Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

Thoughty Thursday: Kittens, Curious Cat Facts & Author Trivia

by | Mar 29, 2012 | Cat Behavior & Care | 16 comments

CatandKitten-TonyaJensen
This week seems to be all about cute kittens and that’s due to my WANA friend Ali Dent and her awesome blog.  She offered to review my book Complete Kitten Care and then followed up today with an author interview (gulp!).

Truly, to me kittens and cats are way more interesting than authors. And to prove that fact, here’s some curious kitten trivia from the book:

  • Newborn kittens can’t regulate body temperature.
  • Although blind and deaf at birth, newborns scent-mark Mom-cat’s milk bar and usually return to the same nipple each time.
  • The prime socialization period for kittens is 2-7 weeks of age (BEFORE they go to new homes)!
  • A four-month-old kitten can go into heat and become pregnant.
  • Kittens “talk” more with silent body language and scent than with spits, hisses, purrs or meows.
  • Meows tend to be aimed more at humans than at other cats.

Learn more in the book, of course. 🙂  And if you’re very bored and want to find out what makes this weird pet-centric writer work, please visit Ali Dent’s blog for her interview with me–AMY SHOJAI, THE UNTOLD STORY!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly PUPPY CARE must knows, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with excerpts from the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND, and pet book give-aways!

16 Comments

  1. Annie T. Baxter

    Hi Amy…when a little stray kitten wandered into my life years ago, I wanted to “do things right”…so bought your Complete Kitten Care book/copyright 2002. New baby…new book!

    I found it fascinating when I read that the kitten offers a “greeting” to the mama cat upon return to the “nest”. Sure enough, my little one did offer a sweet trill everytime I came in the room…I began to imitate it to greet her in return. Since then, I use that trill for all cats I meet.

    Learning and then applying is what makes the study of cat behavior so great!

    Until next time…Annie

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      Hi Annie, thanks so much for stopping by–I’m delighted to *virtually* meet you. Small world, eh? Glad the book helped, that was such a fun topic to write.

      Reply
  2. donnagalanti

    I had no idea either meows were aimed at humans! I find it amusing that my2 rescued brother cats dont meow for food in the morning – they just sit on either side of my head and stare at me until I get up to feed them!
    I do wonder, what makes one cat (sleek, fast) want to escape outside all the time and the other one not (fat, and slow)?

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      Hi Donna, thanks for visiting! As to your cat question–different metabolisms and activity levels/personalities truly define cats. Likely the curiosity and activity levels of the one that spurs exploration also keeps the cat slim. *shrug*

      Reply
  3. patriciasands

    Pregnant at 4 months? Oh dear – I’m assuming that’s a rare happening! Love the photo up top – sooooo sweet! Great interview with Ali and I know this book is going to be a huge hit!

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      Patricia, it depends on when the kitten is born, and the Oriental breeds (Siamese, Burmese, etc) tend to mature earlier than some others.

      Hope the book strikes a chord with kitten lovers, yes!

      Reply
  4. Tameri Etherton

    I didn’t know that about the mama’s milk. I loved Ali’s post on you!

    I’ve got a question for ‘Ask Amy’: my son has a cat ~ Frostbite. She’s a sweetheart, but really doesn’t give a hoot about any of us. Well, she likes our son and will sleep with him/hang out in by his computer while he’s on it, etc. But my husband and myself? Not so much. How can we get her to like us and be more loving? Thanks!

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      Great question, Tameri! I’ll add it to the next batch for Ask Amy. *s*

      Reply
    • Bridgette Booth

      I loved your interview over at Ali’s too! It was cool learning how that book came into being. And, you do sooooo much! I just can’t wrap my mind around it.

      Reply
      • amyshojai

        Thanks Bridgette, Ali did a terrific job with the interview. I’m trying to cut back so I can have some real “down time” with family. Hard to do when you work for yourself though.

        Reply
        • Karyl Cunningham

          You can always try what a lot of the folks who make a living online do: crunch time for a bit to back up several posts ahead and set something up to auto-post them at set times while you’re away. 🙂 Not sure if WordPress had a feature for that or not though.

          Reply
          • amyshojai

            Already doing that Karyl. 😉

  5. Karyl Cunningham

    “Meows tend to be aimed more at humans than at other cats.”

