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Kittens
Q:
What should I feed my kitten?
When kittens
are four to five weeks old, they begin eating solid foods.
To help wean a kitten, serve semi-liquid meals that the kitten
can lap. Cereal or finely ground fish or chicken along with
milk will help to introduce the kitten to more solid foods.
Manufacturers have also developed foods specifically designed
for young kittens. These foods can usually be given once the
kitten is at least six weeks old. Commercial diets have been
specifically designed to provide the necessary nutrients,
vitamins and minerals that cats and kittens need.
Q:
How can I train my kitten to use a litter box?
You can
begin teaching a kitten to use a litter box at three to four
weeks of age. The box should be placed in a quiet corner where
the kitten will not be disturbed or distracted. Never place
a litterbox near the cat's food. The litter box should be
filled with enough litter to allow the kitten to scratch a
hole in it and then re-cover it. Allow your kitten time to
get used to the feel and the smell of the litterbox by placing
the kitten in the box. The kitten may not understand how to
use the box, so each time you see it soil elsewhere in the
house, simply say "No!" and gently place the kitten in the
litterbox. To encourage the kitten's use of the box, place
the kitten inside the box after meals or any time it will
most likely need to use the box. Adult cats can also be trained
to use a litterbox, although it may take longer. However,
the process is the same as that for training kittens. If either
cat or kitten continue to avoid using the box, try moving
it to another location or using a different litter.
Q:
How important are the first few months with my kitten?
Very.
In the first year of its life, your cat will pick up most,
if not all, of its habits, good and bad. This is the best
time to nip future behavioral problems in the proverbial bud.
What may be cute at 5 months will not be so cute at 5 years.
It is much easier to lay groundwork for expected behavior
when the cat is young than to attempt to break the habits
of an older animal. When a kitten is young it is the best
time to let them get used to wearing a collar (though most
flea collars are too strong for kittens to wear), being around
people (though socialization should be gradual so as not to
frighten your kitten), keeping them off the counters and not
scratching up the furniture. You should also try and use the
cat's name frequently when it is young so that it can learn
it and further bond with yourself and your household, especially
if it will be living out of doors.
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Mother
Cats
Q:
How long until my cat delivers her kittens? What are the average
signs of pregnancy? How large is the average litter?
The average
feline pregnancy is nine weeks. The first sign of pregnancy
is an enlarging of the area around her nipples often called
"pinking." By six weeks the expectant mother's abdomen is
noticeably larger, and at seven, she begins looking for a
place to birth her kittens, called a "nest." The average litter
ranges from 3 to 5 kittens, though there are often exceptions
to the rule.
Q:
Where will my new kittens be born and can I set a nesting
box for the mother-to-be?
When an
expectant cat begins looking for a nest, she seeks an area
that is quiet, secure and out of the way. A good way to get
the mother to nest in a relatively accessible area (instead
of someplace like the back of a closet under a teetering pile
of shoes and laundry) is to make a box filled with newspaper
in a warm, safe, private area. Show it to her often and most
likely she will decide to nest there. Do not force the issue,
however. She is just trying to do what she thinks best for
her new family. Also, she might choose more than one nest
in order to optimize her kittens' safety. Remember that after
the kittens are born, no matter how fond she is of you, she
might perceive you as a threat to her kittens when they are
very young. For the first week, try to avoid handling them
unnecessarily and keep children and other animals away from
the nest.
Q:
When will the mother start weaning her kittens?
After
the kittens are about three to five weeks of age, the mother
might begin to refuse to feed her kittens, only to resume
feeding them a few days later. This is often to get them to
start eating solid food and to give herself a break. This
does indicate that the mother has started the weaning process.
Most kittens are weaned from their mother by five weeks of
age. If weaning still has not occurred after the kittens are
six weeks of age and the mother begins to show signs of great
fatigue, you might need to take her to the vet.
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Food
and Nourishment
Q:
How many meals a day should I give my cat?
A healthy
cat should have two meals a day, although some cats prefer
to eat smaller portions throughout the day. Kittens up to
five months should receive four or five meals throughout the
day. From 5 months to 12 months, the number of meals can be
gradually decreased. It is important to make sure that the
cat's food is protected from flies and insects. If the cat
is given moist food, the bowl should be cleaned every day.
Fresh water should be provided daily.
Q:
Should I provide my cat with water or with milk?
Cats become
dehydrated relatively easy. While they can survive for long
periods of time without food, water is a necessity. Milk should
not be offered as a substitute, only as an occasional treat.
Milk is not essential and can cause diarrhea in adult cats.
