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Introduction

Welcome to the third edition of Cats For Dummies, the most easy-to-use, up-to-date reference available on one of the world’s most remarkable animal companions, the cat. We wrote this book out of love for our cats as well as respect and admiration for all cats. And we also wrote it to make a difference for cats and cat lovers everywhere.

“Curiosity killed the cat” is a saying that has been around for years, but it’s not curiosity that hurts so many cats: Misinformation and unrealistic expectations are far bigger threats.

Cats aren’t that complicated, but there is a lot of new information about them that is pretty new. We’ve put all that new information conveniently here in Cats For Dummies while updating the information from previous editions. You just won’t find that anywhere else. We know, because as expert feline veterinarians and pet-care writers, we’ve seen all the wrong and even dangerous information that's out there.

Cats are a joy to live with, and we want you to find out how much. Even if you’ve owned cats for years, you and your cat will benefit from the new information in this book to improve your cat’s health, happiness, and relationship with you.

We also want you to be able to avoid the things you don’t need. The popularity of cats is wonderful, to be sure, but it also means that a lot of products out there are a waste of your money at best and dangerous at worst. We want to help you navigate the pet-food aisle to find the very best food for your cat. And we really want you to have a good relationship with your veterinarian so that you can prevent health problems before they are too serious to be resolved.

We want you to know that it’s worthwhile to take the time to learn about your cat, and about caring for your cat properly. You’ll understand why if you consider that a well-cared-for cat can be your loving companion for more than 15 years and that many cats live happily and healthily even beyond that milestone. These years are a gift; make them count!

A happy, healthy cat and a happy cat owner: We ask for no greater legacy for our work.

About This Book

Cats For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is divided into five parts. If you’re looking for a cat, you may want to start at the beginning. If you already have a cat, you can skip around, checking out the chapters that address your needs at any given time. Are you moving? Check out the chapter on cats and traveling. Have you taken a homeless and pregnant cat into your home? You want to review the chapters not only on care of the mama cat and her new babies but also on how to raise those babies to be good pets. And then you'll want to learn how to find the right homes that your angels deserve when the time comes for them to leave the nest.

We pack so much information into this book that we’re guessing that, in time, you’re probably going to want to read it all. How else are you going to find out just what about catnip makes some kitties crazy, why cats purr, and why your cat will love a catio? All this information — and more — is in Cats For Dummies, 3rd Edition!

You’ll find all everything you need in the main body of the book, but we’ve also worked to find interesting tidbits, recommended products and services, and material that will help you understand complicated issues if you want to go deeper. You’ll find much of this material in sidebars or marked with icons such as “Technical Stuff” and “Cool Cat Facts.”

Foolish Assumptions

You may think you know all you need to know about cats, but we’re guessing that’s not really true. You may think you don’t need to know anything more, and we know that’s not true. That’s because we know how much you love your cat, and how much you will benefit from the information provided by some of the very top experts in feline care.

Your cat is counting on you, and we know that if we help you — and we’ve written this book to do exactly that — you and your cat will both be so much happier.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout the book, we’ve put icons in place to make it easier to find the information you’re looking for and to emphasize material that’s important not to miss. If you want to go deeper into a topic, we’ve flagged that material too. Here’s how to navigate these icons:

Information that will help you do things more easily, or save money or time.

When something is too important to skip over, we flag it to make sure you don’t.

There are things out there that put feline lives at risk, and we want to help you avoid them.

We don’t get too deep into veterinary medicine, anatomy, or other topics, but this icon is used to let you know that if you want to go deeper, we have you covered.

Some things are just so fun or interesting that we just have to tell you about them, even if they don’t really fit anywhere else.

Beyond the Book

Like every For Dummies book, this one comes with a free online Cheat Sheet that brings together some of the most commonly needed information for taking care of your cat. To get the Cheat Sheet, head to www.dummies.com and enter “Cats For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Where to Go from Here

Ready to enjoy and care for your cat even more than you do all ready? Jump in anywhere you like!

If you haven’t yet adopted a cat or kitten, or haven’t had one for awhile, you might start at the very beginning. If you’re experiencing some behavior problems, jump to that chapter. Adopted by a pregnant cat? We have you covered.

We know you love cats or you wouldn’t be reading this book. Let us help you live a better life with your feline companion, with the best information you’ll find anywhere.