My Wonderful World Of Cats

I love my cats. Two are 15 years old and one is about 8 years old. Two are solid gray and the other looks like the fat cat picture above. They have been good companions. I see on the news about people leaving their cats/dogs at animal shelters because they have to move. I don't understand how they can leave a pet who has been devoted to them and just drop them off. The animal doesn't understand what has happened. When getting a pet you need to consider that regardless of the circumstances your cat will depend on you throughout its life, and with proper care may live 15 years or more. Are you willing and able to care properly for it and provide a stable home for that long? An astonishingly high percentage of cats change owners at least once in their lifetimes, and that does not count those that didn't make it out of the shelter.

Many people are attracted to cats or kittens because of their looks. Consider her characteristics as well, since the kitten you choose today may be a member of your family for 15 years or more. Are you looking for a very active, playful cat? Do you need a cat that will be especially gentle with children or elderly people? One that won't be frightened by a barking dog? Or a calm, affectionate cat that will sleep on your bed at night?

Consider adopting an adult cat. An adult cat already has a fully developed personality, so you know what you're getting. Adult cats generally adapt just fine to new homes, and "bond" just as strongly with new owners as kittens do. Also, adult cats are much less likely to be adopted -- most people want to adopt cute little kittens.

Many people recommend getting two cats instead of one. A single cat can get lonely and bored. Two cats keep each other company, especially during the day while you're away. They tend to get into less trouble. And they're fun to watch together.

An animal shelter is a good place to pick up a cat and save it from death in the bargain. Look for a clean, healthy cat. Look for signs of friendliness and liveliness. Talk with the people caring for the animals for any information on a particular animal they can give you; they can often tell you a lot about a cat's personality. Don't overlook the adult cats.

Introducing a puppy or kitten into a household with an elderly animal already present can be stressful to the older animal. The best way to handle this is to make sure the older animal does not feel threatened by the newcomer. Lavish attention on the older animal, not the new kitten. Make sure the older animal has a cozy place to retreat to, and undisturbed time to eat and relieve itself.

A puppy introduced to a cat will quickly view it as another sort of dog and leave it alone or, more often, want to play with it. The cat will view the dog as a nuisance for some time, but will eventually learn to ignore it or even to play with it. Introducing a kitten to an older dog will depend on the dog's temperament.

Many dogs are good with cats, such as Labs or Newfies, and will present no problems whatsoever. Other dogs with high prey drives may need to be taught to leave the kitten alone. Soon enough, the kitten will be able to get up out of the dog's reach when it wants to be left alone. Providing the cat with a place the dog can't get to is always helpful. This can be achieved by placing a childproof fence in the door of a room high enough for the cat to get under but not for the dog. Do trim the cat's claws to minimize damage to the dog's nose. You can search online how to trim cats nails so you don't cut them to short and cause them pain.

According to humane society studies, these are some combinations of animals that tend to work well:
two kittens
an older kitten and a puppy
a pair of mature neutered animals
two cats
two dogs