Table
of Contents
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Acknowledgments |
xv |
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Introduction |
1 |
1 |
The Newborn
Kitten |
5 |
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Before the Kittens Are Born |
6 |
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After the Kittens Are Born |
7 |
|
Stray and Shelter Kittens |
13 |
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Vaccinations |
13 |
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Meeting the Breeder and the Kittens |
18 |
2 |
Ready,
Steady, Get Your Cat |
21 |
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Are You Ready for a Cat? |
21 |
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Kitten or Adult Cat? |
24 |
|
Pedigreed or Moggie? |
26 |
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Long Coat or Short? |
27 |
|
Where Will You Get Your Cat? |
28 |
3 |
Gearing Up
for Kitty |
37 |
|
Kittyproofing Your Home |
37 |
|
The Litter Box |
40 |
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The Litter |
42 |
|
The Scratching Post |
44 |
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The Cat Tree |
46 |
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The Window Perch |
47 |
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Food and Water Dishes |
48 |
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Toys |
49 |
|
Catnip |
51 |
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Grooming Tools |
52 |
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The Cat Bed |
55 |
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The Carrier |
55 |
4 |
Home at
Last! |
61 |
|
Newest Cat in the Family |
63 |
|
Sharing the House with Dogs |
67 |
|
Indoors is Best |
68 |
|
Environmental Enrichment |
70 |
5 |
Understanding
Cat Behavior |
75 |
|
Four Myths about Cats |
75 |
|
Feline Body Language |
78 |
|
How Cats Vocalize |
83 |
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Litter Box Issues |
84 |
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Destructive Scratching |
89 |
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Fear |
91 |
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Rough Play |
91 |
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Ankle Attacks |
92 |
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Interact Aggress ion |
92 |
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The Importance of Interactive Play |
94 |
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The Baby Myth |
95 |
6 |
Feeding a
Carnivore |
99 |
|
Commercial Diets |
100 |
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Homemade Diets |
102 |
|
Dining in |
104 |
|
Life Stage Feeding |
105 |
|
Veterinary Diets |
107 |
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Enticing Your Cat to Try a New Food |
108 |
|
Obesity |
108 |
7 |
Routine
Health Care |
113 |
|
Your Cat’s Veterinarian |
113 |
|
Feline Spa Services |
120 |
|
Senior Cats |
127 |
8 |
Special
Feline Health Concerns |
131 |
|
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease |
132 |
|
Urinary Tract Stones |
133 |
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Dental Disease |
135 |
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Abscess |
136 |
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Diabetes |
137 |
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Liver Disease |
137 |
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Allergies and Intolerances |
138 |
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Asthma |
139 |
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Upper Respiratory Infection |
140 |
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Herpesvirus |
141 |
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Colitis |
142 |
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Diarrhea |
143 |
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Vomiting |
143 |
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Hip Dysplasia |
144 |
|
Spinal Problems |
145 |
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Hypertension |
146 |
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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy |
146 |
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Hyperesthesia |
147 |
|
Idiopathic Peripheral Vestibular Disease |
147 |
|
Feline Infectious Peritonitis |
149 |
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Feline Leukemia Virus |
150 |
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Osteoarthritis |
150 |
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Cancer |
151 |
9 |
Emergencies
and Surgery |
155 |
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Poison! |
156 |
|
Medical Emergencies |
157 |
|
Nursing Your Sick Kitty |
159 |
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Cats and Surgery |
163 |
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Anesthesia |
166 |
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Critical Care |
168 |
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Rehabilitation Therapy |
168 |
10 |
Popular Cat
Breeds |
171 |
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Abyssinian |
172 |
|
American Shorthair |
174 |
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|
174 |
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Birman |
174 |
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British Shorthair |
176 |
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Burmese |
176 |
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Chartreux |
177 |
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Cornish Rex and |
177 |
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|
178 |
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|
178 |
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Oriental Shorthair |
179 |
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Persian |
180 |
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Ragdoll |
180 |
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Russian Blue |
181 |
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Scottish Fold |
181 |
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Siamese |
182 |
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Siberian |
183 |
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Singapura |
184 |
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Sphynx |
184 |
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Tonkinese |
185 |
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Moggie or Mixed Breed |
186 |
11 |
Catapulting
into Activities |
189 |
|
Start Training |
190 |
|
Training and Pet-Co-Pet Issues |
194 |
|
Let’s Have Some Fun! |
196 |
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Harness Training |
198 |
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Cat Agility |
199 |
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Therapy Cats |
201 |
Appendix A |
Shopping
for Your Cat |
205 |
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Cat Trees and Beds |
205 |
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Dinnerware |
206 |
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Carriers |
206 |
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Cat Toys |
207 |
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Collars, Harnesses, and Walking Jackets |
207 |
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Cat Enclosures |
208 |
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Stress Relief |
208 |
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If You Can’t Get Out to Shop |
208 |
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Just for You |
208 |
Appendix B |
Useful
Resources |
210 |
|
Web Sites |
210 |
|
Helpful Books |
214 |
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Index |
215 |
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