Adopting A Cat

Certified cat behavior consultant Laura Cassiday used her extensive experience working at the Maryland SPCA to help her write the definitive guide book for anyone who has recently adopted (or is considering adopting) a new cat. Using input and interviews from over 40 shelter and rescue organization experts, this book covers every topic and question a new cat owner will need to know to successfully integrate their new cat into their home and life. Topics covered include: Choosing the correct cat for your home and lifestyle What to do if you’ve found a stray cat or kittens Becoming a cat foster parent Bringing your new cat home: supplies, safe spaces, and introductions Cat nutrition Grooming and shedding Cat health care Troubleshooting problems Litter Boxes Issues Destructive Scratching Biting and Aggression Fear and Anxiety Nuisance Behaviors (Counter Surfing, Excessive Meowing, and More) Carrier Training Giving Medication Playtime and enrichment Senior Cat care So you’ve decided to adopt a cat. Easy, right? You just go to the closest shelter, pick out the cute, fluffy orange one, and live happily ever after. Although this is exactly what goes through the minds of many would-be cat adopters, picking out your new best friend can be a little more complicated. I mean, if you get a kitten, you’re looking at a 15-20 year commitment. I once had one of my cats live to be 27! And what happens if they don’t like your other pets? Or your kids? Even worse, what if they stop using their litter box? And how often do cats even need to go to the vet, anyway? Even for impulsive people like myself, you have to at least put a little bit of thought into it. That’s where this book comes in. It’s a comprehensive guide to all things cat adoption. If you don’t know where to start, this is a good place. If you’ve just brought your new kitty home and have questions, we’ll cover that too. Even if you’ve already had a cat for a while, you’re guaranteed to learn something new. So grab your catnip and feather wand, and let’s get started!

That there is a tremendous overpopulation of cats in the United States is both common knowledge and a matter of grave concern. For many who would acquire a new pet, adoption is viewed as the most responsible means of finding the right cat. However, it is important to understand that if you decide to open your home to a stray or adopt from a shelter, an extra measure of patience, love and understanding is essential. Adopting Cats and Kittens: A Care and Training Guide reflects the special circumstances that surround the "recycled" cat and helps the new owner provide the cat with the secure, nurturing environment every pet deserves. This book offers sensible guidance on what your new cat needs to be happy and healthy and what to do to keep from contributing to the pet population explosion. Adopting Cats and Kittens is a book with a mission and a message of hope and concern for all who love cats and seek an end to their cruel treatment and abuse.

*A New York Times Bestseller* #1 National Bestseller Indie Bestseller From Kitten Lady, the professional kitten rescuer, humane educator, animal advocate, and owner of the popular Instagram @kittenxlady comes the definitive book on saving the most vulnerable—and adorable—feline population: newborn kittens. Hannah Shaw, better known as Kitten Lady, has dedicated her life to saving the tiniest felines, but one doesn't have to be a professional kitten rescuer to change—and save—lives. In Tiny but Mighty, Hannah not only outlines the dangers newborn kittens face and how she combats them, but how you can help every step of the way, from fighting feline overpopulation on the streets to fostering unweaned kittens, from combating illness to combating compassion fatigue, from finding a vet to finding the purrfect forever home. Filled with information on animal welfare, instructional guides, and personal rescue stories of kittens like Chloe, Tidbit, Hank, and Badger—not to mention hundreds of adorable kitten photos—Tiny but Mighty is the must-have kitten book for cat lovers, current-and-future rescuers, foster parents, activists, and advocates.

A heartfelt, funny memoir about how a kitten rescue project changed one cynic’s life… Journalist Heather Green was finally putting down roots: in shiny, buzzing Manhattan. She loved her work and threw herself into sixty-hour weeks—once walking into a subway pole, getting a concussion, and still going to the office. Her new boyfriend Matt lived across the river in a New Jersey town that had none of the glamour of New York. She liked Matt—a lot—yet she wasn’t sure what to make of weekends in gritty, dilapidated Union City. But things changed the summer morning Heather discovered a beautiful stray cat and her three black-and-white kittens in Matt’s neighbor’s backyard. When she made eye contact with one of the kittens, she felt something she’d never felt before. She and Matt had to save the little animals. Because if they didn’t, who would? The crazy world of cat rescue soon drew Heather in. As she and Matt worked together to figure out how to trap, tame, and find homes for their foundlings, she began to question the life she had back in Manhattan. This is the story of how three furry beings taught one woman about love, community, and what truly matters in life.

