The Purrfect Guide to Thinking Like a Cat Read online

  When a cat has tightly closed whiskers pulled in against its face, this is a sign that the cat is scared. A relaxed cat holds whiskers a little more forward.

  45.CAN I SOOTHE MY STRESSED CAT?

  We often assume wrongly that we can calm upset cats by stroking or cuddling them. Many cats much prefer to be allowed to seek out a quiet place where they can groom themselves until they feel a little better.

  CAT VOCALIZATION

  46.CAT NOISES

  Cats have a wide vocal vocabulary! These sounds can be used for mother-to-kitten communication, fighting threats, sexual approach, and of course cat-to-human chitchat!

  47.MURMURING SOUNDS

  Your cat’s mouth is closed for these murmuring sounds, including the purring that we all love to hear. A cat uses these sounds for attention, greeting, acknowledgment, and enjoyment.

  48.WHO CAN PURR?

  All members of the cat family (Felidae) can purr, including lions, jaguars, tigers, and leopards, although these larger cats can purr only when breathing out.

  49.PURRING SOUNDS

  Domestic cats purr at a frequency of 25 to 150 vibrations per second!

  50.TRILLS AND CHIRRUPS

  These murmurs are the sound given as a cheerful greeting—just what we want to hear when our cats appear to meet us!

  51.MEOWING

  Many human languages contain mimicry of the cat’s meow sound to describe this unmistakable vowel-laden noise. Usually, it’s a friendly message to other cats and humans, but a hungry kitten uses this sound, too!

  52.AGGRESSIVE NOISES

  Yowling, growling, spitting, and hissing are all sounds that show a cat is very scared and stressed. It is trying to defend itself or is attempting to scare away a threat, without getting physical.

  BREED TRAITS

  53.BREED AND BEHAVIOR

  Cat breeds are becoming increasingly popular, as more people demand to choose the look of their cats, but the behavior and temperament of breeds is an important consideration. Many breeds are said to have serious, undesirable breed traits.

  54.CHARACTERISTICS

  Can breed dictate temperament as well as inherited disorders? Selective breeding and inbreeding have led some to suggest that some breeds have a pre-disposition to specific behaviors, many of which are problematic.

  55.BREED DIFFERENCES?

  Some cat pedigrees studied for breed differences have shown increased aggression toward other cats, aggression toward humans, marked differences in affection demands, and increased urine marking.

  56.GENETIC HERITAGE

  Research into behavior traits generally examines paternal traits, and it has been found that bold or friendly father cats tend to produce offspring with the same traits, as long as the kittens are correctly socialized.

  57.PEDIGREE AGGRESSION

  Compared with domestic shorthairs and longhairs, ragdoll and Cornish Rex breeds are seen as being less aggressive toward other cats, with the ragdoll showing less aggression toward humans. This depends on what the cats learn early in life, of course!

  58.URINATION IN BREEDS

  The Siamese and Sphynx are said to show lower urination marking compared with domestic short-haired and long-haired breeds, but there are gender and learned components that affect the outcome. Ultimately, this is not a useful observation when it comes to making breed choices.

  59.PREDATION IN BREEDS

  The Oriental is supposedly less likely to predate on birds than are domestic short-haired breeds and long-haired breeds, but of course, this will vary widely within individual cats. This cannot be used as a predictive guide.

  60.CAN YOU CHOOSE BREED BEHAVIOR?

  All cats learn from their surroundings, and there is no guarantee that choosing a breed means a certain set of behaviors goes along with this. It is better to look at the parent cats for clues.

  61.HYBRID CATS

  The Bengal, a hybrid resulting from breeding the Asian leopard with the domestic cat, and the Savannah, which is a serval mixed with a domestic cat, are common hybrids. Anecdotally, Bengals show a high frequency of undesirable behavior traits, such as territoriality and aggression.

