CATEGORIES

Animal House

Ensure your space is safe for furry roommates with these smart tips for pet-proofing your home.

NO cone No shame just use your noodle

Here is a tip that could save you the “cone-charge” from your vet bill. These cones were obviously designed for long-nosed dogs!

Goodbye 2020 Hello 2021!

A writing “round robin” by Cat Talk staffers Teresa Keiger, Jean Aldrich, Lucy Drury, and Iris Zinck

What You Don't Know About...Bombays Meet the “Parlor Panthers”

Editor’s Notes: A HUGE shout out to the Bombay family of breeders and pet owners without whom there would have been no article! Jeri Zottoli, breed council secretary, provided so much invaluable information and opened doors so I could get wonderful pictures and stories about the Bombay cat. Thank you as well to those who provided information through e-interviews: Cheryl Boyer, Deborah Curtis, Ellyn Honey, Phebe Low, Anne Mathis, Wendy Heidt and Rhona Wene.

My Special Cat

Most of us have had that special cat—a heart cat with whom we had a deep connection. It may have been the cat we had as a child, or the one that saw us through a troubled time, or one with whom we bonded as we exhibited at cat shows. Whether the cat found us or we sought it out, those connections cannot be denied. These are the stories of some of those special cats and what they mean or meant to us.

FUR NAMES

Names. Oh, what an important choice in the life of cat! It is how a cat will be known in the show rings and in daily life.

Watering Made Easy

Keep houseplants satisfied with systems that do the work for you.

Voice of the Northwest

A haunting call and fancy feathers make this thrush stand out.

Seasonal Snacking

Watch birds change their eating habits as colder weather rolls in.

Houseplant Rescue

Help is here! The Birds & Blooms garden pro offers solutions to the most common indoor plant problems.

Bonding Through Birds

Kindness spreads through this Kentucky nursing facility, but it starts with feathered friends at a window.

Junco family tree

Meet the many variations of this beloved snowbird and popular wintertime visitor.

Colic Surgery: Yes or No?

Is your horse a candidate for colic surgery? These five factors can help you decide.

Lessons with Longears

These miniature donkeys are helping teach big lessons.

Forever Home

A Facebook post led to a midnight rescue and an unexpected partnership.

Bounce Back After a BOTCH

Do you ever blow a class at a horse show? We all do. Here’s how to bounce back better than before.

DESTINATION DUBOIS

HEAD TO WYOMING TO EXPLORE A HIDDEN GEM SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAIN RANGES AND WILDERNESS AREAS.

A Gift Horse Named GEORGE

When April Freeland found herself horseless, she learned the importance of never looking a gift horse in the mouth when a horse named George came into her life.

'Studdy' BEHAVIOR IN GELDINGS

Why do some geldings act like stallions? Such behavior can cause trouble in the barn or out in pasture. Learn what to watch for and tips for safely managing a “studdy” gelding.

PROGRESS AND STRUGGLE IN SENIOR HORSE CARE

A study from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University confirms what many dedicated horse owners have long known: Caring for a geriatric horse with a chronic health condition can be a significant physical and emotional burden.

THREE WAYS TO PREVENT BLANKET INJURIES

Of all the things your horse could injure himself with, his blanket seems an unlikely candidate. But don’t rule it out. Blanket mishaps do happen and they can be serious. Here are three things you can do to avoid them:

PUT AN END TO BARN DRAMA

While it’s impossible to prevent all discord at the barn, conflict resolution techniques can help solve problems, restore calm and enable everyone to enjoy their horses.

The turning point

You don’t always get the horse you want, but sometimes you get the one you need.

A FOREVER HOME

How a Facebook post led to a midnight rescue and an unexpected partnership

Nice work if you can get it

A career focused on horses is not for the faint of heart but the rewards are many and can last a lifetime.

MAKE WINTER EASIER FOR YOUR OLD HORSE

The season ahead may be hard on aging horses in cold climates but with some planning and preparation you can help yours sail through until spring.

7 THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TETANUS

With modern vaccines and wound management practices, tetanus is almost a thing of the past. But the threat persists, so it’s wise to remember which horses are most at risk and why.

It's In the Touch

Cats and Holistic Chiropractic Intervention

My First Cat

First Cats. We all have that special very first cat—the one that we had as a child, or perhaps the first one when we had a home of our own. Maybe one found us, and we hadn’t realized that we needed a cat until then. Or perhaps this special cat was a first rescue, first pedigreed cat or first show cat. These are the stories of some of those special cats.

FUR NAMES

Names. Oh, what an important choice in the life of cat! It is how a cat will be known in the show rings and in daily life. A name can alternate between words of delight or new forms of cursing. Each name tells a story and this is the story of GP, NW Maryk's First Contact of Katsmith.