Most of my life, I've grown up around cats. When my parents were married, we had three cats; Cupcake, Twinkie, and Midnight which were all domestic short hair cats. When I lived with my grandmother, she had two Maine Coon cats which are classified as American Longhair. Now we are proud parents of two domestic short hair tabby's, Isabelle and Simba. Personally, I've always been a huge fan of the tabby. They have beautiful patterns and most time, they have a soft coat.
I'm not a cat expert by any means, but I've been around cats long enough to know the basics of at least keeping them alive, happy, and healthy.
Feed (2) times a day - Some people only give their cats either all dry or all wet. By taking them to the vet on a regular basis, I found out that dry food is very carby for cats and can't easily make them over weight assuming they are the type that sleep more than the average cat. Even so, if cats are active, not every cat will have the same metabolism. Therefore, feeding them solely dry food may not be best for their weight. Every cat is different despite their breed. Simba is more active while Isabelle sleeps more than the average cat. What we do is give them two handfuls of dry each in the morning (they have two separate bowls) and a half a can of wet food at night each. I recommend Friskies all the way! They are relatively cheap, there are so many varieties, and the cats love them!
Water - Every time we feed them (which is 2x daily), we always make sure that they have fresh, cold water even if they still have water left in their bowl. Also, be sure to thoroughly clean their bowls at least once a week (if not every time you feed them) because bacteria will build up in the water portion of their bowl and as we all know, food eventually goes bad. You don't want your fur baby to get sick!
Treats - Most treats you can give a cat up to 10 treats per a day. I don't give our cats treats every day because I don't want them to be dependent on them or expect them everyday. We give our cats Temptations treats because they are the brand with the most variety of flavors. They have some treats that help with tartar control and hairballs which in Temptations defense, really do work well. Isabelle gets some really nasty hairballs and Temptations hairball treats take care of them very well.
Isabelle is a McGriddle and hash brown kinda cat. (No, we never feed our cats human food, but they do think it smells good anyway!)
Hairballs - Like I mentioned above, Temptations hairball treats work well for Isabelle. That isn't the case with every cat. Sometimes, I even gently massage Isabelle's throat to help ease the situation. However, if your cat still really has a tough time with hairballs, I would recommend calling your local veterinary clinic to schedule an appointment to reach a mutual decision with your veterinary healthcare provider on the hairball situation.
Liter boxes - Jason and I clean liter boxes once a week because we have two large cat boxes, one for Isabelle and one for Simba. So, it's only necessary to clean theirs once a week. If you only have one cat, one liter box, once a week would be the same difference. I wouldn't recommend having only one liter box for two or more cats. There have been times were Isabelle and Simba had to use their liter boxes at the same time. Some cats are also territorial and want their own. In that case, you wouldn't want to find "accidents" in your house. Try not to let cleaning the liter boxes exceed a week due to hygienic reasons. Also, if you have cats like ours, they will refuse to use the liter box if it's too dirty.
Veterinary visits - Unless something is wrong with them, our cats just go to the vet for their annual check-up. Both of our cats get all required shots and treatment including getting their nails trimmed when they go and I'm VERY strict on that. A lot of people don't bring their cats to the vet when they sense that something may be wrong with them, let alone for an annual visit. I don't agree with that and I'm highly opinionated on that matter. The way I see it, you wouldn't neglect a child's needs and a cat or any animal for that matter shouldn't be any different. A baby can't necessarily tell you what's wrong and neither can a cat. You have to sense those things. A cat is a living, breathing being just like a human.
Also, if you can't afford to properly take care of a cat or any animals for that matter, then I would highly recommend that you don't have one. There is more to an animal than being cute and something to pet.
Companionship - Cat's make great companions. Like most pets, cats know when something is wrong and will always be there for you. Our cats are always at the front door every time we come home from being out. Every time I walk up stairs, Simba and Isabelle race me up the stairs. They do funny things to cheer you up when you're having a bad day. Having our fur babies helps keep my stress levels down. I wouldn't say if you're a person who works full-time that pets aren't for you. However, I would recommend that you have another furry little friend to keep them company assuming you can afford it. Though a cat sleeps most of the day, the times that they are up, a cat can easily get depressed from being alone. Knowing that there is another presence in the house other than your own makes you feel more at ease.
