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Friday, May 8, 2009
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Adopting a Cat Or a Kitten - 5 Tips For Making a Decision That is Right For You and Your New Pet
You have been thinking about getting a cat or a kitten. You love their soft fur and playful antics. The excitement builds as you envision playing with your new pet, the times you'll spend with him or her curled up in your lap, and the happy meows that your kitty will send your way. You just can't wait and you're ready to go get your new friend and bring it home! Are you sure you're ready?
Adopting a cat or a kitten is a very exciting time. While they are cute, cuddly, and playful, it is important to be a responsible pet owner. Your feline friend will be an important part of your household for many years and will look to you to provide for its needs. In other words, your cat or kitten will depend on you.
It is important to take some time to think about this important step. Here are 5 tips that will help you make a decision that is right for you and your new family member.
First, you need to ask yourself if you are financially prepared to take care of your new cat or kitten. They are not self-sufficient and do have many needs. These needs include visits to the veterinarian for routine vaccines and any illnesses that may occur, a carrier for transportation, ID tags and collar, a microchip to help reunite you should your cat get lost, spaying or neutering, food, dishes for food and water, a litter box and litter, grooming tools such as a comb, flea comb, brush, and nail trimmers, toys, and treats. There also may be a cost associated with the adoption itself.
The second factor is to decide whether you want a kitten or an older cat. There are a lot more kittens available for adoption than older cats due to owners not having their cat spayed or neutered .While both will need a certain amount of behavior training, kittens by far need the most help with this. They tend to get into more mischief than older cats but you get the joy of watching your kitten grow up. Older cats also make great pets but there may be a somewhat longer adjustment time. If possible, find out if your new pet has been around other cats or dogs. Some cats are best as solitary pets, others thrive on having other cats to play with, and some are jealous of one another and may fight. Some cats just do not get along well with dogs. If you do not have information about the previous living conditions, you will need to be vigilant during the adjustment phase to ensure your animal's emotional and physical safety. Bringing your new pet home needs to be as stress free as possible. In addition, if you have a small child in your home, it is wise to wait until they are at least five years old before bringing a cat or kitten into the household. Even then, they will need supervision. Young children and cats are playful and can be a dangerous mix. A child may tease the cat unknowingly or on purpose which can cause it to bite or scratch or may squeeze it too hard and hurt the cat. Waiting until your child is older can prevent injury to both your child and the cat.
Next, decide where you will adopt your new feline pet from. The best place to adopt from is your local shelter. Shelters are full of cats and kittens that will likely be euthanized if someone does not adopt them and give them a good home. You will be giving them the gift of life! A rescue organization is another way to adopt. Typically, these organizations provide foster homes to the animals until a permanent home is found. There are rescue organizations that help with specific breeds as well. Another way to adopt a kitten or cat is to look in the paper or for signs in your neighborhood announcing the animals are free to a good home. If you want to eventually enter your cat in cat shows or just want a specific breed, you will want to find a good breeder. You can find information about breeders at cat shows, Cat Fancier's Association, and The International Cat Association. Remember that both the breed-specific rescue organizations and breeders will not allow one of their animals into your home until they are sure it will be cared for properly. It is never a good idea to adopt your pet from a pet store since these animals frequently come from breeding mills without regard to the breed, or their health and well-being. Most stores will not sell these animals. PetSmart lets rescue organizations show their animals in their stores. These animals have been rescued and are not from mills and are not sold.
Now that you have decided you can be financially responsible for your pet, you know whether you want a cat or a kitten, and you have chosen a place to adopt your new family member from, the next factor to take note of is the health of the animal. When you look at the cat, it should be playful and friendly, the eyes should be bright with no drainage, the nose should be clean with no discharge and no sneezing, and the area around the tail should be clean and dry. Any signs of sneezing and drainage or discharge from these areas could be evidence of illness. As heartbreaking as it may be, it is best not to adopt a sick cat unless you are prepared for any difficulties that may arise as a result.
