By Jonathan Berman
| Kittysafe's Guide To Raising a Cat By Jonathan Berman |
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A kitten is a baby. An orphan usually. Living in a world not designed for them anymore. But not so much that they cannot make do in the world, which is how they are able to maintain a profound amount of independence. Cats were worshiped for thousands of years by the Egyptians, and I imagine a certain amount of stoic knowledge remains in them to this day.
With cats, you need to understand that deep down a cat does want a paternal figure. But they also want their independence. You need to be both things to a cat. A parent, and a caregiver. Afterall, you might name a cat, give it a secondary cute nickname, but deep down only God and the cat knows it's true name. Respect that.
From a small age it's important to introduce your kitten to its world, so it does not live in fear. A fearful cat is a prisoner in his own mind and stagnates in mental growth.
Take your kitten outside, short periods at first, then with a harness, then without one but with the litter box outside so it can smell its way back home. Fun Fact! A cat can smell their litter box from miles away and find their way back home when they wander off. After awhile you will be able to open the door wide, let your cat romp out in the yard, and it will always come home. My Jupiter sits at the back door waiting patiently for me to come get him. And if I call for him, yes, he does come.
You build trust.
This is part of the imprinting process, but there is more.
There are crucial phases a kitten goes through early on, and how you approach these phases means everything to your relationship with your kitten, and your kitten's relationship to the world.
1. Crying in the middle of the night
This is usually due to the cat longing for its mother, it has not achieved a deep imprint with you yet. You want to get to the point that your cat, when longing for emotional validation will seek you out instead. The way to do this very early on is to go to your cat when it cries in the hallway, hold them close, and assure them that you are there.
This could last a few weeks. After that period, if the cat cries, make sure you are accessible but do not go to him, see if he remembers and comes to you.
2. Scratching
The scratching phase can be annoying for its own reasons.
Handle this one by trading your foot for a toy, string, catnip, little balls, etc... this often works, Bait and switch. Water bottles on spritz mode work wonders as well. I found this phase to not be such a big deal. Reassure the cat that you love him but that biting and scratching is not okay. That means no yelling, physically harming the cat. That's why water is a perfect tool, it's not invasive, but its annoying enough to a cat to make it think twice. Declawing the front claws is an option, but I highly recommend trying just clipping the tips of those lil talons instead.
3. Peeing
If your kitten is peeing around the house, you can try various forms of cat litter that seem to work as a "come here" for the cat, and always keeping a clean litter box is crucial.
(I highly recommend the Omega Paws Self Cleaning Litter Box, it's a godsend!), but moreso than that, if your cat is peeing it usually is a sign that it is time to get spayed or neutered.
http://www.omegapaw.com/
If a clip breaks on the omegapaws they will ship you out replacements free if you email them about it. I got mine very quickly.
4. Feeding
It's important a cat eat a balanced, nutritious, healthy diet. Cats are incredibly susceptible to cancer, and respiratory and other health concerns, so what you feed your cat
food and water is critical for their well-being.
When choosing a dry food, their staple, it's important that the first 4 ingredients be real substantive: Chicken, Beef, etc.. some kind of real meat, not byproduct, great resource:
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359
For wet food, which I feed my cats 1/4 can in the mornings, at around 5am, but you can create your own schedule that works for the cat and you as long as you stick to it,
consistency is very important.
These are just what I feed my cats, and they are very healthy and happy, it's not over the top raw diet, but it's very healthy, and I am currently weening them all off dry food entirely as it is very bad for them I'm beginning to realize... I will also post video resources from professionals to help you decide what is best for your loved animals.
Please share any thoughts in the comments below!
