, though you can eventually taper off on the rewards.

To avoid increasing your cat’s daily calorie intake too much, look for treats that are small and low in calories. Many training treats contain just 2 calories or less per treat. If the treat is bigger than a single bite, you can break it up into smaller pieces.

Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Treats For Training

Now that you have a better understanding of how we came to our top picks, you’re probably eager to see them!

Here are our top 7 picks for the best cat treats for training:

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Nothing is more appealing to cats than a piece of fresh fish. While it may not be safe to feed your cat raw fish, these dried bonito flakes are both safe and satisfying.

Bonito is a medium-sized ocean fish closely related to tuna. These bonito flakes are nothing more than dehydrated pieces of the fish. They’re rich in protein and omega-3-rich fish oils with just 5 kcal per serving. Because they’re flakes, however, you can easily break them up into smaller servings.

Made from a single animal-based ingredient, these treats are highly attractive to cats which makes them perfect for cat training.

The downside of these low-calorie treats is that the flakes are paper-thin, and they tend to crumble in the bag. Transferring the flakes to a jar may help prevent crumbling, or you can simply use the broken flakes as a tasty food topper.

Ingredients

100% Dried Bonito.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 76%

Crude Fat: 3%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 12%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 86.36%

Fat: 3.41%

Fiber: 1.14%

Carbs: 9.09%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 83.26%

Fat: 7.98%

Carbs: 8.76%

What We Liked

  • Made with a single animal-based ingredient
  • Packed with flavor and strong aroma cats are drawn to
  • Rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids
  • Low in calories, can be broken into pieces

What We Didn’t Like

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Read Our Full Brand Review

Made from all natural ingredients including fresh salmon and fish oil, these crunchy cat treats from Shameless Pets are a great option for training.

Not only are they bite-sized, but they’re low in calories at just 1.5 kcal per treat. With salmon as the first ingredient, they’re rich in protein and healthy fats. They’re also free from low-value fillers like corn, wheat, and soy as well as artificial additives like flavoring, colorants, and preservatives.

Though these treats are protein-rich, they do contain several plant ingredients which contributes to a fairly high carbohydrate content. It’s worth noting, however, that Shameless makes an effort to reduce food waste by sourcing misfit and surplus produce for use in their recipes.

Ingredients

Salmon, Sweet Potato, Brown Rice, Tapioca, Brewers Dried Yeast, Flaxseed Meal, Fish Oil, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 12%

Crude Fat: 10.5%

Crude Fiber: 4.5%

Moisture: 8%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 13.04%

Fat: 11.41%

Fiber: 4.89%

Carbs: 70.65%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 11.71%

Fat: 24.88%

Carbs: 63.41%

What We Liked

  • Fresh salmon as the first ingredient
  • Supplemented with fish oils for omega-3 fatty acids
  • Crunchy texture and appealing flavor cats like
  • Small in size and low in calories (1.5 kcal/treat)

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains some unnecessary plant ingredients
  • High carbohydrate content

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If you’re looking for high-quality, healthy cat treats it’s hard to do better than these freeze-dried chicken breast PureBites. They’re made with a single ingredient: human-grade chicken breast.

With chicken as the only ingredient, these treats are packed with protein and natural flavor. They’re incredibly low in fat and calories as well, with just 2 kcal per treat. Size and shape may vary from one treat to another, but you may be able to break up large treats into smaller pieces.

While these treats can be a protein-rich addition to your cat’s diet, some cats simply don’t seem to enjoy the freeze-dried textures. Customers also comment that the treats crumble easily in the bag, so they should be handled with care and stored properly.

Ingredients

100% Pure USA Sourced & Made Human Grade Chicken Breast.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 74%

Crude Fat: 3%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 77.89%

Fat: 3.16%

Fiber: 1.05%

Carbs: 17.89%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 75.29%

Fat: 7.41%

Carbs: 17.3%

What We Liked

  • Made with a single protein-rich ingredient
  • Very low in fat and calories (2 kcal/treat)
  • Completely free from artificial additives and fillers

What We Didn’t Like

  • Some cats dislike the freeze-dried texture
  • Treats may crumble easily

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Read Our Full Brand Review

A simple Internet search for cat treats will show Temptations cat treats within the top ten results. With over 40,000 reviews on Amazon, Temptations is one of the most well-known brands in the cat treat market and customers (and their cats) really love them.

What makes Temptations treats so popular is a combination of affordability and appeal. A 1-pound (16 oz.) tub of treats is priced around $8, though they’re also sold in smaller bags. Cats can’t seem to get enough of these treats, and they come in a generous variety of flavors.

While cats seem to go crazy for Temptations treats, we’re not crazy about some of the ingredients in them. Not only do these treats contain corn and wheat products, but they’re also made with vaguely named meat by-products. They are, however, free from artificial flavor, color, and preservatives.

