Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
1 THE NEWBORN KITTEN.
Before the Kittens Are Born.
After the Kittens Are Born.
Stray and Shelter Kittens.
Vaccinations.
Meeting the Breeder and the Kittens.
2 READY, STEADY, GET YOUR CAT.
Are You Ready for a Cat?
Kitten or Adult Cat?
Pedigreed or Moggie?
Long Coat or Short?
Where Will You Get Your Cat?
3 GEARING UP FOR KITTY.
Kittyproofing Your Home.
The Litter Box.
The Litter.
The Scratching Post.
The Cat Tree.
The Window Perch.
Food and Water Dishes.
Toys.
Catnip.
Grooming Tools.
The Cat Bed.
The Carrier.
4 HOME AT LAST!
Newest Cat in the Family.
Sharing the House with Dogs.
Indoors Is Best.
Environmental Enrichment.
5 UNDERSTANDING CAT BEHAVIOR.
Four Myths about Cats.
Feline Body Language.
How Cats Vocalize.
Litter Box Issues.
Destructive Scratching.
Fear.
Rough Play.
Ankle Attacks.
Intercat Aggression.
The Importance of Interactive Play.
The Baby Myth.
6 FEEDING A CARNIVORE.
Commercial Diets.
Homemade Diets.
Dining In.
Life Stage Feeding.
Veterinary Diets.
Enticing Your Cat to Try a New Food.
Obesity.
7 ROUTINE HEALTH CARE.
Your Cat's Veterinarian.
Feline Spa Services.
Senior Cats.
8 SPECIAL FELINE HEALTH CONCERNS.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
Urinary Tract Stones.
Dental Disease.
Abscess.
Diabetes.
Liver Disease.
Allergies and Intolerances.
Asthma.
Upper Respiratory Infection.
Herpesvirus.
Colitis.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting.
Hip Dysplasia.
Spinal Problems.
Hypertension.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Hyperesthesia.
Idiopathic Peripheral Vestibular Disease.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
Feline Leukemia Virus.
Osteoarthritis.
Cancer.
9 EMERGENCIES AND SURGERY.
Poison!
Medical Emergencies.
Nursing Your Sick Kitty.
Cats and Surgery.
Anesthesia.
Critical Care.
Rehabilitation Therapy.
10 POPULAR CAT BREEDS.
Abyssinian.
American Shorthair.
Bengal.
Birman.
British Shorthair.
Burmese.
Chartreux.
Cornish Rex and Devon Rex.
Maine Coon Cat.
Norwegian Forest Cat.
Oriental Shorthair.
Persian.
Ragdoll.
Russian Blue.
Scottish Fold.
Siamese.
Siberian.
Singapura.
Sphynx.
Tonkinese.
Moggie or Mixed Breed.
11 CATAPULTING INTO ACTIVITIES.
Start Training.
Training and Pet-to-Pet Issues.
Let's Have Some Fun!
Harness Training.
Cat Agility.
Therapy Cats.
APPENDIX A: SHOPPING FOR YOUR CAT.
Cat Trees and Beds.
Dinnerware.
Carriers.
Cat Toys.
Collars, Harnesses, and Walking Jackets.
Cat Enclosures.
Stress Relief.
If You Can't Get Out to Shop.
Just for You.
APPENDIX B: USEFUL RESOURCES.
Web Sites.
Helpful Books.
INDEX.