Bring Me Home! Cats Make Great Pets

Margaret H. Bonham

Description

The book to bring home before you bring home a kitten or a cat!

At last--a practical, hands-on guide to help you determine if your family is ready for a kitten or a cat. Cats are usually fairly selfsufficient and wonderfully entertaining, but they do require some attention and care. With loads of information and a fun, family-friendly style, this book provides a realistic understanding of the responsibilities of cat ownership. Information and interactive activities include:

Worksheets that help you make informed decisions, keep good records, and more

Questions and charts to help you determine if your family is ready for cat ownership, whether to get a kitten or a cat, where to get your pet, and more

Checklists covering cat-proofing your home, vaccinations your new pet should have, items you'll need before bringing your cat home, and other aspects of being a responsible pet "parent"

Cat care chore charts, including the dreaded litter box duty

Resources to keep with your pet's records and information

After you welcome a kitten or a cat into your family, this book provides the essential information on litter box training, boundary training, scratching training, nutrition, exercise, grooming, common health problems, and lots more. You'll know how to make your cat the purr-fect family pet!
Introduction.

Chapter 1: Are You Ready to Get a Cat?

Time and Living Commitments.

Financial Commitment.

Environmental Requirements.

A Good Match.

Chapter 2: Choosing a Cat.

Moggie versus Pedigreed.

How Big Will the Cat Be?

Male or Female?

Longhair, Shorthair, or No Hair?

Kitten or Adult?

Breed Overview (and List).

Where to Find Your Cat.

Picking Out Your Cat.

Chapter 3: Preparing for Your Cat.

Indoor Cat or Indoor-Outdoor Cat?

Where Should Your Cat Stay?

Stocking Up on Cat Supplies.

Choosing a Veterinarian.

Chapter 4: Cat-Proofing.

House Checklist.

Garage Checklist.

Backyard Checklist.

Safety Shopping List.

Chapter 5: Bringing Your Cat Home.

When to Bring Your Cat Home.

When Not to Bring Your Cat Home.

The Car Ride Home.

First Stop, the Veterinarian.

Introducing the Family.4

Introducing Other Cats.

Introducing Dogs.

Introducing Other Pets.

Chapter 6: Family Education.

The First Few Days and Nights.

Basic Manners with a Cat or Kitten.

Teaching House Manners.

Chapter 7: Keeping Your Cat Healthy.

Understanding How to Feed Your Cat.

Going to the Vet.

Exercise.

Grooming.

Socializing.

Chapter 8: Emergencies.

Emergency Checklist.

How to Restrain Your Cat.

Assembling a First-Aid Kit.

Treatments and Transport for Common Cat Injuries.

Family Disaster Planning.

Chapter 9: Litter Box Behavior.

Types of Litter.

The Nose Knows.

Litter Boxes and Other Technicalities.

Where to Put the Litter Box.

Solving Litter Box Problems.

Chapter 10: Having Fun with Your Cat.

Clicker Training for Kitty.

Introducing the Clicker.

Tricks You Can Teach Your Cat.

Setting Up a Kitty Obstacle Course.

Fun Games to Play with Your Cat.

Chapter 11: Problem Kitties.

Preventing Problem Behaviors.

Aggression.

Counter Creeping.

Vocalizations.

Fear of Thunder and Loud Noises.

Spraying and Inappropriate Defecation.

Scratching.

Leaving behind Killed Animals.

What If It Doesn’t Work Out? Options for the Cat Owner.

Chapter 12: Your Cat As Part of the Family.

Identification.

Vacations.

Boarding Facilities.

Pet Sitters.

The Workplace.

Appendix: Useful Resources.

How to Use This Appendix.

Cat Breed List.

Vaccination Record.

Veterinary Record.

Chore Chart.

Emergency Veterinarian Numbers.

Pet Sitter Journal.

Kennel Information Sheet.

Index.

Sujets

• Pets
• Cats

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 23 juillet 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470232484
• Langue: English

Extrait

Margaret H. Bonham
Copyright 2005 by Margaret Bonham. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Color insert photos by Tammy Raabe Rao/Rubicat Design Photography: pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (top), 6, 7 (top left and bottom), and 8.
Photos on page 5 (bottom) and page 7 (top right) provided by Roxane Cerda.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com . Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions .
Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, Howell Book House, and related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising here from. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at [phone], outside the U.S. at [phone] or fax [phone].
Library of Congress Control Number: 2005926634
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8830-3
ISBN-10: 0-7645-8830-3
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Melissa Auciello-Brogan
Cover design by Suzanne Sunwoo
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
Table of Contents
Introduction

Chapter 1 Are You Ready to Get a Cat?

