Cats are known as calm, cool customers… most of the time. Did you know, however, that beneath that calm exterior, they’re surprisingly sensitive creatures. So much so, even subtle changes to their environments or routines can leave them feeling stressed out.

If you own a cat, you may have noticed they seem to key into your mood – especially when something is wrong, or you are upset.

Ironically known for their independence, cats are incredibly in tune with their people. Your mood, energy, and even subtle changes in behaviour can have an impact on how your cat feels. Additionally, your cat’s behaviour can have a positive effect on you!

I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across a post from a friend of mine who had just purchased a house not too far from where I lived. There was a picture of a poor little cat looking up at him, and the story was heartbreaking. She had been left behind.

Cats may seem like their behaviour is totally random - one minute you're petting them, then next they are doing back flips or biting your hand. Why do they go from calm and affectionate to totally crazy so quickly? Is the biting really "out of nowhere?"

Gary and Morris were still watching the storm, but now the back deck lights were on, and they could only see so far. Suddenly, in the distance, a dark shadow moved through the light from the back deck.

The two cats immediately stood up.

“What was that?” asked Gary.

April showers bring May flowers - or so we've heard. Springtime is right around the corner and with it comes an excitement for the warmer days to come, and all the beautiful flowers basking in the sun.

One of the more popular flower choices, lilies, might be a wonder to behold, but for our feline friends, they can be fatal.

What’s the deal with cats seemingly freaking out and running around at night? Do they see things we can’t? Is this normal? The good news is, yes, it is normal. While not all cats feel the sudden onset of energy when things get dark, there are many that do. Welcome to the world of midnight zoomies.

Cats love to be cooped up in anything that they can climb into or wrap around themselves. To us, it might seem silly, or childish – let’s not forget kids love to play in cardboard boxes – but to a cat, it’s satisfying a number of their instincts. Climbing into a box or a bag isn’t just about curiosity; it’s frequently about comfort, safety, entertainment, and sometimes play!

If you've ever called your cat by their name only to be met with a slow blink and complete indifference, you're not alone. Cat owners are all intimately familiar with this response, and in many ways, it's what we respect about felines. They bow to no one.

Cats are creatures of habit. While humans may thrive on novelty and predictability, cats find comfort in only the latter. For a cat, even small changes in routine can feel overwhelming. A new couch, a schedule shift, or a houseguest may seem minor to us, but to a cat, it can disrupt their sense of safety and control.

Cats may appear to behave randomly, but beneath that layer of perceived insanity lies an animal with a deep appreciation for routine. The same cat who climbs the curtains and meows at the ceiling, might also settle down for the evening at the exact same time every day or enjoy visiting you in the bathroom anytime you go. In fact, routine plays a vital role in a cat's emotional well-being, sense of security, and particularly their relationship with you.

Living with a cat who chirps, trills, yowls or seems to yell at you all the time can be a strange experience. For an animal that seems mostly solitary in the wild and doesn’t communicate with their peers using their vocal cords, why do they seem to talk to us? Better yet, why are some cats completely quiet and others will make noise all day?

If it feels like your cat has spent most of the winter napping, you’re not imagining things. Shorter days, colder temperatures, and cozy indoor environments can all add up to one very sleepy feline.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve at The Hervey Foundation for Cats had come and gone, and boy, were they busy! With all the guests, dinners, baking, gift wrap, unwrapping, clinking glasses and midnight countdowns, it seemed like everyone was ready for a nice, relaxing January – cats included!

There was a strange mix of exhaustion and cabin fever happening amongst the cats. While they welcomed the quieter days to come, they also felt like they had been cooped up inside because of the icy winds.

Believe it or not, even indoor cats who never step foot on snow still can get chapped paws in the wintertime. For those cats who are lucky enough to go outside in a catio or another controlled setting, they are even more at risk!

Everyone knows the holidays and food go hand in hand. Be it a turkey dinner, chocolates, or other snacks, your cat will be curious, at minimum, wanting to smell everything and maybe even take a bite.  While it may be tempting to let your cat join in on the feast, many popular holiday foods and ingredients can be surprisingly dangerous for them.

It was early December, and Marjorie had just started getting The Foundation ready for the holidays. She had Christmas music playing on the radio and was humming along to Jingle Bell Rock as she put up decorations.

For decades, people have sworn their cats were watching television with them. They’d see their cat look at the TV and assume they were taking in the same content alongside them. But here’s the truth: for much of television history, cats weren’t actually seeing what humans were seeing.

Mornings can be chaotic – especially in a busy household. With the sounds of alarms, the coffeemaker, and humans rushing around to get their day started, it can feel overwhelming to felines living under the same roof. Cats are creatures of routine – and actually quite trainable. While you won’t have them dancing on two legs for a treat, you can easily get them used to a routine around the house so long as it is consistent and rewarding.

As cat lovers, it can be quite tempting to add another feline to your dwelling. We know just how much fun and rewarding a cat can be in our lives, and if one is great, why not two?

Cats can be quite fussy, especially around other cats, but they are capable of peaceful co-habitation, and if you get them young enough, they may even become a bonded pair. There are just a few things to consider before turning your abode into a multi-cat home.