cat
cats getting high: Why your cat needs vertical perching space (p24)
The lifestyle magazine for modern cats and their companions
9 SIGNS
YOUR CAT LOVES YOU
SPRING· SUMMER 2015
Get Happy!
7 WAYS TO MAKE
YOUR CAT SMILE p80
wincat l coou f! st f Publications Agreement Number 42496543 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4
p20
Operation Inspiration! Cats + Patios = Catios
Cat Tattoos p28
It’s Marmalade, winner of our Star Cat Contest!
Know Your Cats! p12
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DESIGN WITH CAT-ITUDE OUR CURRENT OBSESSIONS CATS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM
Taylor Swift!
CHUBBY CAT? Easy Ways to Lose the Weight + DIY: Make Yourself an Adorable Cat-Printed Tee!
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SPRING/SUMMER 2015
38 FEATURES 24
Cats On High Why your cat needs vertical perching space.
BY MIESHELLE NAGELSCHNEIDER, THE CAT WHISPERER
38
9 Signs Your Cat Loves You Signs of feline affection can be subtle or downright hard to read. Look for the following feline behaviours for confirmation your cat is totally into you.
42
Coat Colours and Patterns Learn which coat types are which—along with which can usually be an at-a-glance indicator of a cat’s gender.
48
7 Ways to Make Your Cat Smile Follow these steps to a happy and healthy cat!
54
What You Should Do If You Find a Kitten You'll likely have to fight your instincts. Best Friends Animal Society shares what you ought to do.
58
Hello, Marmalade! Meet our amazing cover cat, once an unwanted kitten, now an internet sensation, cancer survivor, FIV warrior, and one darn cute cat!
68
8 Easy Ways to Get Your Chubby Cat Moving There are a whole lot of overweight cats out there and the health repercussions they suffer are serious. Here’s how help your cat drop the excess baggage.
BY TARYN CHEAL
BY LAUREN CHEAL AND TARYN CHEAL
BY ROSE FROSEK
KNOW YOUR CATS 28
Terrific Cats Wonder what breeds may contribute to your cat's unique looks and personality? Read on to see if you can recognize any of these pedigree traits in your mixed-ancestry cat. BY KELLY CALDWELL
10
THE GOODS 32
Design with Cat-itude Want it! Our current obsessions.
46
Cat Lovers Closet Say it loud—I love my cat and I’m proud! Check out our stylish finds on page 46.
BODY AND SOUL 62
Survey Says… Cats Rule!; The Secret Lives of Cats
64
Help Save Birds; Accident Prone Cats; Book We Love
66
Whisker Fatigue: It’s a Real Thing; Must Read! Connie's Book Club; How to Calm an Anxious Cat
BY ROSE FROSEK, PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEN BERGREN
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fails!
18 LIVING 18
Cat Hiding Fails Hilariously unsuccessful feline attempts at invisibility.
20
We’re Giving It Away We’ve got months of fab giveaways, from awesome toys to all-natural litter, just waiting to be won by readers like you! Flip to page 20 to see what’s up for grabs.
REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 12 The Scoop 22 Photo Contest 78 Marketplace
54
P H OTO F E R N A N DA C A M A R G O
Cat hiding
68 34
Cats You Need to Follow on Instagram Get your daily does of kitty goodness with these four cats dedicated to bringing adorableness to your Instagram feed.
BY LILY NGUYEN
36
DIY Craft: Cat Tee Make your own cat patterned t-shirt with his easy DIY rubber stamp project!
72
How To Thrill Your Cat Our cats are crazy for these finds!
74
Cats + Patios = Catios! Get inspired by one woman’s DIY solution to providing outdoor space for her indoor cats.
76
How I Met My Cat Sassie's second chance.
BY CYNTHIA VOCCIA
80
Last Lick: Cat Tattoos A love that lasts fur-ever.
72
COVER CAT It's Marmalade, winner of our Star Cat Contest! Photographed by Jen Bergren of Fetchlight Pet Lifestyle Photography.
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In USA: MODERNCAT (ISSN 1929-3933) Volume 4, Issue 1. Published semi annually by Modern Cat Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.
