lifetimecat
Play with Your Cat
Perhaps no other activity has such a profound effect on the nature of a cat-human relationship. Play brings the hunt inside. You get to learn your cat's hunting behaviors, read and anticipate his intentions, and script scenarios for him in real time. By making the toy act like prey and responding to your cat's moves and signals, the two of you are practically hunting together. You're an honorary cat!
Accommodate his natural behaviors
Make your house cat-friendly. Cats need to scratch; one tall sturdy scratching post is the bare minimum - more is better. Delight your cat by buying or making a cat tree; he'll love having a cats-only place where he can climb, jump, scratch, play, sleep, and birdwatch.
Help him when he has a problem
If your cat stops using his litter box, it's due to a medical condition, something he dislikes about the litter box, or stress. Investigate all three possible causes in approximately that order. He wants things to get back to normal just like you do. If your cat scratches you, it could be misplaced aggression or lack of knowing that your hand is not a toy. Treat each problem with empathy.
Praise your cat
Your cat likes the sound of your voice; it's soothing. Each day tell him he's a great kitty. He'll think you're pretty great two, and the two of you will be on your way to a remarkable new relationship for life.
Twenty Years from Now?
With good care and a little luck, your cat can live twenty years.
If you're in your thirties when you adopt your cat, he'll be living with you when the kids have all graduated from college. If you're in your fifties now, your cat, the one with much boundless energy now, will still be there when you're in your seventies, retired. He'll be an old cat by then, probably no longer able to jump to his favorite places. Sometimes he might not make it to his litter box. The two of you will accept each other's occasional mishaps. You'll help him up to your lap, and he'll purr just as loudly and happily for you as always. An old friend. A valued member of the family.
This is the HTML version of one of our Shelter Sheets, which were designed to be downloaded and printed for handout by Humane Societies, Animal Shelters, Rescue Groups, and others involved in re-homing cats. Go to this page for a free printable version.
Perhaps no other activity has such a profound effect on the nature of a cat-human relationship. Play brings the hunt inside. You get to learn your cat's hunting behaviors, read and anticipate his intentions, and script scenarios for him in real time. By making the toy act like prey and responding to your cat's moves and signals, the two of you are practically hunting together. You're an honorary cat!
Accommodate his natural behaviors
Make your house cat-friendly. Cats need to scratch; one tall sturdy scratching post is the bare minimum - more is better. Delight your cat by buying or making a cat tree; he'll love having a cats-only place where he can climb, jump, scratch, play, sleep, and birdwatch.
Help him when he has a problem
If your cat stops using his litter box, it's due to a medical condition, something he dislikes about the litter box, or stress. Investigate all three possible causes in approximately that order. He wants things to get back to normal just like you do. If your cat scratches you, it could be misplaced aggression or lack of knowing that your hand is not a toy. Treat each problem with empathy.
Praise your cat
Your cat likes the sound of your voice; it's soothing. Each day tell him he's a great kitty. He'll think you're pretty great two, and the two of you will be on your way to a remarkable new relationship for life.
Twenty Years from Now?
With good care and a little luck, your cat can live twenty years.
If you're in your thirties when you adopt your cat, he'll be living with you when the kids have all graduated from college. If you're in your fifties now, your cat, the one with much boundless energy now, will still be there when you're in your seventies, retired. He'll be an old cat by then, probably no longer able to jump to his favorite places. Sometimes he might not make it to his litter box. The two of you will accept each other's occasional mishaps. You'll help him up to your lap, and he'll purr just as loudly and happily for you as always. An old friend. A valued member of the family.
This is the HTML version of one of our Shelter Sheets, which were designed to be downloaded and printed for handout by Humane Societies, Animal Shelters, Rescue Groups, and others involved in re-homing cats. Go to this page for a free printable version.