April is about Easter Candy but cats are safe. Interesting facts about felines & their fangs!4/1/2026
 With Easter and springtime arriving this month in Central New York, April brings sunshine and candy. Yum! Unlike me with my sweets, I know that my sweet Daphne will be on the prowl outside for mice and small rodents which keeps her teeth sparkling white. Having lost my dear Guenivere years ago to dental issues, I do my best to keep Daphne’s teeth clean and healthy. Yearly veterinary check ups are vital but what else can be done? How are cats teeth different from ours and require different care? Let's find out!
Oh baby!- Arriving at 2 weeks, the 26 tiny little baby teeth emerge but for a very short time. At 3 months only, the 30 adult teeth come in and will remain for the cat's entire life. Little helpers- The little top front teeth are excellent for helping cats pick things up! They are also great for cleaning and grooming. Have you ever seen your cat grooming and they do a little bite while their fur is in their mouth? This helps with breaking mats up. Their big fangs are for biting and tearing things open but the back teeth have one job which is chewing and breaking food up into smaller pieces. Fun Fact- When cats bite, they move fast and bite one and release. On the other hand, dogs bite and hold on while tearing their food/ victim. Long in the tooth- The roots in a cat's teeth are twice as long as the actual tooth! Say what?!- Due to the shape of their teeth, cats do not have flat surfaces so no bacteria can build up and cause cavities! The teeth are all pointed which has a huge advantage over us mere mortals. Also, they don’t sit and eat sugary sweets and candy. But wait, bad news?- Just because cats can’t get cavities doesn’t mean they are in the clear from dental visits and issues. Gingivitis, gum disease, endodontic disease and tooth resorption are the main issues that felines can deal with. More bad news?- Unfortunately, cat’s cannot feel dental pain so us owners need to be aware of any changes ( drooling, not eating, hiding) and get the veterinarian involved immediately. Knowing your cat’s regular routine and moods can help catch dental issues early on. Prevention is important- Starting young with dental care with your cat is an excellent way to keep your kitties fang pearly white. Talk to your vet about toothpaste for cats and how to brush their fangs. I’ve seen owners who regularly brush their cats teeth so it is possible! Become a foodie! - My vet recommended dental food for Maddie years ago and it really did help. Dental foods tend to be a round kibble and when the cat bites into it, the kibble breaks open to sweep around the tooth and clean it. The dental foods do work! Now there are treats which help not only teeth but bad breath as well. Any help to keep your kitties teeth clean is a huge advantage. Talk to your vet and check the aisle of a pet store for fancy kibbles. What if…..- What happens if a cat has surgery and needs teeth removed? It happens and I’ve seen it come out with incredible results. Cats who were grumpy and angry became friendly and much more calm. Cats with horrible breath no longer had the dragon’s fire. And cats with no teeth can eat and be just fine. Switching to wet food is smart but remember that many cats don’t chew their food very well and eat it whole. I’ve seen many cats arrive at Rock The Cat Spa and enjoy their meals with no teeth! Being aware of your cat’s dental health is important for a long happy and healthy life. Keep those fangs sparkly white and in excellent condition! Photo- A regular customer here at Rock The Cat Spa, Six loves to hiss and give us a full view of all his teeth several times a day! He is very dramatic but we love him!  With every type of season happening in March here in Syracuse, the cats boarding here at Rock The Cat Spa love to lay by the door or up in the big cat tree looking out at rain drops, snowflakes and birds flying by. They can see the tiniest thing that I have no idea what they are seeing and sometimes, it is creepy to see them staring and tails twitching while I see nothing! How can these little creatures see better than us humans? Let’s find out! On the side- Due to the shape of their eyes, cats have a much better peripheral vision than us humans as we only see 180 degrees but they see 200 degrees. Also, with their eyes a bit more angled out than humans, they have an advantage. They sense it- Cats really utilize their senses. From ears and hearing, smell and sniffing everything to using their big whiskers to feel their way around, cats really use all they’ve got. Not up close and personal- With not the best up close vision, cats tend to have 20/100 to 20/200 vs our 20/20. Over 20 feet and kitties start to see blurry fuzzy things. It explains why they paw at their water bowl and never see the toy or treat set right smack in front of them! Life is a bit dull- I’ve come across a lot of colorblind people in my life and wondered how they enjoy a less than colorful life. Cats can relate as they do see color but just much more muted shades and tones that most of us see as colorful and vibrant. Less cones in their eyes are the reason for the lack of color in their worlds. Up and down, not round- Vertical slit pupils ( elliptical pupils) have extra muscles which help the pupils open and close which give cats better vision. The pupils can go round when very stressed or upset to a thin vertical line out in the sun. It’s kind of neat to watch them in action! Night Vision- Cats love to wander