90 articles
T.J. Banks is the author of several books, including Catsong, which received a Merial Human–Animal Bond Award. A contributing editor to laJoie, T.J. also has received writing awards from the Cat Writers’ Association (most recently a Certificate of Excellence in 2019), as well as from ByLine and The Writing Self. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul and A Cup of Comfort for Women in Love, and T.J. has worked as a stringer for the Associated Press, as an instructor for the Writer’s Digest School and as a columnist.
A male cat may accept a male kitten, but compatibility takes more than choosing the same sex. Learn how to prepare separate spaces, introduce cats gradually and recognize when to pause or get help.
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Learn when a friendly stray cat can enter a carrier voluntarily, how to approach safely, and when kittens or frightened cats need experienced rescue help.
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Cats sometimes help people in remarkable ways, but alertness and closeness do not prove a guarding motive. Learn what to observe and how to keep your cat and visitors safe.
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Following can reflect comfort, curiosity or a request for food and play. Learn how to read your kitten’s pattern, notice changes, and encourage confidence while preserving closeness.
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Some cats and horses become comfortable companions. Learn how to read their behavior, protect the cat’s escape route, and provide separate care without forcing a friendship.
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Explore why black cats became linked with superstition, compare good-luck and bad-luck traditions, separate folklore from evidence, and celebrate real cats as individuals.
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We ranked the 6 best cat toys of 2026 by play style, safety, and budget tier, from an $8.79 ball track to a 72-inch cat tree, plus wand, kitten, catnip, tunnel, laser, and puzzle toy advice for bored indoor cats.
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Interactive cat toys deliver mental stimulation, healthy weight management, and calmer behavior. Learn how long play sessions should run and how to match a toy to your cat's hunting play style.
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White cats have many fascinating myths and legends associated with them. They symbolize rebirth, happiness, prosperity, healing and more.
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Are male or female cats more affectionate? A working look at what the research supports, the six behaviors that actually signal feline affection, the coat color confound almost nobody mentions, and why neutering matters more than sex.
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Learning how to introduce a kitten to a cat takes patience, scent swaps, safe rooms, supervised meetings, and clear warning signs. This step-by-step refresh helps your adult cat accept a new kitten while keeping both cats safe.
5 min read
Do cats know when another cat is dying or sick? Yes, and their reactions can surprise you. Learn how cats sense illness and death in other felines through scent and behavior, why some comfort and others withdraw, and how to support a grieving cat.
5 min read
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