Temptations may not be the healthiest treat brand for cats, but it’s an affordable choice and one cats love. If appealing flavor and aroma is your priority, these treats might work well for training.

Ingredients

Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Wheat Flour, Dried Meat By-Products, Natural Flavors, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Sulfate, Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Dried Cheese, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 28%

Crude Fat: 21%

Crude Fiber: 4.5%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 31.11%

Fat: 23.33%

Fiber: 5%

Carbs: 40.56%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 24.24%

Fat: 44.16%

Carbs: 31.6%

What We Liked

  • Affordably priced around $8 per pound
  • Cats seem to love the flavor and aroma
  • Animal-based source of protein as the first ingredient

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains corn and wheat ingredients
  • High concentration of carbohydrates
  • Made with some vaguely named ingredients

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Your cat’s dental health is incredibly important, especially as he ages. While brushing your cat’s teeth is the best way to protect his oral health, dental treats can help.

Feline Greenies are one of the only cat treat brands approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to protect against tartar. They offer crunchy treats in a variety of flavors that help scrape your cat’s teeth clean and freshen his breath.

We like these treats for training because they’re appropriately sized and contain just 2 kcal per treat. They come in tasty flavors like oven-roasted chicken, savory salmon, and catnip.

The downside to Feline Greenies is they contain a few questionable ingredients. In addition to corn and wheat ingredients, they contain vaguely named poultry fat and a high concentration of carbohydrates on the whole.

They do, however, provide a decent source of animal-based protein and cats seem to enjoy the flavor.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ground Wheat, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Oat Fiber, Natural Poultry Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Citric Acid (a Preservative), Fruit Juice Color, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Mixed Tocopherols (a Preservative), DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Ferrous Sulfate, Turmeric Color, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Manganous Oxide, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Rosemary Extract.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 27%

Crude Fat: 12%

Crude Fiber: 10%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 30%

Fat: 13.33%

Fiber: 11.11%

Carbs: 45.56%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 27.79%

Fat: 30%

Carbs: 42.21%

What We Liked

  • Approved by the VOHC for dental care
  • Crunchy texture helps scrape teeth clean
  • Small in size and low in calories
  • Chicken meal as a protein-rich first ingredient

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains some corn and wheat ingredients
  • High overall carbohydrate content

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While not all cats respond to catnip, some go absolutely crazy for it. The natural oils in catnip have a strong aroma that makes catnip treats an enticing option for training.

These Crunchie Munchie treats from Meowijuana come in a tasty salmon flavor, though they also contain chicken meal and tuna meal. Each treat contains under 2 kcal and the moisture content is a little higher than the average crunchy treat.

This recipe does contain some added carbohydrate and dairy, though it is free from artificial additives. The ingredient list is fairly short, and it does contain added taurine, an essential amino acid.

If you’re going to use treats rather than kibble to train your cats, these catnip crunchies from Meowijuana seem to be a healthy option. There are numerous reports of cats not being interested in them, but it may just depend on your cat’s susceptibility to catnip.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Barley Flour, Chicken Fat, Salmon Meal, Tuna Meal, Pork Fat, Dried Whey, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Pork Liver Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Canola Lecithin, Dried Ground Catnip, Taurine, Ground Valerian Root, Mixed Tocopherols.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 26%

Crude Fat: 15%

Crude Fiber: 4%

Moisture: 12%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 29.55%

Fat: 17.05%

Fiber: 4.55%

Carbs: 48.86%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 24.66%

Fat: 34.55%

Carbs: 40.79%

What We Liked

  • Three sources of concentrated animal protein
  • Nutrient-rich chicken and pork fat
  • Dried catnip may be appealing to some cats
  • Less than 2 kcal per treat

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains some added carbohydrate
  • Some cats don’t respond strongly to catnip

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We’re big proponents of wet food over kibble, largely because it’s much higher in moisture than dry food. Wet cat food also tends to contain higher concentrations of protein which makes the food more appealing and species-appropriate.

If you’re looking for a training treat that provides these same benefits, a lickable puree treat from Inaba Churu might be just right.

Packaged in 2-ounce tubes, these lickable treats are moisture-rich and full of flavor. Fresh tuna provides healthy animal-based protein with tapioca and guar gum used as thickeners. There are no artificial additives and the list of ingredients is relatively short.

An entire tube contains 6 kcal or less and the squeezable nature makes it easy to offer your cat just a few licks at a time. After training, you can also use the puree as a tasty food topper to give your cat an extra reward.

