Is it time to get a kitty? Deciding to get a cat is more than just picking a collar and a name. This blog discusses things you need to consider before you decide to get a cat.

Are you ready for a Cat?

It’s no surprise, having a pet is a big responsibility. Your new kitty is going to be with you for years. An article from Doctors Foster and Smith suggest you ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I emotionally, financially, and personally ready to take the responsibility of having a new cat?
2. Do I understand the nutritional, housing, and health requirements of a cat?
3. Have I acquired the necessary items needed to take care of a cat, and have I cat-proofed my house?
4. A cat isn’t a spur-of-the-moment acquisition. Make sure you have a good idea about the traits you’re looking for and would fit in well with your lifestyle. Having a good idea of the type of cat you’re looking for gives you a better chance at finding success with your kitty. Ask yourself ‘do I know what I’m looking for in a cat’:
   1. Breed and/or size
   2. Temperament and personality
   3. Gender
   4. Age
   5. Energy level
5. Are all of my family members in agreement about getting a new cat?
6. Have guidelines been set for the feeding, grooming (if necessary, for example long hair cats might need grooming attention), discipline and training (which can be tricky for cats), and cleaning up after kitty?

Before Kitty Comes Home

There are 2 main areas of preparation before kitty comes home: 1) cat-proofing, and 2) cat stuff.

It’s a good idea to cat-proof your house. Here are some suggestions from Petfinder:

• Cats are territorial and a new house can be intimidating. Find a small place in your home where kitty can hang out for the first few days. Set up all your cat’s amenities. Kitty will feel safe as he acclimatizes to your home. You and kitty can get acquainted here too.
• A lot of cats love a small place to hide. Consider getting a covered bed, or if you’re creative you can make a fort from a box or blanket.
• Cats scratch and climb stuff – it’s just what they do. You might want to remove any items you have on display that could easily be knocked over or damaged.
• Cover any holes in the walls that lead to ductwork – you don’t want kitty to get lost in the walls.

You’re going to need cat stuff. If you have second hand cat stuff that’s ok – but as cats are territorial make sure you wash it. Here are the basic cat items you’ll need:

• Cat Carrier
• Litter box – make sure you get one that’s big enough even if you’re getting a kitten. Also, some cats enjoy digging so consider a high back, or covered box.
  • Litter – there’s a lot of different cat litter out there, clay to crystals, pellets to walnut shells, scented to unscented. Make sure to pick the one that’s most appropriate to you and the type of cat you’re getting (kittens have different litter needs than adult cats)
  • Poop scoop and litter liners
• Food – your local pet store has aisles and aisles of pet food. Get the one that’s best for your cat/kitten
  • Food and water bowls
• Toys
• Treats
• Bed/blanket
• Scratching post/Cat tower – keep in mind that cats scratch to wear their claws down and that scratching is one of the ways that cats take ownership of an item. Better they scratch a post than your stuff

Adopt or buy – that is the question. As it is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month we’re going to focus on the adoption option.

Adopting from a shelter has a lot of advantages:

• There’s a lot of choice – unfortunately there are a lot of cats in shelters, you’re certain to find your dream kitty
• In general, shelter cats have been spayed/neutered, immunized, dewormed, microchipped/tattooed, and examined for behavioural and medical issues
  • Most shelters screen for feline Leukemia and HIV
• You can choose a cat with a personality that matches your own – you’ll be less likely to have to bring the cat back to the shelter if you choose the right personality
• You’re saving a life

Need more convincing? Check out S.E. Smith’s article 10 Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Cat

Here’s an overview of the adoption process according to Doctors Foster and Smith:

• Fill out an application
  • Proof of age and permanent residence
  • Pet ownership history (may include vet records)
  • Proof of vaccination and licensing of other pets
  • Photo ID
• Choose your new cat – it never hurts to visit shelter cats a couple of times before you make a choice
• Waiting period
• Sign a contract and fee payment – (contracts vary between shelters)
• Trial period

Cost

Adoption fees differ from shelter to shelter. Also, it depends on the cat’s age and sex. Here’s an example from the BCSPCA:

The costs don’t end with the adoption fees. Here’s what you need to be aware of for your budget:

The above costs don’t include things like anti fur ball meds, deworming, flea/tick meds, pet insurance, or dental care.

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Check out the article mentioned in the blog:

10 Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Pet – http://www.care2.com/causes/10-reasons-to-adopt-a-shelter-cat.html

Adopting Cats from an Animal Shelter – http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=829

I’m Adopting a Cat, Now What? – https://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/cat-adoption/cat-adoption-first-30-days/

BCSPCA, Cost of Care – http://www.spca.bc.ca/pet-care/adoption/5-steps-to-adoption/cost-of-care.html#Cats

LAPS, Adoption Process – http://www.lapsbc.ca/get-involved/animal-adoption/adoption-process/

Picture it, you’re sitting on the floor and your cat comes over to you. She flops down on the floor in front of you, rolls onto her back and starts to purr; she clearly wants you to pet her. So you do, you’re happy and she’s happy. Then suddenly, without warning, you feel a stunningly sharp pain – kitty has had enough, so she bit you and took off. WTF?

