CATEGORIES

UP CLOSE AND Purr-sonal

If there is one person, or even just a name, that anyone in CFA (Cat Fancier Association) knows, it would have to be Allene Tartaglia. It might be from her involvement with most aspects of the operations of CFA in her position of executive director. Or perhaps from her deep involvement with both the CFA Annual meeting and/or the International Show. Cat Talk thought it was time to learn more about one of the most key people in CFA.

Vision and Hearing Dysfunctions in Senior Cats

Just as people are challenged by having deficiencies with vision and hearing over time, so are senior cats. In senior cats, pet owners may notice their cats are no longer responding to them in the same way; however, it may be difficult to figure out.

Alternative Arthritis Treatments for Cats

Just like humans, cats can experience arthritis. About 90% of cats over the age of 10 years experience osteoarthritis (OA) in at least one joint.1 It is a complex condition involving inflammation and degeneration of one or more joints and is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Cats with OA experience pain and inflammation in various joints that interfere with daily activities.

Senior Cats and House Soiling

Why is my cat no longer using its litter box? Cat soiling in the house is one of the most talked about issues for pet owners.

Fluffy's Sixteen and STILL Plays Like a Kitten!

Enrichment for Senior Cats

Nutrition for Our Senior Cats

From the time they are born, our kittens receive a tremendous amount of care, with diet being at the core of their growth and development.

Life With Patrick

Patrick and Mount Doom

The Cat Fancy Alphabet

\"The Cat Fancy Alphabet\" is a new feature in Cat Talk. It highlights various terms and aspects of the cat fancy, educating fanciers new and old about our hobby.

Feline Photographers Part 1

\"Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.\" - Lillian Jackson Braun

Pecking Order - Language is said to make us human. What if birds talk, too?

On a drizzly day in Grünau im Almtal, Austria, a gaggle of greylag geese shared a peaceful moment on a grassy field near a stream. One goose, named Edes, was preening quietly; others were resting with their beaks pointed tailward, nestled into their feathers. Then a camouflaged speaker that scientists had placed nearby started to play. First came a recorded honk from an unpartnered male goose named Joshua. Edes went on with his preening. Next came a honk that was lower in pitch than the first, with a slight bray. Edes looked up.

Deck the Stalls

These ornaments (or horse treats) are fa-la-la-la-fabulous!

All About Donkeys

These loveable longears” are a little different than horses, but their bonds with humans and other equines are second to none!

My 100-Mile Ride

A small rider goes on a big journey.

Cold Weather CaRe

Follow these Pony Club tips to ride and enjoy your horse all winter long.

HELP! MY FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE HORSES

If your family isn’t into your hobby, here are some tips for how to cope.

PROTECTOR OF THE NAVAJO

A horseback quest to locate a mountain lion ties a boy to his cultural and ancestral roots.

TRICK TRAINING

Make the most of the off season while building a relationship with your horse.

TRACK ATTACK

Learn two ways to ride a bending line of jumps or poles with confidence.

ORLOV TROTTER

Although rare, this Russian breed showcases true talent in harness as well as under saddle.

TRAIN THE PATTERN

Train a solid pattern on your barrel racing horse with tips from a trainer.

A Butterfly Haven - In the Texas Hill Country, a conservationist is helping monarchs adjust to the changing world

Twenty-four years ago, Monika Maeckle bought a small property on the Llano River in Central Texas as an escape from fast-paced San Antonio. A journalist and marketing professional by trade, she didn't at first realize the value of the location on which she and her husband would later build their ranch. She also had no idea how this decision would eventually transform her life.One October evening a few years later, a friend invited Maeckle to their nearby house, which sat on a watershed with several large cypresses. All these butterflies dropped from the sky and started to gravitate toward the trees, she recalls. Stronger people who could swing a big 12-foot-long pole began trying to capture them, and we waited. By the end of the evening, we'd tagged a couple hundred butterflies, and I left there enchanted.

IN GOOD COMPANY

BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?

Sparrow Look-Alikes

Distinct sounds help separate these similar species

ON THE MOVE

Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.

Embracing the Darkness

From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side

Autumn Wonders

Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos

Red-Hot Plants

Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden

YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie

Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard

Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay

Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay

Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't

Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.