Ingredients (Tuna Recipe)

Water, Tuna, Tapioca, Natural Flavors, Guar Gum, Natural Tuna Flavors, Fructooligosaccharide, Vitamin E Supplement, Green Tea Extract.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 7%

Crude Fat: 0.2%

Crude Fiber: 0.1%

Moisture: 91%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 77.78%

Fat: 2.22%

Fiber: 1.11%

Carbs: 18.89%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 76.21%

Fat: 5.29%

Carbs: 18.51%

What We Liked

  • Rich in animal protein and moisture
  • Just 6 kcal per tube, easy to serve in small amounts
  • Free from fillers and artificial additives

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains some added carbohydrate
  • Fairly pricey, around $1 per tube
Catégories
La vie du chat

Cat Showers Her Solo Kitten with Affection After They Pulled Through Together with Help of Family


Cat showers her solo kitten with affection after they pulled through together with the help of a family.

cat hugs kittenBunny the cat mom and Dash the kittenJennifer @newkittensontheblock

About a month ago, a tabby cat was surrendered to Indianapolis Animal Care Services while she was heavily pregnant. Shortly after her arrival, she gave birth to a litter of four and urgently needed a foster home.

IndyHumane, an animal rescue group, stepped up to help and took them in the following day. « She and the kittens came into foster care with me when they were two days old, » Jennifer, a volunteer of IndyHumane, told Love Meow.

The cat, Bunny, was a doting mom from the start. Among the kittens, Dash, an orange tabby, was the biggest baby of the bunch.

cat mom pawBunny was brought to a city shelter where she had her kittensJennifer @newkittensontheblock

A few days later, things took a turn for the worse when Bunny came down with a severe upper respiratory infection (URI). It soon became clear that the kittens needed intervention, as Bunny lost appetite and couldn’t produce enough milk.

« The family went to IndyHumane’s ICU, so Bunny could get more supportive care. Despite intervention, sadly, three of the four kittens didn’t survive the URI, leaving Dash as a singleton. »

cat mom kittenMama Bunny snuggling with Dash the only survivor of the litterJennifer @newkittensontheblock

With lots of TLC, Bunny made a full recovery. Her kitten Dash powered through the ordeal, and was so happy to have milk from his mom again.

« Bunny is very attentive, so with just Dash left, she literally showers him with a lot of attention, » Jennifer shared with Love Meow. « She’s very young, so this was probably her first (and thankfully last) litter. »

tabby catBunny made a full recovery from a severe URIJennifer @newkittensontheblock

Bunny has filled out so much in a few weeks, and discovered the joy of toys.

« Once she started feeling better, her playful kitten side emerged. She is very energetic, curious, and loves toys. She’s also very sweet and seeks out lots of attention and affection. »

cat nursing kittenShe showers her kitten with lots of love and attentionJennifer @newkittensontheblock

« If I’m paying too much attention to Dash, she will push her way in between us. She is taking very good care of him and always has a watchful eye on him now that he’s out and about exploring the foster room and playing. »

Watch Bunny and Dash in this cute video:

Bunny the cat and Dash the kittenwww.youtube.com

Bunny who is still a kitten at heart, sometimes zooms around her room in the middle of the night or cries for attention from her people.

As a young mother, she has a ton of energy to match her fiery ginger boy. She is incredibly patient with Dash and tolerates his many antics.

kitten cat momJennifer @newkittensontheblock

« Bunny is taking such good care of baby Dash. He’s growing and hitting all of his developmental milestones right on track, » Jennifer told Love Meow.

« Dash loves to pounce on her, wrestle with her, and try to get her tail. She gently plays back. »

kitten hugs catJennifer @newkittensontheblock

The kitten is getting very playful and rambunctious. He trots over to Jennifer when she comes in to prepare meals for the mom.

Bunny is thriving and will never have to go through another pregnancy, and will get to live life exactly the way she desires.

cat bathes kittenJennifer @newkittensontheblock

« In my experience with fostering, most mama cats naturally start to separate themselves from their kittens as they wean. I don’t know if this case will be different given that Dash is a solo kitten now and she’s so young, » Jennifer told Love Meow.

« Ultimately, the decision will be up to Bunny. »

cat mom kittenDash just turned one month old, and Mama Bunny is very proudJennifer @newkittensontheblock

For now, Bunny takes every opportunity to bathe her precious kitten. She is teaching Dash how to play like a cat, showing him proper feline etiquette, and preparing him to be a well-rounded kitty.

cat mom kittenJennifer @newkittensontheblock

Share this story with your friends. Follow updates on Bunny and Dash and Jennifer’s fosters on Instagram @newkittensontheblock.

Related story: Kitten Lived as a Feral Turns Out to Be Sweet Cat Who Just Needed a Chance

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All About Ginger Cats→ Facts, Lifespan And Intelligence


Though technically not a breed, ginger cats are known for their distinct coloration which comes in varying shades of orange, red, and gold. With their tiger-like appearance and their friendly personalities, ginger cats are some of the most popular cats around.

In fact, ginger cats have their own holiday – Ginger Cat Appreciation Day falls on the first of September each year.

