The Simple Guide to Cats Book

Part 1	So You Want a Cat or Kitten	13
Chapter 1	Should You Get a Cat?	15
	Choosing Between Cats and Dogs	15
	Cat Considerations	18
	A Lifetime of Love	19
	Other Household Members	20
	Cats and Children	22
Chapter 2	Kitten or Cat?	25
	Kittens	25
	Adult Cats	28
	Choose the Pet That's Right for You	32
Chapter 3	Choosing the Right Feline for You	35
	Pet or Show Cat?	35
	Gender Decisions	36
	Purebreds	38
	Persian	39
	Maine Coon	39
	Exotic	40
	Siamese	40
	Abyssinian	40
	Oriental	41
	American Shorthair	41
	Burmese	41
	Birman	41
	Tonkinese	42
	Mixed Breeds	42
	Kiddie Compatible Kitties	42
	Birman	43
	Burmese	43
	Chartreux	43
	Japanese Bobtail	44
	Maine Coon	44
	Solitude Loving Felines	45
	American Shorthair	45
	Korat	46
	Persian	46
	Ragdoll	46
	A Hairy Subject	46
	Finding the Right Cat for You	48
Chapter 4	Where to Find Your Cat or Kitten	49
	The Stray on Your Doorstep	49
	Feral Strays	50
	Friends and Neighbors with Cats to "Spare"	51
	A Pet Store Kitten	52
	Purchasing a Purebred Kitten from a Breeder	53
	Adopting a Shelter or Rescue Cat	59
	Unconditional Love	60
Chapter 5	Selecting a Healthy Cat or Kitten	61
	A Healthy Cat Is	62
	The Coat and Skin	63
	Eyes	64
	Ears	64
	Mouth and Nose	64
	Anal Area	65
	A Checkup	65
	Pick of the Litter	66
Part 2	Caring for Your Cat	69
Chapter 6	Before You Bring Your Cat Home	71
	Start with the Proper Supplies	71
	Cat Carrier or Crate	72
	Food and Water Bowls	72
	Food	73
	Cat Bed	73
	Litter Box	74
	Scratching Post	74
	Toys	74
	Collar, ID Tag, and Leash (or Harness)	75
	Cat Proofing Your Home	76
	Cats and Houseplants	77
	Beware of Toxic Plants	78
	Playing with Your Houseplants	79
	Don't Let Your Feline Get Burned	81
	If Kitty Gets Burned	81
	A Safe Home is a Happy Home	82
Chapter 7	Settling In--The First Few Days	83
	What to Expect	83
	Preparing Your Family	85
Chapter 8	Feeding Your Cat	89
	Kitten Nutrition	89
	Adult Cat Nutrition	91
	Necessary Nutritional Requirements	91
	Senior Cat Nutrition	92
	So Many Cat Food Choices, So Little Time	93
	Dry and/or Wet Food	93
	Free Feeding Versus Scheduled Feeding	94
	A Variety of Bowls to Choose From	94
	Battling with a Finicky Feline	95
	Changes in Diet	96
	Loss of Appetite Could be Emotional	98
Chapter 9	Litter Box Training	101
	Location, Location, Location	101
	Litter Plus Box Equals "Litterbox"	103
	Choosing a Litter Box	105
	If Your Cat Stops Using the Litter Box	105
	Take the Cat to the Veterinarian	106
	Why Did Kitty Stop Using Her Litter Box?	106
	Techniques to Get Kitty Back to the Box	108
	Neutralizing Kitty Odors	108
Chapter 10	Grooming for Cats and Kittens	111
	The Hairy Truth	111
	When the Fur Flies	112
	Taking Control	113
	Grooming Your Cat at Home	114
	Trimming the Nails	116
	Grooming Time	117
	Bathing Your Cat	118
	Ears	120
	Eyes	120
	Teeth	120
	Wanted: Professional Cat Groomer	121
Part 3	Your Cat at Home	123
Chapter 11	Multiple Cat Households	125
	Cat Introductions	126
Chapter 12	Keeping Your Cat Safe	131
	The Great Indoors	132
	The Not-So-Great Outdoors	132
	Summertime Blues for Indoor and Outdoor Cats	133
	The Cool Cat	134
	Sunbathing Cats	135
	Summer Fun Could be Dangerous to Kitty	136
	Keeping Kitty Away from the Wild Side	136
	Preparing for Parasite Invasions	137
	Wintertime Blues for Indoor and Outdoor Cats	138
