Readers Talk Back

Although I maintain my opinion that cat "colds" are not zoonotic diseases, many of my readers disagreed with me. Are the colds they share with their cats simply coincidental, or is there more to it than even the experts believe?

This is a hot topic and there is very little middle ground for discussion. Geographical and cultural differences play some role in the debate, as do the mind-set many of us grew up with. Although for the largest period of my own cat-raising years, my family believed we owed it to our cats to let them have free access outdoors. Sad experience led to an epiphany, and I crossed to the other way of thinking. Now I'm more moderate, in that I do allow one of our cats outdoors, but only when I am with her, and she never roams out of my view.

This cute cat photo just begged for a clever caption, and my readers arose to the challenge by submitting their captions. Several were chosen and an ultimate poll elected the winner, who received nothing but "bragging rights."

I took issue with an expert who was quoted in an article as saying that cats are basically solitary animals. It seems that our readers concurred with me, for the most part.

Wordless Wednesday is a popular even around the blogosphere, and devoted readers of About.com Cats look forward to it. Kung-Fu Kitty is a really funny photo, and drew quite few comments.