If there isn't a second pet in the home, I would almost assume that makes you more obligated to engage in playful activity more than a person who is able to provide that pet with another furry little companion. Simba is all that Isabelle needs and vice versa. I call them the 'dynamic duo'. If your cat is constantly misbehaving, there are a few things that you can try.
I talk to my cats. I truly believe that they can understand me most of the time. They are very attentive to our voices. They even watch t.v with us! They are my best-friends!
(They help with electronic fixes too!)
Behaviors
Tail twitches and wide eyes - If a cat twitches its tail it usually means that it's aggravated. Wide eyes on the other hand could mean a few different things. Wide eyes could mean being scared, aggravated, or interested in (usually seeing something to possibly attack) something. Be aware of the signs of aggravation and keep your face clear from an aggravated cat. If your cat seems to be aggravated, let it be until he or she is ready to come around again. Your cat may not feel good or just simply may need time to itself. Just think of how you feel when you're not feeling good or are stressed -- you wouldn't want much interaction either.
Question mark tails - Have you ever seen your cats tail take the form of a question mark? A question mark tail is exactly what it's implying -- the cat has a question. Question mark tails usually mean that a cat is curious about something or unsure. For instance, our down stairs bathroom is closed off to the cats as are all the rooms up stairs unless supervised. If I open the bathroom door down here and I'm only in there for a few minutes to brush my teeth, I will let them in with me. Since they are not always allowed in the bathroom, they question out of curiosity.
Arching of the back and grape vine mode - Sometimes cats will arch their back when they wake up from a nap. That's just them stretching. However, some people have witnessed their cat doing this:
In that case, they are either startled or scared which often results in being distressed. I call it the "grape vine" because it looks like they are doing the grape vine when they walk off side ways. It's usually no big deal and they will get over it. It just looks weird to us humans is all. I don't see this too much in Isabelle or Simba, but I do see a lot of "fat" tails because Isabelle and Simba scare each other. It's quite funny actually. Isabelle gets spooked over the simplest of things. She is very jumpy, but I think that has a lot to do with her size and feeling like she always has to be aware. I've see her do something similar to this:
Hissing/Growling - I don't know of too many cases where hissing or growling is a good thing. Hissing or growling is usually a sign of being very aggravated. It's a warning. Almost like a cat version of yelling or being snappy. Again, I would just stay clear until they are ready to come around.
Chewing or Scratching things - To deter them from chewing or scratching things that they don't belong doing so to, you can purchase spray solutions which will not cause harm to your cats. Chewing inanimate objects may be a sign of infection in the gums, so be careful and make an appointment with the local vet if you're unsure.
Meowing - Believe it or not, meowing comes in many different forms. There are happy meows, sad meows, angry meows, and hungry meows. Usually cat owners can tell and it may or may not be the same from one cat to another.
Purring - In most cases, purring means a cat is happy. However, beyond popular belief, that isn't always true. Believe it or not, cats can purr when they feel frightened or threatened -- it can even be a form of self-healing.
Chattering - If you find your fur baby in the window making a chattering sound, it usually means that they have spotted something that they can't reach and could mean excitement or frustration.
I recommend:
(Can be found at your local Petsmart)
(Can be found at your local Walmart)
Read instructions on bottle for proper use of sprays.
Methods to Misbehaving Cats
Everyone raises their cats differently. Some are more lenient as to what they can and can't do in their home. We are pretty lenient with our cats for the most part because this is their home too. We won't let them claw carpet or chew on furniture, but we don't see the problem in letting them walk the counters as long as their is no food for human consumption on the counter. They do know better. I also always wipe the counters off every time I put food items on the counter for sanitary reasons.
Besides, just like having children, if you give too many rules to them, they are more likely to be defiant. You have to pick and choose your rules in the order of which are most important. Anyway, more than likely they will do what they want while you're away anyway.