Not only are ginger cats popular among pet lovers, but some of the most famous cats in the world are gingers. Think Orangey, the cat from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Puss in Boots from Shrek, or the quintessential tiger cat, Garfield.

What Makes Ginger Cats So Special?

ginger cats

Because ginger cats are not a distinct breed, it’s difficult to make generalizations about their personalities and temperaments. That being said, all ginger cats do share one key characteristic, aside from their orange coloration, of course: they are tabbies.

The term “tabby” refers to a specific coat pattern that involves a combination of stripes, swirls, and spots of color. This pattern is common in both wild and domestic felines.

Also Read: All About Tabby Cats

In fact, all domestic cats carry the tabby gene, though they may not always exhibit an obvious tabby pattern.

Every ginger cat is unique, but because they all carry the tabby gene, they have certain characteristics in common. For example, all tabbies have a distinctive M-shaped marking on their foreheads. The rest of their patterning is determined by genetics.

Ginger Cat Appearance

ginger cat personality

The biggest example of a wild ginger cat is the regal tiger himself. Tigers are a prime example of the tabby pattern at work, though there are a number of different variations.

The tabby pattern is common among big cats, especially among the closest genetic ancestors of the domestic house cat – African, European, and Asiatic wildcats. As such, tabby patterning can be seen in a wide variety of domestic cat breeds including the American Shorthair, Persian, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, and American Bobtail, among others.

There are five different versions of the tabby pattern you might see in ginger cats:

  • Classic Tabby
  • Mackerel Tabby
  • Spotted Tabby
  • Ticked Tabby
  • Patched Tabby

Covered in a swirling pattern of varying shades of orange, the classic tabby is one of the most recognizable ginger cats. These cats have a bulls-eye-like pattern on the sides of their bodies, similar in appearance to a marble cake. The American Shorthair often exhibits this pattern.

The mackerel tabby is also known as the tiger cat due to the series of narrow stripes that run down its sides. These stripes branch out from a ban of color that runs along the cats spine, giving it the appearance of a fish skeleton – this is where the name “mackerel” tabby comes from.

While most tabby colorations involve stripes, the spotted tabby is covered in spots of varying size and shape. You can easily see this pattern in the American Bobtail and Ocicat breeds.

Ticked orange tabbies are unique in a different way. They don’t typically show visible stripes or spots on their bodies, except sometimes faintly on the tail and legs. Instead, their coats are made up of agouti hairs which exhibit bands of pigmentation. The Somali and Abyssinian cat breeds are prime examples of the ticked tabby coloration.

Finally, the patched tabby is also known as the bi-color tabby because these ginger cats exhibit areas of tabby pattern as well as areas of solid color or another pattern.

The Intriguing Genetics Of Ginger Cats

ginger cat temperament

Female cats have two X chromosomes while male cats have one X and one Y chromosome. The gene for ginger coloration is carried on the X chromosome.

When it comes to coat color, cats inherit a combination of genes from their parents. Interestingly, the wide variety of colors you see in cats comes from just two primary colors: black and red (or orange).

Kittens inherit two copies of each gene from their parents which can be either dominant or recessive. The ginger gene “O” is dominant which means a kitten needs only inherit one copy of the ginger gene to display ginger coloration to some degree.

Whether a kitten displays full or partial ginger coloration depends on how many copies of the “O” gene the kitten inherits. Male kittens need only inherit the dominant “O” ginger gene from their mother to be fully orange while female kittens need to inherit it from both mother and father.

Male kittens that inherit the recessive “o” gene from their mother will be born calico or tortoiseshell and females that inherit “Oo” can be either ginger or calico.

Because females inherit two X chromosomes, there is a higher number of possible genetic combinations. As a result, only about 20% of ginger cats are female. By comparison, about 80% of ginger cats are male.

Personality And Temperament

Many different cat breeds exhibit some degree of ginger coloration, so it is difficult to make sweeping statements about the personality and temperament of a ginger cat.

Even so, ginger cats have a reputation for being friendly and easy-going. In fact, a survey conducted by the University of California, Berkeley revealed that cat lovers were more likely to assign positive personality traits to orange cats than white or tortoiseshell cats. Ginger cats were widely regarded as friendly while tortoiseshell and white cats were described as more aloof.

You Might Also Like: All About Tortoiseshell Cats

How you raise your ginger kitten plays a role in developing his personality, but the kitten’s breed makeup is a major determining factor as well.

Here’s a quick list of distinctive cat breeds that frequently show ginger coloration:

If you’re curious to learn more about your ginger cat’s breed makeup, the Basepaws Cat DNA Kit may be just what you need.

With nothing more than a saliva sample, this service compares your cat’s DNA against the largest cat DNA database in the world. You’ll receive insights into your cat’s breed makeup, his wild ancestry, and important health markers to help you keep your cat healthy.

