Cat - Your New Cat: Why Are the First 24 Hours So Important? Part 2

Save 5% on orders over $75 at Only Natural Pet Store! Use coupon code CJ75. The family brought Tiger home, but hadn't prepared their house for him. When he saw their dog, he bolted, found a dark place and hid. His new owner searched the house but couldn't find him. That night he came out of his hiding place and found an open window with a torn screen.... His would-be owner knew there were predators in the area. She called Animal Control and posted signs around the neighborhood, but she knew there wasn't much chance. She was right. PREPARATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS This situation could have been avoided, and Tiger could have been integrated quickly and easily into his new home if the people who adopted him had made some preparations and taken precautions. What are some of these preparations? What should you do before you bring a new cat home? ? Prepare the house to receive your new cat. ? Make sure your new cat's medical needs are completely taken care of. ? Make sure your other cats are adequately protected from disease. ? Make sure you have on hand the things your cat will need. ? Know how to introduce your new cat to your live-in companions, children and other pets. And perhaps most importantly: ? Prepare yourself beforehand for a good relationship with your new cat. People who have never owned cats before don't really realize what a cat is: A highly intelligent, independent animal which needs love and affection daily - but is not a dog. BONDING WITH YOU Cats will bond with people, just as dogs do, but they don't always bond with the person who has adopted them. They will choose whom they like, much to the consternation of the person who "picked them up" hoping to have acquired a new friend. This is one very good reason why the first 24 hours is so important. It is during that period that your cat will decide whom she wants to bond with. PREPARE YOUR HOME Adequate preparation of the home is vitally important. If your new cat panics when she is first introduced and finds a way to exit your house, she will do so. Remember, she does not know where she is and has no motivation to return. MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES In addition, there may be serious medical consequences to adopting a stray, both to your new kitty and to your existing cats. Inadequate medical examination and vaccination can be tragic for the new addition to your family...and have serious consequences to your existing cats. Unless you know what you are doing, your attempt to bring home a new kitty could result in tragedy. EVERY CAT IS DIFFERENT The bottom line is that no matter how many cats you have adopted, you still may not know what you are doing with THIS one. In Part 3 we'll discuss five things you need to consider before you adopt a new cat. Copyright 2006 John Young John Young is a writer and cat lover who has owned one cat or another ever since he was four (or, maybe they owned him). His book "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours", http://www.yourcatsecrets.com, is written for new and veteran cat owners who want to smoothly introduce a new cat to their household and care for her thereafter. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Young Cat - Cat Eye Care-Do You Properly Care For Your Cat? As a loving cat owner, you want your feline friend to be as healthy as possible, and a big part of that means taking care of her eyes. You should frequently inspect your cat's eyes, and if you notice any changes or problems, seek prompt medical care, before your cat's health is impacted. There are many things that you can do for your cat on a regular basis that can help keep her eyes healthy, but are you willing to invest the time to do them? One of the easiest things that you can do for your cat is to keep her eyes clean and free of mucous, which could build up and turn into a raging eye infection. Use a damp cloth and gently wipe her eyes at least once a day or whenever you notice mucous. This small step goes a long way in caring for your cat's eyes. You should also protect your cat's eyes anytime that you need to use chemical treatments on her skin, such as flea dips. Talk to your veterinarian before treatment, and ask him for suggestions on how to protect your cat's eyes from the chemicals. He will likely give you a neutralizing ointment, which you will apply to your cat's eyes before using the chemicals, and will neutralize any chemicals that may inadvertently come into contact with her eyes. If your cat has long hair, you should keep in trimmed so that it stays out of her eyes. Anything that comes into contact with the eyes can cause irritation, and even lead to infection, so this is an important step in your cat's eye care. When you look at your cat's eyes, they should be moist and clear, as well as free of mucous. Anything to the contrary could indicate a problem that may need veterinary treatment. Although your cat won't enjoy it, you should clean her eyes at least once a week, even if you wash then with a cloth and water everyday, they still need to be cleaned. You can ask your veterinarian for tips on doing this, and he may suggest a commercial product that you can use, or you can make your own. To make your own cat eye cleaning solution, mix about 1 capful of baby shampoo with about 20 capfuls of water. Dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the solution, and use it to clean your cat's eyes, starting with the eyeball and working outward. Once you have finished, use another cotton ball with just water and rinse the eyes in the same manner. If your cat develops an eye infection, your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotic medication, which you apply directly to her eye in the form of eye drops. Again, your cat will not like this treatment, but it is for her own good, and something that you must do if you want her to be healthy. Eye ointments are much easier to use, however if you apply too much at once, you could worsen the problem, so you have to be careful. Few people realize how important it is to take care of their cat's eyes, and often don't even think about it until a problem develops. By properly performing cat eye care, and seeking veterinary care for any problems promptly, you are ensuring that your cat stays healthy and happy, so that she can be with you for a long time to come!