Feline Facts

Click on a topic below to learn more about your cat.

How to help YOUR CAT have pleasant Veterinary Visits
Introducing a NEW CAT into a household with already existing cats
Skunked out?
Spaying & Neutering - But Why?
Cats get wacky with catnip.
It's all in a name.
Groom your cat.
Is your kitty overweight?
Clicker Training?
Buying a carrier.

How to help YOUR CAT have pleasant Veterinary Visits
From the American Association of Feline Practitioners

Fear is the primary cause of misbehavior.
Knowing this can help prevent problematic veterinary visits.

GETTING THE CAT INTO THE CARRIER

Keep the carrier out in the home. Put treats inside. Train cats to view the carrier as a safe haven and “home away from home.” A quick response is crucial in case of disaster or emergency.

Carriers that have both a top and a front opening are best. Top-loading carriers allow for stress-free placement and removal of the cat. A removable carrier top enables cats to be examined while remaining in the bottom half of the carrier. Do not “dump” a cat out of the carrier.

ADJUSTING TO CAR RIDES

Always put the cat in a carrier or other safe container.

Take the cat for regular car rides, beginning with very short ones, to places other than the veterinary hospital.
To prevent car sickness, do not feed before traveling. Reward verbally, with positive attention, and with treats.

PLEASANT VETERINARY VISITS

Bring along the cat’s favorite treats, toys, and blanket.

Perform regular home maintenance procedures, including grooming, nail trimming, teeth brushing.

“Play vet” procedures that mimic temperature taking, ear cleaning, and pilling can help cats better adjust to the veterinary hospital and to future home care when necessary.

Regular trips to the veterinary hospital for “fun” visits involving no examinations or procedures provide owners and staff with the opportunity to reward the cat with praise and food treats.

Supported by an educational grant from Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Introducing a NEW CAT into a household with already existing cats
From the American Association of Feline Practitioners

When introducing a new cat, initially isolate it in a separate room with its own food, water, litter box, and toys. This allows each cat to gradually adjust to the scent and sounds of the other cat. Once a
veterinarian has deemed cats healthy, limited interaction may occur under the door.

Continue the gradual introduction by exchanging bedding between cats, and rubbing a cloth around one cat’s mouth and leaving that cloth in the other cat’s space, or rubbing a cloth alternately on each cat. As cats start to exhibit curiosity about each other, reward friendly behavior with treats and praise.

At this point, short, supervised, direct interactions can begin. For the initial exposure, have one cat in a carrier and allowing the other cat to approach. Feeding both cats at the same time can reduce stress as well. Following this, allow cats to walk around and sniff each other. Continue to reward friendly behavior. Gradually increase the supervised time together.

Do not leave the cats together unsupervised until several supervised interactions without aggression have occurred. The process of introducing a new cat may take several weeks. Older cats may need a quiet space away from kittens for an extended period of time. Friendly, well-socialized cats may adapt to each other rapidly.

Pheromonal products may ease the introduction, but should be used in conjunction with gradual introduction.

Supported by an educational grant from Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Skunked out?

Many devoted animal lovers are familiar with the unforgettable odour of a dog or cat just home from battling with a skunk. It's one of those memories that kind of lingers. Here are some home remedies to help you and your pet deal with skunk odour. Remember - make sure your pet's eyes are protected and if there seems to be any irritation, call your veterinarian right away.

Spaying & Neutering - But Why?

Spaying and neutering your pet involves surgery and a one-night hospital stay. It is not a cruel thing to do, but is actually in your pet's best interest. Here are reasons why spaying or neutering your pet is important.

• Pet overpopulation has become a critical issue. Tens of thousands of cats and dogs are euthanized each year in Ontario because there just aren't enough homes for them.
• Many health problems can be avoided by spaying or neutering your pet, such as reproductive cancers and infections.
• Behavioral problems such as territorial marking, destructiveness, and aggression can be avoided. Spayed or neutered animals are much less likely to roam in search of a mate and are therefore less likely to get hit by a car, injured in a fight, lost or stolen.
• Our pets are completely dependent on us and it is therefore our responsibility to make sure that we don't allow the overpopulation of companion animals to continue. It is also our responsibility to ensure that they are given the best health care.
• With a healthy diet and proper exercise, spaying or neutering will not make your pet fat.

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Cats get wacky with catnip.

     Next time your kitty acts a little wacky, don't be surprised if someone slipped her a little catnip. A member of the mint family, catnip (Nepeta cataria) grows wild and is found in every region of the United States.