It is best to avoid it. The only time water is not recommended
is when your cat is vomiting. After a cat has vomited, it
is best to avoid water or food for about two hours. She will
want to drink, but drinking will only cause her to vomit again,
resulting in dehydration.
Q:
I'm a vegetarian. Can I feed my cat a vegetarian diet?
No. Cats
must eat meat, which provides them with the protein they need
to remain healthy. Cats need at least twice as much protein
as dogs for basic health maintenance. Proteins are made of
amino acids such as taurine, which is vital for the prevention
of blindness and some heart diseases. Cats get their necessary
taurine from meat. Furthermore, the fat in meat provides cats
with linoleic acid, which cats cannot produce on their own.
Linoleic acid assists in the production of red blood cells
and helps with bodily functions such as blood clotting. Meat
is also a cat's only source of vitamin A, which is also important
for normal bodily functioning.
Q:
My cat loves chicken and fish. Should I give him the bones
to chew on?
Absolutely
not. Cooked chicken bones can splinter in the cat's mouth
and cause serious damage. Smaller fish bones can get lodged
in the throat and cause even more damage. If your cat has
a strong urge to gnaw, chewy treats are a safe alternative.
Q:
Are there any meats that are bad for my cat's health?
Liver
and fish should be given sparingly to your cat. Liver contains
large amounts of vitamin A that can build up in your cat's
body, resulting in joint pain and other ailments. Liver can
be used as an intermittent treat, given no more than once
every 10 days. Too much fish can also be harmful to your cat's
health. Fat-storing cells underneath your cat's skin can become
inflamed, resulting in pain, fever, stiffness and deteriorating
coat. Excesses of fish, especially white, tuna and oily fish
can avoid this condition.
Q:
My cat has stopped eating. How can I get him to eat again?
Your cat
may from time to time become disinterested in food for various
reasons: odor build-up, a change of location, or they are
recovering from an illness. Strong-smelling foods such as
tuna, mackerel, or sardines may be a way to kick-start you
cat's appetite, especially if they are suffering from respiratory
problems. If that doesn't work, putting a dab of canned food
on their nose or rolling it up into a tiny ball and then feeding
to them like you would a pill might. As always, if your cat's
behavior continues to be out of the ordinary and the cat still
does not eat, please consult your veterinarian.
Q:
Does my cat need any vitamins or supplements?
If the
primary staple in your cat's diet is a reputable brand of
cat food, then she will not need supplements. If your cat
is on a meat-only diet, supplements of additional calcium,
vitamin B, and phosphorus are necessary. Sterilized bone meal
is a good supplement. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's
recommendations to keep from harming your cat's health.
Q:
Is catnip bad for my cat?
Catnip
and valerian, which has a similar effect on cats, are completely
harmless herbs. Catnip may contain a chemical that resembles
the scent of a substance released by unspayed females.
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Behavior
Q:
Why does my cat hunt, even though it is well fed?
Hunting
is a deeply ingrained instinct in cats and cannot be altered.
Scolding or punishing a cat for hunting will be ineffective.
Cat owners will have to accept this behavior. Although the
cat cannot be stopped from hunting, some owners put a bell
on the cat's collar, which makes it difficult for the cat
to sneak up on its prey.
Q:
Why do cats spend so much time grooming themselves?
Cats lick
their fur to rid it of dirt and to keep their coat waterproof.
The licking also helps strengthen the cat's own scent. By
repeatedly licking themselves, cats smooth their fur, thus
providing better protection against the cold. When cats tug
at their fur, they stimulate glands that release a secretion
that helps to keep their coat waterproof. Although cats often
enjoy being petted, they will usually groom themselves afterward,
in order to rid themselves of the human scent and increase
their own scent. Their fur also becomes ruffled by petting,
and licking will smooth it.
During
warm weather, cats lick themselves to keep cool. They do not
have sweat glands or pores, so the layer of saliva acts like
human sweat by drying and evaporating, lifting heat away from
the cat's body.
Q:
Why does my cat sometimes go outside of her litter box? How
can I get her to use it again?
There
are many reasons why your cat might no longer use the litter
box, including stress associated with the box, new litter,
a new cat or a household move. Regardless of the reason, punishment
will not have an effect on your cat. She will not understand
why she is being punished. A positive approach is much more
effective.
Before
you re-train your cat, you must first get rid of the odor.
