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Turn your cat into a love bug! A how-to for bonded, affectionate behaviour
The lifestyle magazine for modern cats and their companions
How to Talk to Your Cat
SPRING· SUMMER 2019
It's Play Time!
The best toys for every cat
The Secret Language of Cats Explained
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Publications Agreement Number 42496543 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4
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AGGRESSIVE CAT? WE CAN HELP! P24 moderncat.com DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 31 ‘19
$6.95
Cat-tastic Decor
Cat Tattoos Grow Your Cat an Indoor Garden Giveaways Galore! Win cat stuff on p 18
p40 Cat Cafes
Could CBD help your cat? This natural remedy is helping cats with everything from anxiety to pain & seizures
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FEATURES 24
Feline Aggression Managing your cat’s inner wildcat.
BY MIESHELLE NAGELSCHNEIDER
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11 Tips for Raising a Friendly Cat Encourage bonded, affectionate behaviour with these tactics to encourage approachability from even the most standoffish cats.
BY ROSE FROSEK
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Conscious Living and Your Cat How to bring more mindfulness to your relationship with your cat—and your life in general.
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Cat Cafés Want to have a latte surrounded by cats? Chances are, there’s a cat café near you.
BY ROSE FROSEK
BY JANE MUNDY
50 CBD Could CBD—a therapeutic, non-psychoactive component of hemp—help your cat? Increasingly, a whole host of cat lovers are singing the praises of CBD and its remarkable efficacy in treating everything from pain to anxiety. BY TRACEY TONG 58
The Secret Language of Cats Breaking the cat code: how you can understand what your cat is trying to tell you—and how you can actually talk back.
66 Help, I Found a Kitten! Do You Know What to Do If You Find An Outdoor Kitten?
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THE GOODS 22
It’s Play Time! Play is essential for your cat’s happiness. Here are the best toys to engage your cat and get her moving!
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Cat-tastic Décor Interior solutions to thrill both you and your cat.
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Want It! Essentials for the self- professed cat lover.
BODY & SOUL 44
Cats for Health Babies & children healthier in homes with Pets—and the more the better!
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Cat Urine: Why It Smells So Bad, and What You Can Do About It
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Apple Cider Vinegar, a Natural Cat Cure-All
In USA: MODERNCAT (ISSN 1929-3933) Volume 8, Issue 1. Published semi annually by Modern Cat Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 061114003. Postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.
PHOTO CRUMBS & WHISKERS
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We’re Giving It Away! Win it! We’re giving away loads of cat stuff—find out what’s up for grabs on page 18!
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DIY Craft: Grow Your Cat an Indoor Garden!
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Cute Overload! Four Instagram cats you need to follow.
REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 12 The Scoop 20 Photo Contest 77 Marketplace
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Handicat Hero Meet this “living emoji cat” that is de-stigmatizing disability & stealing hearts across the globe.
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Find Love Here! Want more love in your life? Who doesn’t?! Find it in the form of cat cuddles—these cuties are looking for their forever homes. Turn to page 62 to see if one of these adorable rescue cats calls to you.
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Feline Feng Shui 5 tips to create positive energy in your home for harmony and a happy cat.
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Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good book and a good cat. Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s round up of current must-reads.
80 Last Lick: Cattoos A love that lasts fur-ever: inked tributes to feline best friends.
COVER CAT Meet the Cover Cat! Gracing this issue's cover is adorable Instagram star Rexie, a “handicat” whose motto is “disability does not mean inability.” For more on this toocute-for-words cat and his inspiring cat-parent, Dasha Minaeva, turn to page 54. Photographed by Dasha Minaeva
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BY CYNTHIA CHOMOS
38 So Squishy!
PHOTOS @MAPLE.CAT, SWEET PICKLES DESIGNS, DASHA MINAEVA
CAT LIFE
EDITOR'S LETTER Social icon
Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.
