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Gina Spadafori. Cats For Dummies
Cats For Dummies® To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Cats For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box. Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Guide
Pages
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Starting to Think Cat
Together, Forever: A History of Cats and People
From Humble Beginnings: How Cats Became So Popular
THANK YOU, EDWARD LOWE
Some Common Misconceptions about Cats — and the Facts
“All cats are cold fish”
“Cats love places, not people”
“Cats can take care of themselves”
Can You Have a Cat If You Have Allergies?
The Indoor versus Outdoor Controversy
Kitten or Adult? Boy or Girl? One Cat or More?
Kitten or Cat: Which Is a Better Choice for You?
Everyone loves kittens!
Adult cat considerations
She-Kitty, He-Kitty: Which One’s Better?
Let the Fur Fly
Should You Consider a Pedigreed Cat?
BEAUTIFUL COLORS, BEAUTIFUL CATS
Characteristics by Breed
The go-go group
DO YOU WANT A CHATTY CAT?
A touch of the wild
Longhaired beauties
The big cats
Something different
The unCATegorizables
The Not-So-Ordinary Everyday Cat
Mixes, Markings, and Pedigrees
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU SPEND?
What You Need to Know about Shelters
Animal-control shelters
Private nonprofit shelters
DON’T FORGET THE LOCALS!
Volunteer Rescue-and-Placement Groups
Breeders: The Reputable, the Ill-Informed, and the Avoid-at-All-Costs
Finding the elusive “good breeder”
Shopping at the cat show
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN’T HAVE A CAT?
Online shopping
Spotting the less-than-ideal breeders
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE BREEDER
Pet Stores: What about Those Kittens in the Window?
Your Neighbor’s (Or Coworker’s) Kittens
The Wild Ones: Special Cats, Special Considerations
Help for the Wild Ones
Finding the solution that isn’t
Offering a new way of thinking: Trap, Neuter, Release
But aren’t these cats pests?
FOR THE BIRDS
Getting Your Feet Wet: How to Help
First, do no harm
Helping the helpers
Feeding community cats: Help or harm?
Learning to Care for Community Cats
Setting up a routine
CRITTER QUANDRY
Lining up help
Tracking down traps
Setting up veterinary care
Trapping cats
Spaying and neutering cats
Releasing cats
Housing considerations
Taming the ones you can
Patience is the key
Gentle handling over time
CAN YOU ADOPT A BARN CAT?
Getting Off to a Good Start
Choosing a Healthy, Happy Kitten or Cat
Evaluating the Environment
Getting a read on a kitty’s history
Making special considerations
Choosing a Kitten
Adopting at the ideal age
Looking at a litter
Personality testing your kitten
The feather test
SHOULD YOU BUY A KITTEN YOU’VE NEVER SEEN?
A moment of calm
Considering the Second-Chance Kitty
Recognizing Good Health in Kittens and Cats
The outer cat
FERAL CAT CONSIDERATIONS
The inner cat
Taking a Leap of Faith with Your Eyes Open!
TAKE YOUR KITTEN TO SCHOOL?
One Is Never Enough: The Multicat Household
You’re in Good Company
Another cat — for your cat
The loneliness of the indoor cat
The free-roaming cat
Another cat — for you
Knowing your limits
Full speed ahead
Adding to the Family
Understanding territoriality
Choosing compatible cats
BEST TIP? GET ’EM FIXED
Caring for More than One Cat
Litter box strategies
Cat trees, cubbies, and hiding places
Feeding time at the cat ranch
WHO’S DOING WHAT?
Strategy No. 1: All food, all the time
Strategy No. 2: Individual meals
Strategy No. 3: Kitty buffet, with special service
Multicat Medical Concerns
Parasite problems
Fleas and ticks
Ear mites
Intestinal worms
Infectious viral diseases
Setting Your Cat up for Success
Pre-Cat Preparations
Eliminating household hazards
Plaything problems
Hiding places
Higher and higher
Other things to look out for
Organizing a “safe room”
A kitten’s place
INDOOR KITTY: THE CONVERSION
A cat’s room
Bringing Your New Pet Home
THE NAME GAME
Hello, Kitty!
Children
Other cats
WATCH THE BIRDIE, KITTY!