around at night and can do so because their eyes have more rods in their eyes which allow light in. Since they are crepuscular ( meaning they’re more active at dusk/ dawn), cats can see around 7 times better than us humans in low light. While they are gifted in the low vision world, they cannot see in complete darkness. Third Eye, not Blind- Have you seen the little lid that creeps over your cat's eye when they are resting? It’s called palpebra tertia and is a nictating membrane and it's there to protect their eyes. This third eyelid helps add moisture and clear debris away. Since they don’t blink as much as we do, they need extra moisture and tears and this little internal wiper can stay busy. Internal Protective Gear- It’s interesting to be driving at night and suddenly see eyes glowing at you. This is from the animals internal layer behind their retina. Tapetum Lucidem gives the eyes another opportunity to have light bounce off and gives them an advantage in low light. More is better- Eyes all contain photoreceptors which are little rods and cones inside our eyes. Rods help with motion and light but the cones are best during the day and see color. The advantage of less cones in their eyes means they can see better in low light and better motion. I guess it’s a trade off for color blindness! The variety of colors- Colors do not predict mood or behavior but color does tend to associate with breeds. For example; Blue eyes are siamese, green eyes are Siberian and pure bred cats have more vibrant colors vs a domestic breed or mixed breed which has a duller color eye. Non pedigree cats have green, hazel or yellow eyes or a mix of these colors and hues. Take a look at your cat resting in the day vs night time and you’ll understand how they can move much better than we can and their advantages! Photo- One of our regular guests here at Rock The Cat Spa, the distinguished Snickers! He likes to get up close and personal with those baby blues!  February ears all about it this month! Interesting facts about cats ears.
It’s cold and snowy and your typical February here in Syracuse and Central New York. It’s super busy at Rock The Cat Spa with winter break and almost everyone flying to a tropical or much warmer location. It’s always a variety of breeds and ages from young 8 month old kittens to our senior cats but their ears, these little triangles to big Dorito looking ones or even folded ones are amazing listening devices that can also tell us how they're feeling. These fun facts will give you more understanding about ears! On the move, cats ears can move their 32 muscles and rotate 180 degrees! These movements not only help with hearing but will tell us mere mortals what mood they are in. From stay away to just lounging and taking it easy, knowing the basic of ear reading can spare you the danger of a stressed kitty. Flat or back- Consider yourself warned and to stay away! This is the feeling equivalent of the Jaws theme and best bet is to keep back as the cat is angry or scared. Up and front facing- Can you ear me any better? Ears at this angle, up and front, are your cat's way of trying to listen and hear better. Think of it as putting your hand to your ear and cupping it to get a better listen. You’ll see this in spring when the birds are singing! Flexed out and front/side- Just kicking back and relaxing, this is your cat's way of letting their ears just take it easy. This is the safe time to approach and know it’s okay to pet them or leave them alone as they are relaxing! Twitching- There are two reasons but the typical one is just like humans, they're nervous. Another reason could be coupled with scratching their ear, there is something inside irritating their ear and continued twitching should be cause for concern and a vet visit. Just like us humans, cats have 3 parts to their ears- inner, outer and middle. Inner ear- Same as us, balance and hearing is connected to this part of their ear. Outer Ear- This is the rotating part and the emotional map for us to follow. If you notice, the back of the ear is rounded which helps capture sound and go into the ear canal. Their ear canal is deeper than ours which explains them hearing me gently move the treat bag. The problem with a nice deep ear canal though is more wax hence more chance of ear infections. Middle Ear- Just like you and me, cats have eardrums, the little hearing bones and eustachian tubes which help them balance air inside. Do they know to plug their noses and blow? You may see a cat lay down and shake their head and this is them balancing out the air. It’s all in the genes but yes, white cats with blue eyes have genetics which cause deafness. It is usually only one ear affected but almost 100% hearing loss when both parents are fully white. Clean those ears out when you see excessive dark or black wax but don’t go further than you can see. Mites and excessive wax can cause problems and really bother your cat. My sweet Daphne had some extra wax in her ears and had to get a cleaning. Her vet put a liquid in to loosen the wax and within 24 hours, Daphne was shaking her head when pop, out came a big o’l ball of wax! I wonder how good that must’ve felt for her? From reading ear language to understanding the incredible hearing ability, knowing more about your cat’s ears can keep them healthy and listening to all your darkest secrets for years to come! Photo: Elliot is relaxed and happy with ears speaking loud and clear. Isn't he photogenic?  January “nose’ all about noses! Interesting facts about cats' noses.
