FALL • WINTER 2025/26
VOL 14 NO 2
62 FEATURES Stressed Cat?
Secret causes and hidden signs of stress in cats, plus proven ways to calm an anxious cat. BY DR. MIKEL DELGADO
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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Catnip
Does your cat go bonkers for catnip? Or does your kitty simply not respond? The science of catnip explained. BY SHERI RADFORD
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How to Renew Catnip Toys
Rejuvenate your cat’s playthings with this illustrated guide to giving catnip toys a new lease on life.
52 THE GOODS 22
Gorgeous (yes, really) cat trees.
BY MICHELLE SIMPSON
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How Cats Experience the World
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How to Train a Cat to Use a Litter Box
How to litter-train, whether kitten, stray, or outdoor cat. BY MIESHELLE NAGELSCHNEIDER
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BY WENDY TROXEL
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What Breed Is My Cat?
Clues that can indicate purebred parentage. BY JANELLE MARTEL
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Healthy Paws
Solutions for everything from cat anxiety to immune support!
Sleeping with Your Cat
Is your cat affecting your sleep? A sleep expert reveals findings.
Super Fun Cat Toys! Five-star rated cat toys your cat will go crazy for.
What cats see, hear, and smell. 56
Modern Cat Trees That Will Elevate Your Space
74
Cat Gear Look Book
Your at-a-glance guide to the best stuff for you & your cat.
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PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AFANASIEV ANDRII/SHUTTERSTOCK; MICHELLE SIMPSON; PRYDE PETS
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22 72
BODY & SOUL Have Cat Allergies?
This scientist couple engineered a solution.
The Naked Truth About Hairless Cat Skincare
46
Expert tips for caring for hairless cats. BY GEOFF TEOLI
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Dental Disease in Cats
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7 Things You Should Absolutely Do If Your Cat Is Approaching the End of Their Life
CAT LIFE 20
BY TORY DUCHENE
REGULAR FEATURES 6 8 10 12 18 79
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We’ve got six months of incredible giveaways—from a gorgeous cat tree to a self-cleaning litter box—and winners every two weeks. See what’s up for grabs on page 20!
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Editor’s Letter Contributors Stuff We Love The Scoop Photo Contest Marketplace
We’re Giving It Away!
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Signs You’re a Cat Person
How many boxes do you check? BY MICHELLE SIMPSON
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Interesting Cat Facts
Fascinating cat trivia and little-known feline facts. 64
A serial animal adopter’s kitten encounter.
COVER CAT This issue’s cover cat is Bella, an utterly adorable Ragdoll, photographed by the very talented Karen Weiler of Posh Pets Photography, based in Toronto, ON. Find her at poshpetsphoto.com.
BY LEE ARNOLD
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Connie’s Book Club
Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s selection of must-read books for cat lovers. 76
Tiny Cat Stories
Cat love in short form: miniature, reader-submitted cat stories of no more than 100 words. 80
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The Cypriot Kitten
Last Lick: Quotable
TOP PHOTOS L TO R: CATASTROPHIC CREATIONS; NEW PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE CAT: FROM MAGNUS CATTUS © MATT MCCARTHY
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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 READERS WRITE
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his issue celebrates feline life and the fascinating creature that is the domestic house cat. We’ve dedicated this issue to better understanding our ‘house panthers,’ from their incredible senses to catnip response. If you’ve ever wondered what your cat is thinking, saying or feeling, this is the magazine for you!
Curling Up with Modern Cat
SWEAR I did not stage this! He just curled up right next to my latest Modern Cat magazine I had been reading earlier. —Megan S.
Our cats’ senses differ from ours in important ways, from the colours they see to the scents and sounds they are able perceive. We delve into the differences on page 54 with How Cats Experience the World: What Cats See, Hear, and Smell. Curious about catnip? Watching a cat in the throes of catnip-induced ecstasy is mesmerizing. What is it about catnip that cats love? Is it healthy? Why do some cats simply not respond? Writer Sheri Radford dives in with Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Catnip: The Science of Catnip Explained. Plus, learn how to revive “dead” catnip toys with our illustrated guide, How to Renew Catnip Toys! Is your cat stressed? Discover secret causes and hidden signs of stress in cats on page 26. Plus, find everything you need to know about caring for a hairless cat on page 46. Convinced your cat might have purebred parentage? Check out What Breed Is My Cat? for the clues to look for! Oh, and in case it’s not yet official, turn to page 30 for Signs You’re a Cat Person.
Rescue Reader
We found Simon as a rescue kitten with The NOAH Center during Sea-Meow 2024 in Seattle. Simon was immediately right at home.—Dave & Stephanie
Of course, we’ve found all the coolest cat stuff, including a round-up of modern cat trees that will elevate your space on page 22. (One of the easiest ways you can improve your cat’s life is by providing vertical space!) We also share interesting cat facts, science-backed wellness picks, great gift ideas, giveaways, and so much more. So jump in! As always, thank you for being a part of our amazing community of cat lovers. With love,
Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
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Time Well Spent
Lemon’s two favourite pastimes: looking out the window and reading the latest @modern_ cat_mag. —@felinemisadventures