Beth Adelman
Latest Articles
When a cat is peed off
My cat is peeing outside the litter box to … a) get back at me; b) act out; or c) because he hates my boyfriend. I hear these “urine as...
No-scratch for you!
A reader recently told me that she’s been saving up for a new leather couch. She’s afraid, though, that it’ll turn into the world’s most expensive scratching post for her...
Kitty comfort and joy
This month I adopted a new cat, Tikal. He came to me because I volunteer as a cat-behavior expert for the group Pets for Life, which works to keep cats...
New knicknack kitty
Cannoli is now a very active 14-month-old cat. He has an open basket full of toys from which he can always choose what he wants to play with. When I’m...
Companion cat care
If I were in charge, everyone who wants to have a cat would have to first take a cat owner test. It would include a few broad categories such as...
DIY cat toy stories
You don’t have to know how to sew or knit or even glue to make your own cat toys. But you do need the ability to tie knots, use a...
Cat and house blame
Allergies are one of the major reasons people give up their cats. But many owners develop symptoms and just assume kitty’s the cause without properly investigating the true culprit. Only...
Let’s play scratch!
Last column, I promised to address your cat’s scratching situation by assessing what type of post to get him. For starters, observe and take a look around to see what...
You’ve got no claws for alarm
Cats’ claws are sharp and can do a lot of damage to you and your furniture. But ridding them of their claws is not the answer to inappropriate scratching. You...
Purr-fect times for cuddling
The other night, my husband and I were sitting on the couch watching television, and Cannoli climbed into my lap, put his head on my chest and fell asleep. I...
Fear not scaredy cat
Animal shelters start to fill up with kittens and young cats in the spring, which means it’s a great time to adopt. Some shelter kitties, however, are real scaredy cats...
No ruff play for cats
Dog owners are accustomed to taunting their pawed pals with wrestle-like play. Cats, however, are different. There are a lot of fun games you can play with kitty, but wrestling...
Outside cat safety
It’s finally spring, so you may be thinking about letting kitty out to roam. Please think twice, then three times — and then don’t do it. Now, I’m not against...
The Cat Lady: Paws for a water refresher
Is your cat a water baby? You know, a cat that sits on the counter next to the bathroom sink or under the faucet in the tub, waiting for you...
Lovin' kitty's kisses
Neither Mei Mei nor Cannoli sleeps with me all night, but they both manage to wake me up at least once for kisses and cuddles. I love how at some...
Got a feline for history
I’ve been spending some time on the Internet recently, looking for unusual facts about cats. Believe it or not, this is what cat ladies (and cat guys) do for fun....
All you breed is love
The holidays are typically a time when we show our loved ones how much we cherish them. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, about 42 percent of Americans...
Celebrate safety
The holiday season is officially upon us, which means it’s time for a yearly reminder to keep your cat extra safe. To start, here are some common holiday items that...
Feline risk for swine
This month, a cat in Iowa and another in Utah were diagnosed with H1N1 flu virus, also known as the swine flu. In both cases, the cat contracted the flu...
Cannoli's cat snip
Cannoli recently had his testicles removed — and he’s a better man for it. He’s a better man because now he’s not going to feel a crazy, hormone-driven urge to...