Dogs
NEW DOG, OLD CAT
Other pets
Think Like a Cat to Understand a Cat
Making Sense of Cat Senses
Smell
SCENT-MARKING
Hearing
Vision
Taste
Touch
Speaking “Cat”
Eyes
Ears
Tail
Voice
Hair and whiskers
“BISCUITS” OF LOVE
Posture
PRELUDE TO A HISS
Feline Friendly: From Cat Toys to Catios
A New Era for Indoor Kitties
A Cat Can’t Have Enough Toys
Why toys are even more important to an indoor cat
With so many choices, go as crazy as you like
FREE CAT TOYS YOUR FELINE PAL WILL LOVE
Feline Furnishings Cats Adore
Why every cat needs a place to scratch
Perches, catwalks, and shelves
THE BOOMING WORLD OF FELINE FURNITURE
Turn on the fun
A Constant Supply of Nibblies
Finding food is fun
Going green
A Whiff of Fresh Air
Leashes, strollers, and backpacks
The very best in cat remodels: The catio!
CAN YOU FENCE IN A CAT?
Some Final Thoughts on Environmental Enrichment
Someone to play with
The you factor
Enjoying Life Together
Solving Behavior Problems
Understanding “Bad” Behavior
Looking at the Root of Unwanted Behavior
Strategies for Changing Behavior
Yes, kitty!
No, kitty!
Calm kitty
Fairness
Attacking Behavior Problems
Aggression
Counter-cruising
Clawing
WHEN AGGRESSION CAN’T BE FIXED
The plant terminator
The cloth chewer
The trash cruiser
Should you consider declawing?
Noisiness
CAN YOUR CAT LEARN A TRICK OR TWO?
Getting Good Litter Box Behavior
Defining the Problem
What’s being done, and where?
Recognizing “I gotta go” behavior
Distinguishing “I’m sending a message” behavior
Okay, but what about feces?
Which cat is the culprit?
Is Your Cat Sick?
Use the Box, Kitty!
Cleanliness is next to catliness
Starting out clean
Keeping it clean
Offering alternatives
Changing the box and filler
Changing location
Using multiple boxes
Discouraging misbehavior
Stopping Sprayers in Their Tracks
LITTER-MUNCHING DOGS
Retraining through isolation
WHAT ABOUT BEHAVIORAL MEDICATIONS?
Out and About with Your Cat
Is Your Cat Up to Travel?
Health considerations
Temperament considerations
Leaving Your Pet Behind
Prepare for emergencies
Pet-sitters
Boarding facilities
Taking Your Pet with You
Air travel
Car travel
Moving Your Cat to a New Home
Using a safe room for moving
Anticipating problems
Allowing time for readjustment
LOST … AND FOUND, WE HOPE
Littering: Should Your Cat Become a Parent?
The Case Against Breeding
Spaying and Neutering: What’s Involved?
The Birds and the Bees, Kitty-Style
Choosing a mate
The “oops” pairing
Caring for a Pregnant Cat
OLDER CATS NEED GOOD HOMES, TOO!
Happy Birthday, Babies
Special delivery!
After the birth
Kitten Development
Birth to two weeks
YOUR ROLE AS A “GRANDPARENT”
Two weeks to eight weeks
Eight weeks to fourteen weeks
The adolescent kitten
Saying Good-Bye to the Babies
SPAYING AND NEUTERING KITTENS
Home Care: Good Grooming and More
Fur, the Purrfect Complement
Why Cats Groom
GROOMING ON AUTOPILOT
What’s in It for You?
Tools of the Trade
Coat-care tools
Nail-trim aids
The Importance of Patience
Keeping Kitty Coats in Shape
Combing and brushing
Cat + water + soap = Oh, my!
Keeping parasites under control
GETTING THE GUNK OUT
Flea control
HELP FOR HAIRBALLS
Ear mites
Ticks
Heartworms
ARE THOSE … PIMPLES?
Clipping Your Cat’s Claws
DOES YOUR CAT NEED PROFESSIONAL GROOMING?
Dental Care
Feeding Your Cat
Convenience … at a Price?
Maintaining the “Perfect” Cat Diet
Fulfilling Basic Nutritional Needs
Protein
Carbohydrates
Fats
CAN A CAT BE A VEGETARIAN?
