Caring for Your Cat: The Top Ten Essentials

By the Humane Society of the United States

Although your cat may act independent and be litter-trained, he still counts on you to provide him with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, companionship, and more. Take care of these ten essentials, and you'll be guaranteed to develop a rewarding relationship with your feline companion.

Outfit your cat with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there's a chance your companion may slip out the door—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your cat will be returned home safely.

Follow local cat registration laws. Licensing, a registration and identification system administered by some local governments, protects both cats and people in the community.

Keep your cat indoors. Keeping your cat safely confined at all times is best for you, your pet, and your community.

Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular check-ups. If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral.

Spay or neuter your pet. This will keep her healthier and will reduce the problem of cat overpopulation.

Give your cat a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your pet.

Train your cat to refrain from undesirable behaviors such as scratching furniture and jumping on countertops. Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained with a bit of patience, effort, and understanding on your part.

Groom your cat often to keep her coat healthy, soft, and shiny. Although it is especially important to brush long-haired cats to prevent their hair from matting, even short-haired felines need to be groomed to remove as much loose hair as possible. When cats groom themselves, they ingest a great deal of hair, which often leads to hairballs.

Set aside time to play with your cat. While cats do not need the same level of exercise that dogs do, enjoying regular play sessions with your pet will provide him with the physical exercise and mental stimulation he needs, as well as strengthen the bond you share.

Be loyal to and patient with your cat. Make sure the expectations you have of your companion are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. If you are struggling with your pet's behavior, contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter for advice, and check out the HSUS's Pets for Life campaign information.

Detecting Illness in Your Cat

Unfortunately, cats can't tell us where or when it hurts. Some symptoms and behaviors are obvious: diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, runny nose or eyes, and trouble using the litter box. There are other, more subtle, physical and behavioral signs that might indicate a trip to the vet is in order. Take note if your cat does any of the following: Misses more than one meal

· Shows a sudden change in eating habits

· Stops using the litter box

· Develops puffiness or a lump under the skin

· Hides for more than a day

· Becomes suddenly short-tempered or intolerant of attention

· Shakes his head frequently

· Changes his routine or loses interest in his favorite games

· Stops grooming

Training Your Cat
Anyone who has owned a cat is probably laughing at the thought of training a cat. I have, well let’s just say a small herd of cats and I am really the only one who is trained. There are a few basic concepts one should keep in mind when “training” a kitty.

Cats learn from experience. If a cat is rewarded for something they will repeat the behavior if cats experience something negative, they will likely not repeat the action. So the basic concept here is reward for good behavior and make unwanted behavior a negative experience.

Do not reward unwanted behavior. For example, if your cat climbs up on the counter and tries to get into the treats, do not give the cat a treat. If you do not wish to be woken up by the cat in the morning, do not get up and feed the cat because he is meowing

Cats often become destructive when they are bored. Often times the cat will shred something or urinate somewhere other than the litterbox. Do not ever throw the cat in the litterbox if the cat misses the box. The cat can actually associate the litterbox with being reprimanded which will make things worse. In addition, they will sneak around to urinate because they associate getting caught and getting reprimanded. Reprimanding cats is really ineffective.

First, if a cat suddenly stops using the litterbox, get him to the vet. Often times this is the first sign of a bladder or kidney infection. The cat hurts when he goes to the bathroom so he associates the litterbox with pain.

Once you have ruled out a medical cause, stop reprimanding the cat and focus on stimulating the him with some fun time. Disruption in a kitty’s world like the addition of a new baby, a new pet, or not spending enough time with your cat can cause a cat to stop using the litterbox. Force yourself to some play and pet time.

Set the cat up to succeed. Have a tall scratching post so the cat can mark and stretch as they need to. Reward him when he uses the scratching post. If your cat has extreme litterbox problems, you may want to not free feed him. Adjust his feeding schedule and put him in the same area as the litterbox. Wait for him to go and use a ton of praise and treats when he uses the box.

Make the things you do not want the cat to do very unappealing. Foil, double stick tape, cat repellent, and scat cat pads are very effective for countertops, furniture, etc. These things are good for when you are not at home as well as when you are there. This is much more effective than the water bottle which only works when you are home.

Cat training is not an exact science. All kitties are a little different. You need to evaluate your situation and possibly consult a veterinarian for the best results.