 | ABYman's CATHOUSE | By Stephen Gardea © 1995 |
| ABYman's CATHOUSE | By Stephen Gardea © 1995 |
Do you REALLY want to get to known your cat!?!
WASHING A CAT IS BAD!!!
FALSE, Cats may be bathed and suffer no ill effect. Clip the claws prior to bathing and use a mild human shampoo or pet shampoo, and a conditioner if you wish. Dry well with a towel, or if the cat will tolerate it, a blow dryer on low heat. The only one to suffer is you, if the cat absolutely refuses. Dry shampoo is available. Follow the directions on the container.
CATS HAVE NINE LIVES!!!
FALSE, Cats only have one live to live. Keep them indoors and safe. Cars, dogs, other cats, disease, poisons, and wild animals are very commonly the downfall of an outdoor cat. Weather has a big effect on cats. Be sure they have a warm dry place to sleep in the winter, and have a cool place in the heat of summer. Be careful that outdoor cats don't climb in the engine compart of your car, its warm and cats tend to sleep there when its cold outside. Give a honk of the horn and pause to make sure all's clear.
CATS HAVE TO BE ALLOWED OUTDOORS!!!
FALSE, This one really is an old myth. Many dangers can shorten a cats life if they are let outdoors to roam free and unsupervised. Cats don't have nine lives (see above). If you love your cat keep them inside and safe from all the dangers of an outdoor world. They won't miss it, if they have never been outside to begin with. These are domestic animals, not wild felines that crave open spaces.
CATS DON'T LIKE TO SHOW!!!
TRUE & FALSE, Most cats love to show off at shows. They look forward to seeing all the people, the judges, and the other cats. On the other hand, there are some cats who are just content to be with their family at home and really don't want to go to shows. These cats should be allowed to stay home and be happy. A cat will let you know one way, or another if it wants to show.
CATS ARE DISLOYAL!!!
TRUE, Cats are very independent. They need love, food, water, a litter box and a place to sleep. Whoever does this job the best, gets the loyalty. There are always exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, it is said that we do not own our cats, but they own us. They give us love on their terms, or as much love as we give them.
CATS CAN'T BE TRAINED!!!
FALSE, Patience, Patience, Patience. The key to getting a cat to do what you want it to do is by being consistant, loving and understanding. Cats can reason, sometimes to your downfall, but persistance in teaching or showing a cat what you want it to do, will soon payoff. That's of course, if it wants to.
When travelling with a cat, it is important to remember, that a human can vocalize the need for food, water, and bathroom stops, but a cat cannot. The cat might try getting your attention by meowing lightly to screaming at the top of its lungs. Thus making it important to have all the amenities needed when travelling.
When traveling , have a compact size litter box in the carrier with the cat or a disposable one for use in the car or when transferring flights. Be sure to carry water from home in a small plastic bottle, so that the cat will be used to the taste and drink without problems. Have available sample dry cat food packets that can be easily carried in the car or on a plane, so if there are any major unexpected delays, the cat can be fed. Cats can get motion sickness very easily, so be prepared for a mess if the cat ate or drank too much prior to the trip.
If flying with your cat, be prepared to show proof of health certificate signed by a Vet, rabies vaccine certificate, and ticket for pet travel at any point in your journey. Going through X-ray is sometimes a worry for the noise may frighten the cat when being taken out of its transport for inspection. Be prepared for the cat to scramble, hold tight, and reassure the animal. Also a pouch of litter in your carry-on may startle the inspector, so be prepared for questions. Be confident.
If travelling by car, have an adequate size carrier for your pet. If the cat appears to be nervous, try covering the carrier with a towel or sheet, but allowing for air flow. Some cats prefer to look out while travelling and are quiet when they can see where they are going. Most likely your cat will let you know, within a short period of travel, what they prefer. Experiment.
Having personally travelled thousands of miles with my cats by plane and by car throughout the years, there have never been any serious problems with the health and nature of the cats. I have never found the need to use tranquilizers to calm a cat. The motion, engine hum, and darkness of a carrier seem to keep the cats calm enough. There have been a few jangled and jogged nerves in part, but everyone survived to tell the stories of their amazing journeys.
ABYman?