MEOW, MEOW. Do you ever hear this in the night? This is known as night calling.

Of course we cats meow at other times too. So why do cats meow?

Well, I am a bit of an expert since I am a cat. I meow because I want a treat, or to be fed, want water, go out to my porch or I just plain want attention. I do demand a lot of attention. I am pretty much spoiled and loving it. I also meow if I see something outside, like birds,    lizards or maybe even someone coming to the door. Who needs a dog?

A mother cat will meow to call her kittens.

If a female cat is in heat or there is a territory dispute, two males will meow loudly to warn each other before they square off for a fight. This is called caterwauling.

I won't meow like that because I was neutered when I was a little cat. It is a good idea to have your cat spayed or neutered!

There are some serious reason for a cat to meow.

There is something called CDS (cognitive dysfunction syndrome), or maybe your kitty is in distress, or insecure like a newly adopted cat. A kitten may not be used to being away from it's mother or a older cat from the shelter may not be used to being alone. A cat that suffers from CDS may awaken and be disoriented. If this is the case, place a couple of night lights around to help your kitty maneuver through the house easier.

Senior cats will meow if they are going deaf. If they can't hear themselves they meow even louder kind of like my human mom's mom. Wow she used to have the TV on for the world to hear. I had to get away from that!

So that's if for now, time for a nap.

Do you need a cat sitter? I know the best pet sitters!

My mommy owns Four Paws Pet Sitting Services.

She and her great staff take care of cats and dogs and lot of other small pets.

Call my mom, Lois. 919-388-PAWS (7297)

Brushing long hair kitties like me and knots.

• I have mentioned in the past that my mommy brushes me with a "thing" called the Furminator®. It looks really funny and when she uses it there is a huge ball of hair. You would think I have no hair left but I am still very handsome, actually more handsome but don't tell her!
• There is a little trick that can be used if you and other cats have knots. Tell your human mommy not to yank your hair. Cornstarch is wonderful.
• Cornstarch makes it easier to remove debris from your hair and helps prevent future knotty problems. You should choose the finest ground cornstarch available.
• Have your human caretaker dust their hands with the cornstarch and then give you an intensive patting session to spread it through your fur as well as on your skin.

  

• The fine powder is safe for you to ingest when you lick yourself clean. Reapply the cornstarch once every three days to keep the fur from knotting during regular activity.

Tail Twitching Restlessness Earns flicking back and forth A sharp meow, low growl or may a hiss Turning head toward your hand I might even put my teeth on you lightly to tell you to stop.

There are a few different types of cat aggression.  Does your kitty have any of them? Does your cat bite?

I am a very handsome kitty but sometimes I have to admit, I might bite you! It doesn't happen very often but this is my disclaimer.

I sometimes will bite my mommy or daddy. So, what kind of kitty aggression do I have?

Being that my mommy is a pet sitter she sees lots of kitties and sometimes she says out of the blue when she is playing with or petting a kitty he or she will bite. I mean the kitty will bite, not my mommy!

So, maybe by knowing a little about the types of cat aggression this will help you like it does my mom to know more about what us cats are thinking.

Play Aggression

I can't believe I'm telling you this; it's quite embarrassing. But you should know about it... especially if a cat like me graces your home!

A couple of years ago I had a real emergency. I had a urinary blockage. Mucus, crystals and even tiny bladder stones can clump together to form an actual plug in the narrow male cat urethra. Apparently Persian cats, like me, as well as Burmese and Himalayan cats are predisposed to this. Urethral obstruction is a common problem in male cats.

Trust me, this is a real emergency, and can be fatal!

Today, I am a happy cat, though. I had to start eating a special food after that...but besides that, I guess I can’t complain too much.

:::Yawn:::

The most common symptom owners report is their cat straining in the litter box and producing very little urine - or none at all. Cats may also strain to urinate in inappropriate places; like sinks and bathtubs. This is sometimes confused with constipation.

Other signs include, but are not limited to:

• bloody urine
• seems in pain while urinating (cries or howls)
• urinating in strange places
• straining
• vomiting
• not eating
• collapse

Mom saw me going in and out of the litter box and I was meowing more deeply than normal. But then, when I left a little bit of blood on the pillow next to her head, she knew for sure something was really wrong... she called our veterinarian, who told her to bring me in right away.

What happened next was “really gross” - in my mom's words! When we got to the doctor, she she picked me up, and then urine and blood gushed out all over her. I guess she unlocked me.... Ew. Sorry! I love you!

I had to stay in the hospital for several days to make sure my kidneys were going to be okay. It was not a lot of fun being away from home. If you couldn’t tell, I am a very spoiled kitty... and I like it that way; that's my birthright!

I was monitored closely and given antibiotics. I am just happy to be alive and purring like a motorboat... often, problems like that aren't noticed until it's already too late.

:::Phew::: Thanks, Mom!

Here I am hanging out in the sink; however, DON'T think that means I am asking for a bath - absolutely NOT!

So what do you think, do I need a human to give me a bath? After all, I do spend most of my time grooming myself and I am quite the expert. Have you ever felt a cat's tongue? Our tongues are very rough, which are perfect for cleaning our fur and keeping ourselves well groomed... and in my case, very handsome.

OK, so I hate to admit it, but there ARE are times when a bath is necessary. YUCK! Cats with long hair, like me, may require the occasional bath if their fur gets too oily. This can happen based on climate conditions and the individual skin of the cat. There are also occasional times when your cat's fur may get excessively dirty due to some mishap that has happened (and it's always out of the cat's control - NEVER the fault of the cat!). In some of these cases it may be necessary to give your cat a bath. However, I have no idea what this may be because I am an indoor cat and I NEVER get into trouble...  ;-)

Another reason for a bath may be if your cat gets fleas....  ohhhh, I shudder at the thought.... In fact, please, please remind your parents to give you monthly flea protection!

I've had a few baths, and I'm not the worst about it, but here's just a warning - cats generally don't like baths! However, I do like to have my hair brushed, and I don't even mind the hair dryer. Purrrrrrrrr.....

From my wisened point of view, here are a few tips for giving your kitty a bath:

• I always want to escape, so you probably want to give your kitty a bath in a bathroom where you can close the door.
• Two people helping is definitely a good thing!
• Use a cat shampoo, not a human one, as human shampoo is too harsh and will dry the skin out.
• Have the water in the sink so it reaches your cat's belly, not to hot or cold. Just right!
• It's a good idea to have a rubber mat in the sink.
• I hate to hear the water running so be sneaky and keep it quiet.
• After the washing is done, drain the water and just use a cup to rinse, because we kitties all hate to hear that running water and will scratch you like you won't believe.
• Then wrap your kitty up and love him/her!

Good luck with the hair dryer; most cats probably won't like that! My parents started using one on me when I was just an itsy bitsy baby, so I am used to that.... but that running water, no way!