Cattitude - The #1 Cat Podcast About Cats As Pets- Pet Life Radio Original (PetLifeRadio.com)

Cattitude is one of our longest running shows on Pet Life Radio. No surprise with over 47 millions households home to over 90 million cats (and that is just in the US!). Cattitude has fans all over the world. That said, I am thrilled to be the new show host for Cattitude! We'll explore the world of cats, from rescue to adventure, from the hilarious to the weird, it's all about Cats!

We are know how self-sufficient our feline friends are. But, a continuing movement to minimize the use of vaccines has started to meet the reservoir of infectious diseases. Outbreaks of feline distemper are being reported and news articles detailing household cats developing rabies are now more commonplace. What can we do to protect our cats? In the next several episodes, we will look at wellness care for cats and breakdown the importance, as well as the risks, of different vaccines and other preventive type of items. This episode focuses on rabies-- why is it so deadly, where does it come from and how can we keep our cats safe!

Whether or not a pet owner should be permitted to have their cats declawed is an on-going controversy. Passionate people from both sides of the debate quote stats and studies as if they have the one true answer. But, what is declawing, really? What happens when you remove the claws from your cat and can it cause behavioral or even medical issues? Join us on the Cattitude channel as we look at this debate from an objective viewpoint. Learn why opponents of declawing are so passionate about saving cats from this surgery and learn why others think that the surgery can be justified. Also in this show, learn about 2 very special cats that are not only helping push the medical science boundaries, but also helping many people as well.

All across the nation, news stories about pets make us laugh, make us cry and sometimes make us mad. This episode of the Cattitude Channel focuses in on several of these stories and how they related to our cats. First, learn about a family in Washington whose 15 year old cat was euthanized at the local shelter just a few days after wandering away from home. Was it a needless death or is there more to this story? Next, a judge in Los Angeles has prohibited city shelters from funding or promoting local Trap-Neuter-Return programs. Was this a good decision or not? We also delve into a story on how more rabies cases are being found across the US and whether or not this can affect your cat. Finally, in two controversial stories, we tackle a discussion on the decision of West Hollywood, CA to ban the sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores and we find out that your donations to the Humane Society of the United States might not be going where you want them to go....

They hide in alleyways, dumpsters and abandoned buildings. They shy away from any human contact, yet thousands of dedicated volunteers are trying to save millions of feral cats each year. What makes these cats so special? And, what controversies surround the programs designed to help control their populations? The recent news that a cat tested positive for H1N1 has shook the pet world. But, should you be overly concerned? Find out from the Veterinary News Network how you can keep your pets safe if you end up being sick!

Imagine yourself on a Viking ship, daring the violent seas and exploring new lands! Do you know who is right there beside you? Your loyal and faithful cat!! Yes-- believe it or not, the Norwegian Forest Cat likely traveled with these amazing seafarers and reached the North American shores more than 1000 years ago! And, from another equally frigid area of the world, Russia, comes one of the newest breeds to grace the cat world-- the Siberian. These forest cats are well known for their athletic ability and there family oriented nature.

It’s easy to see why many of our animal friends became domesticated-- dogs guard our stuff, horses help us haul things, and cattle give us nourishment. But how about our feline friends? What endearing quality brought them into our homes? This week, we discuss the evolution of the housecat along with new archaeological and genetic evidence that pushes back the domestication of our cats. Learn how the "oriental" cats split off from the other breeds and where exactly the first domestication occurred. Also, from the Veterinary News Network we learn that almost half a million pets die in house fires every year. What can you do to keep your pets safe and secure, even when you aren’t at home?

From chance breedings to controversial pedigrees, our next two cat breeds are recent additions to the feline purebred world. As one of the few spotted cat breeds in existence, the Ocicat took the show world by storm with it’s “wild” looks but playful temperament. Hard to believe this attractive breed was developed from a chance breeding of Abyssinians and Siamese! The Singapura cat is named for its supposed hometown of Singapore, but some purebred enthusiasts think it should be named the Texan or Houston Cat. The controversy surrounding this breed of cat has continued to this very day, despite an attempt by the Cat Fancier’s Association to put the debate to rest. One of the smallest cat breeds, the Singapura also is one of the least genetically diverse. Finally, join us as we discuss ways to help make sure your cat doesn’t decide to “shun” his litterbox!

