There are expert opinions that state that cats are entirely independent animals that have chosen to associate themselves with man strictly as a "survival strategy". There is probably some truth to this opinion (it's held particularly by people who don't like cats).
But any veteran cat owner will tell you that cats *do* "bond" with humans, but only particular humans, and will actually "choose" a person in the household to bond with. For example, the kitty you picked out for yourself might bond with your roommate instead of you. You'll find this out when you are sitting in the room and want your cat to jump up on your lap and instead discover that your kitty has snuggled up to your roommate instead.
There's no real explanation for why a cat chooses a particular person to bond to ... sometimes it's their voice, their mannerisms ... or perhaps it's just the way they "handle" the cat. It could be that the person is more gentle, or maybe a little more forceful (sometimes older male cats will "take" to men and not women, and vice versa for females).
Then there's the interesting notion that cats are psychic ... that they bond to a particular individual because the person gives off a psychic "aura" that is compatible with the cat. And, vice versa, the cat will avoid a person who gives off "bad vibes".
There are many people who have owned cats that will attest to this.
Whatever the theory, there's no real data to prove that cats attach themselves to humans for reasons beyond physical survival, but cat owners know...cats do form affection for individual humans, and sometimes for reasons that just aren't explainable in human terms.
For the novice cat owner, a knowledge of your cat's motivations and psychology is of enormous help in introducing your new cat to your home environment. I've tried to help with my new book "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours."
My name is John Young and I've been a cat owner for around 55 years. In that time I've had the opportunity to introduce a wide variety of cats to my home environment, and I thought I'd put together my experiences in a new ebook "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours". I hope it will help other people avoid some of the mistakes I've made. In addition, I've given some cat care tips you'll need to keep your new kitty safe and happy after she's made the transition.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Keep the Kitty in the Cat
Cats should stay young and happy, just as an adult needs to stay in shape and youthful. Several ways exist to help keep the kitten alive in the cat.
Adult cats need to play. Everyone thinks a kitten is cute as it plays with sacks, empty boxes, and toys. Helping an adult cat to enjoy playing throughout its life helps to keep it happy and young. Playing triggers mental and physical activity, which is good for animals and people.
Sacks and empty boxes make inexpensive and enjoyable toys for cats, too. Watching a cat of any age jump in and out of a box or sack, stick its head out and peek around, or roll around in the container is enjoyable for people as for the cat.
Hide dried food or favorite toys around the house. Cats need to hunt to stay alert. Having things to “hunt” will keep this instinct alive and focused.
Allow a cat to interact as it wishes. Tension and stress ages any living thing. So forcing a cat to interact with strangers or other pets builds stress, and often tarnishes the trust it may have with its person or people.
Feed a cat properly. A proper diet will keep a cat younger longer. The food given to any cat should meet its needs according to its age and physical condition. Overweight cats live shorter lives, as do overweight people. Cats that don’t get the proper nourishment will suffer physical problems.
Be sure cats have ample fresh water. Cats need fresh water daily. A lack of water can result in urinary problems. A sick cat ages rapidly.
Cats need privacy. As noted earlier, tension and stress ages cats as well as people. Each cat needs a place where it can have privacy when needed. One of my cats likes to withdraw into a closet, so the door is left open a bit. Another “hides” under a large stool. Both come out when ready happy to be with us.
Cats require a stimulating environment. Outdoor cats have trees to climb, bushes to attack, different levels to explore. Indoor cats need the same opportunities. The more active and alert cats remain, the younger they stay and longer.
Keep cats mentally active. Cats can be trained (books exist that explain how to train cats), and the mental activity of training and performing helps them retain youthfulness.
Much of advice given to people to help them stay youthful applies to cats, also: correct diets, activity - both physical and mental, a stimulating environment, reduced tension and stress, and interactions with others.
Adult cats need to play. Everyone thinks a kitten is cute as it plays with sacks, empty boxes, and toys. Helping an adult cat to enjoy playing throughout its life helps to keep it happy and young. Playing triggers mental and physical activity, which is good for animals and people.
Sacks and empty boxes make inexpensive and enjoyable toys for cats, too. Watching a cat of any age jump in and out of a box or sack, stick its head out and peek around, or roll around in the container is enjoyable for people as for the cat.
Hide dried food or favorite toys around the house. Cats need to hunt to stay alert. Having things to “hunt” will keep this instinct alive and focused.
Allow a cat to interact as it wishes. Tension and stress ages any living thing. So forcing a cat to interact with strangers or other pets builds stress, and often tarnishes the trust it may have with its person or people.
Feed a cat properly. A proper diet will keep a cat younger longer. The food given to any cat should meet its needs according to its age and physical condition. Overweight cats live shorter lives, as do overweight people. Cats that don’t get the proper nourishment will suffer physical problems.
