Summary

The cat is out of the bag....CATS ARE DELIGHTFUL AND LOVABLE CREATURESBut they don't always start out that way. Every day, adorable kittens are charming their way into our homes. What happens once they get there? The family's favorite furry bundle of love can quickly become a real handful. But now help is on the way.From renowned cat-care expert Mordecai Siegal comes the only book written specifically for the baffled "parent" of a new kitten, with all the warmth and wisdom to bring you and your feline safely and happily from the veterinarian's office to the home. Siegal takes readers through the many milestones and challenges of raising a healthy kitten, such as: Navigating the adoption process Selecting the kitten that's right for you Understanding different breeds Understanding kitten behavior Testing your kitten's personality Socializing and bonding Meeting your kitten's individual needs Kitten training Solving common problems, such as scratching furniture, litter box mishaps, plant eating, allergies, medical issuesThis warmly written, beautifully illustrated guide is an essential source of wisdom and inspiration for any kitten owner or kitten owner to be.

Author Biography

Mordecai Siegal has written more than thirty books about dogs, cats, and horses, and edited The Cornell Book of Cats, the most highly respected reference guide on feline medicine for pet owners. He has appeared on many TV shows, including Good Morning America. He has written hundreds of articles and columns for magazines, such as House Beautiful, Harper's Bazaar, Reader's Digest, and Good Housekeeping. He writes a monthly pet column on www.goodnewsforpets.com. He lives in New York City.

Acknowledgments	p. ix
The Kitten Is Here. What Do I Do? Help!	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
The Birth of a Kitten	p. 7
Here, Kitty, Kitty: Selecting a Kitten	p. 13
Breeds of Distinction: A Thumbnail Guide to Uncommon Cats	p. 33
What to Buy for Your Kitten	p. 67
Making Friends with Your New Kitten	p. 83
Basic Cat Behavior: Why They Do What They Do	p. 93
Grooming Your Kitten	p. 115
Feeding the Kitty	p. 135
Training Kittens	p. 159
The Short and Sweet Problem Solver	p. 179
Suggested Reading	p. 203
Index	p. 205
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Excerpts

Introduction

Leonardo da Vinci said, "The smallest feline is a masterpiece." Leonardo was right. Kittensarebeautiful and fascinating creatures, and a loving addition to any family. A kitten's love can be as comforting as buttered potatoes and rice pudding and as soothing as meditation and a Spanish guitar. In times of stress, the petite feline can actually lower your blood pressure and make you laugh. It is amazing how such a small creature has the ability to create feelings of contentment as well as to fashion a warm and happy environment in your home. It's essential to give your kitten the right start, with a sure hand, in order to create this pretty picture of contentment.

The musicalCatsmay have closed on Broadway, but kittens are still performing in home theaters. They are child stars, stand-up comedians, and sit-down dinner guests. But in his quest for pleasure and adventure, a frisky kitten can also create stress if you don't understand him and learn how to handle his playful but mischievous ways. When a kitten leaps off your shelf, he may knock over your bottle of vitamins as he flies through the air to the kitchen table below, with paws landing in your cereal bowl creating a tidal wave of milk, flakes, and bananas. No pressure there, right? Kittens can and often do make crashing noises in the middle of the night, scratch up the furniture, knock things down, and chew valuable objects (or dangerous ones). Depending on the breed, they can also be a walking talk show, playing the parts of controlling host, chatty guest, and dutiful sidekick all rolled into one.

Your new kitten will jump, run, bump; he will pierce whatever appeals to him with his needlelike teeth; he will sleep most of the day and play through the night. He has a special set of needs and desires when it comes to eating and relieving himself. A kitten can get into everything as he explores his new home, from precious knickknacks to freshly laundered clothes, and just as you think you've had it, the baby cat will curl up on your chest and fall asleep, a portrait of innocence.

The cat owner in search of the perfect purr has many books to choose from. However, there is little available for the inexperienced person with a new kitten. Kitten information is usually offered as a small slice of a cat book. It is essential though for new cat owners to fully understand their kittens' nature and needs and respond accordingly, lest the days of catnip and roses be spoiled by a full-grown, misbehaving cat. It's not easy: kittens are irresistible and every one of them has the ability to make us prisoners of our own emotions. That does not mean you cannot take charge of the situation and make life better for yourself and the new addition to your home. You might turn to a veterinarian or an animal behaviorist, or you can simply thumb throughI Just Got a Kitten. What Do I Do?to learn how to create happy days and nights for the new babe in your life.

Excerpted from I Just Got a Kitten, What Do I Do?: How to Buy, Train, Understand, and Enjoy Your Kitten by Mordecai Siegal
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.