Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgments

xv

 

Introduction

1

1

The Newborn Kitten

5

 

Before the Kittens Are Born

6

 

After the Kittens Are Born

7

 

Stray and Shelter Kittens

13

 

Vaccinations

13

 

Meeting the Breeder and the Kittens

18

2

Ready, Steady, Get Your Cat

21

 

Are You Ready for a Cat?

21

 

Kitten or Adult Cat?

24

 

Pedigreed or Moggie?

26

 

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

 

The Litter

42

 

The Scratching Post

44

 

The Cat Tree

46

 

The Window Perch

47

 

Food and Water Dishes

48

 

Toys

49

 

Catnip

51

 

Grooming Tools

52

 

The Cat Bed

55

 

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

 

Litter Box Issues

84

 

Destructive Scratching

89

 

Fear

91

 

Rough Play

91

 

Ankle Attacks

92

 

Interact Aggress ion

92

 

The Importance of Interactive Play

94

 

The Baby Myth

95

6

Feeding a Carnivore

99

 

Commercial Diets

100

 

Homemade Diets

102

 

Dining in

104

 

Life Stage Feeding

105

 

Veterinary Diets

107

 

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

 

Dental Disease

135

 

Abscess

136

 

Diabetes

137

 

Liver Disease

137

 

Allergies and Intolerances

138

 

Asthma

139

 

Upper Respiratory Infection

140

 

Herpesvirus

141

 

Colitis

142

 

Diarrhea

143

 

Vomiting

143

 

Hip Dysplasia

144

 

Spinal Problems

145

 

Hypertension

146

 

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

146

 

Hyperesthesia

147

 

Idiopathic Peripheral Vestibular Disease

147

 

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

149

 

Feline Leukemia Virus

150

 

Osteoarthritis

150

 

Cancer

151

9

Emergencies and Surgery

155

 

Poison!

156

 

Medical Emergencies

157

 

Nursing Your Sick Kitty

159

 

Cats and Surgery

163

 

Anesthesia

166

 

Critical Care

168

 

Rehabilitation Therapy

168

10

Popular Cat Breeds

171

 

Abyssinian

172

 

American Shorthair

174

 

Bengal

174

 

Birman

174

 

British Shorthair

176

 

Burmese

176

 

Chartreux

177

 

Cornish Rex and Devon Rex

177

 

Maine Coon Cat

178

 

Norwegian Forest Cat

178

 

Oriental Shorthair

179

 

Persian

180

 

Ragdoll

180

 

Russian Blue

181

 

Scottish Fold

181

 

Siamese

182

 

Siberian

183

 

Singapura

184

 

Sphynx

184

 

Tonkinese

185

 

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

 

Harness Training

198

 

Cat Agility

199

 

Therapy Cats

201

Appendix A

Shopping for Your Cat

205

 

Cat Trees and Beds

205

 

Dinnerware

206

 

Carriers

206

 

Cat Toys

207

 

Collars, Harnesses, and Walking Jackets

207

 

Cat Enclosures

208

 

Stress Relief

208

 

If You Can’t Get Out to Shop

208

 

Just for You

208

Appendix B

Useful Resources

210

 

Web Sites

210

 

Helpful Books

214

 

Index

215