 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.  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.  June is all about National Adopt A Cat Month!
Perhaps you have one or two already or one recently passed away. Have you been considering adopting a new cat? If so, this month is the right time to do it. The warm months bring on more kittens and this happens to be the busiest time for new kittens which makes the shelters busier than usual. Get ready for a new kitty to keep you busy! If you’re not ready, you can still help out. Adding a New Cat to Your Home-
How else you can help if you can’t or don’t want to adopt a new cat-
 May is all about understanding Pet Cancer Awareness Month!
Having lost 3 cats of my own to cancer and having many customers who also lose their cats to this terrible disease, this month is super important. From prevention to early detection, understanding cancer in animals can give us more time with our furry friends. As with humans, there is no magic bullet to prevent cancer but there are many lifestyle recommendations to help lessen the odds or give a better than usual prognosis if cancer is caught early. Diet & Exercise- Healthy food and maintaining a good weight can be super important for your cat. Keeping playtime a priority for you and your cat will help relieve stress and back to the first, help with weight issues. Have fun toys ready for your cat and with many varieties out there, your cat is sure to have a favorite and happy to play with each day. Annual Veterinarian Visit- We should be seeing our doctor each year for basic wellness exams and vaccines. So should your cat! They can’t speak so having that strong relationship with your vet’s office and having the annual or bi-annual ( depending on age and health issues) can be the key to early detection. Having the basic vaccines each year or other testing done is what you need to be ready to do as an advocate for your kitty. Spay/ Neuter- Yes, this really can prevent some cancers! With female cats, mammary cancer can be reduced if spaying is done before their first heat cycle around 6 months. Male cats should also be neutered around the same age. There are other benefits but this is super important! Knowing your cat- At the cat spa, I love to pick up and hold the cats and have sometimes found a lump or bump that is concerning to me. Immediately notifying the owner has been vital with a few cats and I’m so glad that I was able to help with early detection. Simply petting your cat and knowing its body can alert you if something were to happen and getting to your vet immediately. Watching for signs of illness also can be a sign of pet cancer such as hiding, loss of appetite, weight loss, breathing issues, lethargy are just a few symptoms. Cats are master of hiding pain and you usually don’t know they’re in pain until it’s too late. The most common feline cancers are mammary cancer, lymphoma, fibrosarcomas of the skin, and squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. Having lost one to mammary cancer and one to mouth cancer, I really regret not being more aware of early detection and basic lifestyle changes. Pet Cancer Awareness is very simple and we should be aware each and every month but let’s share our information this month and help out our fellow cat owners. |
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
January 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed