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| Cats Make Great
Pets If You Understand Them | By Ian White Anyone wanting a new kitten
should be a cat lover. Let’s face it, folks, cats are just different from dogs. Cats do not usually perform any special
tricks, and they certainly do not guard your possessions while you are away. In fact, the only thing you can be guaranteed
of by having a cat is that a mouse won’t last long if they creep into your home.
Cats are loved by many because
of their independence. Cats have a life, so to speak. Most cats do not follow you around the home with their tongues hanging
out of their mouths waiting on your attention. While they do love their owners fiercely, cats will not grovel like a dog and
worship and fawn over their owners. Cats are perfectly content simply being themselves--and they do not seem to need constant
reassurance, unlike canines.
This does not mean cats do not need love and affection, it simply means cats are not
“fragile” characters. In fact, cats exude a self assurance which can often be misunderstood as aloofness or coldness.
Yet, cats are far from aloof or unfeeling. They feel deeply and love deeply. If a cat comes to sit on your lap, you know you
are truly loved.
Anytime the family thinks about bringing a new pet into the home, it is exciting. Cats are a favorite
of many because as kittens they are so entertaining to watch. Cats have a mind all of their own and only a true cat lover
can even claim to understand the psyche of a feline. Cats are mysterious animals, which is part of the draw to them. While
cats have been brought into the home, their instincts still remain. Cats adopt their owners and will even go out and provide
“dinner.” Many cat owners have stepped out on the stoop to find a dead mouse, opossum, or mole waiting for them.
Now, that is love and loyalty!
If you are planning to bring a cat into your home, you should look at it as a life
long commitment. Cats can live fifteen years and beyond. You should also understand that as cats mature, they will often sleep
and laze around the home. If you are wanting a cat to entertain you throughout her life, you should seriously think about
whether a cat is the pet for you. Kittens are very entertaining and young cats are always curious and open for a challenge.
However, older cats aren’t easily excitable and usually prefer to watch the antics in the home from a distance.
When you have made the decision to bring a new cat into your home, you will have to decide between a domestic or purebred
cat. If you choose to go with a purebred cat, you can be guaranteed of size and appearance, and possibly temperament. There
are more than 40 breeds to choose from, so do your homework. You will want to research the grooming requirements of the breed
you are considering, along with the general disposition of the breed.
Domestic cats come in all colors and shapes.
When you look at any cat, there are some things you should consider. For instance, while all cats are fairly in proportion
to each other, there are some cats which are more lanky and lean than others. These cats will be the ones who may be more
interested in running and exploration. The chunkier, heavier cat will probably be more laid back and not get into too big
a hurry about anything. You have a choice between a domestic long hair or domestic short hair cat.
When picking
out your kitten, you should understand that kittens should not have an odor. While puppies do tend to have a smell about them,
kittens do not. You should observe the entire litter of kittens. Do any of them have crusty eyes or a runny nose? If so, you
may want to reconsider choosing a kitten from that litter. You certainly shouldn’t take one home simply because you
feel sorry for it, either. Especially if you have other pets in your home. All of the kittens should have bright and clear
eyes and be very alert.
You should handle the kittens. Their fur should be soft and silky, and never stiff or dry.
Likewise, their coat should not feel oily or greasy. When you are petting the kitten, you should run your hands along her
skin to ensure she has no sores. When you are holding each kitten, place them up to your face and nuzzle them. Listen for
any breathing noises. You should not hear any raspy or breathy breathing. If you do, this is possibly a signal that the kitten
has a respitory infection.
After visiting with the kittens, instinct will usually dictate to you which kitten is
your match. You may feel the rowdy, rambunctious kitten will fit the best into your lively home. Or, you may decide the laid
back kitten is more your speed, especially if you have a quiet home. Once you have made your decision and chosen your kitten,
you should have a kennel waiting for travel. You should never try to ride in a car with a cat unless they are restrained or
in a kennel. While most dogs love car rides, cats tend to scare. They can cower under your feet and this can lead to a wreck. When
you bring your new kitten into your home, you should immediately show her where the litter box, food and water are located.
You should also have a supply of cat toys on hand to distract the cat from missing her mom and litter mates. While this cannot
entirely be avoided, lavishing attention on a new kitten will do wonders in the transition to her new family.
You
should expect your new kitten to explore every nook and cranny in the home. This is a necessary part of a kitten’s disposition.
(Even older cats seem to perk up when a new piece of furniture is brought into a home they have lived in for years.) You will
want to kitten proof your home. You should keep the lids down on the toilet, and you may want to remove potted plants and
the like until your cat learns the rules.
Cats are social creatures, and they can learn the rules of their new
environment with consistency. While you may think they do not understand what you are saying, this is not true. If you have
a new kitten who wants to walk across the kitchen counter or dining room table, simply rattling a newspaper at her and saying
“down” will teach her to stay off. With time you will be able to put the newspaper away and simply speak the command.
Kittens can add joy to any home. Part of the fun is knowing the kitten is oblivious to the fact that she is the center
of attention. She is not trying to gain your attention by performing. She is simply being a cat. You should also not be upset
if your kitten is not interested in being a lap cat. While she may be content for a few moments on your lap, kittens have
to roam, play and explore. As your cat matures she will be more inclined to take it easy curled up on your lap. Until then,
just make her feel loved and you will have a feline that will adore you and her new home.
Copyright © 2005,
Ian White
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Cats and Children
If you have small children in the house and in particular those under the age of three then a cat might not be the
best pet to have around.
This is taking into consideration
both the child and the cat's well-being.
Cats love to snuggle into people for company and warmth and this can
be particularly dangerous where cats have been known to get into bed with babies and smother them unintentionally.
Another problem can occur when young kittens like to play with children.
Kittens
have particularly sharp teeth and claws and when they play they can get overly excited and do a lot of damage to the tender
skin of children.
There is also the chance for the child to get scratched in the eye when playing with a kitten.
On the other hand, cats can get a hard life from children.
Young children often tend to be a little bit heavy-handed when handling cats, and this can lead to anxiety for the cat. If there are cats and children in the family, then it is a wise decision to teach
the children how to handle a cat correctly
Children need to be told how to pick up the cat and handle it carefully
and also to become aware of when the cat doesn't want to be handled any longer and would like to be left alone in peace. Many cats also get quite stressed with loud noise and sudden action which is something
that is quite common with young children.
It is good for
children to learn to be considerate towards animals at a young age.
They will not only treat animals better but will
also be more considerate towards other people, so having a pet in the family that the children can learn to respect can be
excellent for developing better people.
The Responsibilities of Owning A Cat
Cats can live on average 15 years so when someone decides to adopt a kitten or young cat it is a long-term commitment.
Cats need more than just a home, food, water and the occasional cuddle.
Being responsible for the health and well being of your cat, the owner needs to understand the full scope of what
a cat needs in order to be healthy and happy.
A cat
is an expense that a new owner should understand before making the commitment. The initial vet visit will include an examination,
vaccinations, and possibly altering the cat. All of this can run approximately $250.00
Cats require special equipment like someplace to sleep, a litter box for each cat, cat toys for entertainment and
exercise, food dish and water dish, a cat carrier, cat grooming tools such as brushes and combs, cat climbing towers, scratching
posts and a cat collar with ID tag.
To be healthy cats
require a proper diet that is geared for its age and physical abilities. Incorrect food can lead to disease, bad teeth, diarrhea,
urinary problems and finicky eating behavior. In addition to food, the cat needs daily fresh water in a clean water bowl.
The owner needs to monitor the cat so that it does not gain too much weight or become underweight.
Longhaired cats will require grooming. They should be brushed at least 3 times
a week to prevent fur matting and to reduce the occurrence of hairballs. A shorthaired cat should be brushed at least once
a week.
You will need to trim the nails on your cat or
he will use your furniture to do this. If you forget to trim the nails they can become caught in the carpet.
Cats can get parasites so paying attention for the presence of fleas and worms
is important. A cat's ears should be checked regularly for ear mites. Vet yearly exams and vaccinations are all a part of responsible cat ownership and the best way to maintain your cat's
health.
A cat needs more than food, water and vet care
- a cat needs you! A cat desires to be played with, to be cuddled and petted and spoiled. A cat likes to be spoken to and
adored. A cat that is ignored is a cat that will develop behavior problems.
Along with cat ownership and the responsibility outlined above, a cat owner must be prepared for the cat to steal
their way into your heart. Cats have definite personalities and can make themselves heard when it comes to likes and dislikes.
They will be vocal or affectionate when the occasion calls for it. Cat owners that take the time, money and invest
them into the care and companionship that all cats need, are lucky because a cat will return ten-fold what it receives
in companionship and affection.
Spending Quality Time with Your Pet
Kittens
love to play and while we might not have unlimited time to devote to them there is nothing better than to spend the time playing
and develop a relationship with them that they will keep for life.
At times when you won't be able to spend the time playing, the kitten will need some toys to keep it amused.
Kittens love soft toys as they can get their claws into them easily and roll about on the floor without causing themselves
any injury.
Other toys that will keep a kitten amused
for hours will be anything that will roll along the floor such as a ball, as they can chase it around.
Anything that
you get a kitten to play with needs to be safe and you really need to think in terms of having a young child where small objects
can be chewed or swallowed and cause injury.
Also, anything that has sharp edges can cause injury and shouldn't
be given to a kitten to play with.
It is also a good idea
to have a scratching pole that the kitten knows it can use to scratch as it will need to scratch something and you certainly
don't want that to be your furniture.
You can make your own scratching pole by attaching carpet to a wooden
pole or alternatively there are some very good poles available that have various nooks and crannies in them that the kitten
will enjoy playing in and climbing through.
Once the kitten
is comfortable with it's environment and knows where it's home is it can be let outside to play and to make life a
lot easier there is nothing better than the convenience of a cat door to let it come in and out of the house without you having
to open and shut doors.
The only problem with a cat door
is the fact that other cats can also come into the house and eat your cat's food.
This can be solved by getting
an electronic cat door that will only open when it registers that the cat coming through the door is your own and that is
done by having your cat wear a specific collar that is linked to the operation of the door.
The Cost of Keeping Your Cat Healthy
While we all expect to pay for pet food on a regular basis when we own a cat, it is those times when we need to get
additional prescriptions for medical supplies where the expense quickly builds up.
While you should always listen to the recommendations of your veterinarian, there are alternative places where you
can buy medical supplies that are considerably cheaper than many of the outlets we commonly use.
These savings have been the result of Internet sites that offer the supply of pet
prescriptions at discounts that are not available elsewhere.
They all offer the same products that you would expect
to find at your veterinarians, but with reduced overheads and widespread distribution throughout the country you can save
a considerable amount of money and ensure that your cat gets optimal treatment without having to worry about the financial
aspect that is so often a determining factor for many people with their pets health.
You no longer have to make decisions that a determined primarily on finances, as you will be unable to buy the required
prescriptions at more suitable rates. You can even get advice
from some of these sites that will help you to resolve minor problems rather than having to take your cat to the vet.
Obviously you would only use this where the problems are minor as you would not like to endanger your pet's health by
making incorrect decisions.
Many of the ailments that your cat might get however, can quite easy be resolved through
the use of good information, commonsense and quality products that are designed specifically for these problems.
In addition to the prescription medications, you will also find the usual worming
tablets, powders and other pet health products that you would normally buy at the local pet store, at cheaper rates online.
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Understanding your cat also encompasses knowledge about the health
issues that you will surely face one time or another throughout
your cats life.
I highly recommend that
all cat owners own a copy handy for reference, especially on those nights when you can't reach the vet. It will
also advise you what to do in emergencies.
Questions will always arise regarding your cat's health.This
book lists symptoms, illnesses and their remedies.
Dr. Pitcairn Natural Health For Cats & Dogs
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