| The family brought Tiger home, but hadn't prepared | | | | it died of feline leukemia. That story definitely had a |
| their house for him. When he saw their dog, he | | | | very sad ending? |
| bolted, found a dark place and hid. | | | | ? Knowledge of Your Cat's Physical Needs |
| His new owner searched the house but couldn't find | | | | When your cat climbs out of the carrier box for the |
| him. That night he came out of his hiding place and | | | | first time, will you be equipped with the essentials? |
| found an open window with a torn screen.... | | | | Or, will you discover that you need these things |
| His would be owner knew there were predators in | | | | later?and bring them in one at a time, after your cat |
| the area. She called Animal Control and posted signs | | | | has defecated in the corner, started clawing the |
| around the neighborhood, but she knew there wasn't | | | | furniture, or begun some other unauthorized behavior |
| much chance. | | | | you are not prepared for? (And, be advised, a cat is |
| She was right. | | | | a very obsessed animal?once she starts doing |
| FIVE THINGS YOU MUST CONSIDER BEFORE | | | | something, it is very hard to change it). |
| ADOPTING A CAT. | | | | Making sure you have on hand what you need to |
| In Parts 1 and 2 of this series we considered the vital | | | | receive your new cat is vital. You must be equipped |
| need to prepare your house for your cat, make sure | | | | with the basics before you bring her home. |
| her medical needs are met, and that you yourself are | | | | ? Your Home Prepared. |
| ready for the adoption of a feline -- an independent | | | | I can't emphasize this enough. You must be certain |
| animal that doesn't respond to teaching and training | | | | your home and your house occupants are prepared |
| the way a dog would. | | | | for the arrival of your new kitty. If she is frightened |
| Before you bring your new kitty home, make sure | | | | in any way, and can find egress from the house, she |
| you have: | | | | may do so. If this occurs, she will not know where |
| ? Time | | | | she is, and you may never see her again. |
| A cat needs time spent with her. One of the big | | | | FIRST INTRODUCTIONS |
| mistakes busy people make is to fail to realize that | | | | So, when your cat first climbs out of her carrier, is |
| they have crazy schedules that don't allow them to | | | | she going to be set upon by every member of your |
| spend enough time with their newly adopted cat. | | | | household all at once? And when she does, will she |
| This could ultimately result in your cat running off. If | | | | flee in terror, trying to find the safest and darkest |
| you have no time to spend with your cat, she will | | | | corner she can find? |
| not choose your house as ?her den?. She will go | | | | Or will you introduce her gradually? to try to reduce |
| searching for another one, and you could be soon | | | | the trauma as much as possible so she can adapt to |
| reporting a ?lost cat?. | | | | and feel at home in her new situation? |
| Or, to your consternation, you will find that the cat | | | | Your technique for doing that can be a deciding |
| you thought would be a loving companion has | | | | factor in whether or not your cat adapts to your |
| bonded with another member of your | | | | home immediately, by the next day or the next |
| household?somebody who did have the time to | | | | month, or flees the house altogether. |
| spend. | | | | THE DAYS TO FOLLOW |
| ? Money | | | | Do you know how to take care of your new cat in |
| A lot of people don't count the cost of pet | | | | the days to come, assuming you handled your first |
| ownership. In their exuberance to adopt a cat, they | | | | introductions well? Do you know about allergies, |
| forget that they don't have the budget to keep her. | | | | special foods, bathing, grooming, hair balls, removing |
| Belatedly, they discover they don't have the cash on | | | | urine, training and teaching without frightening and |
| hand to buy their new feline's basic necessities or | | | | alienating her, and a multitude of other situations cat |
| give her the medical attention she is most certainly | | | | owners wrestle with on a daily basis? Do you know |
| going to need. | | | | the hazards involved in letting her become an |
| Many people shun pet medical insurance, not realizing | | | | outdoor cat? |
| that the same things that happen to people happen | | | | KNOW WHAT TO DO |
| to cats, and can cost large sums of money to cure. | | | | As you've often heard, 'preparation is the key to |
| This can result in losing their beloved pet because the | | | | success', and nowhere does that apply more |
| price to save her is ?just too high?. | | | | appropriately than to cat ownership. If you are |
| ? Knowledge of Your Cat's Medical Needs | | | | prepared, your adoption will probably go very |
| Some people who adopt strays or cats owned by | | | | smoothly ? and your relationship with her will be a |
| friends don't realize the full extent of the medical | | | | joy. |
| attention their new cat may need: | | | | I say probably because every cat is different. Even |
| -- A complete physical examination | | | | with the best preparation by a knowledgeable owner, |
| -- A complete vaccination regimen | | | | a cat may still want to hide for awhile. And if you |
| -- Spaying or neutering | | | | discover that's the case? |
| In particular, that cute kitten you brought home from | | | | You need to know what to do. |
| a friend's litter will need a long series of vaccinations | | | | John Young is a writer and cat lover who has owned |
| (along with boosters) that will extend over a period | | | | one cat or another ever since he was four (or, |
| of a couple of years. You can't do it all in one day. | | | | maybe they owned him). His book "Your New Cat's |
| To fail in this will almost assuredly mean tragedy | | | | First 24 Hours", , is written for new and veteran cat |
| down the line. I know. I failed to give one of my | | | | owners who want to smoothly introduce a new cat |
| kittens its vaccinations. I made it an outdoor cat, and | | | | to their household and care for her thereafter. |