  62.BREED CHOICE AND CARE

  Some breeds, such as Persians and exotics, need regular cleaning of their eyes due to their flat faces, which obstruct tear flow. Be ready to spend a lot of time cleaning these breeds. Long-haired breeds need you to groom them frequently.

  PICKING A BREED

  63.GENES

  By their nature, pedigree animals are inbred to keep them looking the same as their breed. This means that their gene pool is relatively small, and in some breeds very small indeed. This, in turn, means that unhealthy genes can get multiplied. Many breeds tend to get certain diseases.

  64.INHERITED DISEASE

  Some breeds have much higher levels of inherited disease than others; so it’s really important to speak to a vet and do extra research before you get a certain breed. You need to know how likely a cat is to get ill. Then, decide if you think it’s fair to buy a cat, knowing that it could suffer from that problem.

  65.HEART DISEASE

  Some breeds, such as the Maine coon and the ragdoll cat, are prone to heart disease. The heart becomes very thickened, and the heart’s inside volume gets smaller, so blood does not circulate properly. This is a serious and life-threatening disease.

  66.KIDNEY DISEASE

  Persians and some breeds related to Persians can have a high incidence of kidney problems from birth. Screening tests can be done. Always ask if the parents have been scanned or tested.

  67.CARTILAGE PROBLEMS

  Cats, such as the Scottish fold cat above, have been bred to have bent and folded ears. The cartilage defect that gives them bent ears affects all the cartilage in the body. This can cause crippling arthritis.

  68.FLAT FACES

  Breeds that have flat faces, such as Persians, can have many problems with breathing, dental disease, eye damage, and so on, just like flat-faced dogs. It’s not ideal to promote the breeding of cats like this, so choose cats with normally shaped faces.

  69.SHORT LEGS

  There is now a breed of cat called the munchkin, much like the dachshund in the dog world, which is bred with very short legs. Having short legs is dreadful for a cat, as it can’t climb or run. The condition also causes joint pain and arthritis.

  70.HAIRY CATS

  Cats with extremely long fur can really struggle to groom themselves and can be very difficult for you to groom. It’s common for such cats to get matted, and this is very unpleasant for them.

  71.BALD CATS

  On the other end of the spectrum are the bald cats such as the Sphynx. These cats suffer from sunburn, cold, and are very prone to injury. Being bald is totally unnatural for cats.

  72.TAILLESS CATS

  Cats like the Manx cat have no tail or a very short tail. This is usually a sign of a spinal disease that is a bit like spina bifida for humans.

  73.HIPS

  Some cat breeds, such as the Maine coon, Persian, Bengal, Himalayan, Siamese, and others, can get hip dysplasia, so ask the breeder about screening tests.

  74.OTHER DISEASES

  Breeds like the Siamese, Burmese, and many others are prone to various diseases, such as asthma and gut problems. Always do your research before picking any breed, and find out about available health tests.

  75.MOGGIES!

  Thankfully, the vast majority of cats in the world are “moggies.” This is a British term that means they are just cats—mixed breed, normally shaped cats. You can’t go far wrong with a moggy. On the whole, moggies have fewer health problems than pedigree cats.

  PICKING A BREEDER

  76.ADOPTION

  Before you think about consulting a breeder, always consider adoption. You may think you’ll never find what you’re looking for in an adoption center because you’re certain of what you want. BUT what harm can it do? There’s no obligation to take any cat home, and you might just fall in love.

/>   77.CIRCUMSTANCES

  Sadly, there are thousands of cats all over the world that have been given up through no fault of their own. People get divorced, owners die, jobs get lost, and financial situations change. Many adoption centers have kittens or a waiting list for kittens, if you’re desperate for a young cat.

  78.GOLDEN OLDIES

  Sometimes adopting an older cat can have lots of bonuses. The center is likely to have a good idea of the cat’s temperament. You might also avoid the rather wild kitten years and drape climbing!

  79.MATCHMAKING

  Most good adoption centers are excellent at matching animals to your circumstances. By getting advice from an adoption center, you can be more certain of finding a great match for you and your family.

