How to be an Awesome Cat Owner

My History with Cats

I have always been a cat lover for as long as I can remember. My favorite animals are horses but cats are a very close second. There is something about their sleek independence that captivates me. It could just be because I'm a Leo that I find them so fascinating but I think it's much more than that.

When I was younger we had a cat named Jin-Tung after a feline on some animated cartoon we had seen in the eighties. If somebody remembers the name of that movie, please tell me because I have no idea. Jin-Tung was a fat tabby alley cat. My mother, who pretty much despises all animals (deprived childhood, lol), had only agreed to get her because our apartment building was infested with mice. Jin-Tung really did the trick. The mice problem had pretty much dissipated within a month, at least in our apartment.

Unfortunately, her being an alley cat and all, she had never been fixed. She went in heat and ran away one day. She returned about a week later all banged up from having gotten into a fight. She had a really bad laceration around one of her eyes. My mom (who says she has no recollection of this) doctored her up with some peroxide every day until it healed. About a month later Jin-Tung had started getting fat and we realized that she had been knocked up while she was away.

Her kittens were born a few weeks later. She had a litter of three. That was a hilarious day! I had to be about nine years old, I think. I was the biggest nerd ever with my big red-framed glasses covering half my face. I remember running to my mother every five minutes and exclaiming excitedly, "Mom! Mom! Mom! The kittens are here!" Of course that was a kid's tall tale. My mother would check the birthing box we had set up for her each time I made the announcement but there were no kittens. About the fifth or sixth time I had "cried wolf", she scolded me real good. Thirty minutes later I peaked in the box and, what do you know, the kittens really had been born! Mom didn't believe me. It took forever to get her to come see.

As I had said, there were three kittens in her litter. There was a dark grey and really mischievous one that we named Moonlight, an all black one with white feet that we called White Sox and a teeny-tiny black, white and grey spotted one that we named Starlight. Starlight was very attached to its mother and was the very last to emerge from the birthing box. Unfortunately when it did, my then toddling kid brother picked it up by its tail and whirled it around before we could stop him. Poor Starlight went crashing into the refrigerator. Luckily Starlight didn't really seem hurt but we noticed she was cross-eyed at that point. We are not sure if that was already the case or if the crash caused the problem.

In any case, shortly after the kittens emerged from their box, we were preparing to move so my mom gave them all away to neighbors. My brothers and I were quite upset as we had grown quite attached to the little buggers even in that short time. After that, the only pets we ever allowed to have since had been goldfish which I really can't stand.

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Meet My Cat Boo

Although I absolutely love cats, I had not intended on getting one any time soon. After all, I live in an apartment with two very messy kids. What did I need with the headache of having to clean up after yet another living creature's mess?

But then in August of 2007, along came Boo. One of my daughter's school chums had rescued several kittens from the alley behind her home and asked if we wanted one. My daughter was having some severe emotional problems and mood swings at that time. It had been suggested that a pet might be good therapy for her. Being an awesome life coach entrenched in the wellness field myself as well as a psychology major, I knew that this could very well be true. So against my better judgment, I went ahead and welcomed the one-month-old kitten into my home.

It was my daughter's idea to name her Boo. And yes, I do realize the irony of naming a black cat Boo, thank you very much. In any case, Boo took to us right away. She was very sweet, playful and docile for a kitten. She used the litter box right away and seemed quite pleased with her new home. Her first vet visit yielded really good results too. She was a very good kitty. We confirmed she was a she, had her treated for worms and distemper, dosed her for ear mites and did her initial blood work. All this went down without so much as a fuss. The vet also told us she was an American Short-Hair which is one of the best breeds to have in a home with kids. Oh and here is a taste of more irony: the vet's name was Dr. Katz!

I chose not to have Boo fixed right away as I have been told countless times that it is inhumane to deprive a cat of having at least one litter so they can experience motherhood. I was really worried for a while because Boo never went in heat. I started to think something was wrong and was just about to call up Dr. Katz when I was awakened one night with the most hideous yelps I have ever heard. Boo was over a year and a half at that point.

I jumped on Craigslist the next day and made arrangements with another cat owner to lend me her male cat. He had already fathered two previous litters and was a seasoned pro. Poor Boo had no idea what was in store for her. She fought him with all her might but she was no match. I almost felt bad for Boo. It was like watching a rape. She would fight and cry and make such terrible sounds. I think she was impregnated almost right away.

Her pregnancy lasted approximately ten weeks before she gave birth to a litter of four. Only three survived. We are not sure if she killed the last one or if it was stillborn because it arrived several hours after the other three. There was no sign of it being foul play but I know sometimes a mother will terminate one of its young if she feels it is too sick or something like that. The fact that it was born late could have been a determining factor. In any case, we were left with a litter of three.

Indoor or Outdoor?

Enjoy this article and then tell me what you think by answering the poll.