Welcome to 2026 and this wintry cold weather here in Syracuse. It has been a snowy season thus far but it hasn’t stopped us Central New Yorkers from traveling. The holiday season at Rock The Cat Spa was busy as expected and it’s fun to see kitties greet old friends and reunite. The nose bump and butt sniffing is real and I decided to delve more into why cats do this and found some interesting info about a cat's nose. Uniquely you- “ Nose leather’ as it is called, is an extremely unique part of a cat and similar to a snowflake. No two are like and just as one of a kind as a fingerprint. I dream of ‘noseprinting’ a cat but doubt they would let me! Just as unique, the nostrils help sense wind direction and bring scents in easier. The ‘leather” is officially called rhinarium for interesting fact of the day. It makes sense but the nose is the same as the color of the cat's fur. Sometimes, there are freckles and spots but it usually matches the fur color just perfectly. Er, I mean, purrfectly! The nose leather can change color with age and vary with the breed. That’s a lot of power in there with 200 million, yes million, scent receptors inside their little button noses. Just for comparison, us mere mortals only have around 5 million. No wonder your kitty is always sniffing you once you get home and checking you out. Can you say super duper uber sensitive? It's one reason to be careful with essential oils, candles or strong smells at home. If the odor is bothering you, imagine how your cat must feel. Even scented cat litter can be too much and they will find a new place to go potty so be careful when buying litter. It’s a multi-tasking tool! The cute little nose does more than smell scents as it can sense trouble, food, other cats and animals and they say hello to each other via the bump, aka bumping noses. This wouldn’t work too well with humans so let’s leave it to the kitties. Less flavor, more smell. Since there are millions of scent receptors doing the job up in the nose, it’s a trade off with less taste buds. My dad always used our cats as the official best by sniffer and if the cat put her nose up to the food, he wouldn’t eat it. If the cat ate it or licked it, he said it was good. It’s not how I would test my food but he swore by the cat's nose. Also, just like in humans, when a kitty is sick and stuffy nose, you will see them eating less. If they can’t smell their food, the appetite will disappear. In the mood? When female cats go into heat, a male cat can smell her scent from a mile away. I had a college student tell me that his female cat was in heat and the apartment next door mentioned that the male cat was marking the wall and trying to get to her. This is yet another great reason to spay and neuter your kitties! Truth or not? I was always told that a healthy cat had a wet nose and dry meant ill or sick. It’s not that simple. The nose can adjust to heat and humidity and go from wet to dry several times a day. Sometimes they just lick their nose and they make it wet. They’re born this way and kittens can smell their mom very early on, even before 2 weeks old. The sense of smell assists them with finding mom, siblings and their assigned nipple to nurse at. It always warms my heart when you see a kitten go up and start nudging their way up their mom right where they belong and nurse. It’s sort of an assigned seating pattern! What’s with the face? Yes, you know the face. That funny cat face. You see your cat sniffing something and they’re staying there a bit longer than usual then suddenly, they lift their head and look at you with their mouth fully open! This is called, “ Flehman Response” and it means a lot of things to your cat. From trying to figure out a new smell to seizing up their territory or another cat territory, recognizing a cat, new odors or new food, this response always gets a good laugh. Cats are built with “ Jacobsen’s Organ” at the top of their mouth full of nerves that go right to their brain. There the odor or scent gets analyzed into what exactly they just smelled. Is it food or a new cat or an old cat friend? They figure it out and we get a good laugh. Well, hello there is what I see at Rock The Cat Spa when cats arrive. Nose booping is their way of saying hello and reuniting with each other. When I approach a new cat or one that I haven’t seen in a while, I offer my index finger bent and let them slowly smell and recognize me. I can usually see the, “ oh, its you!” look on their face and then the tail goes up in a friendly gesture. Sometimes, the nose bump also is a request for their treat or lunch time. Your cat’s nose is a little leatherman in many ways so understanding that is very multi purpose and faceted can help you better understand some reasons cats do what they do! Photo: Banjo saying hi and nose bumping me one morning! That pink nose!  December is all about National Cat Lover’s Month!