Click Here to Learn More At Basepaws For Cat DNA Kit

7 Famous Ginger Cats

  1. Orlando – Also known as the Marmalade Cat, Orlando is the cute orange star of a series of illustrated children’s book by Kathleen Hale, first printed in 1938. Inspired by Hale’s own ginger cat, Orland, this 19-book series follows the escapades of Orlando and his feline family. The first book in the series, Orlando (The Marmalade Cat): A Camping Holiday was an instant success and the series ended in 1972 with Orlando and the Water Cats.
  2. Orangey – A marmalade tabby cat named Orangey (also Orangey Minerva) was the ginger cat that starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn in 1961. Orangey first debuted in the 1952 movie Rhubarb and went on to become the only cat to win two PATSY awards (Picture Animal Top Star of the Year) in 1952 and in 1962. Despite his fame, Orangey was often described as mean.
  3. Orion – This bi-color ginger and white feline carried a galaxy cluster around his neck in the 1997 film Men in Black, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Orion belonged to Gentle Rosenburg, a member of the Arquilian royal family who was hiding on Earth.
  4.  Jones – Nickname Jonesy, Jones was a ginger tomcat kept aboard the USCSS Nostromo by Ellen Ripley in the 1979 film, Alien. Jones and Ripley were the only two survivors of the ships run-in with a Xenomorph which ultimately led to the Nostromo’s destruction.
  5. Garfield – Known for his laziness and his love of lasagna, Garfield is an American comic strip character created by Jim Davis. A ginger cat with tiger stripes, Garfield belongs to owner Jon Arbuckle and spent his days terrorizing his canine family member Odie.
  6. Puss in Boots – After his first appearance in Shrek 2 in 2004, Puss in Boots became a main character in the Shrek franchise. This sassy ginger cat wears boots, a cape, and a floppy hat while carrying his sword in a belt around his waist.
  7. Milo – The Adventures of Milo and Otis is a 1986 Japanese adventure comedy about two animal friends – a ginger tabby cat named Milo and his best friend, a pug named Otis. In 1989, Columbia Pictures removed 15 minutes from the film and released it in an English language version.

12 Fun Facts About Ginger Cats

Ginger cats are often called tiger cats due to their orange coloring and striped pattern. They are also called Marmalade cats.

  1. The ginger cat is not a distinct breed but a coloration. All ginger cats display some kind of pattern in their orange coats – they are never solid orange.
  2. Ginger cats get their orange color from a specific pigment called pheomelanin. This is the same pigment that is responsible for red hair in humans.
  3. All ginger cats are tabbies. The tabby pattern is one of the most common exhibited by both wild and domestic felines and is easily distinguished by an M-shaped marking on the forehead.
  4. Ginger cats can have either long hair or short hair, depending on their breed.
  5. Certain breeds are more likely to exhibit ginger fur than others. Some of the most common ginger cat breeds are the Abyssinian, Bengal, Egyptian Mau, Munchkin, and Persian.
  6. The lifespan of an orange kitten is not specific to their coloring. They have the same average lifespan as does the particular breed of felines they belong to.
  7. Orange cats have a reputation for being friendly and affectionate, more so than other patterns like the tortoiseshell cat. Individual temperament is largely determined by the cat’s breed, however.
  8. Roughly 80% of ginger cats are male. Female ginger cats are less common because they must inherit two copies of the ginger gene from their parents to exhibit the orange coloration.
  9. Most ginger cats are solid orange with tabby markings, though you may also come across bi-color ginger cats which are typically orange and white.
  10. Many ginger cats develop black freckles on their faces. They most commonly appear on the lips, nose, and gums.
  11. Ginger tabbies are popular in film and TV. Some of the most famous ginger cats include the comic strip cat Garfield, Milo from Milo and Otis, and Orangey from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Do you have a ginger kitty? Tell us all about him/her in a comment below!

Relevant Articles:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all ginger cats male?

No, the ginger coloration can be seen in both male and female cats. That being said, male cats need only inherit one copy of the ginger gene while females need two. The ginger tabby coloration is three times more common in male than in female kittens.

Are ginger cats friendly?

While it is difficult to make generalizations about ginger cats because they are not a specific breed, some research suggests ginger cats are perceived as being friendlier than other colorations like the tortoiseshell. That being said, every cat has its own unique temperament.

Do ginger cats make good pets?

Ginger cats are incredibly popular, and many cat owners describe their ginger cats as friendly and affectionate. Individual personality and temperament may vary, however, so your cat’s breed makeup may influence his or her personality.

How long do ginger cats live?

The Average life span for an indoor ginger cats ranges from 10-16 years. The average life span for an outdoor Ginger cat ranges from 7-11 years

How rare are female ginger cats?

Only about 20% of ginger cats are female

Why ginger cats are the best?

