Top-10 Cat Articles for the First Half of 2015 (original) (raw)

What’s in a name? In the case of cats, apparently a great deal.

An examination of the most-viewed cat articles from the first half of 2015 reveals what most cat (and pet) enthusiasts already know: That naming rights are a privilege we take very seriously. In fact, readers have viewed our piece entitled Naming Your Orange Cat: Name Ideas for Cats with Orange or Red Haircoats more than any other article since January 1.

Just in case you needed further proof, our other articles related to cat naming based upon haircoat color also proved popular during this timeframe: Black Cat Names, Grey Cat Names and White Cat Names. And if you’re looking for assistance with naming a cat based on factors other than its hair color, we recommend checking out our Complete List of Cat Names.

Once our readers had assigned an appropriate name to accompany their kitty throughout its life, their attention diverted to a smorgasbord of diverse cat-related material, as the remainder of the Top-10 list touched on various health and behavioral topics. Curiosity, it turns out, is not just for cats.

Behold the Top-10 most-viewed cat articles from the first half of 2015:

1. Naming Your Orange Cat: Name Ideas for Cats with Orange or Red Haircoats
   You have a kitty on the way and it’s time to play the name game. But where can you turn if you’re drawing a blank or have reached a stalemate in your name generation attempt? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Since cat owners often strive to name their feline friend in accordance with her physical characteristics, this particular article addresses prospective names for cats with orange or red haircoats. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be prepared for “Auburn” or “Pumpkin Head” to grace you with her presence.
2. What is Your Cat Saying? Reading Your Cat’s Body Language
   Wouldn’t you love to know what your cat is thinking? You can sit and watch your cat for hours but you never know just what is going on within that little head. Your cat squints at you, fluttering her eyelids until they almost close. She switches his tail. Is she angry or just excited? We may not know, but we can make some pretty good assumptions about what cats are thinking based upon the full context of their behavioral signing and events that normally follow. This article discusses those intriguing assumptions that can be drawn.
3. Why Cats “Wag” Their Tails
   Long and graceful, a cat’s tail represents one of the species’ most notable physical features. It floats behind her as she walks and curls around her body as she sleeps. But beyond its sheer beauty, what purpose does a cat’s tail serve? It turns out the answer is somewhat involved – a cat’s tail plays a role in everything from communicating with other animals to serving as a barometer of a cat’s feelings to distracting her prey during a hunt. But to get to the tail-end of this discussion, you must read the article.
4. 16 Symptons You Should Never Ignore in Your Cat
   No matter how many extra lives cats are perceived to have, certain health symptoms exist that simply cannot be ignored if observed in your feline. By detecting your cat’s health problem early, you may be able to thwart an underlying disease that otherwise could be potentially life-threatening. This article depicts 16 such symptoms, ranging from loss of appetite to breathing problems to pale gums.
5. How to Convert Your Reclusive Cat into a Cuddly Lap Kitty
   It’s an ultimate goal for many cat lovers: Transforming a reclusive cat into a kitty starved for your affection. While some cats seem to be born with innate anti-social character traits, other felines have proven capable of being converted into social butterflies. But how can you tell which category your reclusive cat falls into and, provided it’s the latter group, how can you commence the process of socializing your cat? Delve into this article to find out.
6. Facial Swelling in Cats
   Suddenly finding your cat with a swollen face can be quite startling, and determining the cause of the swelling often proves challenging. That’s why this article comes in handy. By providing a guide to causation, diagnosis and treatment of facial swelling in cats, this article will ease you concern and provide the foundation upon which you can administer home care.
7. The Top 8 Reasons Why Your Kitty Won’t Use the Litter Box
   Litter box avoidance and inappropriate elimination typically represent the most irritating points of contention between humans and their feline friends. This disagreement can ruin a house as well as a cat-human friendship. But what can you do if your cat refuses to use the litter box? This article analyzes eight common reasons for a cat’s refusal, suggesting potential means of fixing this problem and preserving cat-human relationships everywhere.
8. Skin Growth, Lump, Tumor Swelling or Mass in Cats
   Skin growths are lumps of tissue that are within the skin and can be felt under the skin. These bumps are fairly common occurrences, especially in older cats. While the word “lump” often conjures an association with cancer, there are a myriad of other causes, many of which are less serious. With the assistance of this article, you will receive an overview regarding lumps in cats, including determining benign vs. malignant tumors and treating various skin disorders.
9. Panting in Cats – Is It Normal?
   Ever witness your cat panting? While panting is not particularly common nor considered normal for felines, after brisk play or a stressful experience, some cats have been known to utilize the open-mouthed breathing, protruding tongue and shallow respirations that generally characterize panting. But should you be concerned if your cat does, in fact, pant? That all depends. Read on to learn how you can determine whether your cat’s panting can be ignored or whether it is the precursor to a potentially serious illness.
10. Why do Cats Rub up Against Things?
    Although cats have earned a reputation for being independent and aloof, several of their actions contradict this widely-shared belief. Case-in-point: One of a cat’s most endearing qualities involves stroking and rubbing you with her chin. While this might seem like a simple display of affection, cats are equipped with glands that secrete pheromones during this rubbing process as a form of chemical communication. Read more about this intriguing behavior whereby a cat rubs against you in order to claim you as her own.