The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [15]
I recommend that you write out a checklist of what your “dream” cat looks like and acts like. Your mission: to seek a feline that best matches your list. There are hundreds of cats in your area needing a home, so don’t be in a hurry. Take your time and you will be rewarded with a lifelong cat pal. Visit different shelters and look in local papers for groups that rescue cats. There are also breed rescue groups to contact if a pedigreed cat would be a good match for the desired temperament traits on your list.
Once you have assessed your needs, my advice is for you to be calm and passive in the shelter and see which cat chooses you as a good match. I trust cat intuition. That’s how my cat Murphy picked me. She ran and hid whenever others tried to catch her, but would bounce out of the bushes and rub against my leg when I appeared.
When my friend Jim wanted to adopt a kitten years ago, I went with him to the local animal shelter. Jim is a big, brawny guy with a quiet nature. Each time he picked up a kitten, he felt awkward. He finally confessed that he didn’t feel comfortable raising a tiny, bouncy kitten. In the end, he took home a pair of one-year-old littermates who lived with him for 17 years. These cats provided companionship for one another when Jim worked long hours. They played together and snuggled together for afternoon naps. Like Jim, if you are honest about your wants and needs, I’m sure you will find the perfect companion.
CAT-PROOFING YOUR HOUSE
Adopting a new cat or kitten is fun and exciting. But make sure you temper that enthusiasm with a dose of safety. Here are 10 ways to ensure your cat enjoys home, safe home.
1. Keep antifreeze and other garage hazards away from your curious feline. Ingesting even one teaspoonful can be fatal to most cats.
2. Install baby locks on cabinets where you keep household cleaners and other sprays. Be cautious when taking any medicines and avoid dropping a pill where your pet might scarf it up, thinking it’s a nice treat.
3. Keep needles, thread, and string off the ground. Some cats are also attracted to jewelry and shiny candy wrappers. Swallowing any of these can cause internal injuries.
4. Inspect your window screens to make sure they are sturdy.
5. Enclose electrical cords in PVC channels to keep chew-happy cats from harm.
6. Put plants out of reach. Nibbled leaves can cause stomach upset or even intestinal blockage, and some are poisonous to cats.
7. Check your dryer between laundry loads. Some cats like to nap in dark, warm places.
8. Bang on the hood of your car before driving away to startle away any cat that might have crawled onto the engine block to snooze.
9. Look around before you sit in a recliner or a rocking chair. A cat may be napping under the legs or inside the recliner.
10. Block off areas behind major appliances and heavy furniture, such as your refrigerator, couch, or a big bookcase — any place where your cat could become stuck.
Stray or Feral?
Q A couple of skinny young cats have been hanging out in the alleyway behind our restaurant. They are foraging for scraps of food. At first, they dashed away when I came out the door. But since I’ve started to put out food and water for them, one of them is starting to trust me and to creep closer. The other one still flees at the sight of me. I’d like to adopt the friendlier cat, but how can I tell if a homeless cat is stray or feral?
A All around the world, caring people are putting out bowls of food and water on porches, alleys, and other places to provide nourishment to homeless cats. It can be challenging to distinguish between feral cats (those born in the wild who have had little or no interaction with humans) and stray cats (those who have lived with people but have become lost or been discarded).
But in your situation, you can help both cats. The one who seems