Do not use cleaners with ammonia or chlorine, two compounds
that exist in your cat's urine. After cleaning, rub the spot
with white vinegar to cover any lingering scent. Another good
way to deter your cat from repeatedly soiling the same spot
is to place your cat's food there. Cats detest eating and
going to the bathroom in the same place. Another ploy is to
cover the spot with aluminum foil. Cats despise the sound
and feel of it. Once you've gotten your cat away from this
area, make sure their box is clean and isolated. Then, you
can reintroduce them to the box and praise them whenever they
use it.
Q:
Why do cats scratch furniture and how can I get mine to stop?
Cats scratch
to sharpen their claws and to mark their territory. As you
can imagine, this problem increases the more cats you have
in an enclosed house or apartment. Soon a favorite sofa might
become torn and damaged. How can you prevent this? You should
attempt to stop the behavior as soon as it starts by startling
the cat with a loud "No!" or a squirt from a water pistol.
Certain materials are very appealing to cats, something to
remember when purchasing a sofa or a scratching post. Cats
like thick, woven materials and a post with such fabric (carpet
or straw rope) will be an excellent distraction. Alternatively,
cats do not like smooth shiny material. Draping such fabrics
over the arms of your chair or sofa will act as a deterrent.
Q:
How do cats purr?
It is
not known how cats purr. One suggestion is that the vibration
of blood passing through a large vein in the cat's chest causes
purring. The windpipe, along with air spaces in the cat's
skull, magnifies the sound of the blood passing through the
vein. An alternate theory is that the sound is produced by
the cat's larynx as its vocal cords open and close.
Q:
Why do cats "knead" with their claws?
Like purring,
kneading is a sign of happiness. It is a throwback to when
they were kittens. Kittens knead at their mother's teats to
speed the flow of milk. Purring usually accompanies kneading
and adult cats normally knead when sitting on a favorite person's
lap or settling down to sleep.
Q:
Can you tell a cat's mood from its tail?
To some
extent you can. When your cat greets you with a tail that
is standing up straight and still in the air, that normally
means they are happy to see you and that they are feeling
at ease and content. If the cat is asleep and the tip of their
tail is moving, most likely they are dreaming. When a cat
hunts, they keep their tail low to the ground. When a cat
flips its tail from side to side, it normally means they are
trying to make a decision about something. When cats are confused,
they tend to "wag" their tails.
Q:
Why does my cat sometimes race around the house for no apparent
reason?
Cats are
very active creatures by nature, even if you include the fact
that they sleep an average of 16 hours a day. Due to the "pampered"
lifestyle of today's domesticated cats, many cats don't devote
large amounts of time to hunting their next meal or protecting
territory. This "racing" behavior is an explosive expenditure
of that energy and is nothing to be alarmed about. Your cat
is merely using up its "stored" energy.
Q:
I've heard somewhere that cats can only see in black and white.
Is that true?
Contrary
to popular belief, research has shown that cats can see in
color. Their color perception is not as vivid as that of the
human eye, but they can see a limited array of colors. Researchers
think that they can't distinguish between different color
values, so subtle changes in shades do not register to them.
Q:
Do cats pant?
Cats normally
do not pant as dogs do unless extremely overheated or stressed.
Much of the time what cat owners may perceive as panting is
really another type of behavior called the flehman reaction.
When a cat smells something it is interested in or something
extremely pungent, it may curl back its lips and open its
mouth to further investigate the scent. What your cat is doing
is tasting the smell it has detected. This is completely natural
behavior and no cause for alarm.
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Health
Q:
When should I vaccinate my cat?
You should
make sure your cat is current on its vaccinations and have
them administered every year. All kittens should be vaccinated
and/or tested and vaccinated for such diseases as feline infectious
enteritis (FIE) and feline leukemia by eight weeks of age.
It is very important to keep your cat's shots current, otherwise,
it could infect other cats or worse. Many feline diseases
are very swift once they set in, FIE being a prime example.
A yearly vaccination and physical by your veterinarian can
keep your cat healthy.
Q:
Should I de-worm my cat?
Yes. It
is especially important for kittens. There are four common
types of worms that infect cats: roundworms, hookworms, whipworms
and tapeworms. Kittens often get worms from their mothers
and should be wormed between four and twelve weeks of age
by your veterinarian. Tapeworms tend to reoccur the most often
because fleas transmit them. Bits of tapeworm are visible
in the cat's feces and on the cat's anus and look like long
grains of rice. If you see these segments or any other symptoms
indicating your cat has worms (increase in appetite and general
loss of condition), take them to the vet immediately for medication.
Q:
I think my cat has been poisoned. What should I do?
Call a
veterinarian immediately. When a cat is poisoned, their usual
instinct is to vomit. Vomiting, however, should not be induced.
