This article is for those that have thought about having a cat, but don’t know enough about them to trust adding one to the family. Here aresome helpful tips from Becca, queen kitty!

MISUNDERSTOOD
Article by Debra Stitt (and Becca)
From the Companion Animal Care series at All-Creatures.org

Even though it’s normal for me to sleep about 18 hours a day, I’m kind of between catnaps. And, I’m too excited to sleep right now anyway. I always get excited about this time of day because it’s when my mom comes home. Yes, I know it’s hard for you to believe but I CAN tell time. Maybe not the same way you do, but in my own way. So, even though I’m nocturnal, I save my active hours to spend time with mom and dad. It’s really important to me.

Mom won’t be home for a little while so I’d like to talk to you about the many “myths” and misconceptions about me and my feline brothers and sisters.

1)We are not sneaky or evil, we’re just very curious and playful

2)We are not as independent as you think we are, we’re just self-sufficient

3)We are very smart and you CAN train us – we just leave the healing & rolling over for dogs

4)We DON’T stink – unless you’re not taking good care of us

5)We DO get attached to you and need you – and miss you when you’re gone

6)Oh, and we CAN get along with dogs (learn about “Integration” in another article)

For example: When I hear the garage door open and the sound of the car, I just can’t help but perk right up and get ready for a reunion with mom. I run to the door and wait – and end up getting rubs, hugs and kisses in return. It’ssuch a happy time and I want to take full advantage of it. Mom is alwaysjust ashappy to see me – exactly as it should be. I’m so happy that it’s hard for me to even let her get her coat off. I just want to cuddle and get more of those rubs!

We felines are all different. We have unique personalities, just like people, and we express ourselves in different ways. And, we RARELY let strangerssee how cool we really are – we save that for the ones we hold dearest. That’s what makes usso special. Once you live with us, there’s no turning back.

I’m watching my brother play right now with a toy that I really have no interest in. But, he LOVES it. On the other hand, there are toys that I love and he just ignores them. There’s no accounting for taste with some kitties. There are some things we all tend to like, however, like boxes and bags. We can entertain ourselves for hours. But, be careful, I once saw my sister play with a bag that had handles on it and she got her head stuck through the handle. Man, we were scared – and so wasshe. She ran through the house trying to get away from the bag but couldn’t. Thank goodness mom and dad finally caught her and got the bag off of her neck. That’s the last time we saw a bag with handles on it. We may like something, but make sure it’ssafe for us.

There are a few things about us that some people really don’t understand. For example, when I rub on your leg, it really means I like you. What you might not understand is that I have scent glands on my face, along my body, on my tail and on the bottom of my feet. When I rub on something, I’m “marking” it. So, when I rub on you, it means I’m letting other kitties know that you’re mine – in other words, claiming you for my own. I don’t do that unless I like you!

We LOVE to play. And, we like to play with you! I, for example, love to play with mom’s feet when she’s under the covers; or when she puts her hand under something and let’s me play “catch the prey.” It’s a blast. My brother, on the other hand, likes to race mom down the hall to the bedroom. He’sso fast that he has to useher bed as a landing strip. He even tries to tackle her ankles along the way and almost trips her sometimes. Some people may think he’s being aggressive, but we know he’s just playing.

My sister likes to knead. This is an exceptionally complimentary action because it’ssomething we do with our birth mothers and it’s very comforting to us. Some of us enjoy it so much that we just don’t give it up. Of course, mom really keeps her manicures up to date.

Speaking of manicures. . . Scratching issomething that comes natural to us and you can read more about it in other articles posted here about the hazards and inhumanity of declawing. In fact, people that have taken out their kitty’s claws have found that we will still try to scratch. We don’t do it to be destructive and you CAN train us. We’re actually pretty darn smart.

We’re so smart. . . We DO know our names and we CAN learn to understand words and phrases. One of my most favorite words is “kisses.” My mom taught me this one a long time ago. When she asks me for kisses, I know exactly what to do. It’s a time for mom and me to get cheek to cheek or nose to nose for a few gentle nudges. I really, really love this.

We DO get jealous! We each need our special time with you. So, never take in more of us than you can realistically handle. I always let mom know when I need time with her. I generally sit and stare at her until I get her attention. Or, I may clear the area of my brothers and sisters by acting up a bit. I don’t hurt anyone, but I do get them to leave.

Another thing many of you misunderstand is when we’re trying to tell you that something is wrong or that we’re sick. If we ever go to the bathroom outside of our litter box there’s generally a good reason for it. It could be an emotional or physical problem, an issue with the cleanlinessor placement of our box, or we don’t like the feel of the litter you’ve chosen. This is a time when we need to see the doctor to rule out any physical problems. More often than not, whatever it is can be dealt with. You see, it’s natural for us to want to dig and cover up whatever we deposit. So, when we leave it out in the open, you should take quick action.

Oh my, I hear the garage door opening. I’ve got to run. It’s good timing anyway because I wouldn’t want to give away too many of our secrets. You’ll just have to adopt a kitty like me and find out the rest for yourself. If you ever need advice, however, feel free to ask. I love to help!

I’m off and running to get some of those hugs and kisses I love so much. . . .