1. Dry Food
2. Wet Food
3. Treats
4. Videos
1. (Dry Food for weening)
Natural Balance Dry Cat Food, Ultra Premium Formula, 15 Pound Bag
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026LN472/ref=wms_ohs_product
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe, 12-Pound Bag
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UT92EY/ref=wms_ohs_product
Orijen Regional Poultry and Fish Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food, 15lb
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019QKOQY/ref=wms_ohs_product
2. (Wet Food)
Natural Balance Canned Cat Food, Ultra Formula, 24 x 3 Ounce Pack
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018CJIX4/ref=wms_ohs_product
Wellness Canned Cat Food, Beef and Chicken Recipe, 12-Pack of 12-1/2-Ounce Cans
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000084EZ4/ref=wms_ohs_product
3. (Favorite Treats)
Halo Liv-a-Littles Natural Treats for Dogs and Cats, Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast Protein, 2.2-Ounce
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00027CL5S/ref=wms_ohs_product
4. (VIDEOS)
Getting Your Cat to Eat Healthier Food with veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZv0Pvm-b8o
5. Bedtime
A cat is an amazing creature in that in zen-like fashion it will sleep when it's tired anywhere it deems comfortable.
Now let's say you want to buy your cat a bed, a pillow, a wicker thing, etc, but it doesn't use it no matter how hard
you try, opting to sleep in a cardboard box instead. That is because for cats, like humans, it's all about one thing:
location, location, location!
Buy that bed for your cat, and try it in various locations, here are a few tips.
Top of a stair case, island or very top, overlooking the living room, overlooking pretty much anything,
cats like to know they can see anything coming before it can see them.
My cats love to sleep on the guest bedroom, the dog's enormous pillow behind the bed by the window, the dogs don't use it,
but my cat Jupiter loves it.
A cat condo by the window, cat ledges on windowsills in bedrooms, they love those.
Give them variety in key locations and they will create their own sense of peace and home.
6. Teaching
Teaching a cat is an interesting thing. And it is completely possible. I started out with something small, knocking to be let in.
How this is done is really quite easy. Hang something on your doorknob. I used the looping plastic tag from a bag or shoes, something
round, colorful, durable. Close the door. When the cat is at door meowing, you don't open the door. The second it reaches up and taps
the plastic knocker you've put out, you open the door. Wham, it's locked in. It's amazing how fast it is. Now, you have to be sure to
be quick to open that door when it taps that knocker, but eventually, the cat will put 2 and 2 together, knowing if I tap that knocker,
the door will open.
7. The Outdoors!
If you're thinking of getting your new kitty a harness to make sure it doesn't wander out of the yard, but with the freedom to actually be outside on it's own? I highly advise not getting the figure 8 thin harnesses as a cat can slip out of those really easily, and it proves to be a waste of money, instead get something like this... http://metpet.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/walkingjacket.html
Eventually you won't need a harness at all, but for creating a trusting safe environment for your cat they are great training wheels (if you will), or for the cat that simply wanders into trouble... like my Neptune!
8. Freedom
When cats get restless they fight. If you want a loving, peaceful cat, you need to spark their world. Let them out, but do it smart. My cats get restless when the doors are closed, in the bedroom and to the backyard. The moment I see them fighting, I know they need to get outside.
9. Cat Massage
http://blip.tv/file/3130582
10. Bathing
My kitties get soggy sometimes, but there's this awesome spray you can buy, and my cats have no problem with me using it on them. It's called "Minute Groom" Waterless Bath, and you spray a little on the cat and use a cat brush on it, and their fur smells sooo good and becomes sooo soft, it's amazing. Definitely look for it.
Highly recommended.
"Minute Groom" Waterless Bath
Cleans and deodorizes
Moisturizes skin
with aloe and jojoba
citrus mint scent
11. The Little Things (Going Above and Beyond)
Be a good parent to your pets. Nurture them through the trouble phases, of scratching, crying at night, peeing in the wrong places, don't yell, and these phases won't become roadblocks but classes they can learn in to become stronger as you love them through their struggle with them... and surprise your cat with treats every once in awhile, whether outside on the porch watching the world, or sleeping on the couch...