This blog is about aggressive cat behaviour so you can avoid getting shredded in the future.

When do cats bite/scratch?

There are a number of reasons a cat might bite or scratch. Dr. Ron Hines lists several reasons a cat might act aggressively:

• Aggressive play
• Territory-based aggression
• Fear
• Illness, injury, or other medical problems
• Petting-induced aggression
• Dominance
• Maternal aggression
• Instinctive hunting behaviour

If you think your cat is acting aggressively due to injury or illness seek veterinary attention. For more information on any of these topics check out Dr. Hines’ article.

Know When to Leave Kitty Alone!

The most effective way to avoid getting shredded by kitty is to learn a little about cat body language. If you know what to look for you can avoid painful bites and scratches. Cat body language consists mainly of tail movements, body position, ear position, tone of voice, and eye contact.

Earlier this year we posted a blog about general cat communication. To read that blog click here.

Some of this stuff might be hard to visualize. The below table gives a comprehensive description of cat body language and includes pictures.

Source: http://i0.wp.com/pawsintraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Reading-cats-body-language.png

When kitty starts to display behaviours in rows 3-6 it’s time to leave him alone. When you’re petting your cat and you notice that his eyes are following your hand movements it’s time to move on; kitty is thinking of biting you. If you’re playing with/petting kitty and you think he’s about to lash out at you calmly and slowly leave before kitty’s behaviour changes from anxious to aggressive.

Learning to correctly decipher cat body language will help you avoid becoming a scratching post.

Be Social

We want to hear from you! Have you even been a victim of petting induced aggression? Post your answer on our Facebook page

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Want More?

There’s so much information out there. Here’s where we got our information:

• Hines’ article about cat aggression:

http://www.2ndchance.info/aggressivecat.htm

• Table detailing cat body language:

http://i0.wp.com/pawsintraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Reading-cats-body-language.png

• Article discussing Petting Induced Aggression:

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/five-steps-for-correcting-petting-induced-aggression-in-cats/

• Article about cat behaviour:

http://felineforever.com/cat-ear-positioning.html

Why do Dogs Bite?

According to veterinarian Dr. Sofia Yin the main reason dogs bite is because owners don’t always have a good understanding of dog body language. Often owners don’t know when their dog is signalling aggressive behaviours. Consequently, owners reinforce the biting behaviour without realizing it.

For more about biting behaviour check out Dr. Yin’s short video: http://drsophiayin.com/videos/entry/why_dogs_bite1

How do you Know if a Dog is going to Bite? 

The simple answer is body language. As a pet owner the best thing you can do is get to know your dog. Here are some questions to consider about your dog’s behaviour:
1. Is my dog possessive?
2. Is my dog fearful, nervous, or suspicious of others/strangers?
3. Does my dog have a high prey drive?
4. Is my dog a mother? Dogs with puppies become very protective
5. Is my dog sick, injured, or in pain?

(The above questions are based common reasons dogs bite as suggested by Dr. Kristy Conn)

If the answer is yes to any of these questions it’s important to learn how your dog shows these behaviours – what’s Rover’s body language telling you about his state of mind?
For a quick review of dog body language you can check out this short video from the Humane Society: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/avoid_dog_bites.html

Preventing Dog Bites

Dr. Conn states that the first step in preventing dog bites is recognizing that all dogs have the capacity to bite in the right situation. Knowing this, owners must learn to read their dog’s body language and behaviour.  It’s probably not much of a surprise but more than half of reported dog bite victims are kids. Kids are playful, can be aggressive, and don’t understand body language. These conditions can lead Rover to nip, and possibly bite.

Dr. Yin states that it’s important to teach kids how to react if a dog starts nipping. Instead of running away from the dog or screaming, (behaviours that can cause the dog to become more aggressive), Dr. Yin suggests that kids stand still and not engage the dog.  Here are some tips for preventing dog bites suggested by Cesar’s Way:

• Don’t play aggressive games
• Train submissive behaviours
• Get your dog spayed or neutered
• Vaccinate your dog – prevents behavioural changes due to illness
• Do not leave your dog unsupervised around babies or kids

Be Social

We want to hear from you! Aggressive dogs in public places – is a yellow leash or ribbon enough? Post your answer on our Facebook page

Let’s Connect..Follow us on:

• Instagram: http://instagram.com/doo_n_go/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/doongo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoonGo

Want More?

Want to check out the articles that informed this blog? Click the below links:

• Doctor Yin’s video about biting behaviour: http://drsophiayin.com/videos/entry/why_dogs_bite1
• The Humane Society’s video and article about dog body language: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/avoid_dog_bites.html
• Dr. Conn’s blog about preventing dog bites: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/biting/Dog-Bites-101-Why-Bites-Happen
• Cesar’s Way blog about avoiding dog bites: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/biting/How-you-can-prevent-dog-bites

Tail wagging isn’t always a good thing