House Cat : How to Keep Your Indoor Cat Sane and Sound

259 Pages·2005·7.66 MB·English

by  Christine Church

House Cat
Revised
How to Keep Your Indoor Cat
Sane and Sound
Christine Church

House Cat
Revised
How to Keep Your Indoor Cat
Sane and Sound
Christine Church
Copyright © 2005 by Christine Church. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Church, Christine.
House Cat : how to keep your indoor cat sane and sound / Christine Church.— Rev.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-7645-7741-7 (pbk.)
1. Cats. I. Title.
SF447.C5 2004
636.8—dc22
2004023104
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Revised Edition
Book design by LeAndra Hosier
All photos by Christine Church, except where noted.
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
Dedication
For Taffy, whose life brought sunshine to mine and all who knew her. I am glad I was
able to give you sunshine in the end. August 1983–September 2001
For Teisha, who, despite her blindness, could see very clearly into my heart for the ten
years she was with me. ??–February 2002
For Candy, thank you for two decades of love and holding your large double paw in
my hand at night when I was alone. September 1983–August 2003
And, to Gillie, always the trooper, who battled cancer with a spirit like none other. A
true inspiration, you learned to walk on three legs as if you were born to it and you never
let illness bring you down. Always happy, always loving. You greeted every stranger with
purrs and head-butts and brought smiles to all who met you. I miss how you would grab
my manuscript pages as I worked and try to run off with them. You were gone from my
life far too soon. June 20, 1992–February 18, 2004
A very special dedication to New England Veterinary Oncology Group (NEVOG), who
cared for Gillie with gentle hands and gentle hearts. To Dr. Kim L.Cronin, DVM, DACVIM
(oncology), a fantastic vet and wonderful person. And to the receptionists (Sandi, thank
you for the laughs) and to the techs. You treated and saw Gillie as one of the family, let-
ting him hop around behind the reception desk, always greeting him with big smiles and
lots of treats. It made his experience (and the long drive for my brother and me) so much
more bearable. I will never forget you. You gave Gillie life, until he chose his own time
to move on. Thank you!
And to my brother, Correy, for taking the time to bring Gillie and me to each appoint-
ment. Thank you!
Gillie, June 1992–February 2004

Contents
Preface, ix
Acknowledgments, xi
Introduction, 1
1
Safety in the Eyes of the Cat, 7
Understanding Danger, 8 • Outdoor Dangers, 10 • More Points
to Ponder, 18 • Making the Decision, 21
2
Important Introductions, 23
Before Bringing Your New Cat Home, 24 • Cat-Proofing, 26 •
Bringing Kitty Home, 32 • Introducing People, 35 • Meeting Other
Cats, 38 • Introducing Other Animals, 42 • Carrier Training, 45 •
Setting House Rules, 48 • Acclimating Your Cat to the Indoors, 52
v
vi CONTENTS
3
Understanding Your Cat’s Mind, 59
When a Cat Is Just Being a Cat, 60 • Stress and Its Causes, 62 •
Feline Rivalry, 62 • Loneliness, 69 • Jealousy or a Change in
Routine, 72 • Death or Divorce, 73 • Signs of Stress, 74 • Stress
Relievers, 78 • The Cat-Friendly Home, 85
4
Bathroom Duty, 89
Litter Box Fillers, 90 • Making Your Choice, 95 • Litter Boxes, 96 •
Where to Put the Box?, 98 • Litter Box Liners, 100 • Maintenance and
Odor Control, 100 • Toilet Training, 103 • Litter Box Problems, 104 •
Training and Retraining, 110
5
The Claws That Scratch, 115
Why Cats Scratch, 116 • The Mechanics of Claws, 117 • Cat Trees
and Posts, 119 • One Post or Two?, 125 • Scratching Post Training,
126 • Breaking Bad Habits, 127 • The Declawing Controversy, 129 •
Other Alternatives, 131
6
Cat Hair Everywhere, 135
The Cat’s Coat, 135 • Grooming, 137 • Bathing a Cat, 142 • A Healthy
Coat, 145 • Home Sweet Cat Home, 145 • Other Cat Messes, 148
7
The Outdoor Indoor Cat, 151
Outdoor Enclosures, 152 • Bringing the Outdoors Indoors, 156 • Leash
Training, 156
8
Your Healthy Cat, 161
Know Thy Cat, 161 • The Home Health Exam, 162 • Neutering Your
Cat, 165 • Vaccinations, 166 • Common Ailments, 168 • More
Serious Ailments, 176 • Caring for a Sick Cat, 179 • Household
Emergencies, 184 • Natural Disasters, 193
CONTENTS vii
9
The Lost Cat, 197
What to Do, 198 • What Not to Do, 201 • Preventing Escapes, 202 •
Identification, 202
10
Cats in the Kitchen, 207
Good Feline Nutrition, 208 • Canned Food or Dry?, 208 • Feeding
Time, 210 • Water, 211 • Obesity, 212 • Finicky Eaters, 214 • Treats
and People Food, 216 • Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, 216 •
Strange Eating Habits, 217
11
The Aging Cat, 219
Geriatric Changes, 220 • Caring for Your Aging Cat, 223 • Health
Problems, 225 • Loss and Grieving, 226
Index, 229