​Halloween is an American tradition. Kids and adults enjoy the fall with pumpkins, spiced teas and lattes, colorful leaves and orange decorations. Strolling along some of the most charismatic New York neighborhoods we all get lost in memories of past Halloweens. Enjoying the decorations and the Halloween tv specials or horror movies that come out during this period. And of course, Halloween night, when kids come out to collect candy. Unfortunately it is sad that some people prefer to hurt pets during this time of the year. Make sure you keep your pets inside, not only they'll be warmer but the risk of losing your beloved cat increases during this period. Some shelters have a "no black cats adoption policy" before Halloween. They could just be used as Halloween props and then abandoned. Or much worse. Ritual sacrifice still exists, there are stories in the newspapers every now and then describing horrible scenes. Some could be dismissed as urban legends but the possibility is out there.

Black cats have had a bad reputation since the 12th and 13th centuries. The European superstition relating black cats and witches crossed to America. During the time when women suspected of being witches were burnt many black cats were burned along the "witches". Read more about black cats in our article - Celebrating Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17th

For all those reasons, please keep your cats indoors during October. Your neighbors might be wonderful but the traffic of strangers around Halloween increases. This makes it unsafe for cats to be outside, specially gentle cats who do not fear humans.
On Halloween night you might want to keep your cats in a quiet room to avoid the constant visits and ringing. Even the quietest and most social cat becomes upset with so much traffic, costumes and excitement.

Kitty in NY has a wide selection of people who love cats and are available to provide the perfect temporary home when you leave the city. We also propose cat sitting services for shorter periods. Our in-home cat boarding and cat sitting solutions will help you enjoy your time away. Contact us and send us more information about the service you need. We'll be glad to help you.

Which one makes a better pet? Males or females? This is still one of the questions many cat people discuss. There are strong opinions on both sides. After some consideration the bottom line is that personality is what really matters.

Let's review some of the debating points:

• Many of the arguments are based on non fixed animal behaviors. All indoor only cats should be neutered or spayed. A neutered/spayed cat makes a better pet! Non fixed males tend to roam further and are very territorial (spraying to mark the boundaries). They can also be more aggressive towards new cats and get into fights that can lead to very expensive vet bills. Intact females go into heat every few months, their sole purpose in life is to breed and multiply. It has a toll on her health and her personality won't be loving, all they want is to be alone and have some peace...
• A neutered male will make a loving pet. They tend to be (by nature) more territorial, but they are usually calmer and happier. Family, breed, early socialization are also important factors. And not all cat owners want a lap cat, some prefer a more independent pet!
• A spayed female might redirect some of her mother instincts towards the human who shares her apartment. It was not a meditated choice but all my cats have been females. I have had very sweet cat companions and some that were more challenging but all in all, cat people understand cats and respect their personality. That is what makes cats special, each of them will develop a routine, a character, will have good and bad days, like us, humans. When you get a skittish cat to trust you, look for you and to sit close to you on the couch to watch your favorite tv show can be very rewarding!

• Males and female cats have different nutrition and space needs. Females tend to be happier in smaller apartments. Males who have enjoyed a bigger territory migh have a difficult time adjusting to a minuscule studio apartment. Levels (shelves, tables, chairs) are a big help, cats understand each level is a new territory which can be of great help when living in a small apartment.

Kitty in NY helps male and female cats. We provide the best cat boarding and cat sitting solutions in the city! Your cat/s will be in good hands while you're away. Contact us and send us more details about the service you need. We'll be glad to help you with your cat.

When I was a teenager we used to take the same route to school every day. On our way we were still sleepy and it was colder, most of the time I did not even realize what was going on around me. But I was eager to observe the neighborhood cats on our way back.

My parent's house was in a middle class neighborhood. Tree lined streets, small houses with a decen front porch and a small garden. Most of our neighbors had one or two cats. Some of them were allowed in the house, others had to stay outside.

The house at the corner belonged to Mrs Abercrombie, a widow in her 60's. She had a very plain front porch with no chairs, plants or flowers. Her white house was what we later called minimalist. She was not into decoration. Her cat was a large black cat, we just called him "the black cat". He was not afraid of humans, he would look at us and wouldn't move an inch. He did not like to be touched.

The second house was always empty, it became a no man territory with wild plants growing everywhere. A couple of times we jumped the fence to find nothing but trash and dusty old stuff. Once we found the body of a dead cat, a ginger tabby was rotting in the back yard. We had never seen him before.

Our neighbors next door were Mr and Mrs Dawson. They had two cats, a male and a female, both tabbies and skittish cats. We could look at them for a few seconds before they run into the house through an open window. They would often stare at us from behind the blinds.

​My favorite was a Persian cat. He belonged to Mr Crown, a retired gentleman who had been a diplomat. He was a distinguished old man, always dressed in fancy clothes. He had gray hair and glasses. His cat was a gorgeous cream Persian cat with orange eyes. Every time I passed by Mr Crown's living room windows I would look to see if his cat was taking a nap by the window. One day Mr Crown invited us in to meet his cat. It was a special moment, touching that silky coat with those orange eyes looking at me.

While growing up that was my favorite moment of the day, on my way back home. A true cat walk. 

Kitty in NY provides the perfect cat care solution for you. When you go out of town send us an email with your dates and we'll get back to you as soon a possible. Our cat boarding and cat sitting options will help you enjoy your time away from the city. Contact Kitty in NY with more details.