MSI Press Blog

  Today we celebrate the creatures who rule our homes, our routines, and our hearts — cats. Whether they’re curled in a sunbeam, supervising your keyboard, or reminding you that dinner is late, they embody independence and affection in equal measure. International Cat Day honors not just their charm but their presence — the quiet companionship, the humor, the mystery. It’s a day to pause and appreciate how cats teach us balance: rest when you need to, play when you can, and always keep your dignity intact. So, give your feline companions an extra treat, a gentle brush, or a slow blink of love. They’ve earned it — every day, but especially today.] And if you can, please contribute to cats in war zones . They need it. Learn more about cats. See our many Caturday posts. Be entertained. See all our posts about cats . Be inspired. See posts by and about Sula , parish cat, and her books. Have a chuckle. Read posts by and about Jeremy Feig's award-winning book (book of the year finalist,...

Some topics in cat care are endlessly debated, and this one sits right at the top. Wet food or dry food — which is better, when, and for whom? The answer isn’t a single rule. It’s a constellation of needs, habits, health quirks, and feline opinions (which, as we know, can override all logic). Hydration: The Wet Food Advantage Cats are desert-evolved creatures with a famously low thirst drive. Many simply won’t drink enough water on their own. Wet food steps in as a hydration hero. Great for: Seniors Cats prone to urinary crystals or kidney disease Cats who rarely drink from a bowl Why it matters: Moisture-rich meals help keep urine dilute, kidneys supported, and hydration steady. For some cats, wet food isn’t just a preference — it’s a medical strategy. Dental Health & Convenience: The Dry Food Argument Dry food is often praised for convenience: easy to store, easy to measure, easy to leave out. It can also support dental health a little , though not nearly as much as people th...

  When I first started tending the land, I thought farming was about control — about managing soil, water, and weather with precision. My cat taught me otherwise. She was a quiet observer of the world, moving through the garden with the kind of patience I hadn’t yet learned. She didn’t rush the process of discovery. She watched the bees hover, the seedlings stretch, the wind shift. She reminded me that the land doesn’t respond to command; it responds to care. I began to notice what she noticed — the subtle signs of change, the way the earth speaks in small gestures. A leaf curling before rain. A bird’s sudden silence. The rhythm of dusk. Farming became less about production and more about relationship. When she died, I realized how deeply she had shaped my way of being with the land. I planted a patch of catnip in her honor, not as a memorial, but as a continuation. Each season, when it blooms, I remember that tending is an act of love — and that love, like soil, needs time, attent...

  When we were living in Pittsburgh, a little orange kitten showed up one day and quickly became pals with Shane, who named him Puff. He was an indoor–outdoor cat, always turning up for his meals and for petting, as if he knew he belonged. When we moved to Arlington, Virginia, we took Puff with us—how could we leave him behind? He adapted easily to the new neighborhood, a quiet area tucked away from traffic and noise. Good for kids. Good for a cat. For a while, everything felt right. Then, about a year later, Puff stopped wanting to go outside. He curled up in the corner of the study and slept—and slept—and slept. We worried. Was he sick? Had he eaten something bad? We took him to the vet on Monday morning, hoping for medicine or a change of food. The diagnosis was devastating: feline leukemia, likely contracted from other outdoor cats in Virginia. In Pittsburgh, our neighborhood had been so isolated that cats roamed freely and safely—something that’s rare now. But in Arlington, FL...