  80.GOOD CAUSES

  By adopting, you are contributing to a great cause. You are also immediately improving the life of that one cat, which will go from a cage to the comfort of a loving home.

  81.JUST FOR US

  Before you contact that breeder you found on the Internet, spend a couple of hours wandering the aisles of your local adoption center. You might be surprised.

  82.BREEDER SETTING

  A breeder with a large number of breeding cats and kittens is unlikely to be spending enough time with each kitten. Socialization may not have taken place, causing future problems in your home.

  83.MOM

  It’s very risky to buy a kitten without seeing its mother and where it was raised. Ideally, try to find a kitten from a house or family situation similar to your own. This way your kitten is more likely to be used to a home like yours. For example, if you have children, look for a kitten used to kids.

  84.MULTIPLE BREEDS

  In general, it’s best to stick to breeders who have a small number of cats of one breed, all of which are very well looked after. Breeders advertising lots of ages of kittens or lots of breeds are best avoided.

  85.SYMPATHY

  If you go somewhere and find a kitten living in a horrible, dirty place, it’s human nature to want to save it. Resist this urge! You’ll likely get a sickly kitten and will just reward a bad breeder by continuing his or her income flow.

  86.BE BOLD

  Good breeders should do all the health tests available for their breed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and expect answers. Health test results should be openly available to you.

  87.PET STORES

  Kittens that were raised in or sold by pet stores are very unlikely to have come from an environment that is good for their early development, and you will rarely, if ever, see the mother. It’s a high risk to buy kittens from pet stores, and only encourages them to continue selling more.

  88.PET STORE ADOPTION

  Some pet stores act as an arm for a local adoption center. If this is the case, you could consider a cat from there, but still be wary of the kittens, and check out the adoption center, too, to make sure it is reputable.

  KITTENS!

  PICKING A KITTEN

  89.PICKING A WINNER

  Hopefully, you will find an adoption center or a breeder that makes you happy. You will still want to choose a healthy kitten, though, whether you settle on a pedigree or a mixed breed.

  90.MALE OR FEMALE?

  You may well already have a very clear idea about which sex to pick, or you may not be bothered. However, some diseases are more common in male or female cats. Also, neutering a female cat is more expensive.

  91.HYGIENE

  Hygiene is really important. Having lots of cats in one place definitely makes it more likely that you’ll run into some diseases, such as cat flu and chlamydia. If the cats and kittens generally don’t look well nourished and clean, and if they don’t have healthy fur, walk away.

  92.FOOD AND WATER

  Can you see food and clean water available in the place where you choose your kitten? Even if the kittens are too young to have food yet, all nursing mothers should have access to good-quality food at all times. This is so they can meet the energy needs of feeding their litter.

  93.VISITS

  Good breeders should be happy for you to visit several times if you need or want to. Note that some may have age or handling restrictions when the kittens are very small to avoid bringing diseases in.

  94.MONEY MATTERS

  If the breeder expects you to hand money over and take the kitten then and there, be very suspicious.

  95.PREVENTATIVE HEALTH

  Vaccinations and worm treatment are very important for kittens and mothers. Depending on their ages, kittens may not have been vaccinated yet. Make sure you ask what the normal regime is. Ask to see proof of what’s been given to the kittens and their mothers.

  96.HEALTH

  There are certain things you should look for in a kitten that are signs of good health, besides being well nourished. Check these things each time you visit your kitten to make sure they are consistently good:

  97.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #1: MOVEMENT

  Your kitten should be moving around normally, with no signs of lameness or other issues. If your kitten is always asleep every time you visit, this could be a sign of ill health. If the breeder always hands you the kitten to hold, put it down so you can see how it moves.

  98.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #2: EYES

  Your kitten should have bright, clear eyes, unless it is still so tiny that its eyes haven’t yet opened. If there is a lot of discharge or if the eyes are red or swollen, do not take the kitten. Runny eyes in kittens and cats are big signs of infectious disease.