That’s because they are 100% pure awesome

What color eyes do ginger cats have?

Ginger cat possess a wide range of gorgeous eye colors such as Blue, green, yellow and brown.

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Celebrate Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day


tortoiseshell-cat-appreciation-day

It’s here! Today is the 3rd annual Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day! Arguably, for those of us who share our lives with torties, that’s every day, but today is the day to bring awareness to these beautiful, often misunderstood cats and their tortitude.

I created Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day in 2020 in Ruby’s memory to celebrate torties in all their uniqueness and beauty. Help me turn Facebook, Instagram, and any other social  networks you’re a part of brown, tan, gold, black, cinnamon and all colors in between today!

Create your own Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day Photo

If you’d like, you can use our Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day logo to create your own photos. Simply click on the image below to download a blank frame and use your favorite photo editor to create an image with your own tortie. All I ask is that you don’t alter the frame and leave the copyright and URL at the bottom of the frame in place in anything you create.

Use hashtag
#tortoiseshellcatappreciationday
with your social shares

On April 17, the internet will be a more beautiful place because it will be taken over by torties!

Tortitude banner for posts with border

Allegra is ready to celebrate and hopes that you will join us!

tortoiseshell-cat-appreciation-day

Visit the official page of Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day for more information.

Tortitude banner for posts with border

 

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The 7 Best Calming Cat Treats


Our Review Process

Our reviews are based on extensive research and, when possible, hands-on testing. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. Read more about how we’re supported here.

Trips to the vet can be stressful. Thunderstorms are loud and unpredictable. Changes in routine can be upsetting. These are just a few of the situations that can trigger anxiety in your cat.

Cats can become stressed and anxious about many of the same things as people, though the signs of cat anxiety may manifest in different ways. Changes in activity level, excessive meowing, uncharacteristic aggression, and changes in weight or appetite can all signal an increase in stress.

While chronic anxiety is something you should address with your veterinarian, occasional symptoms can sometimes be managed with at-home solutions like cat calming aids.

In this guide, we’ll explore the subject of cat calming treats to discover how they work (and whether they work) and which are the best options on the market.

At A Glance: Best Calming cat Treats To Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Runner Up

aac-table__image

9.8

Picked by 31 people today!

Pet Naturals Calming Cat Chews

  • Contains three calming active ingredients
  • Tasty chicken liver flavor
  • Safe to double or triple the dose as needed

Best For Sensitive Stomach

Best Paw Gel

aac-table__image

9.0

Picked by 18 people today!

ThunderWunders Calming Cat Paw Gel

  • Some cats prefer it over calming chews
  • May work well for cats with dental problems
  • Contains salmon oil, a rich source of omega-3s

How Do Calming Cat Treats Work?

Calming aids for cats take several different forms.

The Thundershirt delivers gentle but constant pressure to help ease anxiety in stressful situations. Plug-in pheromone diffusers like Feliway are clinically proven to reduce stress-related behaviors and can even ease tension in multi-cat households. The same pheromones can even be incorporated into cat collars for continuous calming relief.

Another popular product for relieving occasional anxiety is calming cat treats.

Calming cat treats are typically made with relaxing herbs like chamomile. They work in a similar way to calming teas for humans.

The best calming cat treats, however, contain clinically proven active ingredients like L-theanine, L-tryptophan, and thiamine (Vitamin B1) to relax the central nervous system. A bioactive peptide derived from the casein in cow’s milk called α-casozepine has also been reported to offer an anxiolytic effect similar to benzodiazepines.

The therapeutic effects of α-casozepine and L-tryptophan are supported by the results of a 2017 study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

While clinical research involving calming cat treats is limited, there are studies that support the use of these active ingredients.

A 2018 study published in the Irish Veterinary Journal reported that an oral calming supplement called Anxitane®, the active ingredient in which is L-theanine, helped improve the undesirable manifestations of stress in cats in as little as 15 days.

The calming effect of thiamine have been extensively studied in humans, though it’s difficult to say whether the same benefits can be expected in cats.  A 2008 article published in Integrative Medicine Insights notes the use of thiamine and essential fatty acids like primrose oil.

The efficacy of calming treats for cats depends on the active ingredients used and their concentration. We’ve scoured the market for the best cat treats for stress and anxiety according to their active ingredients, veterinarian recommendations, and positive customer reviews.

Our Top Picks For The Best Calming Treats For Cats

Now that you have a better understanding of how we came to our top picks, you’re probably eager to see them!

Here are our top 7 picks for the best calming cat treats:

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With over 20,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4-star rating, VetriScience Composure treats are some of the most popular cat calming chews on the market.

This formula features a trio of clinically proven active ingredients including thiamine, colostrum, and L-theanine. The recipe is veterinarian formulated and approved by the brand’s veterinary review board to support behavioral problems in cats.

