(just mouse over the Titles to find out more about these great Amazon buys!)
The Craggy Hole in My Heart and the Cat Who Fixed It: Over the Edge and Back with My Dad, My Cat, and Me
 
Caternal Instincts: The Feline Guide to Mastering Motherhood
Scarlett Saves Her Family
Les Chats de Paris
Prides
 
Pete The Cat
We Are the Cat: Life Through the Eyes of the Royal Feline
101 Cataclysms: For the Love of Cats
Bad Kitties: Celebrating Good Times And Bad Behavior
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Cats are living, breathing, loving creatures, so if you’re thinking of bringing one into your family, remember this above all else: you are bringing a new life into your world, and your responsibilities are almost the same to your cat as they are to your children.
A cat is not a possession like a new car or the latest XBox game. When you buy or otherwise get a cat, you are getting a new member of the family. She is aware of herself, of you, and of your feelings. Love her or hate her, she’s going to know it. Once you’ve made the commitment in your head, be sure to make it in your heart.
Before you bring a new cat into your home, be sure to have a family meeting, where you can discuss this very important concept: cats are family members, make sure everyone will treat her like one!
Once you have made the commitment, here are some basic tips to help show your cat how much you love her:
- Fresh water regularly. Change the water every day for your new cat. Tap water is usually fine, but remember, if there is a reason for your family not to drink the water (such as a boil water advisory), then do the same for your cat. Cooled boiled water is just fine for her, if need be. If your water has excess chlorine, use a water filter system (such as a Brita) to purify your cat’s water too.
- Fresh food regularly. Buy the best luxury cat food you can, because as a family member, your cat’s long term health depends on you. If you eat junk food every day for 10 years, you won’t be too healthy. Don’t feed your cat cheap unhealthy cat food every day, or they will also experience health problems. Premium cat food does not cost too much more than the cheapo stuff, and you will see it come back to you in reduced veterinary bills.
- Speaking of a good cat vet, find someone you are comfortable with. If you don’t like the vet, why should your cat? Be helpful for your vet, and let him or her know if something is wrong with kitty. Not eating for a couple of days or not drinking water for a day? That’s an immediate call to the vet. Remember, your cat’s life is in your hands.
- And be prepared for the cost of medical bills. A healthy cat can run you a few hundred dollars a year in vet bills, even without rabies shots. You may have paid nothing for your new family member, but she’s going to cost you anyway. If you can’t afford at least $500 a year for vet bills alone, you can’t afford a cat.
- Remember that what goes in must come out. Got a smelly cat? You probably feed it smelly food. Most cat food is very pungent, so be sure to keep the litter box very clean. Scoop the poop at least once a day, more often if you have more cats. If you have a kitten, DO NOT use clumping litter.
Clumping cat litter is designed to form into little balls whenever it gets wet. When kitty scratches at the litter to cover up, tiny bits of clumping cat litter go into the air – and into her moist eyes and moist nose and moist airway. Kittens are so small sometimes, the litter dust can clump inside their eyes and nose, causing terrible health problems and even potentially death. Wait until your kitten is at least a year old before using clumping cat litter.
In closing, let me say that over the years, I have had some fantastic, long-lived cats. I’ve made mistakes, we all do, and neglected vet care or used cheap food. But as your cat ages, the bills will get higher and higher each year as their health deteriorates. There is nothing sadder in this world than seeing a beautiful, loving older cat in a shelter because someone decided to dump her. She’s a family member, and you wouldn’t put grandma out on the curb to defend herself, so don’t do it with your beloved cat. She will return your love with years of purrs, games and joy. |
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