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Monthly
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Feline
behavior problem
The natural lifestyle
of the cat is characterized by low population density, regular scheduling
of activities, infrequent interaction between adult cats, defined territories,
and a dominance hierarchy...
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Before You Bring Your
Cat Home: You will need food,
a food dish, a water
bowl, interactive toys,
a brush, a comb, a scratching
post and a litter box..
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Diet |
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Premium-quality dry or canned
cat food provides a healthy diet for your pet.
Fresh, clean water must
be available at all times. All water bowls should be washed and refilled
daily. |
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Feeding |
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An adult cat should be fed
one large meal or two smaller meals each
day.
Kittens 6 to 12 weeks old
need to be fed four times a day, and kittens 12 to 24 weeks old need to
be fed three times a day. Feed specific meals, and throw away any leftover
food after 20 minutes. Do not make food available all the time. |
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Housing |
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Cats should have a warm,
dry place of their own in the house. Line the bed with something warm and
soft -- a towel or blanket. Be sure to wash the bedding often. It's safer
to keep your cat indoors. Outdoor cats can get poisoned, hit by cars and
hurt in fights. They also are more apt to pick up diseases and parasites. |
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Handling |
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To pick up your cat, place
one hand under his front legs and the other
under his hindquarters.
Lift gently. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck (behind the
ears) or by his front legs. |
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Health |
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Your cat should see a veterinarian
at least once a year for an examination and shots.
Also take your feline to
a vet if he becomes sick or injured. Carefully go over your cat's body
at least once a week to check for fleas, ear mites and bumps or cuts. |
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Litter
Box |
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All indoor cats need a litter
box. The bathroom, utility room and back
porch are all good places
to put the box. Always keep it in the same place. Scoop solids out at least
once a day. Dump everything, wash the box with a mild detergent and refill
it at least once a week. Cats won't use a messy, smelly litter box! |
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Grooming |
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Your cat will keep himself
relatively clean. Most cats rarely need a bath, but they do need to be
brushed or combed. Frequent grooming helps keep your feline's coat clean,
reduces his shedding and reduces the number of hairballs he will have. |
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Identification |
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If allowed outdoors (we
don't recommend this), a cat should wear a
collar and an identification
tag. A safety collar -- one which has an elastic panel or is made out of
popper beads -- will allow your cat to free himself if the collar gets
stuck on something. An I.D. tag makes it possible for someone to return
your pet to you if he should become lost. |
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Claws |
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All cats need to scratch
to loosen old nail sheathes and allow new nails to grow. Cutting your cat's
nails every 10 to 14 days will keep them relatively blunt and thus make
them less likely to harm arms of both people and furniture. Provide your
cat with a sturdy scratching post covered with rough material such as sisal,
burlap or tree bark to further prevent household destruction. A sprinkle
of catnip once or twice a
month will keep your cat
interested in the scratching post. |
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Play |
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All cats delight in stalking
imaginary prey. The best toys for cats are those that can be made to jump
and dance around. (The Cat Dancer and Kitty Tease are good examples.) The
cat will act out his predator role by pouncing on the toys instead of people's
ankles. Warning: Do not use your hands or fingers as play objects with
young kittens or your cat may have biting and scratching problems as he
matures. |
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Additional
Information... |
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Indoor cats live for 15
to 20 years.
It is important to spay
(females) or neuter (males) your cat since he or she can breed up to three
times per year. This operation prevents your cat from having unwanted litters
and protects him from certain diseases of the reproductive organs.
Neutered cats seldom spray
urine around the house to mark territory, and are generally easier to own.
If your cat has fleas, try
frequent flea-combing or using flea powder. Flea collars for cats can irritate
the skin on their necks. |
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