PDF / EPUB File Name: Cats_For_Dummies_-_Gina_Spadafori.pdf, Cats_For_Dummies_-_Gina_Spadafori.epub The cat then became honored — even worshipped — for a skill we sometimes wish today had been lost along the way: hunting. Before the cat stepped in, rodents had a fine, fat time in the grain storage bins. The cat’s hunting prowess evened the score a great deal and opened the door for small cats from Africa to take over the entire world, carried as useful workers on grain-laden ships throughout the ancient world. Farmers everywhere were grateful for their aid. Interesting fact: Experts believe Hemingway cats, also known as polydactyls, or cats with extra toes, were spread around the world this way. If you’re ready to welcome a beautiful cat into your home, read this guide! Cats might seem relatively independent and low-maintenance, but they actually need plenty of interaction and care. Whether you’re considering adopting a cat or buying a kitten and watching them grow up, you’ll want to make sure you can provide for their needs for the rest of their life. Pay attention to new developments. At the time of this writing, there was some promising news regarding a cat food that lowers allergy triggers. While this and other advances may or may not pan out in the long run, there is always a chance for a game-changer just around the corner. The Indoor versus Outdoor Controversy

There’s a great amount of choice when it comes to what to feed your cat. Some cats may prefer canned wet food, others will like kibble, and still others will enjoy both. The most important thing is to choose a food with real meat as the first ingredient and an overall high percentage of protein. If your cat has a specific health condition, then prescription diets are available. 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. In 1947, cat lover Kaye Draper of Cassopolis, Michigan, sought sawdust for her cat’s box from a local business. The firm also sold kiln-dried, granulated clay for cleaning up grease spills. Edward Lowe, son of the shop’s owner, suggested that the woman take home some of the absorbent clay instead, and an industry was born. Poisons: From antifreeze puddles to garden chemicals to rat poison (in baits or the stomach of dead vermin) to plants, an outdoor cat can easily get a lethal dose of something he wouldn’t be as easily exposed to indoors.

Remember, too, that what’s a fault in the eyes of some is a virtue in the eyes of others. The overexuberant affection of a bouncy big dog isn’t for everyone, believe us. We hasten to add that while most cats aren’t as overtly interactive as dogs, some really are happiest when in your face, and it’s not unheard of to have a cat who likes to play fetch. Although some cat critics claim that the animals are in it only for the food, any cat lover knows otherwise. Cats are in it for the warmth, too. Laps, beds, and even the tops of TVs and computer monitors offer many opportunities for taking nice long naps, which cats spend most of their time doing (see Figure 1-2). 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. The easy care and generous affection of adult cats make them perfect pets for people for whom walking dogs would be difficult or impossible. And study after study confirms the importance of a cat in the lives of those who feel isolated by age or disabilities. After one hour in the experimental box, Schrödinger’s cat stands at a 50% chance of being dead and a 50% chance of being alive.

Even as cats reign supreme near the top of the pet popularity charts, a lot of people still harbor misconceptions about them. Many of these people would probably enjoy having a cat in their lives if they’d only open their minds and their hearts. For more on what you need to keep a cat happy indoors, see Chapter 9. Chapter 2 Kitten or Adult? Boy or Girl? One Cat or More? IN THIS CHAPTER Don’t forget that what your cat drinks is just as important to her well being as what she eats. Water — clean, fresh, and ever-present — is essential to nearly every process of your cat’s body. Because so many cats suffer from chronic dehydration, we recommend a diet high in water, typically canned.

Some cats, including those with joint problems, may benefit from a food with added supplements, like glucosamine. Or you can buy these separately and add them to their food as required. Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and it’s easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. The following sections give you some preventive care guidelines. Cats need their contemplative moments (see Figure 1-3), of course, as do we all. A cat needs time to think — about how much she loves you … or how tasty that little mousy would be. But anyone who has lived with a cat will vouch for the sincerity and constancy of a cat’s affection. Make the bedroom completely off-limits to pets at all times. Although there’s not a pet lover alive who doesn’t enjoy a purring cat on the bed, keeping the bedroom allergy-free is probably a necessary compromise for allergy sufferers. Technical Stuff 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.

Behavior issues are a main cause of shelter surrender - and shelter euthanasia is the number one cause of death in cats - so it's important to learn how to provide an environment your cat can thrive in. Try to limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, aerosol products, cigarette smoke, and strong perfumes and consider using a mask while doing yard work and housework, especially at the height of the pollen season. Better yet: Get someone else to mow the lawn, do the vacuuming, and clean the litter box. Again, keeping all allergies under control can help your body handle your cat more easily. Outdoor cats are also far more prone to skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. It’s a horrible disease that often results in the loss of their ears, or nose, and is often incurable, even with radical surgeries. Dr. Lauren, who went to veterinary school in Australia, notes that she saw more of this horrible disease there, since cats in other countries are far more likely to roam freely than pets in the United States. 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 One other thing made the transition of the cat from pest control to pet possible — or, rather, one person: Edward Lowe, the inventor of Kitty Litter.Just a second: You have more to consider. Before you get to imagine Your Perfect Cat, you must determine whether a grown cat would work better for the life you lead than would a kitten, no matter how adorable. Before you consider whether a random-bred or pedigreed cat will suit you best, you must consider the issue of fur: long or short? And what about gender? Do females make better pets, or do males? Cats also need grooming, and some longhaired breeds have high-maintenance coats. Make sure that whichever breed you choose, you can keep up with their grooming requirements. That might be a daily brush or a biweekly one.