EDITOR'S LETTER
I
’m delighted that spring’s finally here, a season synonymous with rebirth and renewal. The longer daylight hours, new foliage, warmer temperatures, and bright blue skies noticeably boost spirits—as well as the homeless kitten population. Although there’s nothing cuter than a litter of kittens (for proof turn to page 54!), many of them will ultimately end up in shelters. Worse yet, Best Friends Animal Society reports that roughly 70 percent of the cats who end up in America’s shelters will be euthanized. 70 percent. Let’s do something to turn this sad statistic around by getting our cats spayed or neutered and encouraging others to do the same. Should you find a litter of kittens (one can dream), turn to page 54 so you’ll know what to do! And of course, we think it’s always a grand idea to think about welcoming a shelter cat into your family—there are so many super-wonderful cats in shelters awaiting their forever homes. Just turn to page 76 for one such heartwarming account. We’ve jam-packed this issue with all manner of sunshine-y feel-good must-reads to help you better understand your cat. For example: 7 Ways to Make Your Cat Smile (p 48), 9 Signs Your Cat Loves You (p 38), How To Thrill Your Cat (p 72), and Cats on High: Why Your Cat Needs Vertical Perching Space (p 24). We also introduce you to our inspiring Star Cat winner, Marmalade, share cool DIY projects (catios and cat tees!) and offer effective advice on how to help a chubby cat slim down. Add to that all sorts of cool finds, cat toys, and clothing for cat lovers, and I think we’ve put together a pretty irresistible page-turner. Enjoy the issue, the season, and your cats, of course!
CONNIE WILSON WITH DAO DAO, PHOTO TANYA KING
OUR R E ADE R S WR IT E
Our community is the best-est! Email Love Just a quick note to tell you that I got my first issue a couple of weeks ago, and I love it! I've had dozens of cats in my life (growing up on a farm helped) and I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know when it came to kittehs. But I learned so much from your magazine. I love it! I really hope it will become a monthly, because I need my Modern Cat fix!—Stacey Hopkins
Facebook Friends You guys always have the greatest Facebook Friday Freebies!—Jennifer @TheCatBall I love your magazine! You have so many awesome ideas and kitties in your book! —Carey S. Zuchowski I love your articles that I read through Facebook! I have a rescue kitty who has seizures and I feed a feral kitty I call Freddy and your articles are always helpful in many ways.—Nancy Brink
Sweet Tweets Thanks @ModernCatMag for featuring Buddy’s #cat tower. Three years later and he still loves it! moderncat.com/DIYcatperches —Heather Nabers West
Much love,
Connie Wilson, Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief
Love is a deep empathy With the other’s “Beingness.” You recognize yourself, Your essence, in the other. And so you can no longer inflict Suffering on the other. —From Guardians of Being, words by Eckhart Tolle
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C ON TRIBUT OR S Modern Cat staffer Lauren Cheal is a long-time feline fanatic who loves to spend time with her two cats—one fluffy shy guy (Lincoln) and one high needs buddy (the sociable Lyle). Writing runs in the family; Lyle has his own column called Ask Lyle on moderncat.com where he dispenses cat-to-cat advice. Like Lyle, Lauren loves creating inspiring and adorable content and sharing it with our outstanding fans. Check out her insightful article “9 Signs Your Cat Loves You” on page 38!
SPRING/SUMMER 2015 VOL 4 NO 1 Publisher
Modern Cat Inc. Editor-in-Chief
Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director
Jennifer Nosek Audience Development & Digital Marketing
Lauren Cheal Social Media & Events Coordinator
Taryn Cheal Design & Production
Natalie Gagnon Sales & Marketing
Kara Gerlach and Kai Jacobson Accounting & Subscription Services
Celine Benipayo Subscription Services Assistant
Lily Nguyen Controller
Jen Bergren was taking photography classes while working as an Advertising Designer at Petco’s San Diego office when her two interests collided and she started photographing pets for Petco. Having found her calling, she left the corporate world to start Fetchlight Pet Lifestyle Photography and now photographs pets for pet parents to hang as art, as well as shoots for pet businesses and publications like Modern Cat (see page 56). Jen also volunteers to photograph adoptable pets—our kind of girl! To see more of Jen’s work, visit fetchlight.com.
Cecilia de Roca Chan Honourary Editor-at-Large
Jytte Wilson Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERNCAT (ISSN 1929-3933) Volume 4, Issue 1. Published semi annually by Modern Cat Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Cat, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERNCAT (ISSN 1929-3933) Volume 4, Issue 1. Published semi annually by Modern Cat Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 061114003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402. PHONE
(604) 734-3131
OR TOLL FREE
Our very own Subscription Service Assistant Lily Nguyen is a Vancouver fashion blogger, lifelong animal lover, and social media aficionado. When she’s not working at Modern Cat or blogging, she enjoys reading, hiking, and of course, spending time with her beautiful and brilliant stud of a cat, Lucky. In this issue, Lily shares the top four cats you need to follow on Instagram now (page 34). You can also follow Lily on Instagram @lilyannenguyen.
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FAX
(866) 734-3131
(604) 734-3031 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3031
The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements. Copyright 2015 by Modern Cat Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including the Internet or photocopying without the written permission of the Publisher. Modern Cat and its logotype are the trademarks of Modern Cat Inc. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Cat Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4
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