Be sure cats have ample fresh water. Cats need fresh water daily. A lack of water can result in urinary problems. A sick cat ages rapidly.
Cats need privacy. As noted earlier, tension and stress ages cats as well as people. Each cat needs a place where it can have privacy when needed. One of my cats likes to withdraw into a closet, so the door is left open a bit. Another “hides” under a large stool. Both come out when ready happy to be with us.
Cats require a stimulating environment. Outdoor cats have trees to climb, bushes to attack, different levels to explore. Indoor cats need the same opportunities. The more active and alert cats remain, the younger they stay and longer.
Keep cats mentally active. Cats can be trained (books exist that explain how to train cats), and the mental activity of training and performing helps them retain youthfulness.
Much of advice given to people to help them stay youthful applies to cats, also: correct diets, activity - both physical and mental, a stimulating environment, reduced tension and stress, and interactions with others.
Learn Some Advice About Cat Health Care Online
Many online websites provide excellent advice about cat health care. Learning about cat health care online helps you determine if your cat has a medical problem or something less serious. New cat owners learn about proper health care and what the cat or kittens needs to grow up healthy and stronger while living a happy life. Some of these sites actually have veterinarians that offer free advice to the cat owner.
Cat health care online tips help with questions like, what to feed your kitten or cat, what type of litter to use and medical questions. The other sites without veterinarians supply articles, questions and answers about cats and breeds of cats. Any question you might have about cats can be found on the internet. If you need to find a qualified vet, check online and find one that appears locally in your area.
The nice thing about cat health care online is the quick reference for finding the right breed of cat. There are cats with long hair, short hair and no hair. Some breeds are more susceptible to medical problems than others are and some do not get along with other animals. You may need a cat that poses less of a chance for you or your family being allergic to the cat dander or hair. Checking for specific breed information helps get the perfect pet for your family companion.
Cat health care online benefits the cat owner by offering proper care instructions and what toys and chews help with a cat’s development and health needs. Some sites offer home remedies for getting rid of fleas and other parasites along with remedies for prevention of parasites. The need for information has led to the population of cat health care online websites as people keep the need going for information.
Although you can find all the answers, you need about cat health care online, your cat still needs regular check ups for shots and overall health checks. This includes blood test, stool sample tests and respiratory checks. These tests show if something is wrong with the cat so that early treatments can protect the cat from further health conditions. If you suspect your cat has a medical condition, you may want to find out online if there are any ways to treat the condition yourself that cures the cat might save you some time and money.
If you have questions that need answers, the vet is always a good source of information, but if you could find the answers yourself you may learn more in-depth information than what a vet would give you. The sources usually supply good and useful information, but take note that some information make contain some error if you do not use a reputable site. This is critical for medical questions and answers. If you obtain incorrect information, serious results could arise causing a simple medical condition to turn into a serious matter. Always consult your vet if you think the problem is minor, you may have missed other conditions.
Cat health care online tips help with questions like, what to feed your kitten or cat, what type of litter to use and medical questions. The other sites without veterinarians supply articles, questions and answers about cats and breeds of cats. Any question you might have about cats can be found on the internet. If you need to find a qualified vet, check online and find one that appears locally in your area.
The nice thing about cat health care online is the quick reference for finding the right breed of cat. There are cats with long hair, short hair and no hair. Some breeds are more susceptible to medical problems than others are and some do not get along with other animals. You may need a cat that poses less of a chance for you or your family being allergic to the cat dander or hair. Checking for specific breed information helps get the perfect pet for your family companion.
Cat health care online benefits the cat owner by offering proper care instructions and what toys and chews help with a cat’s development and health needs. Some sites offer home remedies for getting rid of fleas and other parasites along with remedies for prevention of parasites. The need for information has led to the population of cat health care online websites as people keep the need going for information.
Although you can find all the answers, you need about cat health care online, your cat still needs regular check ups for shots and overall health checks. This includes blood test, stool sample tests and respiratory checks. These tests show if something is wrong with the cat so that early treatments can protect the cat from further health conditions. If you suspect your cat has a medical condition, you may want to find out online if there are any ways to treat the condition yourself that cures the cat might save you some time and money.
If you have questions that need answers, the vet is always a good source of information, but if you could find the answers yourself you may learn more in-depth information than what a vet would give you. The sources usually supply good and useful information, but take note that some information make contain some error if you do not use a reputable site. This is critical for medical questions and answers. If you obtain incorrect information, serious results could arise causing a simple medical condition to turn into a serious matter. Always consult your vet if you think the problem is minor, you may have missed other conditions.
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