Have you ever imagined a Siamese cat with red points instead of the deep browns and blues? How would those gorgeous blue eyes look framed by tabby markings instead of chocolate points? Well, you don’t have to imagine it -- you can see it when you get a glimpse of the Siamese descendant breeds of Oriental cats, Colorpoint Shorthairs, Balinese and Javanese. All of these breeds were strongly influenced by the Siamese. In fact, some breeders claim that if you couldn’t see the cat, you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a Siamese!! Have you ever wondered how veterinarians perform blood transfusions on pets? Are there blood banks for animals? Does your cat need a kitty blood drive? Direct from the offices of the Veterinary News Network we bring you all the information you need about Animal Blood Banks and feline blood types!

Often considered to be the most elegant of all cats, these two Turkish breeds have been known from antiquity. Remarkably , these two similar breeds are two distinct naturally occurring cats. Originally found throughout Turkey, the Turkish Angora almost went extinct in the late 19th century due to excessive breeding with Persians. Only the efforts of the Turkish government and the Ankara Zoo kept this fascinating breed from disappearing altogether. Also, from the offices of the Veterinary News Network, learn how microchipping your cat could save his life!

The development of a purebred breed of cat can be a spontaneous affair, like the discovery of long-haired kittens from a short-haired mother, or it can be a dedication to developing a particular look and type of cat. The Burmese, Bombay and Tonkinese breeds are all closely related and their proponents have spent years of diligent breeding to perfect the ideal specimen. Imagine the surprise of some breeders when they found out that the "mother of all Burmese cats" was really a Tonkinese!! All three of these breeds exhibit a fondness for the family, a quiet voice, and well developed sense of tolerance of other animals. From their quiet beginnings in Southeast Asia to the breeders who champion these cats, come learn how these breeds have won the hearts of cat lovers! Finally, from the Veterinary News Network, some tips for insuring that your cat will be taken care of in the event of your death.

Amazingly, these next three breeds have much in common but come from vastly different environments. The Russian Blue, the Korat, and the Chartreux are three very unique and almost unknown breeds that bear a striking resemblance to each other. These naturally occurring breeds have had little interference from breeders desiring to change their looks or qualities and look almost identical to drawings of the breed from 500 years ago. Few outcrosses are found in any of these breeds. Come learn how these rare cats are winning the hearts of cat lovers! And, from the Veterinary News Network, learn how to keep your feline friends out of trouble during the holiday season. The winter holidays are fun and festive, but all it takes is a forgotten turkey bone or stray piece of tinsel to turn the merriment into a trip to the animal ER!!

Straight from the folklore of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Scottish Fold breed has captivated cat lovers since the discovery of a "flop-eared" cat in 1961 by a Scottish Farmer. Scottish Folds have a quaint appearance that many people describe as "owl-like" or even reminiscent of a teddy bear. The American Curl is a brand new breed of US origin. Unlike the Scottish Fold whose ears fold down, the American Curl has ears that bend backwards. Kittens of both breeds are born with straight ears, with the fold or curl appearing within the first few weeks after birth. And, from the desks of the Veterinary News Network - is your cat one of the 60 million cats in this country that are overweight or obese? Learn how you can help your cat slim down and quite possibly add another 2 years to his or her life.

You would think that between the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Selkirk Rex that cat lovers would have enough hair coat mutations to last them a lifetime-but, here come three more breeds that rely on their unique looks to capture fans! The American Wirehair is one of only four cat breeds created here in the US. Featuring a hard, springy and, yes, wiry coat is their hallmark. Likewise, the LaPerm shows off their wavy coat, reminiscent of the Rex cats. Finally, we round out our tour of these follicular oddities by discussing the Sphynx. These hairless cats are renown the world over for their one of a kind appearance. And, from the Veterinary News Network, have you thought of rabies lately? You probably haven’t, but this killer disease strikes down more than 55,000 people in the world every year. That’s a death every 10 minutes! Learn how you can help eradicate this ancient killer and support the upcoming World Rabies Day!

These cats may not be the king of cats, but people often stop to see what all the fuss is about! The Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex and the Selkirk Rex are three recent additions to the world of purebred cats and all share a unique trait of curly hair. But, believe it or not, each of these breeds was developed independently and each of them has their own gene governing the curl in their hair! They have been called the "pixies of the cat world", "cats from outer space", and some have even wondered if there is some monkey in their ancestry. All of the Rex type of cats are a welcome change of pace from the procession of stately long-haired cats or the abundance of short haired cats we see every day. Come learn how these cats came about and what might make them a welcome addition to your home!