Cat Resource List
Research / Resource Links
(Listed in alphabetical order)
A movement derived from an unwavering commitment to honor the lives of the earth’s animals. The foundation formally started with a request for a proclamation to recognize and bring people’s attention to the need to be kind to animals and a concern for their welfare in Nevada. On April 17, 2018, (Nevada) Governor Brian Sandoval signed a Proclamation recognizing “Animal Kindness and Welfare Awareness Week in Nevada” to be celebrated the first week of May each year. For more information on how you can assist in promoting the Animal Kindness & Welfare mission, visit the site. Make a difference this May 5-11, 2019 and all year long.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.
The mission of Best Friends Animal Society is to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. We do this by helping end the killing in America’s animal shelters through building community programs and partnerships all across the nation. We believe that by working together we can Save Them All.
Calorie Calculator / Nutritional Calculator for Cats
This is a weight management tool for adult cats designed by the Pet Nutrition Alliance. You can use it to calculate the caloric intake needs for your cat. The ideal weight means a longer and happier life for your feline friend. Achieving and maintaining healthy body condition scores in pets has been proven to reduce the risk of illness and add to the longevity and general well-being of the animal.
Cat Behavior Associates (Pam Johnson-Bennett)
Pam Johnson-Bennett is the best-selling author of 10 books. She starred in the Animal Planet UK series Psycho Kitty, and is one of the most popular and sought-after cat behavior experts in the world. She is considered a pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting and has influenced many practicing in the field today. This website is an excellent source for all feline related matters.
Pam Johnson-Bennett was vice president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and founded the IAABC Cat Division where she served as its longtime chair for 8 years. Pam served on the American Humane Association’s Advisory Board on Animal Behavior and Training and was also a member of the American Humane Association’s Cat health and Welfare Forum. She served on the Advisory Board for Tree House Humane Society and has also worked with the Winn Feline Foundation.
Pam’s ground-breaking Think Like a Cat approach to cat behavior has been featured and profiled worldwide through the years. To the cat behavior professionals in the field today, Pam Johnson-Bennett has been a mentor and leader since she first paved the way in the early 1980s. Her books are considered the “cat bibles” when it comes to understanding felines and what makes them tick. Much of the information you read on the websites of shelters, animal welfare organizations and behavior experts as well as what you see on cat-related TV shows came from Pam’s books, articles and lectures. You can easily see her influence in the current books on cat behavior that are on the market today. Pam’s Think Like a Cat method has improved the lives of thousands of cats through her work with clients, shelters, her books, worldwide lectures and media appearances. Her book, Think Like a Cat, consistently remains the #1 best-selling cat training book on Amazon.
This site provides valuable common sense information on Feline Nutrition and Health researched by Lisa A. Pierson, DVM.
Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine
At the Cornell Feline Health Center, they strive to provide help for cats worldwide today while also promoting the hope for improved feline health tomorrow. They are the first center dedicated solely to the improvement of feline health; and although their history is long and proud, their future (and that of cats, too) looks even brighter, largely due to several unique aspects of their Center.
While a number of non-profit organizations supporting the betterment of cats exist, the Cornell Feline Health Center is unique in a number of ways. Their affiliation with, and support of, research at Cornell University promotes collaboration among world-class investigators that has resulted in breakthroughs in their understanding of feline diseases from perspectives ranging in scale from molecules to whole animals. Their close physical and intellectual partnership with clinical and basic researchers across a wide variety of disciplines at the University fosters research that would not be possible if they were a remote entity. Proximity breeds communication and ideas among the dedicated researchers that they support; and their unique alignment with the excellence at Cornell allows them to benefit feline health today and into the future by supporting research investigating feline diseases. This research, funded by their benefactors’ support, will identify improved methods of diagnosing and treating feline diseases.
Another unique aspect of the Cornell Feline Health Center is the Dr. Louis J. Camuti Memorial Feline Consultation Service, which provides callers with the most up to date information on feline health care. This service is, to their knowledge, the only one of its kind; and thousands of cat owners, breeders, and veterinarians have received valuable information regarding the care of their beloved feline friends through this service. The Center’s goal is to improve cats’ lives by disseminating information, and the Camuti Consultation Service is a valuable tool in helping them and their callers achieve this goal.