	The Warm Feline	138
	Winter Woes	139
	Making Indoors Safe and Sound	140
	Food for Thought	142
	The Right Life for Your Cat	143
Chapter 13	Keeping Your Feline Healthy	145
	Changes in Everyday Routine	145
	Changes in Normal Behavior	147
	Proper Veterinary Care for Your Cat	149
	Choosing a Vet	149
	Doctors Who Make Housecalls	150
	Kitty Specialists	151
	Board Certified Veterinarians	152
	Spaying or Neutering Your Cat	152
	Neutering	153
	Spaying	154
	The Decision to Vaccinate Your Cat	155
	Sizing Up Your Cat's Needs--The Core Vaccines	155
	The Non-Core Vaccines	155
	Vaccine-Related Problems	156
	Common Cat Diseases and Ailments	157
	Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)	157
	Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)	157
	Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)	158
	Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV)	158
	Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)	158
	Parasites	159
	Health and Happiness for Kitty	160
Chapter 14	In Case of Emergency	163
	Antifreeze Poisoning	164
	Choking	164
	Drowning	164
	Burns	165
	Electrocution	165
	Heatstroke	166
	Hypothermia	166
	Injuries From Being Caught in a Trap or Car Engine	166
	Insect Stings/Snake Bites	167
	Chemical Poisoning	168
	Sunburn	168
	Ensuring Your Cat's Health with Pet Insurance	169
	Benefits of Pet Insurance	170
	The Bottom Line	170
Chapter 15	The Older Cat	173
	Nutritional Needs for the Senior Feline	174
	Weighty Issues	174
	Senior Citizen Exercise	175
	Kitty's Retirement Years	176
	Physical Changes	176
	Self-Maintenance Matters	177
	When It's Time to Say Goodbye	179
Chapter 16	Feline Behavior Problems	181
	Methods of Correcting Your Cat	182
	The Urge to Scratch	183
	Teaching Good Scratching Habits	184
	More Naughty Cat Behavior Problems (and Solutions)	185
	Chewing Electrical Cords	185
	Jumping on the Counter or Table	186
	Plants	187
	Escapes!	187
	Garbage Looting	188
	Paper Shredding	188
	The Best Solution for Bad Behavior	189
Part 4	General Information	191
Chapter 17	What to Do With Kitty When You Travel	193
	A Travel Companion	193
	[P]Etiquette When you are a Houseguest	194
	Keeping Kitty's Routine	195
	Find a Friend Willing to Kitty-sit	196
	Staying Home Alone	198
	Hire a Pet Sitter	199
	Kennels and Boarding Facilities	200
	Searching for a Kennel	201
	Inns and Hotels for Cats	202
	Choosing a First-Rate Facility	204
	Reunited and Ready to Go Home	204
Chapter 18	Showing Off Your Cat	207
	Cat Show Categories	208
	Kittens	208
	Championship	208
	Premiership	208
	Household Pet (HHP)	209
	Finding the Right Registry	209
	CFA	210
	ACFA	210
	TICA	210
	CFF	210
	ACA	211
	CCA	211
	GCCF	211
	FIFe	211
	Advantages of the Household Pet Category	211
	Is My Cat Show Material?	212
	Rules and Regulations	213
	The Secret of Kitty's Success	213
Chapter 19	Feline Lore	215
	Independent and Worshipped	215
	Independent and Prosecuted	217
	Some Breed Histories	218
	Persians/Angoras	218
	Turkish Van	220
	American Curl	220
	Maine Coon	221
	British Shorthair	222
	Ragdoll	222
	Independent...But Still in Need of Companionship	223
	Resources	225
	Cat Registry Organizations	225
	Cat-Related Websites	226
	Cat-Related Publications	228
	Veterinarian Specialty/Membership Organizations	228
	Animal Welfare Groups and Organizations	229
	Index	231
	Photo Credits	239