Kittens E-Book

Sandy Meyer

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Complete Care Made Easy
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 139

Beschreibung

Complete Care Made Easy books address all the major concerns about owning and training a small pet. Each care book offers practical advice, emergency first aid tips, fun activities, and more! Look to the training titles for in-depth training techniques and helpful tips.

Leseprobe

Karla Austin, Business Operations ManagerNick Clemente, Special ConsultantBarbara Kimmel, EditorJackie Franza, Consulting EditorHoney Winters, DesignerIndexed by Melody Englund

The kittens in this book are referred to as he and she in alternating chapters unless their gender is apparent from the activity discussed.

Photographs Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Francais. Photographs on pages 17, 41, 62, 73, 81, 121, 136, and 139 Copyright © 2006 by Maureen Blaney Flietner.

Text Copyright © 2006 by BowTie Press®

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of BowTie Press®, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Meyer, Sandy.  Kittens : a guide to caring for your kitten / Sandy Meyer ; photographs by Isabelle Francais.    p. cm.— (Complete care made easy)  Includes index.  ISBN 1-931993-77-7 1. Kittens. I. Title. II. Series.

  SF447. M488 2006  636.8'07—dc22

2006002160

BowTie Press®A Division of BowTie, Inc.3 BurroughsIrvine, California 92618

Printed and bound in Singapore10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Acknowledgments

IN WRITING THIS BOOK, I DISCOVERED HOW MUCH I HAVE learned over the years from the excellent writers and editors at Cat Fancy magazine. I’m grateful to Susan Logan, my friend and supervisor, for recommending me for this incredible project. My heartfelt thanks go to dear friends and family for their support and encouragement and to my patient editors for their guidance. Of course, special thanks go to the wonderful cats and kittens who have shared my home and life—especially Tripper, who spent many nights beside me during this project.

—Sandy Meyer

Contents

1   Understanding Kittens

2   Selecting a Great Match

3   Finding Your New Friend

4   Welcome Home

5   Understanding the Feline Mind

6   Healthy Habits

7   Positive Play

8   Show Primer

Appendix

Glossary

Contrary to popular belief, cats are not cool and aloof loners. If you give your kitten plenty of love and affection, he will return it to you in kind.

YOU ARE IN GOOD COMPANY WHEN IT COMES TO bringing a kitten into your household. Kitten ownership is on the rise, as evidenced in the 2005–2006 American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA) National Pet Owners Survey. And why not? Soft, curious, and overflowing with energy, a kitten’s adorable antics are bound to warm your heart and keep a smile on your face.

Kittens make great additions to households when owners make an effort to match the kittens’ personalities to their own lifestyles. And, with proper care, you will have a friend for years because cats often live into their twenties. So read on to arm yourself with information and get excited about your upcoming kitten adventures!

The Truth About Cats

The relationship between cats and humans has ebbed and flowed for thousands of years. They were once partners, then enemies, and finally friends. During the ups and downs, myths and folklore have become intertwined with truth, causing some serious misconceptions about cats. To get off on the right foot, let’s clear up some of the confusion right now.

Independent and mysterious, cats like this Russian blue kitten have been part of our myths and fanciful tales for centuries.

Myth 1: Cats have nine lives.

As a species, cats are very prolific and resilient. They are survivors. However, each individual cat is small and vulnerable in a world full of dangers. As with all other creatures, human and otherwise, cats have only one life to live. They, too, are susceptible to disease, injury, and death. Although proper care and consideration can add years and quality to a cat’s life, she does not receive nine opportunities to get it right.

Myth 2: Cats are like dogs.

Cats and dogs are different species. It’s true that dogs and cats share some similarities: both mammals have four legs, and most have hair over their bodies and possess tails. Many cats play fetch, just as many dogs do. However, these two animals have extremely different instincts. One of the most obvious differences is their social structure. Dogs are pack animals. They need to be part of a pack, and they depend on that group. Cats, on the other hand, are solitary hunters, taking care of themselves. Although cats can and do learn to live together peaceably, cats require adequate territories of their own. They need personal space and for that space to be respected.

Myth 3: Cats are an inexpensive and low-maintenance alternative to dogs.

The only inexpensive and low-maintenance cat is a neglected one. Both cats and dogs need a quality diet, regular veterinary visits, and daily care and attention. Although your cat doesn’t need to be walked for exercise or to relieve herself, she does need mental and physical stimulation to keep her healthy. The only way your cat may be less expensive than a dog is if you are comparing the cat to a large dog breed. The larger the animal, the more food she eats and the larger medication dosage she would receive.

Myth 4: Cats are unfriendly and solitary animals.

