Help and advice for Cats

The cat holds a unique place in our society. The Ancient Egyptians adored them, witches felt at one with them and the medieval church persecuted them. Today it is back in our favour. In fact such has been its popularity that according to recent polls it has beaten its long-standing rival, the dog, as the most popular pet. But are we surprised by this fact? What other pet supplies sophistication with friendship, keeps you warm by the fireside, hunts mice from your door, and adorns every room with its presence? And warns of imminent storms and earthquakes!

History

Cats make excellent pets; they are intelligent, independent creatures. They epitomise charm, elegance and feline mystique. Their greatest achievement is that despite domestication, they have retained their sense of self. "Cats know how to obtain food without labour, shelter without confinement and love without penalties." W.L. George

Pedigrees

There are many pedigree cat breeds and it is best to do some research on each breed before buying a pedigree kitten. Cats are divided into long hair and short varieties. Most popular short-hairs breeds are the Siamese, Burmese and British Shorthair. The long haired breeds include Birman, Persian, Ragdoll and Russian Blue.

Moggies

Ordinary domestic cats or moggies belong to no particular breed. They usually have short hair and are therefore relatively easy to care for. They are also inexpensive to purchase - in fact many owners will be happy to give you a free kitten or cat.

Kittens

If buying a kitten it should be at least 8 weeks old and if a pedigree should preferably be 12 weeks old. Kittens are more playful than fully-grown cats and will demand more care and attention. If looking for a kitten or cat it is important that they are healthy. A kitten or cat should have the following:

• pink and moist gums.
Avoid : Pale gums are a sign of anaemia

• Should be interested and alert, taking an interest in its surroundings
Avoid : A lethargic cat

• Move freely with its head held high. Spring to the ground easily from a height

• Coat should be clean, dry and slick.
What to avoid: a matted coat, patchy, scaling, circular hair loss (a sign of ringworm).

• Have clean ears
What to avoid: evidence of scratching may indicate ear mites

• Mouth, and nose without discharge
• Have a smooth, clean skin with sleek glossy dry fur
What to avoid: Any holes, breaks or blemishes in the coat

• A healthy cat's tail and rectal region will be clean
What to avoid: Swollen tissue, redness, signs of blood or diarrhoea

Clear bright eyes
What to avoid: Cloudiness, redness, debris, exposed third eyelid, excessive tear production

Feeding

Many first-time cat owners worry about what to feed their new pets. The best advice when feeding a new kitten or cat is continuity of diet. Ask the previous owners what food brand, type and quantity the kitty has been used to eating. If you plan to introduce a new type of food, introduce it slowly, 90% old, 10% new, and so on over a two week period. This reduces the cat's stress levels as it tries to adapt to a new routine. Kittens and cats should be fed on food that is labelled "complete and balanced." However, kittens have special nutritional requirements. There are special kitten formulations available which give kittens extra protein and nutrients for growth. (If you have adult cats don't let them eat kitten food as it can be fattening.)

Kitten diet

Research has shown that kittens grow from infancy to adulthood in about one year so they need large amounts of food in their diet in order to grow in those first months. This fact cannot be understated especially when a six-month-old kitten can gain a 2000% increase over its birth weight! Because kittens are more active than adult cats the extra food is burned off in play. Kittens can be fed a special kitten diet until the age of six months to one year. After this time it can be fed a normal adult diet.
Water - This is essential for a kitty's well being. Many pet owners mistakenly believe that cats should be given milk but in fact too much milk can be harmful. Cats can be intolerant to lactose, which can result in diarrhoea. Water is especially important for kittens and cats on a dry food diet, and for pregnant cats, which need water to produce milk.

Feeding tips

If your kitten is a picky eater offer a choice of dry and canned foods in a variety of flavours.
If feeding canned foods, consider warming the food slightly. Serving at mouse temperature will enhance the flavour of the food for the cat. To make dry food more palatable, moisten it with water.
Don't feed cats dog food - it will not have enough of the amino acid taurine - needed by all cats for good health and bodily function. Dog food has deficient levels of protein for a cat.
Unlike dogs, cats cannot store protein - so they need constant and higher levels of protein. Unlike dogs cats are strict carnivores.
Be sure to supply your cat with both canned and dry food. The crunching and chewing of these foods will exercise the teeth, gums and jaws.
A typical adult cat needs about two and a half times as much protein in its diet as humans. Kittens need even more!
Encourage elderly cats to eat by providing warm food, at mouse temperature about 35C (95F). Heat releases rich aromas and flavours
When feeding your cat, be sure that the bowl is wider than the cat's whiskers; otherwise the cat will remove the food and eat it off the floor. Likewise use a dish with a pattern on the side which will indicate the depth of water. Cats dislike bowls which are too deep and will go to great lengths to guess the depth, often by pawing the surface of the liquid.
Don't overfeed your cat liver as it is high in vitamin A, which can cause problems in excess.