It’s the end of 2025 and we can’t believe how it just flew by! The cat spa was full of cats this year and we had so much fun! Taking care of kitties while the owners are busy or away is what we’re about but making the cats at home and relaxed is the most important part of the business. 2025 was the 6th year of business and we are very proud to have achieved this. We’re all about celebrating cats and with December being National Cat Lover’s Month it’s a great way to end the year. Seeing all the breeds, colors, and personalities shows us how unique each and every cat is and I always tell customers that cats are as unique as humans. Our feline friends have as many quirks and hang ups, finicky eating, bathroom routines, introverts vs extroverts to name a few traits. The more time we spend with these lovely creatures, the more we love them and really enjoy what this business is all about. For over 10,000 years, cats have brought happiness to people and have grown into being an integral part of family life. With cats being as unique as humans, the relationship we have with our felines will continue to evolve and grow. Have a wonderful end to 2025 and a very Happy New Year in 2026! Rock The Cat Spa will continue to be here to love your kitty as much as you do while you are away from home.  November is all about Pet Diabetes Month!
It’s the upcoming holiday this month where we can wear sweat pants and eat until we can’t walk and then lay on the couch all day with no judgement. Unfortunately, cats should not be allowed to eat this much and as with humans, being overweight can affect overall health. I’ll discuss cat diabetes and symptoms and how to cope with it. Nearly 1% of all cats will develop diabetes mellitus during their lifetime and as with humans, this is similar to Type 2 diabetes. Overweight cats commonly develop it yet some breeds are more prone such as the Norwegian Forest cat and lovely Burmese as are senior cats and male cats. Symptoms- The most noticeable symptom is excessive water drinking ( you will notice a huge difference as its much more than usual) accompanied by litter box visits of frequent urination. Typically, diabetic cats can flood the litter box and you may need to change the entire litter daily as there is so much urine. Noticeable weight loss yet a very strong appetite is another symptom to be aware of along with lethargic behavior and the coat will look unkempt. ** I had a couple clients tell me that their cats were seen pulling a back leg inwards while walking and their vet said that this was a symptom. Please ask your vet for confirmation as I have not heard of this with the research done.** Diagnosis- Having a physical done by your vet with blood work and urine test can confirm diabetes. The sooner the diagnosis, the better the outcome. Treatment- As with humans, if the cat is pre-diabetic, a weight loss program and even some exercise can do wonders. Playtime and activity can really work wonders and help drop some pounds. Changing their diet to a low carb plan will help and your veterinarian can advise you on the best food brands to try for wet and dry foods.
Having a diabetic cat can be a change to both you and your cat’s lifestyle. Monitoring your cats weight can be a real game and life changer. Keeping your kitty in a healthy weight range is something your cat will thank you for.  October is all about National Animal Safety and Protection Month!
The leaves are changing and there is a slight chill in the air which means my sweet Daphne starts to go outside less and less. The daylight is shorter so her hunting times are diminishing but I am secretly happy as she won’t be outside as much. I always worry about her being outside but since she was a stray, that “ switch” has been turned on and almost impossible to turn off. Knowing her schedule, where her “kingdom’ is and where she prowls around to and notifying the neighbors about her presence is part of ensuring her safety. Some other ways to keep your pet safe and protected are: Having your pet chipped- Just in case they go missing and remember to update your address if you move! Any vet can wand and contact you but your information needs to be correct. Knowing your neighborhood- If you live in a city, be cognizant of busy roads and cars. In a rural area, wild animals could be a predator. Be able to recognize abuse- If you think another animal or pet is being abused, knowing signs and telling authorities can save the animals life and prevent further abuse. Be careful with chemicals- Using pesticides or herbicides with animals outside can certainly harm them in obvious ways. We all need to be aware of our pets' safety and work together to enjoy them and give them long and happy lives. My neighbors are great at watching out for Daphne and keeping an eye on her. I also watch for the other animals around the area and even the pets that live around the cat spa! Stray animals, feral or abandoned, need care too so contact authorities or charities in your area to help keep them safe and protected.  September is all about Animal Pain Awareness Month!
My sweet Daphne Louise was under the weather recently and I quickly noticed some changes with her. My vet was able to see her promptly and we began to figure out the issue and how to address it. As my veterinarian says all the time,” Pets can’t talk so we have to watch for clues and signs as to what is wrong.” Oh how I wish sometimes that Daphne would just open up and talk to me when she is not feeling well so I can find a remedy immediately for any discomfort. Unfortunately, that is not possible but what is obvious is to understand the changes that pets give us with body language, behavior and expressions. Some of these clues that pets give when they are sick or in discomfort are: Hiding- Being under the bed, hiding their face, standing behind a curtain, snuggling into a closed bed or closet to sleep. No or reduced appetite- Loss of weight or not eating as much and definitely ignoring treats. Lack of Grooming- Cats are always proud of their coats so suddenly not bathing or less bathing can be a strong sign of illness. Not wanting to be held- If you love to cuddle and hug your cat and now it howls or doesn’t want you to pick them up can be a sign of an issue. Grouchy or Angry Behavior- Sudden changes such as growling, slapping, swatting, hissing or being aggressive towards you when this was never a problem is a definite sign. Squinting or Closing their Eyes- Not opening their eyes all the way can be a sure symptom of discomfort. Loud Meowing or Howling- If your cat is being loud or crying out, pain must be hitting hard as cats tend to have a higher tolerance of pain. This is a sure symptom to see a vet asap. ANY changes that happen relatively quickly which is out of the norm for your kitty is something to keep watch on and report to your veterinarian so they can better diagnosis and help quickly. Your vet is there to help prevent and alleviate pain while getting your pet back to their happy healthy selves.  August is all about National Immunization Awareness Month!