CONNIE WILSON WITH DAO DAO, PHOTO TANYA KING
OUR R E ADE R S WR IT E
Feelin' the Love “Love the magazine! With 10 cats, it really helps me understand them better, especially when I read about other cats and their family members.” —Irene Hunt
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couldn’t be more excited to share this issue with you. We dug deep to unearth all the coolest cat stuff—from natural wool cat caves to next-level wand toys, making it easy to turn your home into a haven for your cat, all without sacrificing style. From straight-up beautiful cat trees to gorgeous multipurpose scratchers, it’s in here. Of course, we’ve consulted our favourite cat behaviourist, Mieshelle Nagelschneider, who is more commonly known as the Cat Whisperer for good reason. In this issue, she tackles a complicated issue that bedevils many households—cat aggression—and breaks down the different causes and provides solutions (p 24). We also talk with Susanne Schötz, Swedish phonetics researcher and author of The Secret Language of Cats, who shares what to listen for in cat-speak and how you can talk back, confirming what many of us already know: of course you can talk to your cat! We also have tips for using feng shui to improve your home’s energy from your cat’s perspective and share actionable steps for making the time you spend with your cat mindful. Plus, we take a look at how CBD, a hemp derivative with no high, is a game changer for cats struggling with pain, anxiety, and more. Also in here? Adoptable cuties, mustread books, cat tattoos, how to grow your own cat greens, and much, much more. We hope you dive right in and enjoy the issue as much as we loved putting it together. Thank you for being a part of our amazing community of cat lovers!
"Caturdays are for curling up with one of my favourite magazines @modern_cat_ mag. Mama reads the stories out loud and I point and tell her what I would like her to buy for me!!"—@kittymojito "Love Modern Cat magazine, I read it everytime that I get it in the mail." —Alyssia Michelle Corbett
With much love,
Connie Wilson, Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief
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"Looking at all the featured cats while I enjoy a coffee hoping one day I’ll see myself in a magazine!"—myshkaman
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The talented illustrator Ryan Garcia is a regular contributor to Modern Cat. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada, the home base from which he takes on assignments from the likes of Scientific American, WIRED, and the Wall Street Journal. When he’s not glued to his art desk, Ryan enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and playing with his roommate’s cat Ginger. Turn to page 24 for Ryan's wonderful illustrations capturing the forms of cat aggression for "Feline Aggression: Managing Your Cat's Inner Wildcat."
NO 1
Publisher
Modern Cat Inc. Editor-in-Chief
Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director
Jennifer Nosek Design & Production
Hayley Schmidt Social Media Strategist
Alice Sewell Afilliate Development & Marketing Strategist
Laura Sluggett Sales & Marketing
Alice Sewell, Linda Helme, Milena Braga Audience Development & Digital Marketing Specialist
Jessica Linnay Accounting Services & Subscription Services
Yvonne Miller Copywriter & Subscription Services
Kyrsten Downton Controller
Cecilia de Roca Chan, CPA, CGA
In this issue, we turn to Dr. Katy Nelson who gives us the low down on how cats affect the health of children. The research results she shares, on page 44, may pleasantly surprise you! The accomplished Dr. Katy is an associate veterinarian at the Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre in Alexandria, VA., and is the host and executive producer of “The Pet Show with Dr. Katy.” She’s also the expert for the second season of the popular show “Unlikely Animal Friends,” on NatGeo Wild! Find her on Instagram and Twitter @drkatynelson and at thepetshow.tv.
Sales & Marketing Assistant
Georgia Riddle-Olsen Editorial Intern
Ashley Lee INTERESTED IN SUBSCRIBING? Give us a call at 1-800-417-6289 or subscribe online at moderncat.com/subscribe Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERNCAT (ISSN 1929-3933) Volume 8, 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 8, Issue 1. Published semi annually by Modern Cat Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402. PHONE
For this issue, we tapped Cynthia Chomos, passionate cat lover, catio designer, and feng shui expert, for the low down on the art of feline feng shui. As the founder of Catio Spaces, she regularly combines her expertise as a feng shui consultant and general contractor to build custom catios in Seattle. Inspired by her tabby, Serena, she creates visually appealing outdoor enclosures to enhance the lives of cats and their humans. Turn to page 70 for Cynthia’s tips on how to use the art of feng shui to create good “chi” for your cat and encourage harmony in your household. Want more? Cynthia offers a variety of DIY catio plans and free advice at CatioSpaces.com.
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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 2019 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. Modern Cat is published two times a year. Two-year subscription prices: Canada $18CAD, U.S.A. $18USD, foreign $45USD. 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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