What is it Going to Be, an Indoor Or an Outdoor Cat?
By Judy A. Jantzen

Is your cat going to be an indoor cat or outdoor cat or an indoor cat with outdoor access? It is a big decision to make for the well being of your cat and your sanity.

You need to think carefully about the positives and negatives before deciding which way to go. Some things to consider are the dangers to your cat from other animals and mean humans. Fleas, ticks, scorpions, snakes, coyotes, rabies, etc. and do not forget annoyed neighbors.

Cats can be happy indoors, if you see to their needs. Any window with a birdfeeder and bird bath in the view can provide hours of pleasure for your cat and satisfy their stalking and hunting instincts. Open the window on nice days with a secure screen in place. A handful of chemical free grass will supply their need for green grass to eat. We keep a special patch to pick from. In the Winter months we plant a big pot of rye grass.

We lived on a 41 feet sail boat for ten years with two cats. For 5 of those years we were on a mooring and for the other five we were at a dock. We trained both cats to wear a harness when we were under way and when we were going to come into a dock. Then they quickly accepted the idea of walking on a lease, so that they could investigate their new environment. They played on the deck and went up and down stairs, dozens of times a day.

Later when we moved into a house, we continued to walk them on the lease. One cat even got to the point that we could carry him down the block and put him down. Then he would walk home on his own. He did not like to walk away from home, only the return trip. Being accepting of walking on a lease is also great for traveling purposes. It is a safe way to have your cat be outside.

Now we have two rescued cats who want nothing to do with the outdoors.They had enough fearful experiences outside. They both enjoy watching the birds from inside the patio doors, but they prefer their food in a food bowl. Just hearing a neighbors dog bark or seeing one from a window can freak them out and send them running for their safe hiding place.

We live in SE Arizona and outside cats do not last too long with coyotes, snakes, scorpions, rabies and other terrifying things.

Cats with outdoor access can treat you to fleas and ticks. They can bring you special gifts of a dead mouse or bird. They can be hurt by another cat, dog or other animals. Chase the wrong thing and it could be the last thing the cat does chase. But they do have the freedom to roam and upset the neighbors by using a flower bed as a litter box or hunting birds in the neighbors yard. Just because you think they are adorable, does not mean that others do.

The choice to declaw or not is a big and very important decision. I would suggest that you do a search and read the available information and discuss it with your vet, to make an informed decision.

As you can see the choice of an indoor cat or an outdoor cat affects not only you and your cat but your entire neighborhood so think long and hard before you make your decision. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration.

Author: Judy Jantzen and her husband have owned cats for the past 25 years.

For additional information on cats visit our web site at Cat Goodies Finder.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_A._Jantzen
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-it-Going-to-Be,-an-Indoor-Or-an-Outdoor-Cat?&id=2318673

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Meet Boo's Litter

So now we have these three cute kittens that were born on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. They are so cute that my mother, who normally runs from Boo's advances, actually bent down to pet them all! She even gave Boo a few little rubs since she seems to be suffering from a bit of postpartum depression.

This is a really funny litter. The biggest kitten looks and acts just like its dad. It is really silly and has huge funny eyes. The middle-sized one thinks she's everyone's mother and is often grooming the other two along with Boo. The teeniest tiny one I was concerned about at first. It was the last to walk and didn't seem to be nursing as much as the other two kittens. When it started to walk, it took off and ran. It was the first to be weaned, the first to use the litter box and it is much more independent than the other two.

We haven't named any of the kittens yet since I knew I would be re-homing two of them as soon as they were weaned. For now, we refer to them all as Boo's Babies. Ultimately it will be my son's decision as to which one we will keep and what its name will be since Boo is technically my daughter's cat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the teeniest Boo Baby.

Cat Care

How to take care of your kitty.

Taking proper care of your cats and kittens is essential to maintaining their health and longevity. The following article provides a brief overview of some of the things cat owners need to know.

How to Take Proper Care of Cats and Kittens
By Michael Haydon

Owning a new kitten is just about the most exciting time of your family life. Those first few weeks are something special which will live long in your minds. It's also a great chance to involve your children in learning how to take care of their new pet. It can become a really meaningful bonding time for the entire family. What better way to introduce children to new responsibilities where they learn to become accountable for the smallest member of the family. children can learn to become more reliable and as well, they will appreciate the satisfaction that comes with the added responsibility.

Getting Your Kids Involved in Caring For Your Cats And Kittens

It's always a good starting point to involve the kids in the selection and naming of your new cat. Just as important is making sure your children understand the range of caring activities that will be involved and to emphasize that they will be responsible, along with the rest of the family, for a living creature not a toy that can be put away. It is a whole new ball game.