Many people mistake the cat’s independence for unfriendliness. Some cats are fussier about whom they choose to spend their time with, but most are communicative and affectionate with their chosen people. Once cats understand that their basic survival needs—shelter, food, and water—will be consistently met, they can move on to luxuries such as human companionship. Many house cats meet their owners at the door when arriving home from school or work, follow their owners around the home, and sleep in their owners’ rooms and on their beds, if allowed. However, most cats are also quite comfortable spending time alone sunning in favorite spots and taking catnaps in quiet, solitary corners. There is a wonderful balance between socializing and meditating in the life of a cat.

Myth 5: Cats must have access to the outdoors to be truly happy.

Although it can be challenging to teach an outdoor cat that the indoors really is the best place to be, most cats adjust quite well. Cats are hunters by nature, but they do not require live prey to satisfy their hunting needs. Indoor-only cats live happy, satisfying lives with the help of their owners. And this indoor-only lifestyle reduces and eliminates countless dangers from such things as automobiles, cruel human behaviors, deadly chemicals, and threats from other animals. With a little patience, creativity, and consistency, you can transform your cat’s life into a full, indoor-only lifestyle. And you will be providing your precious pet with a longer, healthier life.

These two kittens are content to be indoors, where they have food, shelter, and plenty of opportunities for play and interaction.

Myth 6: Cats always land (unharmed) on their feet.

Cats do possess an amazing self-righting reflex. The falling cat’s brain quickly figures out her position in space; then she turns her head and front limbs toward the ground. Her flexible spine aligns with the rest of her body, and her limbs spread out like a parachute to prepare for the landing. From short heights, flexible joints and floating collarbones soften the shock of the cat’s arrival on the ground. But a fall from six stories or higher is almost always fatal. And even a short fall can mean the self-righting reflex does not have time to fully protect the cat from injuries or worse.

Myth 7: Cats become fat and lazy when spayed or neutered.

It’s true that cats’ metabolisms can slow after they have been fixed, but these important surgeries do not cause cats to become fat and lazy. With the veterinarian’s help, owners can adjust their cats’ food intake to accommodate the slower metabolisms. Owners can also create more physical stimulation in their cats’ daily lives. Moving the food bowl upstairs or onto a counter so the cat must exert energy to get there is a simple way to keep a cat active. Daily play sessions that encourage the cat to get up and moving will also help.

Myth 8: Female cats need to have one litter before getting spayed.

Aside from contributing to the cat overpopulation problem and causing your pet unnecessary discomfort, putting off spaying your cat until after her first litter increases her chances of developing health problems including uterine, ovarian, and breast cancers. There is no reason to put this surgery off, and you already have three important reasons for getting it done immediately.

Myth 9: Cats and babies do not mix.

Fears about cats giving unborn babies diseases and stealing the breath of infants abound, even in today’s modern society. Toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite called toxoplasma gondii, can harm an unborn baby under certain conditions. Cats are often blamed for this disease, and some people in the medical community still urge pregnant women to get rid of their cats. However, most cases of toxoplasmosis occur when pregnant women have eaten undercooked meats; dairy products that have not been pasteurized; or raw, unwashed vegetables. There is a small risk to cat owners who are pregnant, but it’s very easy to reduce the risk without getting rid of the cat: have a nonpregnant friend or family member take over litter box duties, always wear gloves when gardening (feral, stray, and other outdoor cats may have used your garden as a bathroom), and scrub and peel all root vegetables.

Breeding should be a deliberate choice and made with the knowledge that there are homes for all the kittens produced. If you do not intend to breed, get your kitten spayed early.

And cats cannot steal a baby’s breath, nor do they try to. Cats may be curious about the new little person and the baby’s new smells and sounds. Also, the baby’s milky breath and remnants of the latest meal around the lips may attract curious cats to go in for a closer look. However, it is still important to never leave a baby and cat together unsupervised. Accidents can and do happen. Protect your precious baby and pet by supervising any time they spend together.

Myth 10: Cats cannot be trained.

This is simply not true. The trick to training a cat is understanding what motivates your cat and using it to your advantage. Part of the feline charm is that cats do what they want, when they want. You just have to find a way to make your cat think that she wants to do what you want her to do. You will not be able to order your cat to sit, fetch, and come when called. But if you build a relationship of mutual trust and respect, you will learn how your cat is motivated and how to use positive reinforcement to accomplish a great deal. (See chapter 6 for more about training your cat.)

Where Do Cats Come From?

