Cats for Dummies (For Dummies Series)

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A lot of different elements (about 60) go into keeping your cat healthy. These nutrients each play a role in keeping your cat’s body functioning well. The following sections explain the most important components of the feline diet. Protein, essential for a cat’s diet Oil-based hairball remedies can tie up the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, which is why you shouldn’t be giving them. They can also lure you into ignoring symptoms of a bigger health issue. Minerals cats need The subject is so hot that almost all reputable breeders and an increasing number of shelters and rescue groups refuse to place a cat with someone who does not promise — in writing — to keep the animal exclusively indoors. With some breeds, this restriction is imperative: Imagine the tiny, nearly furless Devon Rex or the naked Sphynx trying to survive in the outdoors! Make the bedroom completely off-limits to pets at all times. Although there’s not a pet lover alive who doesn’t enjoy a purring cat on the bed, keeping the bedroom allergy-free is probably a necessary compromise for allergy sufferers.

Oh, but it’s more than that. Cats consider the people in their life as family and show it in many ways. If they bring you prey, they’re providing for you. If they gently knead you with their paws while purring, they’re treating you as they did their mothers. If they play with you, they’re treating you as littermates or other cat pals. If they kiss you, don’t kid yourself — it’s legit! Photo depicts the cat settled inside a clean-smelling pile of warm laundry. As important as the cat’s hunting skills were to our ancestors, today the sight of a half-eaten mouse brought in as a gift is appreciated by few. In Chapter 19, we set the record straight regarding a popular myth about cats and hunting. Photo depicts the domesticated cat, but the hint of the wild always remains in it. One other thing made the transition of the cat from pest control to pet possible — or, rather, one person: Edward Lowe, the inventor of Kitty Litter. Cats are a joy to live with, and we want you to find out how much. Even if you’ve owned cats for years, you and your cat will benefit from the new information in this book to improve your cat’s health, happiness, and relationship with you.

Outdoor cats are also far more prone to skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. It’s a horrible disease that often results in the loss of their ears, or nose, and is often incurable, even with radical surgeries. Dr. Lauren, who went to veterinary school in Australia, notes that she saw more of this horrible disease there, since cats in other countries are far more likely to roam freely than pets in the United States. On the other hand, a kitten can be a dream come true to a family with older, more-responsible children, or a source of delightful amusement to an active older adult. You just need to look carefully at your living situation and consider the problems and pleasures a kitten will bring. Heartworms are something that only dog owners had to worry about previously, but now preventive medication is out there for cats too. What gives? Rice? Wheat? Corn? What gives? Are cats carnivores or aren’t they? Yes, but not all their needs must be met by animal-based food, as they would in the wild. The commercial pet-food industry has managed to provide a diet with a high percentage of plant material that, nonetheless, keeps an obligate carnivore well fed. This balance of convenience, nutrition, and aesthetics (appealing to both human and feline tastes) has to be considered one of the great marvels of living in a modern age — and it keeps getting better, as our knowledge of nutrition increases. You’re not going to get a definitive answer out of us on this one, even if we had one, which we don’t. Males and females make equally good pets, under one very important condition: altering.

Still, even though litter boxes can be easy to care for and odor-free, some people refuse to deal with them. Add to these folks the ones who can’t believe a cat can be happy unless he runs free, and you’ve got half of one of the hottest controversies among cat owners: Should cats be kept exclusively indoors, or should cats be permitted outside? Photo depicts two cats, it seems one is exclusivey indoors and other is exclusively outdoors. Nonjudgmental listener and ever-affectionate companion, the cat makes a difference in many lives — and with relatively little investment of time and money. Truly, the cat has found a niche again — this time, to stay. In 2007, she was one of a small group of journalists credited with breaking open the pet-food recall story, leading to her and her work being the focus of prominent features in USA Today and the Los Angeles Times. Cat Talk Radio has many more podcasts on cats' needs. I encourage you to look through the list and listen to as many as you can. Even the most astute cat owner has something to learn!People: Some people hate cats and go out of their way to hurt them. Others — such as gardeners — feel justified taking action against cats who foul flower beds and vegetable gardens. These people all pose a grave danger to your pet. There are so many cat breeds to choose from, all with distinctively different personalities. Taking the time to work out which breed will be the best fit for your family is an important step that shouldn’t be rushed. Some cat breeds will be happy relaxing in an apartment while their owners are at work, while others crave attention and prefer to have as much company as possible. Cat breeders and shelters will also be happy to advise you on what breeds could work for your home and work life. Things You Need Before Bringing Home a Cat - even if you've already brought home your new cat, it's never too late to listen to this podcast and get the things you need: https://www.catbehaviorsolutions.org/podcast/episode/4683266c/10-things-you-need-before-bringing-home-a-cat You may think you know all you need to know about cats, but we’re guessing that’s not really true. You may think you don’t need to know anything more, and we know that’s not true. That’s because we know how much you love your cat, and how much you will benefit from the information provided by some of the very top experts in feline care.

Try to limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, aerosol products, cigarette smoke, and strong perfumes and consider using a mask while doing yard work and housework, especially at the height of the pollen season. Better yet: Get someone else to mow the lawn, do the vacuuming, and clean the litter box. Again, keeping all allergies under control can help your body handle your cat more easily. She has also edited books, managed teams of journalists and provided marketing expertise for both established companies and start-ups. She has been a frequent contributor to many top publications and media platforms, and her work is read by millions every week. Her books have been translated into many languages, including French, Serbian, Danish, Japanese, Spanish, Korean and Russian. For more on cat-box fillers — how to choose them and how to use them — see Chapter 11.) Some Common Misconceptions about Cats — and the FactsEven as more people than ever before have come to appreciate cats, one group of cat lovers keeps its distance — and wishes they didn’t have to. That’s because one of the biggest barriers to keeping a cat is allergies. More people are allergic to cats than to dogs, and cat allergies are oftentimes more severe as well. For people — and especially children — with asthma, cat allergies can be life-threatening. The important thing to know about vitamins and minerals is that your cat needs the correct amount — but not more. The notion that “if a little is good, a lot must be better” simply doesn’t apply in the case of vitamins — or most other nutrients. Water and cats