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The best cat mats to reduce tracking

Tracking makes your home dirty and is difficult to clean up. With a cat mat, you can prevent litter residues around your home. Simply place a mat outside of your cat’s litter box and vacuum it up to keep your floors clean with minimal work.

Sensitive cat paws can get litter stuck in them. This is uncomfortable and unhealthy for your cat. With a soft trapping mat, your kitty can get the unpleasant litter off its feet so it can be comfy again. Let’s take a look at our top picks.

Gorilla Grip Durable Cat Litter Mat

Most Durable

The Gorilla Grip Durable Cat Litter Mat is a durable solution that is specially designed to capture litter with advanced technology and superior mesh design. The tough construction and high-quality materials make it a wise investment. You will save so much time not sweeping around the litter box anymore.

Pieviev Cat Litter Mat

Easiest to Clean

If you are looking for a low-maintenance solution that is easy to clean, the Pieviev Cat Litter Mat is the product you want. The anti-tracking EZ open edge design has a double layer honeycomb pattern that gathers the litter. You just need to pick it up and dump the collected sand back inside the litter box. For deep cleaning, vacuum it once a week.

UPSKY Double Large Cat Litter Mat

Most Versatile

With two pieces, the UPSKY Double Large Cat Litter Mat is versatile and prevents tracking around your home. The pattern on this item grabs a large amount of litter to keep it out of your cat’s paws or your floors. Use the mat that best fits the shape of your litter box, join both mats together, or place them strategically depending on your cat’s preferences. They also work as a resting pad that is soft and comfortable for your cat to enjoy scratching and playing around the home. Its durable and nonslip design make it the long-lasting way to keep your home clean.

Cat mats are the easy-to-clean answer to tracking. With the items on our list, you can prevent discomfort in your cat’s paws while keeping clean floors. Simply shake, vacuum, or wash the mats for your home to stay fresh and clean.

Bengal cats: What to know about these quirky descendants of Asian leopards
Bengal cat breed facts that may surprise you
A Bengal cat lies on a white floor and bathes their forelimb

With their striking rosette coats and low-maintenance grooming needs, Bengal cats are already one of the most desired breeds in the world. Once known as Safari cats, the breed went through a name change in the 1970s to reflect its fascinating heritage. But what is living like a Bengal cat actually like? Are they as feisty as their Asian leopard ancestors?
We'll explore the Bengal cat's personality in depth, covering everything from a brief look into their history, the most common Bengal personality traits, and any breed-specific requirements that may hinder your quest to adopt one of these lovely cats.

Bengal cat history
While some cat breeds, such as the Egyptian Mau, can trace their lineage as far back as 10,000 B.C.E., the Bengal cat is a relative newcomer on the scene. The Bengal cat was first bred deliberately in California in the 1980s, after cat breeder Jean Mill crossed a domestic shorthair (a black tomcat) with an Asian leopard cat. Asian leopard cats, a breed of dainty wildcats hailing from Southeast Asia, are also known as Felis bengalensis -- hence the aforementioned name change from Safari cat to "Bengal cat," -- a nod to this hybrid breed's wild ancestor.
However, there may be another reason for the switch that led to the newly dubbed Bengal cat. When the breed's name was changed in 1974, the man responsible was named William "Bill" Engler -- B. Engler. Some believe he drew inspiration from his own name.

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Can cats suffer from mental health conditions the way dogs can?
What you need to know about your cat's mental health
A blue-eyed white cat sprawls out on top of a rug with a forlorn expression

As it turns out, man's best friend has quite a lot in common with humans. Just like us, dogs can suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year." With such staggering numbers, it's easy to understand why the self-help industry is booming. But what about cats? Are our feline family members similarly affected by mental health issues?
While dogs are typically more expressive regarding their moods, cats can be more difficult to read. A dog suffering from depression may refuse to play with his favorite toy, but what behaviors can you expect from your feline friend? Do cats suffer from depression and anxiety the way some dogs do? We'll take a deep dive into the world of cat mental health, so we can answer the question once and for all.

Can cats have mental illnesses?
In her 2014 book "Animal Madness," Dr. Laurel Braitman writes, "There is not a branch of veterinary science, ethology (the science of animal behavior), neuroscience, or wildlife ecology dedicated to investigating whether animals can be mentally ill." While we can't read our cat's mind, we can use their typical behavior to gauge sudden personality changes that might ring a few alarm bells.
Two commonly diagnosed mental issues in cats are obsessive-compulsive disorder -- often abbreviated as OCD -- and cat anxiety. In cases of OCD, you may notice your cat excessively grooming the same location on her body, which can lead to redness, swelling, skin irritation, and even hair loss. However, excessive grooming is also a symptom of anxiety, though anxiety is often accompanied by additional concerning behaviors, such as decreased appetite, incessant yowling, and even drooling.
Details are scant regarding exactly how many cats suffer from mental health issues, but the fact remains that your frisky feline can be affected by OCD, anxiety, or depression. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that cats can even have autism.

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Do cats get separation anxiety just like dogs do?
Here's how to help your cat cope with separation anxiety
Anxious calico cat lying in the cat bed of a cat tree

As many of us begin to return to work and school after years of pandemic-related remote work or study, you may notice your fur babies are behaving strangely. Although it's a fairly well-known fact that dogs can suffer from separation anxiety when their human family members leave for work or leave the house at all, not everyone knows that our cats can suffer the same issue.

Cat separation anxiety occurs less frequently than it does in dogs, but that doesn't make it any less distressing to witness. Do you think your cat has separation anxiety? Then you've likely noticed unusual behavioral changes. But try not to worry -- there are many solutions that can help reduce your cat's anxiety.

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