Cats for Dummies (For Dummies Series)

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Use water and loud noises: Slyly squirting your cat with a squirt bottle, setting off compressed air in a can (with or without a horn), loudly shaking pennies in an empty soda can, and squeezing a squeaky dog toy (cats don't like the sound, but you can't use this device if you also have a dog, because they do!) are all tools to stop your cat in the middle of a bad act and convince her that maybe a repeat isn't in her best interest. For those cats who don't respond to neutering, environmental stresses -- such as a new person in the house or a neighbor's cat in the yard -- may be triggering the spraying. Anti-anxiety drugs may help, as can cleaning sprayed areas thoroughly and covering them with foil to discourage fresh marking. (Cats dislike anything involving foil, and the sound of urine hitting the stuff really annoys them.) Don't hit your cat for spraying, even if you catch him in the act -- doing so makes him even more insecure and likely to mark. If you haven’t yet adopted a cat or kitten, or haven’t had one for awhile, you might start at the very beginning. If you’re experiencing some behavior problems, jump to that chapter. Adopted by a pregnant cat? We have you covered.

A kitten may be a poor choice for families with very young children or for someone who’s struggling with advanced age or illness. For all their spunk, kittens are fragile and may accidentally be hurt by young children who don’t understand the concept of gentle. Similarly, a kitten isn’t the best choice for anyone who’s a little unsteady on his feet or isn’t able to chase or otherwise keep up with an energetic feline baby. Cats are the purrfect pets: they're relatively easy to care for, a blast to play with, and sure to win the heart of every member of your family with their loving nature-and sometimes sassy demeanor! Moving a cat to a new home requires planning, patience, and care. For information on how to make the move work for you both, see Chapter 12. Cats can take care of themselves Unfortunately, too many cat lovers don't even try to understand, reacting instead in the way that makes sense to the human animal -- in anger that can start with physical punishment (which never works on a cat) and can end with a one-way trip to the shelter.In 1947, cat lover Kaye Draper of Cassopolis, Michigan, sought sawdust for her cat’s box from a local business. The firm also sold kiln-dried, granulated clay for cleaning up grease spills. Edward Lowe, son of the shop’s owner, suggested that the woman take home some of the absorbent clay instead, and an industry was born. Well-documented stories abound of cats traveling hundreds — even thousands — of miles to return to an old home after moving. This amazing behavior leads many people to believe that cats prefer places to people. Sadly, the same belief prompts some to leave their cats behind if they move, figuring that the animals are happier at the old house and hoping the new residents take them in. But there's more to owning a cat than having a cute, soft, purring companion. Before you get one, there are a few things you should think about, and a few things that are just plain good to know. Behavior issues are a main cause of shelter surrender - and shelter euthanasia is the number one cause of death in cats - so it's important to learn how to provide an environment your cat can thrive in.

Emergency care is required for everything from eating something she shouldn’t to catching the feline flu. Take your kitten to the vet immediately if you notice You're asking a lot of a cat whenever you bring her into your home, and the fact that, in most cases, the situation works as well as it does says a lot about the strength of the love between cats and people. You ask your cat to relieve herself where you want her to instead of anywhere in her territory. You ask her to scratch in one place instead of marking every surface in her life. You ask her to ignore her ability to jump gracefully onto tables and countertops and adjust her naturally nocturnal schedule to your daytime one. As incredible as the thought seems to humans, many dogs do indeed consider cat feces to be every bit as wonderful as dog biscuits -- they're drawn to the undigested protein. Three combination vaccinations at three- to four-week intervals, starting at the age of six to nine weeks. Feline leukemia vaccination after initial testing; if test is positive, discuss lifestyle limitations with your veterinarian. Rabies vaccination at 12 to 16 weeks, or as required by law.

The cat chose domestication on her own terms and chose our companionship the same way. We’re only now starting to understand fully what a wonderful gift we’ve been offered. From Humble Beginnings: How Cats Became So Popular You're certain to be astonished at how much the cat purring in your lap reminds you of this stunning wild cat. The way the tiger walks, with understated elegance and always the promise of power. The way the tiger hunts, still and focused except for the tiniest twitch at the end of the tail.