From kitten rescuer and New York Times bestselling author Hannah Shaw, also known as Kitten Lady on YouTube and Instagram, comes an inspiring picture book that takes readers on the adorable journey of foster kittens from their first days after birth all the way to adoption! Did you know that kittens are born with their eyes closed, and they are so small that they can fit in the palm of your hand? Or that being groomed with a toothbrush reminds orphan kittens of their mothers’ tongues, and helps them feel comfy and safe? Learn these facts and more in Kitten Lady’s first picture book! Hannah uses her engaging, fun voice to show how she helps orphan kittens grow up, get adopted, and become healthy, happy cats. Featuring irresistible photographs and playful doodles, Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens shows what you can do to help the tiniest felines in our big, big world.

In 1994, WHY CATS PAINT took the art world and animal world by storm with its unprecedented photographic record of cat creativity. Those seminal books in feline aesthetics are now offered in new pocket-size editions filled with the best from each volume, making purrfect gifts for cat lovers and art lovers alike.Reviews"great for stocking stuffers."-Cleveland Plain Dealer

There's no feeling quite like that of getting a second chance and a fresh start. When we adopt a homeless cat--or that cat decides to adopt us--we're not just giving one of earth's most beautiful and inscrutable creatures a chance at a good life, we're giving ourselves the gift of companionship, solace, and love. And plenty of laughter too! This heartwarming collection includes more than 30 true, contemporary stories told by a variety of writers, including Melody Carlson, Lauraine Snelling, and Kristin Billerbeck. Each feel-good story involves cat rescue, some in a typical way and others in surprising--even miraculous--ways. Sometimes the question becomes: Really, who rescued whom? A thoughtful gift for the cat lover in your life, Second-Chance Cats is the purrfect companion for cozy nights, lazy weekends, and any time you need a pick-me-up.

America's favorite cat behavior expert, author of Catwise and Cat vs. Cat, offers the most complete resource for cat owners of all stripes, now fully updated. "The queen of cat behavior" - Steve Dale, author of My Pet World Think it's impossible to train a cat? Think again! By learning how to think like a cat, you'll be amazed at just how easy it is. Whether you are a veteran cat lover, a brand-new owner of a sweet kitten, or the frustrated companion of a feline whose driving you crazy, Pam Johnson-Bennett will help you understand what makes your cat tick (as well as scratch and purr). Topics range from where to get a cat to securing a vet; from basic health care to treating more serious problems; choosing an inrresistible scratching post and avoiding litterbox problems. A comprehensive guide to cat care and training, she helps you understand the instincts that guide feline behavior. Using behavior modification and play therapy techniques, she shares successful methods that will help you and your cat build a great relationship.

Practical and effective strategies for solving every feline behavior problem imaginable—from litter box issues to scratching, spraying, biting, and beyond. “Mieshelle Nagelschneider is a wizard at demystifying cat behavior and providing easy-to-follow steps for solving vexing problems.”—Bob Tarte, author of Kitty Cornered Cat Whisperer Mieshelle Nagelschneider has been helping people deal with these dilemmas for two decades, achieving a near-perfect success rate. Central to her approach is a keen understanding of the unique way cats see the world—their need for safety and security, their acute territoriality, and their insatiable desire to catch and kill prey. Her proven C.A.T. cat behavior modification plan is a commonsense course of action that can be specifically tailored to your cat in the context of its behavior problems and its particular household environment. Easy-to-implement solutions help transform even the most anxiety-riddled companions into confident, gregarious, and relaxed cats who live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Inside you’ll discover • how to harness the power of “friendly pheromones” to improve your cat’s appetite, exploration, grooming, and play • where, when, and how to create a litter box environment that will provide ease of access and reduce anxiety for you and your cat • how to end aggression in multiple-cat households and help your cats coexist peacefully Who says you can’t train a cat? In this fascinating and indispensable book, the Cat Whisperer takes you inside the mind of a feline to explain why members of one of the world’s most inscrutable species act the way they do—and how you can convince them to change their behaviors for the sake of your peace of mind . . . and theirs.