Cat and kitten care begins way before you make a decision on your new feline joint venture. Some cat-human mergers begin the most unexpected places -- like at the YMCA. For others they are a planned event, complete with shopping lists, multiple visitations and in some cases, trial periods. Whatever the case, there are several steps to a successful cat or kitten merger.
You probably see cats throughout you daily activities. You may even have always wanted a certain type or color of cat. Perhaps you had visions of you and your cat chasing butterflies and snakes together. I thought so.
More often than not, you don’t dwell on the fact that this union requires a decade or more of cat and kitten care. Even if you adopt an adult cat, you get each other for better and worse, including the dazzling eyes, the adorable sleep positions, the unexpected claw slashes and perplexing moaning or yowling. Don’t forget the other feline extras, like spraying, drizzling, and outright puddling.
Sit down with yourself and your family and talk through aspects of cat and kitten care. Start with the feline traits. These include their physical attributes, how they look. Review the physical characteristics and profiles throughout our cat breed pictures. Dig into some of the details by checking out some books at the library or create your own collection. Talk to other cat humans about cat and kitten care.
|  Short, Long, Wavy or Fuzzy? Boy or Girl? Kitten or Cat? 
|
Understand that one of the benefits of a purebred over a domestic cat is that there is a greater chance of getting a cat with breed specific traits. Conversely, realize that domestic cats often drop less desirable traits or frailties that some purebreds inherit simply because they have a parent outside of the purebred lineage.If you think you want a curious breed, it shouldn't be a surprise that to find that this breed is also extremely active, therefore requiring extra attention in their cat and kitten care program. This breed spends a lot of time playing and needs a lot of toys. If you don't provide playthings, your cat will use your belongings to create his own toys.
If you really are attracted to the shiny spotted coat of a cat that looks like a mini-leopard then that’s the place to start your  research. Do you want the cat to be gentle with kids or other pets? A lap kitty or an active run-about? You may find out that the cat your really want has no spots and sports a long fur coat. Do you have a very strong opinion about whether your cat is a boy or a girl? Doesn't really matter. That said, unaltered female and male cats have more bad habits than do their neutered/spayed counterparts.
Yes, spaying or neutering your cat does prevent the deaths of hundreds of unwanted kittens over the lifetime of your cat. It also reduces the tendency for your cat to participate in serious caterwauling and cat fighting. Caterwauling usually means your cat is in heat, kittens in the future. Cat fighting usually results in one or more cats receiving bites that abscess, torn ears, bitten paws and jaws, ripped cheeks and yes, even falling victim to the UPS truck as the cat attempts a wild escape across the street – another road pizza.
Aside from all that, neutering or spaying your cat is the #1 preventative step you can take to reduce the likelihood of the #1 reason why you would consider dumping your cat - because he or she is urinating all over your house.
Boy or girl, flip the coin, but always bet on getting your cat fixed. Tails up!
Of the 15+ so cats we've have had, about a third of them were kittens. When people think of adding a feline to the house, they are usually thinking kitten. There is no doubt that kittens are absolutely adorable. They can also be absolutely horrible.
Kittens are fragile, need extra care, and more supervision. They are also fragile and subject to human missteps and hazards. Dad’s oversized midriff may lead to a tragic misplaced step. Grandma’s poor eyesight may be the reason why baby kitty got outside into Fido’s play area. Your cat and kitten care plan might include putting Sister Tabby in the kid's playroom when Grandma is up and about.
A young cat is more receptive to training, so they have that edge over an adult. Litter training is a snap, but they will still have an accident or two. After all they are small and perhaps you placed the litter box too far away. Babies are more susceptible to illness, so plan on establishing a good relationship with a nearby veterinarian early in your adoption plan. Kittens at times have endless energy. You never dreamed that those shear curtains you spent thousands on would someday host the Kitten Olympics, your kitten can’t thank you enough for hanging them. Just like you made accommodations for your new human infant, you should plan on the some new furnishings for your feline baby.
It could be that you don’t have the time or energy for kitten raising. Consider adopting an adult. When you choose and adult, you pretty much know what he’s going to look like. His personality is pretty settled, those crazy Kitten Olympic days are past. Some minor home modification might prove wise, but major kitten proofing is not necessary.
Whether a kitten or adult, if you adopt from a shelter or rescue organization, the preliminary cat and kitten care is taken care of: shots, spaying and neutering are completed, or included in the package when the cat is of age. If you adopt a retiree or non-show animal from a breeder, get documentation of health history, find out about their likes and dislikes, eating habits, food, and favorite toys or rewards. Retired show cats are usually quite socialized and definitely used to lots of handling. Their cat and kitten care plan may be a bit simpler than starting from scratch. Somehow there became a belief that cats want to be left alone. This is simply incorrect.
Domestic cats are very social animals. They seek out companionship. When cats spend a lot of time alone, they can become bored which leads to unwanted behavior. They can also become depressed.
If you spend most of the day away from home and there isn’t another human at home, consider getting a pair of cats. They will entertain each other. You benefit from their shows when you are available at home to watch their antics. Older cats usually require a bit longer adjustment period, but kittens that grow up together become very close.
Of course, two or more cats require twice as much cat and kitten care from their human. Your cat and kitten care plan includes at least 15 minutes of solid time devoted to each cat in your family. This helps your feline bond to you as well as gets them used to the human side of life. Bottom line: Whether you chose a purebred or a domestic, non-purebred, both make excellent feline additions to your family.
Aside from the physical characteristics, consider:
Cat age Personality Grooming needs Behavior tendencies
Both male and females make great companions.
Spaying or neutering your cat reduces or eliminates a number of behavior problems and some health problems that are problematic for enact felines. It should be your Number 1 priority in your cat and kitten care program.
If you are allergy prone, take a look at our allergy section before you decide against adding this fabulous friend to your family. Just complete this form with your Primary Email, your First Name and Your Cat's Name. Then press the Instant Access! button and you'll have instant access to a report that may very well save the life of your cat.
Your email address is safe and will never be sold rented or given to anyone else without your permission.
Thanks for visiting, 
Visit Our Premium Partners... |