Now, it's not necessarily a difficult task to care for your pet if you really love them. Let's face it, who doesn't love their cat? I've seen people who say they hate cats simply melt after they've spent a few days with our family and go on to buy one for themselves. What I'm saying here is that although the enjoyment you will get from your kitty will have to be balance against the daily tasks of feeding, cleaning up the bowls, refreshing the water and the medical concerns like fleas, heartworm and general grooming and cleaning up cat hair. But, when all is said and done the time you have to allocate to these matters pales into insignificance when you experience the ultimate enjoyment of watching kitty at play and sleeping soundly on your lap.

I have found that kids really respond to the responsibilities when tasks are allocated equally among family members wherever possible. This ensures that tasks are seen as a family responsibility and can be a great learning experience and contribute to the children coming to understand that life's pleasures are balanced with responsibilities and that is the way life works. If you concentrate only on the jobs that need to be done or leave the "dirty" tasks to only one family member, then it could lead to resentment and then everyone, including kitty, will lose out. Having a balanced approach to pet ownership will have life long benefits when you learn to enjoy your cat and take care of them with love. It's a life lesson we can all benefit from.

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Getting a Fix on Things

The Skinny on Spaying & Neutering

Responsible cat owners have to consider this topic carefully. As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to give Boo the opportunity to be the mother of at least one litter by I had her fixed. Here is an enlightening article to help you to decide.

Should You Have Your Cats Spayed Or Neutered?
By Allen MacAlister

Whether to have your cats spayed or neutered is the source of debate between those for and against animal sterilization. Each side has its own firmly held beliefs and opinions. It is important to understand both sides in order to decide for yourself whether to spay or neuter your family cat or cats.

Many people think of "fixing" a cat as a matter of whether you wish peace and quiet in your home. Certainly, unsprayed and un-neutered cats are more aggressive and (to put it mildly) noisy. Also, un-neutered males produce strong smelling urine. So, generally, there are personal incentives for the cat owner to consider an "alteration."

But it goes deeper than that. There are issues of whether we have the right to interfere in what nature has created, or whether such interference helps nature by relieving pain and suffering among unwanted cats, and preventing their birth into a difficult life. It is the lucky wild cat that is caught and euthanized. Wild cats can normally look forward to a very hard life on the streets leading to an eventual death from untreated trauma, disease, exposure or starvation.

As it is now, the size of the wild cat population is thought to be as large as the population of cats that have homes.

Adoption is clearly not the answer. One cat couple can produce an astonishing 750,000 offspring in their lifetime. Adoption programs are not able to absorb anywhere near the numbers needed to control the feline population.

The cat owner should consider having their cats spayed or neutered to ensure they never add to the problem of unwanted litters. Spaying and neutering cats will provide happier, healthier and more peaceful pets. Spay neuter surgery is safe and is performed while the cat is under general anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort. Recovery takes about two weeks. Some communities have low-cost and even free programs for cat owners.

I recommend you have your cats spayed or neutered. Your veterinarian can answer any questions you may have and provide his or her opinion about your options.

Allen MacAlister is a veterinary medical student. Read more about whether to have cats spayed or neutered in his article, "To Spay or Neuter a Cat: Two Positions to Consider," which is on his site, Cat Allergy Relief.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_MacAlister
http://EzineArticles.com/?Should-You-Have-Your-Cats-Spayed-Or-Neutered?&id=2158454

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Nov 30, 2009 @ 7:38 pm

Niquenya's 2009 Xmas Wish List http://amzn.com/w/2WTQX1NURCK9D - Ask and ye shall receive, right? LOL! Happy holidays!
Nov 30, 2009 @ 9:33 am

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Sep 3, 2009 @ 12:11 pm

giving a shout-out to the Frankie & Neffie show for raising the awareness of life coaches. My African-American clientèle just shut up. LOL!
Aug 6, 2009 @ 11:07 am

Something seems to be terribly wrong with Facebook this morning. How you doing?
Aug 5, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

@rawdawgbuffalo That is absolutely terrible! LOL!

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Tell me about your cat!

My cats are like little people with their own individual personalities. It's funny to watch them. I know you probably have some stories to tell too. Tell me about them or leave a comment about my silly Boo and Boo Babies.

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coachniquenya coachniquenya Jun 22, 2009 @ 7:13 am | in reply to Velociryx

That's awesome! I have to admit that I seriously considered walking Boo but she's too afraid to go near the door. The window does her just fine. Thanks for sharing!

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Velociryx Velociryx Jun 22, 2009 @ 7:06 am

:) I can't resist a cat lens!

My little guy is two years old...steel gray, so of course, we named him Remington (Steel!). He's a feisty boy, living in a house with two 75 pound labs, and thinks he's at least part dog himself! He has learned to fetch (from hanging out with the dogs) and INSISTS on being taken for a "walk" whenever we get back from walking the labs (although I confess that walking a cat is a whoooooole 'nother ballgame than walking a dog! Fun tho...he's fantastic! :)