Bring Me Home! Cats Make Great Pets

by Margaret H. Bonham

Overview

The book to bring home before you bring home a kitten or a cat!
At last—a practical, hands-on guide to help you determine if your family is ready for a kitten or a cat. Cats are usually fairly self-sufficient and wonderfully entertaining, but they do require some attention and care. With loads of information and a fun, family-friendly style, this book provides a realistic understanding of the responsibilities of cat ownership. Information and interactive activities include:

• Worksheets that help you make informed decisions, keep good records, and more
• Questions and charts to help you determine if your family is ready for cat ownership, whether to get a kitten or a cat, where to get your pet, and more
• Checklists covering cat-proofing your home, vaccinations your new pet should have, items you'll need before bringing your cat home, and other aspects of being a responsible pet "parent"
• Cat care chore charts, including the dreaded litter box duty
• Suggested activities, including pages for kids to color
• Resources to keep with your pet's records and information

After you welcome a kitten or a cat into your family, this book provides the essential information on litter box training, boundary training, scratching training, nutrition, exercise, grooming, common health problems, and lots more. You'll know how to make your cat the purr-fect family pet!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764588303
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	08/01/2005
Series:	Bring Me Home!
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.28(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Margaret H. Bonham is a three-time winner of the prestigious Maxwell Award for writing excellence. She has written for numerous national publications including Dog Fancy, Pet Life, Pet View, Natural Pet, and more. She owns one cat, a real character who manages to coexist with her nineteen dogs!

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Table of Contents

Introduction.

Chapter 1: Are You Ready to Get a Cat?

Time and Living Commitments.

Financial Commitment.

Environmental Requirements.

A Good Match.

Chapter 2: Choosing a Cat.

Moggie versus Pedigreed.

How Big Will the Cat Be?

Male or Female?

Longhair, Shorthair, or No Hair?

Kitten or Adult?

Breed Overview (and List).

Where to Find Your Cat.

Picking Out Your Cat.

Chapter 3: Preparing for Your Cat.

Indoor Cat or Indoor-Outdoor Cat?

Where Should Your Cat Stay?

Stocking Up on Cat Supplies.

Choosing a Veterinarian.

Chapter 4: Cat-Proofing.

House Checklist.

Garage Checklist.

Backyard Checklist.

Safety Shopping List.

Chapter 5: Bringing Your Cat Home.

When to Bring Your Cat Home.

When Not to Bring Your Cat Home.

The Car Ride Home.

First Stop, the Veterinarian.

Introducing the Family.4

Introducing Other Cats.

Introducing Dogs.

Introducing Other Pets.

Chapter 6: Family Education.

The First Few Days and Nights.

Basic Manners with a Cat or Kitten.

Teaching House Manners.

Chapter 7: Keeping Your Cat Healthy.

Understanding How to Feed Your Cat.

Going to the Vet.

Exercise.

Grooming.

Socializing.

Chapter 8: Emergencies.

Emergency Checklist.

How to Restrain Your Cat.

Assembling a First-Aid Kit.

Treatments and Transport for Common Cat Injuries.

Family Disaster Planning.

Chapter 9: Litter Box Behavior.

Types of Litter.

The Nose Knows.

Litter Boxes and Other Technicalities.

Where to Put the Litter Box.

Solving Litter Box Problems.

Chapter 10: Having Fun with Your Cat.

Clicker Training for Kitty.

Introducing the Clicker.

Tricks You Can Teach Your Cat.

Setting Up a Kitty Obstacle Course.

Fun Games to Play with Your Cat.

Chapter 11: Problem Kitties.

Preventing Problem Behaviors.

Aggression.

Counter Creeping.

Vocalizations.

Fear of Thunder and Loud Noises.

Spraying and Inappropriate Defecation.

Scratching.

Leaving behind Killed Animals.

What If It Doesn’t Work Out? Options for the Cat Owner.

Chapter 12: Your Cat As Part of the Family.

Identification.

Vacations.

Boarding Facilities.

Pet Sitters.

The Workplace.

Appendix: Useful Resources.

How to Use This Appendix.

Cat Breed List.

Vaccination Record.

Veterinary Record.

Chore Chart.

Emergency Veterinarian Numbers.

Pet Sitter Journal.

Kennel Information Sheet.

Coloring Pages.

Index.