    The prime exception I have seen is within families. Our little group of cats had certain calls that all the kittens seemed to know the meaning of. There is one I used to mimic to call them all, after seeing momma cat use it to gather them for hunting lessons. It never failed until after the group started breaking up, and they weren’t as used to it anymore.

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      Karyl, that’s fascinating! Yes, they can have specific “dialects” or accents just as humans have regional communication differences. It all comes down to what form of communication is rewarded with the desired results.

      Reply
  6. lesa7515

    How interesting that meows are aimed more at humans than other felines…very interesting. Guess they really are trying to communicate with the dumb ones. Mine are immensely patient but when they get fed up with not being understood, they take matters to another level, one usually involving sharp little claws. Attention getters, that.

    Reply
    • amyshojai

      LOL! Yep, the “sharp bits” will get attention for sure!

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

Name That Hero Dog for DARE OR DIE Thriller: Vote Now Open!

As promised, it’s time to VOTE for the HERO DOG contenders to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. This story answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures. The story also features at least one (1) heroic dog and one (1) heroic feline (maybe more, depending on the results of your votes). Scroll down for more about the HERO DOG requirements–and the poll. The poll for the HERO CAT character is here.

I had so many terrific nominations that I had to include a bunch of options. Many folks also sent pictures of their wonderful companions! I truly wish that every dog (and cat) could have a part in the story. Please forgive me if your dog isn’t on the poll–it had nothing to do with you or them but often with past winners or character names. It’d confuse readers to have more than one Shadow, for instance, or a hero dog with the same name as a human character.

VOTE FOR YOUR HERO DOG

I have planned for ONE (1) dog and ONE (1) cat to include. As always, though, that might change depending on popularity of the vote. So rally your family and friends, your pet’s fan base, and get out the vote. I’m using a new poll software, and hopefully, as in the past, you can vote multiple times (you may have to refresh the page in between votes).

Name That Hero Cat for DARE OR DIE Thriller: Vote Now Open!

As promised, it’s time to VOTE for the HERO CAT contenders to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. This story answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures. The story also features at least one (1) heroic dog and one (1) heroic feline (maybe more, depending on the results of your votes). Scroll down for more about the HERO CAT requirements–and the poll. The poll for the HERO DOG character is here.

I had so many terrific nominations that I had to include a bunch of options. Many folks also sent pictures of their wonderful companions! I truly wish that every dog (and cat) could have a part in the story. Please forgive me if your dog isn’t on the poll–it had nothing to do with you or them but often with past winners or character names. It’d confuse readers to have more than one Shadow, for instance, or a hero dog with the same name as a human character.

VOTE FOR YOUR HERO CAT

I have planned for ONE (1) dog and ONE (1) cat to include. As always, though, that might change depending on popularity of the vote. So rally your family and friends, your pet’s fan base, and get out the vote. I’m using a new poll software, and hopefully, as in the past, you can vote multiple times (you may have to refresh the page in between votes).

September & Shadow Audiobook Trilogy only $2.99!

In a lead up to the release of thriller #7 DARE OR DIE, I’ve discounted the first three books in the September & Shadow Thriller Series in a CHIRP deal yee-haw! So if you’ve not yet listened, here’s your chance to get all 3 for under $3.

LOST AND FOUND (#1) kicks off the saga, with September searching for her missing nephew in a snowstorm–aided by Shadow the service dog.

HIDE AND SEEK (#2) shares September’s tragic backstory when a stalker from her past finds her, and Shadow helps her heal.

SHOW AND TELL (#3) gives previous victims the chance to become heroes, helping September and Shadow vanquish a deadly drug dealer.

All three books combine in the trilogy (audio), discounted from $24.99 to $2.99 for a limited time at these links…

Leaving Pets Behind: Choosing Pet Sitters

When the holidays or business travel rolls around, pet sitters can be a big help when you plan vacations with or without your dog or cat. After delaying plans for over two years due to the virus, many of us now will travel to visit family and friends, have folks visit, or spend vacation time away from home. Time off from work and a change of routine offers humans much-needed stress relief. But the same is not always true for furry family members. That’s where pet sitters come in. This week is the 29th annual Professional Pet Sitters Week™ — do you have a pet sitter for your furry wonders? Here’s what you need to know!