These calming chews come in a tasty chicken liver flavor with 30 chews per container. They’re affordably priced under $0.30 per treat and can be purchased in 1- or 2-packs.

While these treats are marketed as soft chews, some customers report that the texture is a little hard for their cats. Others, however, found that the chews were soft enough to be broken into pieces.

Ingredients

Thiamine (Vitamin B1), C3 (Colostrum Calming Complex), L-Theanine, Brewer’s Yeast, Canola Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Mixed Tocopherols, Propionic Acid, Proprietary Blend (Maltodextrin, Sodium Alginate and Calcium Sulfate), Rosemary Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Oil.

Active Ingredients (Per 1 Chew)

  • Thiamine (Vitamin B1): 67mg
  • C3 (Colostrum Calming Complex): 11mg
  • L-Theanine: 10.5mg

What We Liked

  • Trio of clinically proven active ingredients
  • Affordably priced under $0.30 per chew
  • Appealing chicken liver flavor

What We Didn’t Like

  • Texture may be too hard for some cats

View on Chewy  View on Amazon

Formulated with the same three active ingredients as our top pick. The concentration of those active ingredients is a little lower, but this calming formula from Pet Naturals is still an excellent choice.

These treats feature thiamine, C3 Colostrum Calming Complex, and L-theanine as the top three ingredients. The remainder of the ingredients list is very similar to the previous formula, including the chicken liver flavor.

These treats from Pet Naturals of Vermont have a slightly lower overall rating than VetriScience Composure, though more than one-third of those ratings are 5-star. Customers report similar issues with the consistency of the treats and some cats simply don’t seem to like the flavor.

Individual preferences aside, this calming supplement seems to be properly formulated for anxiety relief and they’re a little bit cheaper than our top pick.

Ingredients

Brewers Yeast, Canola Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Mixed Tocopherols, Propionic Acid, Proprietary Blend (Maltodextrin, Sodium Alginate and Calcium Sulfate), Rosemary Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Oil, Whey.

Active Ingredients (Per 1 Chew)

  • Thiamine (Vitamin B1): 65mg
  • C3 (Colostrum Calming Complex): 9mg
  • L-Theanine: 8.5mg

What We Liked

  • Contains three calming active ingredients
  • Tasty chicken liver flavor
  • Safe to double or triple the dose as needed

What We Didn’t Like

  • Lower concentration of active ingredients
  • Some customers find the texture too hard

View on Chewy  View on Amazon

Sold in 50- and 60-count containers, this calming formula is affordably priced under $0.20 per chew. Keep in mind, however, that NaturVet recommends a serving size of two chews.

These chews are designed specifically for use during stressful situations like vet visits – they may also be effective for separation anxiety. It’s best to give them to your cat 30 minutes prior to the event to ensure that the calming effects have time to develop.

Formulated with five active ingredients, these chews feature L-tryptophan and thiamine as well as three herbal ingredients. Chamomile is a well-known calming aid while melatonin helps to promote rest and relaxation. Ginger is added to support sensitive stomachs which can be a benefit during travel.

Customer experience with this product varies greatly. Over 40% of customers on Amazon rated the product 5-star with many reporting that the treats are particularly effective at night. Some report, however, that the effects seem to decrease with repeated use.

Ingredients

L-Tryptophan, Chamomile, Thiamine, Ginger, Melatonin, Brewer’s Yeast, Cod Liver Oil, Flaxseed Meal, Glycerin, Lecithin, Natural Flavoring, Oat Groats, Rice Flour, Sorbic Acid, Vegetable Oil, Wheat Germ.

Active Ingredients (Per 2 Chews)

  • L-Tryptophan: 50mg
  • Chamomile: 6mg
  • Thiamine (Vitamin B1): 6mg
  • Ginger: 1mg
  • Melatonin:01mg

What We Liked

  • Contains five active ingredients for calming
  • Affordably priced under $0.20 per chew
  • Great for stressful events like travel and loud noises

What We Didn’t Like

  • Effects may decrease over time
  • Some cats don’t like the flavor

View on ShamelessPets  View on Amazon

Read Our Full Brand Review

While catnip triggers an agitated response in some cats, others seem to find it soothing. A member of the mint family, catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone which has been linked to calming effects.

These treats from Shameless Pets contain protein-rich chicken as the primary ingredient with chicken fat as a nutritious source of essential fats. They contain other natural ingredients like upcycled sweet potato and brown rice with no artificial additives like colors, flavors, or preservatives.

What makes Shameless Pets unique is that they use misfit and surplus produce in their recipes. This is where the term “upcycled” comes from. Every 6 bags of treats purchased equates to 1 pound of food rescued which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This recipe is low in calories and rich in natural chicken flavor. The treats have a crunchy texture cats seem to enjoy and they’re made in the USA.