Finally, you need to decide if you are willing to cat-proof your home. This means removing anything that can be eaten, chewed on, or easily broken. It is the nature of kitties to be inquisitive and they will get into everything they possibly can. They are quite adept at climbing, jumping, and getting into tight spaces. Cats love to chew on plants. Some are poisonous and most will make the cat vomit so it is wise to either remove all live plants from the house or place them in a room that your cat will not have access to. Keep small objects, such as rubber bands and paper clips, out of your cat's reach as these can cause choking and veterinary emergencies. Any cords that hang down should be secured to keep your cat safe. If your cat or kitten goes outside, please be careful with anti-freeze spills. Anti-freeze is tempting because of it's sweet taste. However, it will cause fatal poisoning in a short period of time. If you spill anti-freeze, clean it up immediately!
These are just some of the many factors to take into consideration when adopting a cat or a kitten. When you make a careful decision, you will be prepared to be a responsible pet owner from the beginning. Remember, your new family member is counting on you. In return, you will be rewarded with your cat's life-long love and loyalty.
Bringing Your New Cat Home
When you bring you cat home for the first time they may be nervous and unsettled. Many cats will want to hide, possibly for days. This is absolutely normal and isn't a cause for worry, unless your cat seems sick or isn't eating, drinking, or using the litter box.
If possible, for the first two or three days at home, put the cat, along with the litter box and food and water bowls, in a room that can be closed off from the rest of the house. Be sure the litter box is as far away from the food and water as possible.
As you speak gently to the new arrival, assuring him that there is no need to emerge until he is absolutely ready, your cat will rapidly gain self-confidence and begin to feel more relaxed. Let your cat explore at his own pace, but keep the litter box and food bowls in the same rooms for a couple of days longer, so that your cat has a safe place to retire when feeling overwhelmed by new experiences.
If there are kids in the home, they will be tremendously excited about the new arrival. Firmly instruct them to be quiet and thoughtful of the new family member, and closely monitor their brief meetings. Forcing the cat to socialise too soon will only slow down the trust-building process. Assure the kids that the cat will come out as soon as he is ready.
If you already have a cat or cats, keep them apart from the newcomer for at least two weeks. This will give all of the cats time to become used to one anothers smell and presence without the risk of physical confrontation. Introduce them in one or two short (15 minute) meetings a day, gradually building up to longer periods. It may take some time for your cats to build their relationship, but they will work it out. While some may become best pals, others may only tolerate each other. Be sure to give all of your cats a great deal of love and attention during this adjustment time.
Important note: To protect any cats already in residence, have your vet check your new cat for anything contagious before you bring him home. If you have a dog, try to find out before you bring a new cat home whether your dog will get along with a cat. Maybe a friend would let your dog meet her cat. When you introduce a new cat to your dog, use the tactics recommended for introducing cats; make sure, however, to control your dog using a tightly held leash when he first meets the cat. Let them get acquainted bit by bit under close supervision. Make sure the cat has a safe place to withdraw to if needed. Don't let your dog chase your cat, even in play. Lavish love and attention on your dog to allay his anxieties about the newcomer.
Ringworm and Roundworm in Your Cats - What You Should Know About These Parasites
Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm but a highly contagious fungus. Ringworm spreads easily from one pet to another, and it is one of the few health problems that people get from their pets.
For an elderly cat with a less effective immune system, ringworm can be a threat not only in and of itself but as an opening for other infections that may enter through the raw, itchy skin.
The first symptom of ringworm is usually a sore looking bald circle, but you should have your vet examine any bald spot on your cat as soon as possible. Like other fungal infections, ringworm is hard to treat effectively and even harder to cure.
If you think that your cat has ringworm, do not waste your time and money on over the counter or home remedies. Your vet can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective drugs.
He also can advise you on how to keep the infection from spreading throughout your household. Cats are subject to several species of parasitic intestinal worms.
Some create no problem at all and pretty much go unnoticed, but others can threaten your cat's health, especially in higher concentrations or when combines with old age or disease.
Roundworms or ascarids are white spaghetti like creature about 8 inches or 20cm long. They do not attack the host animal directly but eat food passing through the animal's digestive system.
Roundworms are carried by many species of animals and are easily acquired, especially if your cat spends time outdoors and kill and eats prey animals. Roundworms can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia, and a large infestation can cause malnutrition.
Fortunately, roundworms are easy to diagnose and treat. A sudden or dramatic change in your cat's behavior or appearance may signal a health problem, so take her to the vet.