A New Family Member

A cat or kitten makes a very worthwhile pet, providing that he or she is properly cared for. Before you take on the responsibility of owning a cat or kitten, please think carefully about what it will involve:-

The Cost

• Basic requirements such as a litter tray, food and water bowls, a bed and toys will cost around £30
• Food and litter costs an average of £15 per month
• Routine veterinary care for a healthy cat (vaccinations, boosters and wormers) will cost between £25 and £50 per year
• Neutering will cost somewhere in the region of £25 to £40
• Pet Insurance costs somewhere in the region of £100 per year but is well worth having incase of accidents as veterinary fees can be very high
• Catteries charge upwards of £6 per day to look after your cat when you go away
• Cats live for an average of 14-18 years (although the oldest on record was actually 36 years old!)

Affect on your Lifestyle

• Time must be taken every day for play, grooming and basic companionship
• Adequate and trustworthy arrangements will need to be made for when you are away from home (cattery / Pet-sitter / cat-loving neighbour or relative)
• It is important to ensure that your cat or kitten does not become a nuisance to your neighbours
• You will need to accept the fact that your cat may catch birds and other prey. This is natural behaviour and cannot be prevented
   

Whilst cats are relatively independent animals, they still appreciate a lot of affection and companionship and can get very stressed if left on their own for long periods of time.

If you are introducing a new cat or kitten to a household with an established resident pet then it is vital that plenty of time and care is taken to ensure that first introductions run as smoothly as possible - preferably in a neutral area which the resident pet does not regularly frequent. If you are re-homing a cat or kitten through us then our Homing Officer will be more than happy to offer you practical advice on introducing the new arrival to the household. Cats Protection also produce a useful leaflet with advice on introducing a new cat to the household. Please check the HQ Website.

 

Handling Your Cat or Kitten

Contrary to popular belief, picking up a cat or kitten by the scruff of the neck can actually do more harm than good, causing damage to the muscles within the neck.

The best way to hold your cat or kitten is with one hand under the chest and with the rest of the weight supported by your other hand. You will have more control over your cat while you hold him if you keep him close to your body.

Kittens should be handled very carefully as their bones are incredibly fragile.

Your cat at night

Cats should never be shut out at night. Most road accidents involving cats take place during the hours of darkness. Cat theft is also a real risk in the UK, in rural as well as urban areas, and this is generally done under cover of darkness. The natural hunting instinct of the cat is more prevalent at night and you are likely to find ‘presents’ left on your floor when you get up in the morning.

Keep your cat safely in at night and provide a litter tray.

 

Wildlife

The Mammal Society undertook a survey in the late 1990’s which indicated that the
9 million domestic cats within the UK were responsible for killing a phenomenal 300 million small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The simplest way of making a difference is to keep your cat in at night as this is when the hunting instinct peaks. Many owners are concerned about being cruel by restricting their pet’s natural instinct to hunt and roam. Evidence suggests, however, that decreasing a cat’s opportunity to hunt actually decreases its desire to

Another way to help, as strange as it may seem, is to attract more birds to your garden. The greater the number of birds in your garden, the higher the survival rate as increased numbers create a more efficient and alert early warning system.

Attaching bells to your cats collar may help to protect mammalian prey, but seems to have little effect on birds, and eventually, a large number of cats learn how to hunt without their bell jingling a warning. If you fit a second bell onto your cats collar then he will be unable to prevent the inevitable jingling when he hunts. Another option would be to fit a sonic collar which emits a sound which the birds are also able to register.

Neutering is also a way of helping to suppress the natural hunting instinct and additionally prevents the production of unwanted litters of kittens who are often left to add to the feral population.

 

Litter Training

Cats are naturally clean animals and will use a litter tray if shown where it is, but a new kitten, particularly one who has not been taught by its mother, will need to be shown what is required.

Provide the kitten with a litter tray which it can easily climb in and out of, filled with a commercial cat litter (the wood based litter is slightly more expensive but flushable and therefore easier to dispose of). Position the tray well away from the feeding area but keep it in the same place so that the kitten can always find it. The litter tray should be cleaned out regularly and at least once a day. The kitten should be taken to the litter tray after meals and on waking up from sleep and will quickly learn what is expected of it.

Once the kitten has been fully vaccinated, if it is to have access to a garden, gradually introduce it to the big wide world which is your back garden and move the litter tray closer to the door or cat-flap which the kitten will use. You will very soon find that your kitten is making his own toilet arrangements and the litter tray is no longer required.
 

Cats and Collars

Whilst Cats Protection does not does not support the tying of fixed devices around a cat’s neck, it nevertheless recognises that some cat owners do put collars on their pets. In order to minimise the risk of injury, they suggest the following:-

• Choose a quick-release collar with an elastic section in preference to other types. However bear in mind that ‘quick release collars’ do not always live up to their name.
   
• Check the fit of your cats collar regularly. You should ideally be able to get two fingers beneath the collar.
   
• If the collar is too loose then the cat is in increased danger of getting ensnared on a branch or other object or even through grooming itself.
   
• If the collar is too tight then there is a risk of strangulation and the cat is also more likely to try to remove the collar itself. Additionally, tight collars rub away fur around the neck causing collar burns and a bald ring.
   
• Cats can grow and put on weight. Collars fitted to kittens quickly become too tight as the animal grows. Weight gain in an adult cat can also cause a collar to get too tight.
   
• Cats can also damage themselves on bells and discs attached to collars. If the bell is worn for wildlife protection purposes then the tinkle needs to be quite loud to be effective. Trapped claws can be avoided by using a bell which is tapered with a large groove.
   
• A cat can develop an allergic reaction to collar material. Should a cat start to scratch or show signs of skin irritation after a new collar is fitted, it should be removed immediately. Veterinary treatment may be required.
   
• Remove the collar when your cat is indoors to allow skin to air and fur to grow.
   
• Flea collars can vary in their effectiveness to control fleas. There are other products available now which are more effective for control of fleas. DO NOT use a flea collar in conjunction with any other type of flea treatment.
   

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER
CHIPPING NORTON TOWN HALL
11AM - 4PM
 

Site last updated
 18 Nov 2008

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