     Although not all cats are stimulated by catnip, those that are will lick and chew their plant and rub their heads on the leaves. As they become aroused, many will salivate, roll and rub, and sometimes run and leap in the air; some cats appear to hallucinate and then get sleepy or hungry. Friendly, gregarious cats tend to have the most exuberant responses. The whole episode, which lasts about 10 or 15 minutes, is reminiscent of behaviour just before and after mating. Once experience is over, cats are resistant to catnip for at least an hour. If given more that once a week the effects diminish. Also, a cat that normally reacts to catnip may not react if they are in a strange place or are anxious, nor would cats under three months of age.

     The cat-active ingredient in catnip is nepetalacetone, which contains unsaturated oil that is said to resemble a chemical found in the urine of female cats. It is that oil that elicits the antic response.

     Since there is no evidence that catnip is harmful, if your kitty responds to it indulge her with a little from time to time. Green and fresh leaves are generally preferred, perhaps bruised slightly to release the oil. If you have dried catnip, store it in a sealed container to keep it from losing its potency.

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It's all in a name.

     The World Wide Web provides hundreds of opportunities for those searching for the perfect name for their cat or wondering the meaning of their cat's name or popularity.

     At www.kittynames.com for example, you'll find a list of the top 20 names for cats, and a list of names by categories including movie stars, cartoons, and appearance.

     For a complete list of sites that help you with your name selection and to find other interesting bits of information use your favorite search engine and look for "cat names".

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Groom your cat.

     Cats love to be groomed - whether they do it on their own or have help from a special cat pal or their favourite human.

     Start grooming when she's a young kitten. While both long and short haired cats benefit from grooming, it's especially important if she has long hair that mats or knots.

     Begin slowly and concentrate on areas where she likes to be scratched, such as the top of her head or under her chin. As she becomes accustomed to being handled and brushed, move to other areas of her body. If she has thick, long fur, use a pin-type brush and a metal comb. If her hair is short, a soft rubber brush made especially for kittens work well.

     Grooming your cat is also a great way to check for unusual lumps or bumps, and you'll be better able to watch for fleas. And, it's a terrific way to bond with your favourite feline.

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Is your kitty overweight?

     If you think your kitty looks a little heavier than usual, you might be right. According to Dr. Janet Scarlett at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 25 to 30 percent of cats seen by veterinarians are overweight. And while there are not standard weights for cats, your veterinarian can tell by looking at and feeling her whether she weighs too much.

     Just like their human companions, cats that are overweight are often so because they eat more calories than they use. The caloric intake required varies from one cat to another. If she's inactive or spayed, she'll need less food to maintain her body weight than her energetic, unneutered friend.

     If you think your kitty is overweight, it's important to find out why. There may be an underlying medical cause of the weight gain, and a too-heavy cat is more prone to diabetes mellitus, lameness, and skin disease.

     Have your veterinarian examine your cat to rule out a medical condition. Once she gets a clean bill of health, you and your veterinarian can plan an effective weight-reduction program that allows her to lose the extra pounds slowly. A weight program will most likely include changing your kitty's diet and increasing her activity. To help reduce caloric intake, your veterinarian will probably recommend cutting out extra treats between meals - that means also making sure she doesn't steal food from other animal dishes in your household.

     Another important reason to involve your veterinarian in your cat's weight loss program is to ensure her nutritional requirements are maintained. Providing you don't give in to her begging and loud meowing and feed her more than she needs, her ideal body weight should be easily attainable.

     And remember, the effort will go a long way toward ensuring your kitty's healthy.

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Clicker training

     Did you know that your cat could be trained to perform a variety of tricks and tasks? With a clicker and some treats - and a lot of patience - she'll be able to do things you thought were only done in the circus by the big cats. Or, by a kitty that belongs to someone else. For example, you can teach your cat to come when called, to fetch and return an object to you, or to sit before it gets petted. Used when the cat does what you want, the clicker, a treat, and lots of praise tell him he's done the right thing. And, your cat's age doesn't matter. According to animal behaviourist there's no reason an older cat can't be taught new tricks.

     So why not try this: Hold a morsel of food over your cat's nose and then move it up and back, between his ears. As the cat's nose goes up, his rump goes down. When the rump is down, click and give him the food to him. Given repetition and consistency, your cat will soon learn to sit when you click.

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Buying a carrier

• Make sure your cat can stand and turn around
• If going on a long trip, buy a carrier with food and water holders
• Make sure there are no sharp, protruding pieces that might injure the cat
• Portability is important. You should be able to hold the carrier in one hand
• If you can find one, buy a carrier with a side food or top door rather than a screen at one end
• If you're flying, try to keep your cat in a carrier under your seat. Particularly on shorter flights, it may be worth sacrificing total kitty comfort by having kitty with you, even in a snug carrier
• Use a roomier carrier for your cat when traveling by car

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