The domestic cats you see on the street, in the pet store, and at your friend’s house are members of the genus Felis and are called Felis catus. Other members of this nonroaring feline group include the cougar (Felis concolor), serval (Felis serval), lynx (Felis lynx), ocelot (Felis paradalis), and bobcat (Felis rufus). The roaring big cats make up the genus Panthera. This group includes the lion (Panthera leo), tiger (Panthera tigris), jaguar (Panthera onca), and leopard (Panthera pardus).

This Abyssinian cat resembles the African wildcat from which she descended.

Experts believe that our sweet-faced house cats likely descended from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris libyca), and genetic studies confirm this. These wildcats are small in size and are tan-colored, with tabby stripes and coat ticking similar to an Abyssinian cat’s. If you stood a domestic cat next to her African cousin, it would be a challenge for you to pick out the wildcat.

Spend some time observing wildcats, and you will quickly recognize the similarities between them and your tiny pet. Resemblances include their astute hunting instincts, penchant for frequent catnaps, marking behaviors, and nocturnal preferences. Even the physical characteristics of shedding coats and retractable claws as well as the teeth, cheek muscles, and digestive systems of these shrewd, meat-eating hunters remain the same for small and big cats.

Domestic Blushing

Although scientists and historians have not pinpointed the exact date cats and humans became friends, historical evidence does show that cats and humans have a long history together. The first signs of domestication are from about 8,000 years ago on the island of Cyprus. It is likely that humans first tolerated cats because of their amazing hunting prowess; cats killed the mice and rats attracted to human food stores.

In about 4000 BC, cats joined the Egyptians in the Nile Delta, where an amazing relationship began. The Egyptians were the first people to actually leave records of their camaraderie with cats, and they immortalized cats in their writings and their art. What likely began as a working relationship blossomed into companionship and then worship by around 3000 BC. At this time, cats were fully domesticated and had graduated from simply an economic ally to a companion and house cat.

By 350 BC, cats were believed to be manifestations of the Egyptian goddess Bast (Bastet). This mother goddess had the body of a woman and the head of a cat. She was associated with fertility, grace, and beauty, and cats also received the Egyptian people’s reverence and worship for their beauty, grace, and elegance.

Worldwide Respect

OTHER CULTURES ALSO REVERED THE CAT. THE ANCIENT Greeks associated cats with fertility and linked them to the moon goddess Diana. Scandinavians associated the cat with Freyja, the goddess of the night. Muslims considered cats blessed creatures. There is evidence that Persians, Celtics, Chaldeans, and Medes also worshiped cats. Throughout history, cats have enjoyed a remarkable status in human culture while retaining their independence and the freedom to come and go at will.

Travels Abroad

By 1400 AD, cats were found throughout Europe and Asia. Thanks to trade, Phoenician merchants transported domesticated cats from Egypt to Europe, where cats continued to rid farmlands and homes of snakes and rodents.

During the medieval era in Europe, the cat’s relationship with humans took a dramatic turn. Many religious groups associated cats with evil and witchcraft. Cats were persecuted and killed for this imaginary link with the devil. It’s possible that the reduction of cats in Europe contributed to the spread of the plague during the Black Death in the mid-1300s. During this period, about half of the population of Europe died from this plague. Although uninformed humans were still trying to destroy cats, believing they were responsible for carrying and spreading the disease, these noble creatures were actually helping rid Europe of the disease-carrying rodents, thus reducing the number of plague outbreaks. This assistance helped increase the popularity of cats and eventually led to the end of their persecution.

Your kitten is a natural hunter, and she will enjoy sharpening her skills by attacking toy mice, just as her ancestors cleared houses and farms of unwanted rodents.

Considered good luck aboard ships, cats continued their impeccable job as mousers and joined settlers in the New World. Domestic cats were imported from Europe to America in the mid-1700s to help deal with rodents that were threatening crops. These pioneer cats moved across the country with the settlers and soon established themselves as more than mousers and ratters in fields and barns. Pioneers added cats to their writings and paintings, demonstrating their status as companions. By the 1800s, cats could be found throughout the humanized world, and their popularity continued to rise.

Today’s Feline Friends

Our house cats today share many of their wild cousins’ traits, including the hunting behaviors of stalking, chasing, and pouncing as well as the territorial marking behaviors of scratching and spraying. However, cats have evolved from solitary hunters to fantastic family companions. Although their primary relationship with humans was more of a business arrangement—they were “hired” for vermin control—cats now enjoy a more social arrangement with humans.

Fans continue to admire cats for their beauty, grace, and elegance, but many also appreciate cats’ independence and their individual personalities. Some cats continue to work at rodent and insect patrol, others seek stardom in the cat show world, and still others simply enjoy the domestic life.

This fluffy kitty has created a cozy bed and hideaway—inside an empty sewing basket!