Ingredients

Chicken, Sweet Potato, Brown Rice, Tapioca, Brewers Dried Yeast, Miscanthus Grass, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Inulin, Catnip, Phosphoric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 18%

Crude Fat: 14.5%

Crude Fiber: 8%

Moisture: 8%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 19.57%

Fat: 15.76%

Fiber: 8.7%

Carbs: 55.98%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 17.19%

Fat: 33.63%

Carbs: 49.18%

What We Liked

  • Rich in protein from an animal-based source
  • Nutrient-rich chicken fat provides essential fats
  • Nepetalactone in catnip may have a calming effect

What We Didn’t Like

  • Contains some unnecessary plant ingredients

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These chicken flavored soft chews from Tomlyn are a little bit different from our top three picks in that L-tryptophan is the primary active ingredient. As mentioned above, the calming effects of L-tryptophan are supported by clinical evidence.

In addition to L-tryptophan, these treats contain chamomile flower for herbal anxiety relief. Each chew contains 66mg L-tryptophan, 39.6mg chamomile, and 6.6mg ginger root.

These treats have an appealing chicken liver flavor and they’re moderately priced around $0.35 per chew. Some customers report that the treats are larger than necessary, and the hard texture makes them difficult to break apart.

Overall, however, they may be a good choice for anxious cats who don’t respond to other active ingredients like L-theanine and thiamine.

Ingredients

L-Tryptophan, Chamomile Flower, Ginger Root, Arabic Gum, Brewers Yeast, Calcium Sulfate, Canola Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Citric Acid, Citrus Pectin, Glycerin, Maltodextrin, Mixed Tocopherols, Oat Flower, Propionic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Rye Flour, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Alginate, Sorbic Acid, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Oil, Water.

Active Ingredients (Per 1 Chew)

  • L-Tryptophan: 66mg
  • Chamomile Flower: 6mg
  • Ginger Root:6mg

What We Liked

  • Contains 66mg L-tryptophan per chew
  • Moderately priced around $0.35 per chew
  • Chamomile for added anxiety relief

What We Didn’t Like

  • Some customers found the treats too large
  • Hard texture makes them difficult to break apart

View on Chewy  View on Amazon

Read Our Full Brand Review

While the calming effects of herbal ingredients are less well-studied than active ingredients like L-theanine and thiamine in clinical settings, many cat owners find that they help to relieve their cat’s stress and anxiety.

These grain-free cat treats from I and Love and You feature chamomile, passionflower, and lavender. They’re also made with protein-rich chicken and chicken liver with added prebiotics to support healthy digestion in cats.

The carbohydrate content of these treats is fairly high, but they’re much higher in moisture than many of the cat treats on this list. This makes the texture softer and more manageable for cats with dental problems. They may also be easier to break into pieces for kittens.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Glycerin, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Pea Fiber, Salt, Inulin, Pumpkin, Dandelion Greens, Cranberry Powder, Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative), Chamomile, Lavender, Passion Flower.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 19%

Crude Fat: 9%

Crude Fiber: 5%

Moisture: 24%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 25%

Fat: 11.84%

Fiber: 6.58%

Carbs: 56.58%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 22.66%

Fat: 26.06%

Carbs: 51.28%

What We Liked

  • Protein-rich chicken and chicken liver as top 2 ingredients
  • All natural ingredients, no artificial additives
  • High in moisture, soft texture is easy to chew and break apart

What We Didn’t Like

  • High carbohydrate content
  • No clinically-proven active ingredients

View on Chewy  View on Amazon

If your feline friend has dental problems that make dry food and treats difficult to chew, a soft calming treat might be a more appropriate choice. This paw gel has an appealing salmon flavor and a gel texture that is easy for most cats to consume and digest. You simply squeeze it onto his paw and he licks it off.

This paw gel from ThunderWunders features herbal calming extracts like passion flower and chamomile as well as catnip. It also contains salmon oil as an animal-based source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Over 50% of customers on Chewy give this product a 5-star rating and several report that the product is more appealing to their cats than calming treats. It’s worth noting, however, that the product can be a little messy to use and it does contain sodium benzoate, an artificial preservative.

Ingredients

Oat Extract, Passion Flower Extract, Chamomile Extract, Catnip, Water, Soybean Oil, Soy Lecithin, Sodium Carboxymethyl, Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Salmon Oil, Salmon Fish Flavor, Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative).

Active Ingredients (Per 6g)

  • Oat Extract: 100mg
  • Chamomile Extract: 45mg
  • Passion Flower Extract: 45mg
  • Catnip Extract: 20mg

What We Liked

  • Some cats prefer it over calming chews
  • May work well for cats with dental problems
  • Contains salmon oil, a rich source of omega-3s

What We Didn’t Like

  • Can be a little messy to use
  • Contains sodium benzoate, an artificial preservative