Center for Feline Health and Wellbeing
Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Many of our feline health studies team members are actively involved in basic, translational, or clinical research studies directed at discovering and developing new drugs, devices, procedures, and treatments for the benefit of cats and their owners. Feline research expenditures by our faculty typically exceed a quarter million dollars annually. Private contributions, private foundations, and industry are major sources of funding for feline research at MSU. There are now 17 endowments at MSU specifically dedicated to supporting feline research and the activities of the Center for Feline Health and Well-Being. There are also 38 endowments dedicated to companion animals that may be applied to feline projects. The Center has also established a discretionary fund to receive gifts specifically dedicated to supporting the Center’s research, education, and outreach activities.
Feline Nutrition was founded in 2008 as an organization dedicated to educating pet parents about the benefits of raw meat diets for felines and to advocate for changing how cats are fed. They are all about providing science-backed information on diet and health, so people can make informed decisions about what to feed their feline family members.
They have gathered information from many sources: veterinarians, researchers, seasoned raw diet experts, authors and people just like you – pet parents who want the best for their cats. They don’t approach the subject of feline nutrition narrowly, like some do, and they believe there are many ways to “do it right.” They want to help you find what works for you and your cats. Above all, they want to change the very definition of what cat food is in people’s minds. Start from what cats evolved to eat and not from what can be made from the leftovers from human food production. When it comes to cat food, everything you thought you knew could very well be wrong. This foundation is here to help.
The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s most effective animal protection organization. With you by their side, they can take on the big fights to end suffering for all animals.
The Humane Society responds to major cruelty and disaster situations, providing hands-on care to horses, companion animals and wildlife. They encourage and empower people to create a more humane society for animals by making kinder, more informed choices. They work with some of the world’s biggest companies to reform and improve their treatment of animals. Through the courts and the ballot box, they fight to improve legal protections for animals and train law enforcement to help stop animal cruelty.
Jackson Galaxy (The Cat Daddy)
Jackson Galaxy is dedicated to making sure your life with a pet the best it can be. Find great products, get expert advice, and connect with others who love cats as much as you do on this site. Learn more about The Jackson Galaxy Project as well.
Jackson Galaxy is the Host & Executive Director of Animal Planet’s hit show My Cat From Hell. The Cat Daddy has more than 20 years of experience teaching cat guardians to understand the world from a cat’s eye view, and helping feline family members get their “mojo” back. The road to Jackson’s unusual profession is documented in the book Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean – a memoir published in 2012. His second book, Catification: Designing a Happy & Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!), was released two years later with co-author and cat style expert Kate Benjamin, reaching the top position on the New York Times Animal Best-Seller list for a month. His third book, Catify to Satisfy: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly Home debuted at #2 on the same New York Times Best-Seller list in November 2015.
Always keeping busy, Jackson serves on the Board of Directors for FixNation, and sits on the Board of Advisors for Neighborhood Cats, Treehouse Humane, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Jackson’s innovative ideas for helping cats and their guardians are also brought to life in The Jackson Galaxy Collection by Petmate Pet Products, an award-winning array of toys, carriers, and more. His life mission to save the 4+ million animals who die in shelters each year is being driven forward by the Jackson Galaxy Foundation, and Spirit Essences, a line of holistic remedies for animals formulated with Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM, continues to help pets and their guardians after more than two decades. Featured on 20/20, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, EXTRA, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post and more, Galaxy’s ability to connect with even the most troubled felines — not to mention the stressed-out humans living in their wake — is awe-inspiring.
Marilyn Krieger (The Cat Coach)
Marilyn Krieger, noted Certified Cat Behavior Consultant known as The Cat Coach, is an internationally recognized cat behavior specialist and award winning author. She offers on-site, Skype and Face Time consultation sessions throughout the world. Marilyn works directly with clients as well as through veterinarian referrals. Her intelligent, capable advice solves diverse behavior problems for all breeds of cats.
Thousands of cat lovers are familiar with Marilyn from the twice-monthly articles she writes for Catster as well as her previous 9 year association with Cat Fancy Magazine when she wrote their monthly cat behavior columns. She also contributes articles to such popular publications as Cats USA and Kittens USA.