Safety check

Cats and kittens are by nature curious, energetic creatures that can easily injure themselves in the home. Kittens should be protected from poisonous contents, household cleaners, toiletries and medications. Many human medications, particularly aspirin, are dangerous for cats because they cannot metabolise them. Cats are fastidious and, unlike dogs don't generally go about eating everything. The danger, however, lies in cats picking up poisons on their paws, which they unwittingly lick while grooming. So if there are any spills, wipe up immediately. Keep cats away from household plants, especially lilies, azaleas, ivy and poinsettias. Also watch out for small, easily swallowed items that can become lodged in a kitten's tiny air passage. Plastic bags should also be out of reach as they could cause suffocation. Electric cables should also be covered in heavy plastic to prevent a naïve kitten from chewing on them. On the same theme, electrical appliances such as tumble dryers and washing machines should be checked before use. Cats have been known to jump into tumble dryers for warmth, and washing machines as a hideaway. Likewise refrigerators and dishwaters can be an attraction for curious cats, so avoid leaving the doors of these appliances open.

Litter training

The most important house rule for your cat is having separate areas for feeding, playing and its litter tray. This encourages a cat's naturally fastidious nature, and makes life easier for you. Kittens and cats are very particular about their potty habits so it is vital they have a private quiet spot. Don't buy scoopable litter for a young kitten because they will naively lick or swallow it. This can form clumps in its stomach leading to constipation. When a cat needs to eliminate it will paw or dig the ground. To encourage appropriate elimination:

Provide multiple litter trays, generally one more than the number of cats. The litter trays should be placed in a series of locations and be of varying shapes and sizes.
Solid waste should be removed every day. Urine-soaked litter should be replaced daily with fresh litter because cats will not use an unclean litter tray. Thoroughly clean the entire litter box once a week but do not deodorise! If an old tray becomes too permeated with scent, discard it.
Experiment with litter substrate. Some kittens prefer one type for urine, another for faeces. Most cats will prefer unscented litter and dislike citrus smelling components.
Encourage your kitten to eliminate appropriately by taking it to the litter box frequently. Cats by nature will seek different places and seek reflective, open, clean places for elimination. Remember: not all cats will cover their urine or faeces. This is normal behaviour and is a sign of a cat's territorial instinct.

Health

Kittens should be vaccinated for the first time at the age of 2 months against cat influenza (an inflammation of the respiratory tract) and feline infectious enteritis (viral infection of the digestive system). A second vaccination will be necessary 3 - 4 weeks later. These vaccinations are boosted every year. At the ages of 9 and 12 weeks your kitten will be vaccinated against cat leukaemia. Afterwards an annual booster will be needed to keep the kitten in good health.

Fleas

Excessive scratching or frantic licking could be a sign that your cat has fleas. Regularly check your cat's coat for flea droppings. These look like fine black specks. Tip: If you brush your cat on top of a sheet of wet white paper, flea droppings will turn red.

Outdoor cats are more likely to develop fleas and ticks, possibly also mites and lice. To rid your kitty off these parasites you must treat the environment as well as the animal. This can mean treating the cat's sleeping area, the entire house or the back yard. You must also treat the animal direct, either by injection, supplying treatment in the food or in a lotion form. Combination treatments kill both fleas and ticks which is useful in rural areas.
Further information

Worming

Kittens and cats will need worming at regular intervals. Roundworms and tapeworms are common in cats and especially those that hunt. Weight loss, diarrhoea, increased appetite are symptoms of worms. Kittens should be wormed every two weeks from the age of two weeks to twelve weeks and every month thereafter for a three month period. After this, the kitten can be wormed every 3 - 6 months.
Further information

Spayed or neutered

Kittens are normally spayed or neutered around six months of age but there is some flexibility. Neutering is believed to enhance the owner's relationship with their cat. Unneutered males will demonstrate tomcat behaviour - roaming, fighting, territorial and spraying urine. With this behaviour, especially fighting, the cats will gain injuries and infectious bites, boosting the transmission of feline diseases. Neutering solves this problem. Females also benefit from spaying - they do not suffer the side effects of being in heat, weight loss and incessant crying.

EXTRA INFORMATION

What you will need :-

Hard sided plastic cat carrier with a hinged door. The rigid construction provides the safest and most durable way to transport your kitten. It also doubles as a sleeping den once you are at home.
Low sided litter box, litter, litter scoops.
Complete and balanced adult or kitten food.
Two feeding bowls - one for water, the other for wet or dry food. Separate dishes are easier to clean and refill when needed.
Scratching posts - Scratching allows a cat to mark its territory, stretch its muscles and removes the outer, dead sheath of the cat's nails. There are different types of posts - corrugated cardboard, fabric, hemp, horizontal or vertical. Offer a variety of choices in the beginning. Place the scratching post in a high activity part of the house where the family congregate or near its sleeping area - cats will stretch and scratch immediately after a snooze. Encourage your cat to scratch its post by sprinkling it with dried catnip.
Grooming brushes or combs. Establish good grooming habits early and your cat will accept the routine all its life.
A room with a view - a kitten will appreciate access to a sunny window where it can watch the world go by - this will distract it and provide a world of stimulation.
Assorted cat toys. Small balls to chase, stuffed mice to kill, interactive toys and catnip-filled toys. These will encourage exercise and the use of a cat's hunting instincts.
Stretchable collar and ID tag. Don't let curiosity kill your cat! Elastic collars are recommended, as they will stretch if your cat gets snagged.

If the kitten is kept indoors all the time it is necessary to supply it with grass. The cat will use the grass to help it vomit up the hair that it swallows when after grooming. This can otherwise collect in its stomach where a hairball can form. Regular brushing prevents this problem.

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