| by David the Dogman
 A cat or kitten makes a very worthwhile pet, providing that
it is properly cared for. If you have taken, or are about
to take a stray or rescued feline into your home, then you
are actively helping such organisations as The Cats
Protection League in their work. There are many more such
cats than there are homes available. Before you take on the
responsibility of owning a cat or kitten please think
carefully about what it will involve.
Cost of feeding and veterinary treatment (including the
cost of vaccinations and neutering).
Making time for play, grooming and companionship.
Being prepared to accept that it may catch birds and other
prey.
Ensuring adequate arrangements for when you are away from
home.
Making sure your cat or kitten will not become a nuisance
to neighbours.
KITTENS
 Kittens are old enough to leave their mother at eight weeks.
A pretty, lively kitten can be an attractive proposition.
Remember, however, that he or she will become a cat after
six months perhaps for the next 14 years. A kitten should
be yours for life! NEUTERING
One female cat can, in five years, be responsible for some
20,000 descendants and many of these must inevitably become
homeless, with a life that offers only misery, hunger and
disease. I strongly recommend neutering of all cats not
required for breeding in order to keep down the number of
strays.
Both male and female cats can be neutered at six months or
older (please be guided by your vet). In the case of the
male, a simple routine operation only is involved. The
female requires a longer operation which, although routine,
usually necessitates a return to the veterinary surgery
after seven to ten days for the removal of stitches. Neutering produces a much more satisfactory and enjoyable
pet. A neutered male should refrain from spraying about the
house and leaving an unpleasant smell; he should also be
disinclined to wander or to fight. It is not correct that a
female cat should be allowed, on humane grounds, to have
one litter before neutering. FEEDING
 No matter how well we provide for our felines in terms of
warmth, safety, companionship and health care, the one
thing that finally attracts and binds a cat is the food we
provide. Throughout his life a cat will have a variety of
of dietary needs according to its age and state of health.
A cat who does not receive a balanced and varied diet may
well move elsewhere!
DAILY LIFE SLEEP
Cats are great preservers of energy and spend about two
thirds of their life asleep. Provide a basket or cardboard
box, raised from the floor to exclude draughts and line it
with a small blanket.
Give a kitten a chance to sleep for a good deal of the day.
Remember, he is a young animal, not a toy and children
should be taught to respect him as such and allow him to
sleep. TOILET TRAINING
 Cats are naturally clean animals but a new kitten needs to
be shown what is required. Provide a litter tray, filled
with commercial cat litter (the wood-based litter is
flushable). Keep it in the same place, easily accessible to
the kitten, and make sure it is cleaned regularly. Take the
kitten to the tray after meals and on waking up from sleep.
If there is access to a garden, introduce him to it
gradually and he will soon learn to make his own toilet
arrangements.
HANDLING
Contrary to popular belief, it is quite wrong to pick up a 
cat or kitten by the scruff of his neck; this can damage
the muscles. Hold the cat or kitten with one hand under the
chest and with the rest of his weight supported by your
other hand. Kittens particularly must be handled gently as
their bones are fragile.
GROOMING
 Regular grooming of your cat is advised, especially for
long-haired cats. Brushing and combing will remove loose
hair, dirt and dust and the occasional flea that he may
pick up. Grooming also helps to prevent fur-balls which can
be harmful and form in the cat's stomach when he constantly
licks loose fur. Daily grooming also ensures time devoted
exclusively to your cat, which is important with today's
frantic pace of life. Your cat can be forgotten amidst the
many other demands on your time.
EXERCISE & FRESH AIR
All cats need exercise and, to keep your cat fit and to
protect your furniture, a scratching post is a good
investment; alternatively, you might bring in a log or make
a scratching board to help your cat to keep his claws
sharpened. This will assist him to flex his muscles and to
shed old claw sheaths. Scratching posts also enable the cat
to mark his territory as a scent is deposited (undetectable
by humans) through his claws - this makes him feel at home
and usually stops the need for him to do this on the
furniture.
Toys, such as table tennis balls, cat-mint mice or a cotton
reel, are usually acceptable and keep him active. Fresh air and sunshine are necessary to us all and, if your
cat or kitten is confined to a flat without an enclosed
balcony, fit a wire frame into one window to admit air and
sunshine without the risk of his falling from a height. White cats however are very susceptible to the harmful rays
of the sun and should be kept out of it as much as possible
especially during the hours when it is most damaging. It is unsafe to allow cats out on narrow ledges or open
roofs several floors above the street. Many animals are
injured and killed every year through lunging at a bird or
butterfly and missing their footing. It is not true that a
cat will 'always land on its feet'. YOUR CAT AT NIGHT
 Cats should never be shut out at night. Apart from the
callousness of picking him up from a warm, comfortable
snooze on the hearth rug and putting him out in the cold,
there are the risks of road accidents and stealing. Most
road accidents to cats take place during the hours of
darkness. Cat stealing, unfortunately, does go on and
mostly at night. Keep your cat safely in at night and
provide him with a litter tray.
You never own a cat! Commitment, Firmness, but kindness. Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet -
http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare
Content online.
Do you have any problems with your pet? Then why not send
your problem to DAVID THE DOGMAN. David is a Canine
Behaviourist who works and lives in Marbella, Spain.
Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located at:
http://www.thedogman.net. David has his own radio and TV
shows, and writes for many newspapers and magazines. |
