Travel Made Easy
Then: Unless it was a road trip, Fluffy didn't travel. Carriers were hard plastic crates; some had wire tops with fabric covers.
Now: Jet-setting cats travel with their owners in style. Soft-sided carriers reflect the latest fashion trends. They're roomy and comfortable, lined with lambs wool and plush pillows. Harnesses, leads and jewel-encrusted collars coordinate with the color d jour.
Traveling with your cat just wasn't done that much unless it was your car, Thompson says. Forty years ago, airlines were only just starting to let [cats] fly, and that's opened a whole new world of on-board carriers. You can now get wonderful ones that have breathable coverings and are more pliable and flexible.
Spa Day
Then: The standard metal comb and pair of guillotine-style nail clippers were all cat owners needed.
Now: Owners can choose from a growing range of tools designed for a cats coat. Scissor-cut clippers make claw trimming easy. And spa gear includes aroma-therapeutic shampoos and conditioners, waterless wipes and herb-infused formulas that repel fleas.
Depending on the type of cat, how long the hair is and how spoiled it is, there are all types of grooming devices, Vetere says. There are brushes out there that I would use on myself in a heartbeat.
Supplements for What Ails You
Then: What? Vitamins for cats?
Now: If Fluffy suffers from hairballs, theres a supplement for that. When she reaches her senior years, her owners can give her glucosamine tablets. Food makers add antioxidants and nutraceuticals to foods. As the human market expands its supplement shelves, so does the pet market.Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4