Post by Leoric on Nov 23, 2004 12:16:45 GMT -5
Behavior
Accustom your kitten to many things at a young age. Baths, brushing, clipping nails, cleaning ears, having teeth examined, and so on. It is important to take the time to make these things pleasant and matter of fact for your kitten. An example would be playing with your kitten's feet and checking her ears regularly with your fingers. Although cats are able to spend considerable time alone at home, a cat owner must be sure to provide the proper environment for a cat to thrive in. A cat left alone should have an appropriate clawing device, some type of play furniture, and toys for exercise.
Why you shouldn't declaw a cat
1. Declawing is not just surgically removing the cat's nails, it is amputating a cat's toes at the first digit, similar to amputating your fingers at the first knuckle.
2. At least half of all cats that are declawed will not use a litter box after surgery. If you had the tips of your toes amputated, would you rub the stumps in sand?
3. Cats can be trained to use a scratching post. Use a water sprayer to spray your cat when it claws the furniture, then rub its feet on the scratching post.
4. If you have problems with your cat clawing the furniture, there is a product called "Soft Paws" available from your vet that can solve the problem. "Soft Paws" are plastic nail caps that fit over the cat's nails so that they are no longer sharp and can not do damage. They are 100% effective and painless to your cat.
Nutrition
Good quality food and fresh water are necessary every day. Your veterinarian can help you select a food best suited for your kitten. We recommend a growth or "kitten formula" diet during the cat's first year of life. This provides a nutritionally complete diet, balanced with taurine, an essential amino acid, and vitamins and minerals that are essential for proper growth. It is not a good idea to provide additional vitamins since this can upset the balance and lead to diseases caused by excess vitamins or minerals. After one year, you should switch to an adult diet.
Frequent feedings will allow a kitten to meet their caloric requirements. Since different brands have different calorie densities, please follow the guidelines listed on the label for specific amounts of food to be fed.
Exercise should be part of your kitten's daily routine. Exercise, along with a proper feeding program, should keep your pet from becoming overweight as well as help fight off disease.
Why you must spay/neuter your cat
1. If you don't neuter your male cat, he will spray all over your house.
2. If you don't spay your female cat, her chances of getting uterine cancer increases with every heat she goes through.
3. It is very hard to keep cats who have not been spayed or neutered inside.
4. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem. More than 45,000 cats and dogs were put to sleep in the Los Angeles city animal shelters last year. Another 55,000 cats and dogs were put to sleep in county shelters last year.
5. A cat has only a one-in-eleven chance of being adopted once it reaches a shelter.
6. There are not enough homes for existing cats and kittens. Every new kitten that is born and finds a home means that another cat or kitten won't get a home and will die.
Accustom your kitten to many things at a young age. Baths, brushing, clipping nails, cleaning ears, having teeth examined, and so on. It is important to take the time to make these things pleasant and matter of fact for your kitten. An example would be playing with your kitten's feet and checking her ears regularly with your fingers. Although cats are able to spend considerable time alone at home, a cat owner must be sure to provide the proper environment for a cat to thrive in. A cat left alone should have an appropriate clawing device, some type of play furniture, and toys for exercise.
Why you shouldn't declaw a cat
1. Declawing is not just surgically removing the cat's nails, it is amputating a cat's toes at the first digit, similar to amputating your fingers at the first knuckle.
2. At least half of all cats that are declawed will not use a litter box after surgery. If you had the tips of your toes amputated, would you rub the stumps in sand?
3. Cats can be trained to use a scratching post. Use a water sprayer to spray your cat when it claws the furniture, then rub its feet on the scratching post.
4. If you have problems with your cat clawing the furniture, there is a product called "Soft Paws" available from your vet that can solve the problem. "Soft Paws" are plastic nail caps that fit over the cat's nails so that they are no longer sharp and can not do damage. They are 100% effective and painless to your cat.
Nutrition
Good quality food and fresh water are necessary every day. Your veterinarian can help you select a food best suited for your kitten. We recommend a growth or "kitten formula" diet during the cat's first year of life. This provides a nutritionally complete diet, balanced with taurine, an essential amino acid, and vitamins and minerals that are essential for proper growth. It is not a good idea to provide additional vitamins since this can upset the balance and lead to diseases caused by excess vitamins or minerals. After one year, you should switch to an adult diet.
Frequent feedings will allow a kitten to meet their caloric requirements. Since different brands have different calorie densities, please follow the guidelines listed on the label for specific amounts of food to be fed.
Exercise should be part of your kitten's daily routine. Exercise, along with a proper feeding program, should keep your pet from becoming overweight as well as help fight off disease.
Why you must spay/neuter your cat
1. If you don't neuter your male cat, he will spray all over your house.
2. If you don't spay your female cat, her chances of getting uterine cancer increases with every heat she goes through.
3. It is very hard to keep cats who have not been spayed or neutered inside.
4. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem. More than 45,000 cats and dogs were put to sleep in the Los Angeles city animal shelters last year. Another 55,000 cats and dogs were put to sleep in county shelters last year.
5. A cat has only a one-in-eleven chance of being adopted once it reaches a shelter.
6. There are not enough homes for existing cats and kittens. Every new kitten that is born and finds a home means that another cat or kitten won't get a home and will die.
very poorthing..............