It’s a hot summer and this is a hot topic so I am going to dive right in about pet vaccines. Vaccines save lives and are one of the best inventions for humans and animals and your veterinarian would agree. This is the most important yet basic medical care for your cat and an annual vet visit can help with your cat’s overall health and help them live their best lives, all 9 of them! All cats staying here at Rock The Cat Spa MUST BE UP TO DATE with the most basic immunizations and there are no exceptions. Not only is this important for your cat staying but for the other cats as well. The basic course that is required is the FVRCP panel which consists of the following vaccines- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis- FVR- Prevents Upper Respiratory Infections, Feline Herpesvirus Feline Calicivirus- FCV- Prevents Oral Disease and Upper Respiratory Infections Feline Panleukopenia- FPV- Prevents virus that attacks intestines, lymph nodes, bone marrow Rabies- Prevents deadly Rabies virus Feline Leukemia- FeLV- Prevents this feline only virus and cats should receive one dose in its first year. Fun Fact: Cornell University, right here in upstate NY, has been a leader in feline health and research. Having your cat immunized as a kitten and throughout the course of its life can help extend its life which is what we all want, a happy healthy kitty. Talking to your veterinarian about the timing of the vaccines is important to help your cat fully immunized and protected. Your vet may discuss testing or vaccines not mentioned here due to age, health or shelter conditions so open communication is vital for your cats well being and basic care.  July is all about National Pet Hydration Awareness Month!
With the heat this summer and a couple more months of heat to go, proper hydration is vital to your cat's well being and survival. Since this month is National Pet Hydration Month, I’ll give you some tips for keeping your kitty hydrated and healthy. Fountains- There are some cats that stay with us at Rock The Cat Spa and just drink and drink all day long! While the average cat drinks around 1 cup of water a day, some kitties are more thirsty and consume much more than that. There are a number of fountains available and I set them around if need be. Some cats like to splash in them while others lap up the water right from the “spigot’. A fountain is a great and inexpensive way for your cat to get access to fresh water but a friend of mine had just a regular little counter fountain for decor and her cat used that. Hey, it works! Cleaning the fountain and changing any filters is very important! Wet Food- There are a couple kitties here who need to have water added to their wet food for extra hydration. Wet food already is an excellent source of a little bit more water but adding a tad bit more water to almost a gravy texture is a boost for some. Try it and your kitty may like it. Sink Faucet- Some customers discuss their cat at home sitting by the faucet and waiting for a slow stream of water to drink by. My lovely Maddie used to do this in the bathtub! She would prefer a steady drip and wait for it to drip on her shoulder and lick off. Other cats also have reported to lick the shower curtains or glass doors for a little extra drink. Ick, The Toilet- My least favorite yet it happens ALL the time at the cat spa is the toilet! Yes, there are a few toilet divers who seem to only drink from there. Meanwhile there is a nice crystal bowl with fresh water in it waiting for them. I always ask, why?! But if it gets them to drink, it's a good thing! Always freshen your cat's water each day! Bacteria can easily build up from their mouths and food particles. It doesn’t take long so if you see the water is looking dirty, a fresh bowl is important. Tap water is good but filtered water is best as some kitties may not like the tap water. Keeping it cool but not cold is also important, especially in hot temperatures. Just like us humans, cats need water for their health and well being. This is especially important as cats age as some health conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease can affect senior cats. Keeping their kidneys flushed out and functioning is just one benefit of fresh water. Have an extra bowl of water out in another place away from the primary source to keep your kitty drinking. Tip: Having the food and water far apart is something new that I recently learned about! In nature, cats prefer to keep these separate in order to prevent contamination and from other animals. Whisker fatigue is real so a wide open bowl is very important also. Having a happy kitty can be as easy as these simple changes can help your kitty drink more water and stay hydrated and healthy. |
AuthorWhen Cari has some free time from all the kitties, she likes to share her knowledge of all things cat in this monthly blog. Archives
April 2026
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