Additionally, her book, Naughty No More!, has won numerous awards including the Tidy Cats Feline Behavior award and Muse Medallion in the Cat Writers Association 2011 Communication Contest and the 2012 About.com Readers Choice Award for best cat behavior book. Naughty No More! focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through clicker training, environmental management and other positive reinforcement techniques.
Merck Veterinary Manual, Cat Owners Guide
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Recalls – of which there are three types – are actions taken by a firm to remove a product from the market. Recalls may be conducted on a firm’s own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order under statutory authority. Visit this site for an archive of all recalls and withdrawals. You can also sign up for alerts.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661
Pet Poison Helpline is a 24-hour animal poison control service available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance with treating a potentially poisoned pet.
Preventive Vet is a collective of veterinarians made up of general and emergency practitioners, board-certified surgeons, oncologists, behaviorists and other specialists, as well as respected trainers and other devoted pet lovers. They provide information, educational resources, tips and advice for people who want the best possible life for their cats and dogs. They want to help you keep your pets free from the pain and discomfort of preventable accidents, poisonings and illnesses.
RedRover helps animals rescued from disasters or neglect, domestic violence victims seeking safety with their pets, and animals with life-threatening illnesses. We use innovative solutions to prevent cruelty.
Tanya’s Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
This site shares information and tips from a lay person who has educated herself about CKD in order to help your cat feel better and hopefully extend his/her life. She is not a vet, just an ordinary person who has had her own cats with Chronic Kidney Disease. Her goals are to:
- describe the symptoms which you may be seeing now or which you may see in the future;
- explain what these symptoms and your cat’s test results may mean;
- discuss treatments which can often help, many of which are not very expensive (the most commonly used treatments can usually be obtained for around US$5-10 a week in total);
- cover the emotional aspects of living with CKD and help you to cope with it, including at the end of your CKD journey.
The Spruce Pets offers practical, real-life tips and training advice to help you care for your pet. Our 20-year-strong library of over 3,000 in-depth articles, covers a variety of topics and pet animals, from cats and dogs, to betta fish and pot bellied pigs. Our writers are a team of trainers and registered vet technicians all producing and updating informative articles full of valuable insights honed from years of hands-on work.
The Spruce Pets is part of The Spruce family of sites, including The Spruce, The Spruce Eats and The Spruce Crafts, covering home decor, home repair, recipes, cooking techniques, pets and crafts. The Spruce brand is one of the top 10 largest lifestyle properties online according to comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Our more than 45 expert writers have extensive backgrounds and expertise in their topics, including professional contractors, landscapers, chefs, cookbook authors, registered vet technicians, and well known crafting bloggers. The Spruce is a winner of both a 2018 Communicator award and a 2018 W3 Award.
This website, and its sister website Association for Truth in Pet Food, and Susan Thixton are 100% supported by Pet Owners.
UC Davis, School of Veterinarian Medicine
Center for Companion Animal Health (Cats)
CCAH supports research to improve the health of cats in a range of areas, including genetics, nutrition, cardiology, oncology and much more. Completed studies have led to new treatments and therapy options, new understanding of disease and genetic defects, and new knowledge for improved feline health. Recent studies include:
- Conducting a genetic study of feline meningioma, which is the most common brain tumor in cats and affects the system of membranes that surrounds the central nervous system. All cat breeds are at risk, and the tumor is usually seen in older animals.
- Studying the use of probiotics in obese cats to determine if they result in the animal changing its eating behavior. Some human literature suggests that probiotics produce changes in the gastrointestinal tract that affect appetite and food intake, and possibly alter hormones associated with obesity.
- Assessing the biomarkers in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is the most common cardiac disease in cats. Affected cats are at risk of sudden cardiac death due to defects that produce increased left ventricular heart muscle thickness. In Ragdoll cats, the condition is inherited due to a breed-specific mutation.
- Conducting a comparative investigation of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and dental radiographs in cats to determine the superior method for identifying both anatomical structures and dental disease. This imaging technique provides a virtual three-dimensional computerized reconstruction of the object.
- Exploring the effects of stress in cats with urolithiasis, a condition in which stony concretions form in the bladder or urinary tract. Some cats with urolithiasis won’t exhibit any symptoms, while others may experience difficulty urinating, frequent urination, bloody urine, increased thirst or an enlarged belly.
