The cat owner's manual : operating instructions, troubleshooting tips, and advice on lifetime maintenance

266 Pages·2004·11.61 MB·English

by  Brunner

Copyright © 2004 by Sam Stall and David Brunner
Illustrations © 2004 by Headcase Design
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from
the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Number: 2004102135
eBook ISBN: 978-1-59474-767-0
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-931686-87-7
Designed by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum @ Headcase Design www.headcasedesign.com
Quirk Books
215 Church Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
quirkbooks.com
v3.1
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW CAT!
The Cat: Diagram and Parts List
▪ The Head
▪ The Body
▪ Sensor Specifications
Memory Capacity
Product Life Span
CHAPTER 1:
OVERVIEW OF MAKES AND MODELS
A Brief Product History
Hardware Variations
Advantages of Cat Ownership
Top-Selling Models
Nonstandard, Off-Brand Models
Selecting an Appropriate Model
▪ New Versus Used Models
▪ Selecting a Gender
▪ Selecting a Vendor
Kitten Pre-Acquisition Inspection Checklist
Adult Cat Pre-Acquisition Inspection Checklist
CHAPTER 2:
HOME INSTALLATION
Preparing the Home
▪ Curiosity and the Cat
Recommended Accessories
How to Hold a Cat
Initial Introduction
▪ Kitten
▪ Adult Cat
▪ Interfacing with Babies
▪ Interfacing with Children
▪ Interfacing with Other Cats
▪ Feline Bonding
▪ Interfacing with Dogs
▪ Interfacing with Other Pets
Selecting a Name
CHAPTER 3:
DAILY INTERACTION
Communication
▪ Audio Cues
▪ Affection
▪ Purring
▪ Cats and Human Speech
Sleep Mode
Proper Storage
Exercise and Play
▪ Games, Toys, and Amusements
▪ Catnip
Cat Identification Methods
Waste Disposal Protocols
▪ Dealing with Unauthorized Downloads
▪ Reasons for Litter Box Mishaps
Scratching
CHAPTER 4:
BASIC PROGRAMMING
Overview of Factory-Installed Software
Self-Grooming Protocols
Training Options (Software Add-Ons)
▪ Socialization
▪ Training Tips
▪ Leash Training
▪ Sit
▪ Down
▪ Coming When Called
▪ Fetch
▪ Clicker Training
CHAPTER 5:
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Types of Fuel
▪ Meat
▪ Fuel Facts
▪ Approximate Daily Fuel Requirements
Selecting a Brand
How to Feed
▪ Water Intake
Fuel Supplements (Snacks)
Fueling Glitches
Managing a Cat’s Weight
▪ Weighing a Cat
▪ Weight Reduction
▪ Underweight Cats
▪ Modifying Diet
CHAPTER 6:
EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Understanding the Coat
General Coat Maintenance
▪ Grooming Tools
Selecting a Professional Groomer
Grooming Techniques
▪ For Longhairs
▪ For Shorthairs
▪ Removing Mats
▪ Bathing
▪ Nails
▪ Ears
▪ Eyes
▪ Teeth
Emergency Cleanups
Controlling Cat Hair Deposits in the Home
Hair Balls
CHAPTER 7:
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Kitten Growth Stages
▪ Birth to 8 Weeks
▪ 8 to 15 Weeks
▪ 15 Weeks to Adulthood
Calculating Age in “Cat Years”
Diet Requirements
Sexual Maturity
Spaying and Neutering
CHAPTER 8:
INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Selecting a Service Provider
Conducting a Home Maintenance Inspection
Visiting Your Service Provider
Hardware Glitches
Creating a Home Repair Kit
Administering Ear Medication
Administering Pills
▪ Injections
Measuring the Cat’s Heart Rate
Measuring the Cat’s Core Temperature
Feline-to-Human Disease Transmission
CHAPTER 9:
EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE
Contagious Diseases
Chronic Diseases
Hereditary Diseases
Allergies
Poisons
▪ Other Unauthorized Ingestions
▪ Inducing Vomiting
Trauma
Bugs in the System
▪ Internal Parasites
▪ External Parasites
Behavioral/Psychological Disorders
The Heimlich Maneuver
Artificial Respiration and CPR
Emergency Transport Techniques
CHAPTER 10:
ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
Contests
Reproduction
▪ Selecting a Mate
▪ Mating
▪ Pregnancy
▪ Prenatal Monitoring
▪ Preparing for Birth
▪ Birth
Feline Transport
▪ Automobile Travel
▪ Air Travel
Old Age
▪ Common Age-Related Malfunctions
Obsolescence and Deactivation
APPENDIX
▪ Troubleshooting
▪ Technical Support
▪ Glossary of Terms
INDEX
OWNER’S CERTIFICATE
ABOUT THE AUTHORS