  99.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #3: NOSE

  Again, runny noses and sneezing are bad signs in kittens. Cats and kittens hate having blocked noses, as they rarely breathe through their mouths. They also use their sense of smell a lot when they eat. It is likely that kittens with runny or blocked noses are not very healthy.

  100.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #4: EARS

  Ears should be clean and not smelly. Head shaking, scratching, and signs of wax or debris in the ears could be ear mites or infections.

  101.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #5: COAT

  The fur should be clean and shiny. Look out for scabs, black dots that could be a sign of fleas, and bald patches. Frequent scratching could also be a sign of problems. Cats and kittens are fastidious groomers. Dirty or matted fur is usually a sign that all is not well.

  102.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #6: BOTTOMS!

  As we said, cats are usually very clean animals. If you see a dirty bottom, this could be a sign of diarrhea, poor nutrition, or general ill health.

  103.KITTEN HEALTH CHECKS #7: BREATHING

  A cat’s breathing should be silent. If you hear any wheezing, coughing, or other odd noises from a kitten, don’t take it. If you hear an adult cat in the vicinity making noises, be equally concerned, as it may indicate that this is a house with infectious disease. Sometimes a kitten will start to show signs of illness only after it has moved to its new home, so a good preventative measure is to be aware of the adult cats that share the kitten’s home.

  104.NEW HOME

  Bringing a new kitten into your family home is a huge responsibility. It is very easy to find kittens for sale. However, well-bred, quality kittens with good health and essential early socialization are hard to find. Prepare to spend several months searching for a kitten of good quality.

  105.ADVERTISING

  Advertisements that show kittens, online or anywhere else, always show attractive photos of cute litters. The advertising does not show any signs of poor care, which can affect the kittens’ behavior. Kittens must be raised in a home environment if they are to settle into one.

  106.“ACCIDENTAL” KITTENS

  Often, people do not realize that their own cats are old enough to become pregnant or to father a litter. Kittens are often born into busy households. If healthy, these kinds of kittens may be good prospects as pets.

  107.REHOMING

  Ask about kittens found at your vet’s practice or at a high-quality animal shelter. Check the mother cat’s situ
ation. You are looking for information about where the kittens came from, especially if they were reared by hand and fed by bottle.

  108.HAND-REARED KITTENS

  This kind of beginning can have a profoundly negative impact on the kitten’s future behavior, including physical and emotional problems, for which you must be prepared if you decide to adopt one.

  109.PEDIGREE KITTENS

  Not only do you need to make sure you choose a breed that is healthy, you need to find a breeder who is rearing kittens that will make good pets. The kittens must be exposed to people and handled when alert within their first few weeks.

  110.CHOICE OF KITTEN

  Choosing from a litter is hard, so aim to see the whole litter at least three times before choosing. This gives you the chance to see the kittens when they are alert as well as tired. Look for signs of play. Do the kittens interact with each other and with people, or do they always shy away?

  111.KITTEN TYPE

  Ask the breeder to tell you about each kitten. Avoid extremes of behavior—for example, avoid a very quiet kitten or a very boisterous one. Try to pick one that has a bit of each quality.

  112.ASSESSMENT

  What kind of lifestyle do you have? If you live quietly, without many interactions, it may be that a shy cat is suitable. If your household is noisy and busy, with lots of people who are likely to want to stroke the kitten, choose a bolder one.

  113.TWO KITTENS?

  Sometimes, it may be easier for two kittens to grow up together than to introduce a young cat to an older one. However, there are no guarantees the kittens will get along when older, and it’s very hard work!

  114.ASK QUESTIONS!

  What have the kittens experienced in their first eight weeks? What is the temperament of the mother? What about the father? Is there a breed disposition or behavior you should know about? Are the kittens kept in pens? Look for proof of the answers you are given.