More Cat Care Information:
I have never thought of a cat as a good house pet. Unlike a dog which follows our command, a cat has a mind of its own. I accept it is a good source of pest control if incase you have mice and rodents crawling all over your house. But my viewpoint changed when I watched a program on the Discovery Channel about the origin of cats on my TV connected to Dish Network.
|General Cat Care #1: Before You Bring Your Cat Home|
|You will need food, food dish, water bowl, interactive toys, brush, comb, safety cat collar, scratching post, litter and litter box.|
|General Cat Care #2: Feeding|
|An adult cat should be fed one large or two smaller meals each day. Kittens from 6 to 12 weeks need to be fed four times a day. Kittens from three to six months need to be fed three times a day. You can either feed specific meals, throwing away any leftover canned food after 30 minutes or free-feed dry food (keeping food out all the time).|
Feed your cat a high-quality, brand-name kitten or cat food (avoid generic brands) two to three times a day. Kittens can be fed human baby food for a short time if they won’t eat kitten food softened by soaking in warm water. Use turkey or chicken baby food made for children six months and older. Gradually mix with cat food. Cow’s milk is not necessary and can cause diarrhea in kittens and cats. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Wash and refill water bowls daily.
Most historians believe that the origin of the relationship between cats and humans dates back to 3600 years where Egyptians used to have cats as pets. But a recent archaeological excavation has lead to finding of a grave where the bones of a cat was found along with a human. This has now made the archaeologist believe that the relationship between cats and dogs dates back to more than 9500 years.
Cats are a great companion as they are cute and easy to cuddle with. Most cat owners especially in US are women, as cats are considered to be a good companion for ladies than men. Most single women have cats and spend their lonely time playing with them. Cats have good hearing ability than human beings as most of their prey are small animals and rodents. These small animals or rodents emit high frequency sound which is easily captured by the sensory projected hair in the cat's ear. So that is why you may see a cat is easily able to find a rat and kill it than humans. Also a cat has got keen senses of smell that at sometimes you may see your cat hurriedly coming from the bedroom whenever you have a fish or meat on the dining table.
|General Cat Care #3: Grooming|
|Most cats stay relatively clean and rarely need a bath, but they do need to be brushed or combed. Frequent brushing helps keep your cat’s coat clean, reduces the amount of shedding and cuts down on the incidence of hairballs|
|General Cat Care #4: Handling|
|To pick up your cat, place one hand behind the front legs and another under the hindquarters. Lift gently. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck (behind the ears) or by the front legs without supporting the rear end.|
|General Cat Care #5: Housing|
|Cats should have a clean, dry place of their own in the house. Line your cat’s bed with a soft, warm blanket or towel. Be sure to wash the bedding often. Please keep your cat indoors. If your companion animal is allowed outside, he can contract diseases, get ticks or parasites, become lost or get hit by a car, hurt in a fight or poisoned. Also, cats prey on wildlife.|
Cats are believed to be the relatives of the African cat. Their body structure and the method of killing are quite similar to that of an African cat in the wild. That is why you are able to train a dog, but never a cat. A dog may listen to your command and kill a rodent or any small animal but a cat never listens to your command and will only kill when it is hungry or feels interested in the prey. Having the genes of the African wild cat or we can say that having the African wild cat as its ancestor, a normal domestic cat can survive in the wild on its own. Unlike humans, cats don't get uncomfortable at high temperature and can with stand temperatures up to 56 degree Celsius if they have access to water. Even their digestive system and kidneys are so efficient that they can survive on the diet of only meat with no water. Their body's digestive system is so good that it can remove the salt content from the sea water, giving them the ability to consume sea water.
Most of us get amazed when we see a cat walking quite easily and steadily in the dark. This is because unlike a human's eye, a cat's eye has layers of tissues which reflect the light that passes through the retina, giving the cat the ability to walk in the dark. Some cat owners find it irritating when their cat starts scratching the furniture or couch. A cat usually does this because unlike a dog which marks its place by urinating, a cat usually marks its place by scratching the trees and other wooden items.
Cats are considered to be one of the cleanest animals as they clean their body by themselves. Unlike other animals like dog, lion, elephant etc who have to dip in the water to clean their body, a cat cleans its paws and body by licking with its tongue. A cat's tongue has got tiny prickles that act as a hairbrush. That is why you may see lot of cats cleaning and grooming for hours.
Cats are good pets and life-long companions. They are very cute and feel nice to cuddle like a small baby. Even though they are at times aggressive, but their cute and cuddlesome feature makes us forget the aggressive behavior. So those who are having doubts about adopting a cat as a pet, don't think, just go and adopt a cute cat as your lifelong pet.
|General Cat Care #6: Identification|
|If allowed outdoors (again, we caution against it!), your cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. An ID tag or an implanted microchip can help insure that your cat is returned if he or she becomes lost.|
|General Cat Care #7: Litter Box|
|All indoor cats need a litter box, which should be placed in a quiet, accessible location. A bathroom or utility room is a good place for your cat’s box. In a multi-level home, one box per floor is recommended. Avoid moving the box unless absolutely necessary. Then do so slowly, a few inches a day. Cats won’t use a messy, SMELLY litter box. Scoop solids out of the box at least once a day. Dump everything, wash with a mild detergent (don’t use ammonia) and refill at least once a week, less frequently if using clumping litter. Don’t use deodorants or scents in the litter or litter box (especially avoid lemon scent).|