Many times it causes more damage. Other signs of poisoning
are vomiting, paralysis, convulsions, foaming at the mouth
and diarrhea.
Q:
Are there any household substances that may be harmful to
my cat?
Such substances
as bleach, detergents and disinfectants can be harmful to
your cat, so make sure to keep them out of your cat's reach.
Aspirin, insecticides, slug and snail pellets, pesticides,
paint, oil, turpentine, and anti-freeze are especially toxic.
Keep them secured and away from your cat at all times. Many
plants are also toxic to your cat, among them oleander, Christmas
cherry, poinsettias, elephant's ears, ivy, dumb cane, lupines,
clematis, sweet peas, delphiniums, rhododendrons and philodendrons.
Visit the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at http://www.napcc.aspca.org
for more information. Or you can call 1-888-4ANI-HELP for
consultation services. These contacts are not substitutes
for your veterinarian, however. If you think your pet has
been poisoned, take it to a veterinarian immediately. Poisons
are quick-acting and very lethal.
Q:
If my cat is not breathing and its heart has stopped, can
I perform resuscitation techniques?
Heart
massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can be performed
on cats. Lay the cat on its side and place a hand between
its front legs. Place your thumb on one side of the ribs and
the fingers on the other and then squeeze, compressing the
rib cage and thus, the heart. Release your fingers to allow
the lungs to fill with air and then repeat the squeeze/release
action every five seconds.
Mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation is performed by holding the unconscious cat's
head upright and breathing into its nostrils for two or three
seconds in order to inflate the lungs. The chest should move
visibly. Pause for a few seconds and then repeat.
Q:
Can I pass on a disease to my cat?
No human
disease can be passed from humans to cats, but humans can
carry cat viruses on their skin or clothes and then infect
another cat.
Animals
can transmit diseases to humans, though. These diseases, termed
zoonoses, include rabies. Humans are more at risk of contracting
rabies from wild animals than pets, but there are other diseases
that are more commonly passed on by pets. Cats pick up the
toxoplasmosis parasite from raw meat. This can be passed on
to humans, usually through contact with the cat's feces. It
is particularly dangerous to children and pregnant women.
Humans can protect themselves by wearing gloves when cleaning
litter boxes or when gardening and by having children wash
their hands thoroughly after playing outdoors.
Fleas,
lice, ringworm and fur mites can also be passed on to people
and cause skin reactions. Although easier to treat, it is
still healthier for both pet and human to be kept free of
these parasites.
Bites
and scratches from cats can result in infection. Any wounds
should be thoroughly cleaned and treated with antiseptic.
Humans
cannot be infected with feline leukemia and feline AIDS, even
if the person is bitten or scratched by an infected cat.
Q:
What is the best way to give a cat medicine?
When giving
a cat liquid medicine, the easiest method is to use a syringe.
Fill the syringe with the recommended dosage, then hold the
cat's head gently but firmly and insert the syringe in the
side of the cat's mouth. Squirt the medicine slowly into the
cat's mouth so the cat does not choke. Once the medicine has
been administered, hold the cat's mouth closed.
To give
a cat a pill, hold the cat's head firmly from above with your
forefinger and thumb at the corners of the cat's mouth. Tip
the cat's head back slightly and press the fingers at the
cat's mouth to make it open. When the cat's mouth is open,
place the pill as far back on the cat's tongue as possible.
Then close the cat's mouth and hold it closed with the head
still tilted back. Stroke the cat's throat in a downward motion
to encourage the cat to swallow. Hold the mouth closed and
continue stroking until the cat licks its nose, indicating
it has swallowed the pill. Do not crush the pill and then
sprinkle it on the cat's tongue. Some pills have a bitter
taste.
Q:
Why do cats have a third eyelid?
The third
eyelid is on the inside corner of the cat's eye and is referred
to as the nictitating (blinking) membrane. It helps to protect
the cat's eyes from a number of dangers, including excess
light and foreign substances. When there is too much bright
light, the third eyelid partially covers the eye, filtering
the light. It also cleans debris off the eye. However, bits
of grit may become trapped under the third eyelid and may
need to be removed under anesthesia. In some cats, a small
portion of the third eyelid is visible at all times. In other
cats, the nictitating membrane is only visible when the cat
is ill, thus serving as a useful indicator. The third eyelid
is not always a sign of illness. For unknown reasons, the
membrane will appear for a few days in healthy cats. However,
if it remains visible for more than two days, the cat should
be taken to the veterinarian.
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