Animal Care Center & Pet Resort
800 Pulaski Highway
Joppa, MD 21085
Phone 410-676-2525 Fax 410-676-5151
Congratulations!
So, are you thinking about adding a kitten to your family? Or maybe you already have taken the leap! Either way, here is some information that could help you out with your new family member.
Searching for Mr. or Mrs. Right? There are lots of cat breeds out there. Each with his or hers own distinctive personality!
Here is a link to find the puurrfect breed.
http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-care/cat-breed.jsp
http://www.coolest-cat-care.com/cat-breed-information.html
The best place to find a cat or a kitten is...well, everywhere! Due to over breeding, you can pretty much find that fantastic feline in your local classifieds or animal shelter.
Links to Kittens and Cats:
Kitten Proofing your home. Is this even possible? If a kitten can see it, he can probably climb it, if he can climb it, he can probably scratch it or knock it over. Here are a few of their favorite things to get into:
Ribbon, Yarn, Tinsel, Paperclips, Pins, & anything that can fit into the mouth. If any of those items are swallowed they can cause severe trauma to the intestines and may even need surgery to remove them.
Windows! We all have them in our house and cats LOVE to climb screens trying to get at that poor little chickadee on the deck. Be sure that all windows are secure & screens are sturdy enough for a cat attack.
Decks are also another favorite. A curious cat will only hesitate squeezing through the rails for about 1 second if a squirrel or bird catches their eye. Be sure that if you are going to let your cat on the deck, you are there and ready to supervise closely.
Plants are a treat for every feline. They love to nibble on leaves and dig in soil so all those indoor plants you have may end up being eaten or dug up. This is not safe (LOTS of plants are poisonous to cats) and it will make a huge mess that you will end up cleaning up after a long day at work. Place all plants somewhere the cat can't get to. Another room, or on a high shelf that your cat can not reach.
Furniture vs. Feline. Furniture loses. This is always a huge complaint from our clients with new kittens. And believe it or not, it is also a common reason for owners to get rid of their pet. Declaw surgery can be very expensive and there are some clinics that will not declaw a cat over a year old. So, what can you do? Number One is keeping your cat's claws trimmed on a regular basis. Try different training techniques to deter your cat from scratching the furniture. (Physical discipline is NOT effective) You can purchase scratching posts to give your feline a better option than your sofa. OR you can do what a lot of us have and just purchase cheap couches and loveseats.
Training your cat is going to be a difficult adventure! They are stubborn creatures who work on their own agenda. There is hope though. With patience and discipline (for you, not your cat) you can achieve owning a feline that will listen to your commands. Because we don't have every answer for "why does my cat do this?" here are some links to help you find your way. A quick note: Do not dismiss some bad behavior as just that. If your cat is acting out (i.e. urinating, defecating inappropriately) they may be asking for help. Owners often mistake medical problems for behavior problems.
Here are some links about how to train your kitty:
http://www.purina.com/Cats/Behavior/index.aspx
Cost for owning a cat can be expensive. You have to take in account vaccines, spay/neuter, annual vet visits, dental cleanings, food, grooming, toys, bedding, litter and so on. Not to mention any emergencies that may come up. We suggest saving 5-10% of your paycheck for a pet emergency fund because accidents happen and you should be prepared! Your first year of owning a cat could cost up to $1,000! Here is a cool tool the ASPCA came up with to help calculate the cost of a pet.
Even if your cat is indoor only, we suggest keeping them on Heartgard and Frontline year round. Especially if you have a dog that could be bringing in fleas or ticks from outside.
Flea / Tick Prevention in cats How to chose!
Grooming your feline yourself may be a tad dangerous! We recommend pawsitively purrfect salon located in Edgewood, Md for all your cat's grooming needs.