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
CONCERNS OVER FAT PRESERVATIVES
Choosing Foods
What type?
When to feed?
What about veterinarian-prescribed foods?
A SWEET TREAT FOR CAT LOVERS
Treat your cat!
WHAT ABOUT A HOMEMADE DIET?
Curbing Eating Problems
The too-much cat
The finicky kitty
GREENS FOR NIBBLING
The Basics of Good Health
Preventive Healthcare for Your Cat
Recognizing Signs of Good Health and Bad
The physical cat
Vital signs
Taking your cat’s temperature
Taking your cat’s heart rate
Taking your cat’s respiratory rate
The emotional cat
NOT ALL BUMPS ARE A CONCERN
Choosing a Veterinarian
VETERINARIANS DEDICATED TO FELINE HEALTH
Understanding Your Veterinarian’s Role in Preventing Illness
The not-so-routine exam
Vaccinations
The protection factor
The risk factor
Parasite control
KITTENS AND VACCINATIONS
THE DEADLY DANGER OF RABIES
Recognizing Emergencies
Common Cat Health Problems
A Cooperative Approach to Cat Health
When Does My Cat Need a Specialist?
Some Common Health Problems
Abscesses
Upper respiratory infection
Difficulty breathing
IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL AHEAD!
Three nasty viruses
FIV
FeLV
FIP
Urinary tract disease
Kidney diseases
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)
Diabetes mellitus
Heart disease
Tumors
HOW TO HELP YOUR VETERINARIAN DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM
Giving Your Cat Medication
Pilling your pet
Liquid medication
Ear medication
Eye medication
ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS
IN AN EMERGENCY, TRY TO REMAIN CALM
Caring for an Older Cat
How Old Is “Old”?
Normal Signs of Aging
Decline of the senses
A NEW KITTEN?
Changes in appearance
Behavior changes
THE OLDER-CAT PHYSICAL
Special Care for Kitty Teeth
Common Problems
Hyperthyroidism
ANESTHESIA AND THE OLDER CAT
Constipation/Obstipation
Osteoarthritis
Home hospice care
Knowing When It’s “Time”
Euthanasia options
Dealing with loss
WHAT ABOUT THE REMAINS?
The Part of Tens
Ten Cat Myths Debunked
Cats Have Nine Lives
Cats Need to Drink Milk
Cats Purr Whenever They’re Happy
Cats Eat Plants If They’re Sick
Cats Are Dangerous around Babies
PREGNANCY AND YOUR CAT
Cats Can Be Kept from Using Their Claws
A Well-Fed Cat Doesn’t Hunt
Cat Fur Causes Allergies
Black Cats Are Bad Luck
All Calicoes Are Female
Ten Cool Cat-Related Places To Visit
FIND FUN WITH FOLLOW FELINE FANCIERS
Hemingway House
The American Museum of the House Cat
Citywide Cat Celebration
Purrfectly Pedigreed
When in Rome, Help the Cats
The Ultimate Destination for Cat Cafes
Hello Kitty!
Snuggle with a Library Cat (While You Still Can)
No, They Don’t Throw Real Cats Anymore
Safe Home for Big Cats
Ten Common Household Dangers to Your Cat
Strings and Similar Things
A Shocking Experience
The Warm and Deadly Dryer
Pain Medicines That Kill
Toxic Plants
Garage Dangers
Four-Wheeled Menace
Towering Danger
Parasite Products for Dogs
Ten Ways to Help Your Cat in a Disaster
Have a Plan
Have a Grab-and-Go Disaster Kit
Get Your Cat ID — and Keep It Current
Keep Preventive Care Measures and Health Records Current
Have Restraints Ready
Keep First-Aid Supplies on Hand — with Directions
Know the Locations of Nearby Veterinary Hospitals and Other Animal Services
Keep a “Lost Kitty” Kit Ready
Corral Your Cat
Be Prepared to Help Others
Ten Nonprofits Worthy of Your Donations
Winn Feline Foundation
Alley Cat Allies
The Jackson Galaxy Project
Morris Animal Foundation
Shelter Medicine Programs
Help with Spay-Neuter
Cat Sanctuaries
Big-Box Advocacy
Veterinary Schools and Colleges
Local Shelters and Rescue Groups
Index. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
About the Authors
Dedications
WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