Play with them - 9 out of 10 times, if a cat is getting into trouble, it's because they are bored and have tons of built up energy. Play with them for a minimum of 20 minutes each day and you might very well notice a difference in their behavior. The younger the cat, the more play time they require to tucker them out. Cats (though they sleep most of the day), need exercise to maintain proper weight for their age and build. If you allow a cat to become over or under weight, it can experience a shorter life. Make sure they are eating and exercising properly.
Hold them - People think I'm nuts, but this works. If my cats do something wrong, I hold them still for 10 minutes or so and pet them to calm them down. At rest, their heart beat returns to normal and they are likely to become relaxed and forget what they were doing. In most cases, they then doze off somewhere. I call it, "Kitty Time-out". If they don't try to squirm out of my hands in the first 5 minutes, I put them down then. If they do, they have to wait the entire 10 minutes.
The Squirt Bottle - Yes, we have a squirt bottle that we use when they are doing something that we don't want them to do. This especially works well when they are clawing the carpet. The last thing you want to do is try to pick up a cat when their claws are stuck in a carpet. You could harm them. Most cats don't like water, so when they are sprayed, they will stop what they are doing to avoid getting sprayed. Now, every time they are doing something wrong, all I have to do is point the spray bottle in their direction where they can see it and they squint their eyes at me because they know they've done something that warrants being sprayed and they know there is the potential to be sprayed if they keep it up, so they stop.
Be consistent and persistent - Whatever method you choose to discipline them, stick with it. Don't make it out to be that one day you allow something and the next day you don't allow it. You will confuse them. You can have a few different ways that you may discipline them because different situations call for different methods, but pick a couple of the ones that will be most beneficial and be consistent on how you utilize those methods. When it comes to using words, pick one to two words to use with a consistent tone. For example, if they are on something that they aren't suppose to be on, I either say, "Get!" or "Get down!" in a stern tone so that they know I mean business. Don't use too many different words for what you are trying to get them to do or it will confuse them. The reason I can use "Get!" and "Get down!" is because they know when I say, "Get!" that "down" could be to follow if they don't get down when I say "Get" first. It's kind of like they already know what I'm saying.
Provide them with positive reinforcements for play - Cats will be cats and will want to play. A healthy alternative from deterring them from playing with things that they don't belong playing with, provide them with plenty of toys and scratching posts. Don't want them climbing on your shelves? Provide them with their own climbing environment such as cat perches.
Getting them fixed - Cats can't be fixed until they are a certain age. If adopted, they are usually already fixed in most cases. If you don't have plans of breeding your cat(s), you should make an appointment at the first signs of them going into heat if they are female. Males are a little more difficult, so you can always consult with your local vet for their discretion. You will most likely be able to tell of the signs.
Male cat's don't go into heat, but once they have reached sexual maturity and can sense a female cat in heat, they will drive you nuts wanting to get at that cat. Male cats can spray to mark their territory, but won't be likely to display many of the signs that a female cat would going into heat.
Signs of a female cat going into heat:
- Overly affectionate
- The mating position (cat will often be low to the floor, sticking bum up in the air)
- Overly vocal (long, loud wining sounds)
- Spraying (the act of spraying urine around the house) It's used as a lure to attract potential sexual partners
- Loss of appetite
- Licking private areas as they might get sore
Lastly, both of our cats are domesticated; meaning I don't allow them to go outside. I wouldn't want them to get hit by a car, increase their chances of getting fleas or disease, or other harm. When we took Isabelle in, she had a really bad case of worms that we had to urgently take care of. Every pet owner has the choice of whether or not they want to de-claw their cats. However, Jason and I have decided against that in the event that they should ever accidentally get out of the house, they can defend themselves. Once a cat is de-clawed, they have no defenses other than their teeth. Without their claws, they also won't be able to grip things as well and decrease their chances of being able to hunt food effectively in order to eat.
But. mostly they do this ^ Aren't they so cute?
Have fur kitties of your own? Feel free to share your parenting tips below!
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