Time and Living Commitments
Financial Commitment
Environmental Requirements
A Good Match
Chapter 2 Choosing a Cat

Moggie versus Pedigreed
How Big Will the Cat Be?
Male or Female?
Longhair, Shorthair, or No Hair?
Kitten or Adult?
Breed Overview (and List)
Where to Find Your Cat
Picking Out Your Cat
Chapter 3 Preparing for Your Cat

Indoor Cat or Indoor-Outdoor Cat?
Where Should Your Cat Stay?
Stocking Up on Cat Supplies
Choosing a Veterinarian

Chapter 4 Cat-Proofing

House Checklist
Garage Checklist
Backyard Checklist
Safety Shopping List
Chapter 5 Bringing Your Cat Home

When to Bring Your Cat Home
When Not to Bring Your Cat Home
The Car Ride Home
First Stop, the Veterinarian
Introducing the Family
Introducing Other Cats
Introducing Dogs
Introducing Other Pets
Chapter 6 Family Education

The First Few Days and Nights
Basic Manners with a Cat or Kitten
Teaching House Manners
Chapter 7 Keeping Your Cat Healthy

Understanding How to Feed Your Cat
Going to the Vet
Exercise
Grooming
Socializing
Chapter 8 Emergencies

Emergency Checklist
How to Restrain Your Cat
Assembling a First-Aid Kit
Treatments and Transport for Common Cat Injuries
Family Disaster Planning
Chapter 9 Litter Box Behavior

Types of Litter
The Nose Knows
Litter Boxes and Other Technicalities
Where to Put the Litter Box
Solving Litter Box Problems
Chapter 10 Having Fun with Your Cat

Clicker Training for Kitty
Introducing the Clicker
Tricks You Can Teach Your Cat
Setting Up a Kitty Obstacle Course
Fun Games to Play with Your Cat
Chapter 11 Problem Kitties

Preventing Problem Behaviors
Aggression
Counter Creeping
Vocalizations
Fear of Thunder and Loud Noises
Spraying and Inappropriate Defecation
Scratching
Leaving behind Killed Animals
What If It Doesn t Work Out? Options for the Cat Owner
Chapter 12 Your Cat As Part of the Family

Identification
Vacations
Boarding Facilities
Pet Sitters
The Workplace
Appendix Useful Resources

How to Use This Appendix
Cat Breed List
Vaccination Type
Veterinary Record
Chore Chart
Emergency Veterinarian Numbers
Pet Sitter Journal
Kennel Information Sheet
Coloring Pages

Index
To Larry, as always
To Hailey, the world s greatest cat
And to Beth Adelman and Dusty Rainbolt, who made me into a cat person despite myself

Acknowledgments
I wish to thank those who made this book possible:
Jessica Faust of Bookends; the Howell team: Roxane Cerda, Cindy Kitchel, Christina Stambaugh, Kathy Nebenhaus, Jennifer Connolly; technical reviewer Dusty Rainbolt; cat friend and expert Beth Adelman; and special thanks to Larry, who has been through this often.
Introduction
So you want to own a cat? Cats are the most popular pets-but they re not for everyone. After reading this book, you ll understand a bit more about what it takes to own a cat and find out if there s a cat in your future. Learn the basics of cat ownership and what you need to do to find a well-adjusted and healthy pet. Unlike many guides that focus on simple cat ownership, I focus on how a cat will fit into your family and your life.
This book is intended for the first-time pet owner and also for families looking to add a pet to their lives. Inside are checklists, tips, and questionnaires that will help you decide what to do when choosing, caring for, and training your cat. These tools help you focus on what it takes to own a cat and help you assess your family s-and your cat s-particular situation. Expect to find: Worksheets that help you figure out if you re ready for a cat, assist you in finding the right cat, give important questions to ask shelters and breeders, and aid in your search for a veterinarian Checklists to help you cat-proof every room in your house and the outdoors, figure out what supplies you need, and decide between a moggie and a pedigreed cat Information on how to deal with emergencies, as well as guidelines for proper nutrition for your cat, and common kitty problems Step-by-step instructions for training-or retraining-your cat
I hope you use this book as an interactive resource to turn to again and again to help with your decision-making and organization. Each chapter opens and closes with a bulleted list that guides you through the chapter at a glance.
In the very back is an appendix, Useful Resources. I encourage you to photocopy the forms, punch holes in them using a three-hole punch, and put them in a three-ring binder marked Cat Records, along with some sheet protectors where you can keep vital records and information about your cat handy at all times. I also have chore lists that you can post on the refrigerator and refer to at any time. As your cat becomes a part of your family, you ll find yourself constantly referring to the notebook. When were his last shots? How did she do with the pet sitter? Do you remember when she learned how to come on command? All of these things and more make up your cat s life and should be written in your notebook. These will enhance your pet ownership experience.
With the tools and resources I provide for you, I hope you find the experience of owning a cat an enjoyable one.
Chapter 1
Are You Ready to Get a Cat?

What s Inside . . .
Learn what time constraints a cat will put on your lifestyle.
Learn the costs of cat ownership.
Learn if your living situation warrants owning a cat.
Learn if a cat is the right pet for you.
You re looking for a pet and have decided that you want a cat. Congratulations! You re in good company. Many cat owners love their cats so much that they ve become like potato chips-just one is not satisfying. In fact, the cat is the most popular house pet-there are nearly seventy-eight million cats who are house pets as compared to sixty-five million dogs.
Although a cat is more independent than a dog, a cat will still show plenty of affection to her owners, and nothing beats the coziness of cuddling up with your cat on a cold evening. Unless you want to train your cat beyond litter box training (which is easy with most cats), very little obedience training is required. In fact, many cat owners are happy with their cats behavior, without ever having had to train them to sit, come, or lie down.
Because cats don t require the constant attention that a dog does, the busy family can still have a cat. This isn t to say that cats don t need attention; they do-just not as much as a dog needs. A dog usually requires kenneling when you go on vacation, but a cat can get along with just a pet sitter and may actually prefer it!
But that doesn t mean that a cat is a furry houseplant