Compatible Cats

by Davis, Karen Leigh

• ISBN13: 9780764114786
• ISBN10: 0764114786
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-01
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

Cat owners who are considering having more than one cat or bringing other newly acquired animals into the house often wonder how their favorite feline will react to new companions. Author Karen Davis gives informed advice on the subject, then goes on to suggest ways to solve potential problems. Some of the questions she discusses include choosing between a kitten and an adult cat as the new household resident, adopting a second animal from a shelter, taking in a stray, compatibility and incompatibility between cats and dogs, protecting pet birds in cages and fish in tanks, the cat's diet and how it can affect feline behavior, and much more. Also provided are additional information sources, including lists of cat registries and feline health and welfare organizations.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
Cats and Humans	1	(27)
How Humans Domesticated Cats	1	(1)
Cats and Human Beliefs and Superstitions	2	(1)
How Cat Shows Began	3	(2)
How Cat Breeds Get Recognized	5	(1)
The Breeds	6	(1)
Harmony with Humans	6	(5)
Choosing the Right Cat	11	(5)
Pet Allergies	16	(2)
Cat Phobia	18	(1)
Cats and the Human Family	18	(5)
Introducing a New Person to Cats	23	(2)
Moving to a New House	25	(1)
Animal Collectors	26	(2)
Understanding Cats	28	(16)
A Predator in Our Midst	28	(3)
Cat Communication	31	(2)
How Cats Perceive Their World	33	(3)
Balance and the Righting Reflex	36	(1)
Nocturnal Behavior	37	(1)
Play Behaviors	38	(2)
Bringing Home Prey	40	(1)
Territorial Marking Behaviors	40	(4)
Spaying and Neutering	44	(10)
Facts on ``Fixing''	44	(3)
Feline Facts of Life	47	(3)
Facts about Pet Overpopulation	50	(2)
Breeding Purebred Cats	52	(2)
Cats and Other Cats	54	(22)
Two's Company, Usually	54	(1)
Acquiring Another Cat	55	(2)
Social Structure Among Cats	57	(1)
Introducing a New Cat	58	(2)
Breed Differences	60	(3)
Selecting a Healthy Cat or Kitten	63	(1)
Buying a Purebred Cat	64	(4)
Buying from a Pet Shop	68	(1)
Adopting from a Shelter	68	(2)
Taking in a Stray	70	(2)
Dealing with Aggression Among Cats	72	(3)
When Things Don't Work Out	75	(1)
Cats and Other Pets	76	(13)
Cats and Dogs	76	(3)
Introducing a Cat into a Dog's Household	79	(2)
Introducing a Dog into a Cat's Household	81	(1)
Cats and Birds	82	(1)
Cats and Aquariums	83	(1)
Cats, Rabbits, and Other Small Pets	84	(2)
Cats and Livestock	86	(1)
Cats and Houseplants	87	(2)
Training Cats	89	(16)
Basic Training Tools	89	(1)
Building Trust	90	(2)
Leash-training Cats	92	(1)
The Scratching Post	93	(3)
Discouraging Inappropriate Clawing	96	(2)
Litterbox Training	98	(2)
Handling House-soiling	100	(3)
Cleaning Up House-soiling Accidents	103	(1)
Getting Help for Behavior Problems	103	(2)
Cat Food and Feeding Basics	105	(21)
The Carnivorous Cat	105	(1)
Commercial Cat Foods	106	(1)
Types of Cat Foods	106	(2)
Diet and the Urinary Tract Health Connection	108	(2)
Maintaining Mealtime Harmony	110	(1)
Competitive Eating	110	(1)
How Much to Feed	111	(1)
Life Cycle Formulas	112	(1)
Feeding Kittens	113	(1)
Feeding Pregnant Cats	114	(1)
Feeding Moderately Active Cats	114	(1)
Feeding Older Cats	115	(2)
Feeding Cats and Dogs	117	(1)
Feeding Cats on Special Diets	118	(1)
Feeding Fat Cats	119	(7)
Feline Health	126	(28)
Choosing a Veterinarian	127	(1)
Signs of Illness in the Cat	128	(1)
Preventive Health Care	129	(1)
Vaccinations	130	(2)
Feline Diseases	132	(6)
Internal Parasites	138	(2)
External Parasites: Fleas	140	(2)
Other External Parasites	142	(1)
Feline Vital Signs	143	(1)
Allergies in Cats	144	(1)
Feline Dental Care	145	(1)
Medicating Your Cat	146	(2)
Preventing Hairballs	148	(1)
Feline First Aid	149	(3)
Time to Say Good-bye	152	(2)
Glossary	154	(2)
Useful Addresses and Literature	156	(4)
Index	160