Cover Reveal: DARE OR DIE, a September & Shadow Thriller #7

COVER REVEAL for the latest September & Shadow Thriller! If you love thrillers, mysteries, or suspense that include pets, watch this space for DARE OR DIE, coming soon! In each of my thrillers, I include HERO PETS nominated by readers and voted on by the public. In the past, the books have included every day dogs and cats, service animals, and beloved companions that now live on in the stories. Last week, I announced the latest contest, and today I sent out the invitation to nominate pets to my newsletter list. The suggestions already started pouring in. Watch this space to VOTE on your pick for HERO CAT and HERO DOG.

AAHA: THE STANDARD OF VETERINARY EXCELLENCE

While I was at the BlogPaws conference some years ago, I attended a special session sponsored by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA.org). Having previously worked as a vet tech, I’m familiar with this organization and learned even more during the presentation by Dr. Heather Loenser. If you’re not familiar with this wonderful organization, here’s what you need to know.

What Is AAHA?

The American Animal Hospital Association, founded 82 years ago, is a voluntary accrediting organization for small animal hospitals in the United States. That’s right…accreditation is VOLUNTARY, and it is not required by law. Only 12-15% of animal hospitals have gone through the rigorous and stringent evaluation process to attain this distinction.

That’s not to say that animal hospitals without AAHA-accreditation don’t offer great care from talented and dedicated veterinarians. Dr. Loenser noted that to achieve accreditation requires cooperation and dedication from the entire staff, from veterinarians and technicians to front desk staff and everyone who has a “paw” in the success of the practice.

6 Easy Fresh Breath Tips & How to Brush Doggy & Kitty Teeth (Without Getting Bit!)

Do you brush dog teeth? How about brushing cat teeth? The AVMA sponsors National Pet Dental Health Month every February to help prevent pet dental problems.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3.

But it’s never too late (or too soon) to get your pets’ pearly whites checked out by your veterinarian. Often the doctor has some great tips for keeping cat teeth clean and dog breath at bay, including how to brush doggy teeth.

Does the thought of brushing dog teeth make you cringe, roll your eyes, whimper, slink away–and feel guilty? You’re not alone. But once that puppy-sweet breath morphs into curl-your-eyebrows stench, it’s long past the time to address that stink-icity.

Inspirational Book Giveaway & Thriller Teaser Info

Today, I have a fun surprise to share with you… Most times I send these notices out to my newsletter, but this offer (sorta-kinda different for me!) begs sharing widely. I’ve teamed up with 50+ fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction books to 2 lucky winners!

Oh, and read on for a hint about the upcoming thriller DARE OR DIE and how to nominate YOUR special pet for a hero pet character!

Does Your Pet Have Paunch? How to Know They’re Overweight & What to Do

Ok, who doesn’t love a little paunch on your favorite pet? I have to admit a round puppy or kitten tummy just begs to be cuddled. Adult cats commonly have a pouch–primordial pouch–that won’t go away even when they weigh the right amount. Even wild cats have this extra-belly, possibly as an added protection from tooth-and-claw, or to give more flexibility when running. But more than that and it’s important to recognize when it’s a sign of something serious or is putting your pet at risk of long-term harm.

I get it. The chubby look on some pets can literally melt hearts! 😍But as someone who has been in this industry long enough, I know that a little chubbiness can lead to some pretty large and serious health issues. Paunch and obesity in pets are serious issues that shouldn’t be ignored. Let’s take a closer look at pet paunch and what you can do to help manage your pet’s weight.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 87% of veterinary professionals surveyed consider pet obesity a disease. But the same survey found that fewer pet owners think their pets are obese versus the general percentages that actually are. This means a lot of pet parents aren’t recognizing that pudge as a potential problem.

Top 5 Dog Exercises to Keep Fido Fit and Strong for Life

It’s time to get physical! Love it or hate it, exercise is just as important for your dog as it is for you. I walk on my desk treadmill every day to keep my joints loose and muscles toned. The Pet Health Network notes that obesity can lead to future health issues like arthritis, heart and breathing issues, and can even take two years off your dog’s life!

I love sharing pet health tips from other pet professionals. But always check with your veterinarian about your own dog’s specific issues, to make sure they stay happy and healthy. Here are my top five fitness tips for dogs.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships