Cats
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Basics
Cats are popular household pets because they’re enjoyable and rewarding, yet relatively low cost and low maintenance.
Acquiring a cat means taking responsibility for it for 15 years (the average age most cats live until).
Owning a cat is a commitment which should be carefully considered.
It's recommended that the first place you look for a new cat is your local animal shelter.
There are two categories of cats, crossbreed and pedigree.
Crossbreed cats come about through the breeding of cats of different breeds whereas pedigree cats come about through the breeding of cats of the same breed.
Crossbreed cats can generally be acquired for free; pedigree cats must normally be purchased (there may also be a waiting list).
Crossbreed cats are more popular than pedigree ones and account for the vast majority of domestic cat pets.
Health
It’s your responsibility to ensure that your cat: is vaccinated; receives veterinary care when it gets sick or injured; is free of worms and fleas; is within a sensible weight range.
Your cat should see a vet at least once a year for an examination and annual shots.
Initial vaccinations are usually first given to cats at six to eight weeks of age.
Booster vaccinations are required throughout the lifetime of your cat.
Illness in cats is often first characterised by a failure to eat or drink.
Dental disease is a common reason for cats being taking to veterinary clinics.
Frequent trips to the litter box, blood in the urine or crying out or straining when urinating, are signs that your cat urgently needs to see a vet.
Fleas and ticks are a problem for cats; they cause severe itching and inflammation of the skin.
The occurrence of fleas and ticks is dependent on the type of area you live in and how much contact your cat has with other animals.
Injections, rub-on ointments and special collars can be used to prevent and remove fleas and ticks.
If your cat is constantly scratching at its ears or shaking it’s head, it may have ear mites.
Cats can be infected with several types of worms; some can be treated at home whereas others require veterinary attention.
Always be very wary of giving your cat medication that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian specifically for your cat.
You can judge your cat's weight by its ribs; if they’re clearly visible, it’s too thin, and if they’re difficult to find by touch, it’s overweight.
Special foods / supplements / dietary schedules are available from vets to correct weight issues with cats.
Indications that your cat is healthy: agility; clear eyes; good appetite; pricked ears; quickly responsive to sounds; quiet and even breathing; well-groomed and glossy coat.
Feeding
Cats require a diet which is high in protein and fat content.
Feeding your cat a range of dry, wet and raw food ensures that all of its nutritional needs are met.
Most canned and dried cat foods include added vitamins and minerals to specifically meet your cats dietary requirements.
Different cat food is available for each stage of a cat's life: kitten; adult; senior.
Feed your cat in the same place every time; it should be a quiet location that's well away from its litter box.
Don't automatically use a whole can / packet of food per meal; instead follow the guidelines stated on the food packaging.
Two or three small meat meals a day, at set intervals, is better than leaving a full bowl of food out all day.
Leave your cat’s food out for a set period of time (15 to 30 minutes), and then take it away until the next feeding time.
Allow your cat access to a plate of dry food throughout the day.
Cats digestive systems tend to be delicate; changing the type or brand of food that you give them may cause diarrhea.
Teach your cat at an early age to accept a variety of foods / brands.
It’s advisable that you buy premium brand cat food; doing so will likely extend the life of your cat.
A healthy treat in addition to your cat’s regular food is a useful training tool; however, limit them to a few a day.
Limiting between-meal extras is essential to keeping your cat within a healthy weight range.
Avoid feeding your cat meat with small bones in it as they can get stuck in it's throat.
Don't feed your cat: alcoholic beverages; chocolate; coffee; moldy or spoiled food; poultry bones; salt & salty foods.
Your cat must have access to fresh water at all times, with the water in their bowl being changed daily.
Don't feed cows milk to cats; most like to drink it but, because many are lactose intolerant, giving it to them makes them sick.
Mating / Pregnancy
The most common signs that your cat is looking for a partner to breed with are continual, loud meowing and an excessive time spent licking its genital area.
A female cat that’s been in contact with a male cat is very likely to be pregnant.
Signs that your cat is pregnant: abdominal enlargement; increased appetite; swollen nipples; possible vomiting.
The pregnancy period for a cat lasts approximately9 weeks and they can give birth up to 3 times a year (with up to 8 kittens in one pregnancy)
Most veterinarians and animal-welfare organisations strongly recommend sterilising / de-sexing cats.
By sterilising your cat, you’re preventing it from contributing to the problematic overpopulation of cats.
It's advisable that female cats be spayed (removal of the ovaries and uterus), and male cats neutered (removal of the testicles), by six months of age.
Spaying a female cat means unwanted pregnancies can’t occur; it also reduces the chance of infections and breast cancer.
Neutering a male cat means a reduced amount of urine being sprayed and less fighting with other male cats.
Once cats are de-sexed, there’s little difference between males & females.
Sterilised cats tend to live longer, healthier lives than sexually active ones.
Cats not focused on finding a mate are generally more affectionate towards their owners.
