Cats are glorious creatures—motion optimized, aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance, warm, fuzzy, furry, cute, and they purr. Could you ask for a more perfect pet? As feline-favoring veterinarians, cats have only one major design flaw—they were designed with a poorly functioning elimination system. Specifically, their kidneys are weak, they don't drink enough water, and the cat's urinary tract frequently suffers from disease. The kidney issue is a discussion for another day.

Keeping your feline friend healthy means keeping them up-to-date on their vaccinations. Today's vaccines are safe and effective at safeguarding companion animals against a wide range of illnesses. Side effects and complications are rare, and pets are much more likely to get sick if they don't receive the proper vaccines.

As veterinarians, we would like to help you better understand the core and non-core vaccines and which ones your cat needs. Read on to find the answers you need!

Every year in June, American Humane celebrates Adopt-A-Cat Month. You may not be able to buy love, but you can certainly adopt it during this month-long event! If you have been thinking about adding a new cat to your family, right now is a purr-fect time. Whether they will be your first cat or the latest in a long line of feline family members, adopting from a shelter or rescue organization (instead of buying from a breeder) offers numerous benefits.

A recent survey of 1,000 people found that 45% of them named moving as the number one most stressful life event. It’s undoubtedly one of the most disruptive life changes, affecting every member of the family—including pets. Cats are especially averse to change, meaning they’ll feel extra stress and possibly create complications when moving day arrives.

It’s not always easy to tell when a cat is ill or injured. You might think that you’d be able to tell right away if your feline friend were in pain. Unfortunately, even the most attentive and loving pet parents often don’t know there is a problem until it becomes quite severe.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, roughly 60 percent of cats in the United States are overweight or obese. And while your feline friend looks pretty adorable with some chub, the health issues your chunky cat could suffer from due to their weight are far from cute.

So, you’ve taken on a litter of orphan kittens—now what? Hand-raising kittens can be a fun if not very-involved learning experience but can also quickly go sour without a few pointers. It is imperative to remember that while the idea of raising these cute, little furballs can be exciting, you are still now responsible for the health, well-being, and growth development of another living being. This article is here to help ensure this whole kitten care experience goes smoothly and without incident.

Heartworm disease is a serious illness that causes heart failure and lung damage in animals. It also damages other organs and, eventually, leads to death. While most common in dogs, this disease can also affect cats, so protecting your feline friend is crucial.