Behaviour
Cats become friendlier if they’re treated with kindness and understanding; they need to be shown that you can be trusted.
Cats learn through positive reinforcement; pick them up and say a firm 'no' for bad behaviour and stroke them or give them a treat for good behaviour.
To pick up your cat, place one hand behind its front legs and use the other hand to support the top of its back legs.
Cats associate words with tone of voice and gestures; repetition and time being necessary for them to learn what you're asking / telling them.
The average cat can form approximately 15 different sounds, including: hissing; howling; meowing; purring.
Take time to study your cats body language; doing so will bring you closer together.
If your cat rubs their face against yours, it means they trust you and see you as a friend.
Your cat may bring you a dead animal as an offering of food, or a live animal as an opportunity for you to make a kill; it does so because it cares for you.
Feeding, grooming and playing with your cat are the best ways to bond with it.
Set-up a schedule for your cat; feeding, grooming and playing with it at around the same time each day.
Cats love to play; it’s an excellent source of both mental and physical stimulation for them.
Regularly change the toys used and games played with your cat; doing so keeps their interest level up.
Cats need time to adapt to changes of location or people; this can take from a few hours to a few days.
If your cat feels scared or threatened, it will likely retreat to small, dark hiding places.
A cat may feel nervous or uncomfortable around people because of previous bad experiences with other people.
A cat may become antagonised if it’s repeatedly: picked up; roughly touched; woken from sleeping; coerced into playing.
Never force your cat to be physically close to a person or another animal.
Cats naturally sleep and relax a lot; try not to disturb them whilst they're doing so.
Cats enjoy spending time on themselves; they don't require constant attention from you throughout the day.
Cats need the opportunity to take exercise; this may take the form of climbing, jumping, running or playing.
Cats naturally like to be up high and will look for places that give them a vantage point over their environment i.e. trees, fences, tables, tops of sofa etc.
It’s natural for cats to scratch; this is necessary for them to keep their claws sharp and smooth.
Grooming
Cats groom themselves but they still need regular assistance with it.
All cats shed / lose hair throughout the year; this is a natural process.
Brush medium or long haired cats on a weekly basis to prevent matts or tangles from forming; short haired cats can be brushed bi-weekly.
Check inside your cats ears every week; if you see a waxy residue, wipe it off with a moistened cotton ball (don't use a cotton swab / bud).
Use a soft washcloth, or square of cotton material, dipped in water to wash your cat’s eyes.
To wash your cat’s eyes: hold it’s head; dab the cloth in water; wipe the damp cloth gently across it’s lower eyelid (not directly on it’s eyeball); wipe clean the residue on the cloth; repeat the process.
Cats under 6 months old should have their claws trimmed twice a month; older cats should have theirs trimmed once a month.
To trim your cats claws: use special clippers; use one rapid motion; cut straight across the claw; trim off the clear, curved part of the claw; avoid trimming near the thicker, base of the claw.
Use a soft-bristled tooth brush and veterinary toothpaste to brush your cat’s teeth on a weekly basis (30 seconds per session).
To brush your cats teeth: let it lick the toothpaste from your finger; run your finger along the gums of it’s upper teeth; add more toothpaste to the toothbrush; angle the toothbrush slightly up; make small circling actions along the gum lines.
Cats lick themselves clean and there's no need to bath them.
If your cat doesn’t like being groomed, break grooming sessions down into short 5 minutes sessions.
Products
Items needed by cat owners include: bed; brush / comb; carry box; collar; food; food dish; ID tag; litter; litter box; scratching post; toys; water bowl.
Cats should wear a collar and an identification tag; providing these significantly increases the chance of them being returned if lost.
A collar should be made of elastic so that your cat can escape from it should it get caught on something.
Specialist cat beds are available but a cardboard box fitted with a blanket is adequate.
A litter tray is filled with dry earth, sand, or cat litter, and is used as a toilet by cats; they can easily be trained to use it.
A litter tray should be positioned in a quiet area that provides privacy for your cat when using it.
Waste should be removed from a litter tray daily; the litter should be should be changed weekly.
To prevent your furniture being scratched, provide your cat with a scratching post; it should be at least three feet high and be covered with rough material.
The best cat toys are those that can be made to move around and look alive as they bring out your cats natural predatory instincts.
A cat carrier is essential for moving your cat from one location to another; it should be large enough for your cat to be able to turn around in and should have at least one side that they can see out of.
A cat door fitted into an external door of the house is a useful additional item; having one gives your cat the freedom to come and go as it pleases.
Links
www.cats.about.com : A to Z of cat breeds. Cat food and nutrition. Cat mating, pregnancy and birth.
www.animal.discovery.com : Cat anatomy. Selecting a cat. Preparing a house for a cat.
www.sniksnak.com : Cat behaviour. Cat Health.
www.petplace.com : How to train a cat. Range of articles on cats. Pictures of cats.