Cat Care

Living with cats all my life has allowed me to acquire a vast wealth of cat husbandry knowledge. 

I am asked my opinion on many things cat-care related, so let me share these Points of Prue with you now.

I would like to say first, though, that many people do not like cats due to their aloof, independent nature.

Let me say for the record, that this is exactly why one would love to share one’s life with a cat!

(And this is coming from a dog-lover!)

1)      Kitten care.

There are so many things to watch out for here, if the kitten is separated from its

mother in its first month.

Handle it very gently, keep it warm, test that the kitten milk is warm, massage the body gently in a stroking motion from head to tail, and, even if the eyes are still shut, wash them gently with a warm facial tissue, from the inside to the outside. You must also encourage it to pee after each feed; take a warm, moist cloth and wipe the evacuation area from the tail downwards. This will cause the pee, and maybe soft stools, to come out, as it imitates the action the mother makes with her tongue to cause evacuation.

Once your kitten is about a month and a half old, you can start feeding it soft, soft kitten food. Helping the kitten to pooh regularly is most important at this stage. At this age, you can also start playing with the kitten to encourage natural hunting instincts, using scrunched up paper balls or socks. Remember that, like a baby, its eyes will not be able to focus well, so keep movements slow and within three feet of the kitten.

Do not use fresh milk to feed a kitten as this will cause a stomach upset. If you do not have kitten milk, use a powdered baby milk or a watered down condensed milk mixture. Do not attempt to cut the claws, they are very soft and easily injured at this age.

And please, at the first sign of distress of any kind, bring your little bundle of joy to a vet. 

2) Bringing a new cat into your home where another single cat already lives – a tricky one, always.

No matter your reason, your cat does not understand why you are taking away his single status. Cats are very territorial and whether the new cat is a kitten, and it is easier with a kitten, a teenager or an adult cat, it is an intruder which your first cat will resent.

If you can, separate the two for a few days. Allow your first cat to sniff the door, hiss and spit and generally cause a fuss. Do not scold it, pamper it. While stroking and praising your cat, create images in your head of the two cats sitting together. If you can, do this as if you are the first cat and are sitting with the new cat. Slowly bring the new cat to the first cat and introduce them, being sure to pay the first one the respect, not the new one.

If in Asia, kowtow the new cat to the first one. Actually, you can do this wherever you are. The principle is to have the new cat on a lower level than the existing cat so that the existing cat is not threatened.

Once the two are able to be in the same room as each other, start feeding them together. Always feed your first cat first. There will be spats for a few days as the pecking order is established, but it should not go on for more than a week. They will find their own order, even if it is to ignore each other! Not all cats will play together, some not for a year, and some never.

3) Peeing/spraying.

This is how the cat marks its territory. If another smell covers its own smell, especially that of another cat, and this applies to toms or queens, it will rub its lips over it and even spray a little urine on it to reclaim the territory.

A queen will pee, a tom will spray, even if they have been sterilised. Once a patch has been sprayed on, it is very hard to stop a repeat performance. You can sprinkle white pepper over the area, wipe vinegar or better yet, rub the peel of an orange over it. If caught early enough, this may stop the marking. You can also place a litter tray on or beside the area, in the hope of distracting the cat from its purpose.

Remember that scolding or hitting the cat will not stop this most basic of natural instincts.

4) Sterilisation.

My Point of Prue on this is that it is a must for us to bring our pets to a vet and get them sterilised. That is neutered for a male and spayed for a female.

And, if we have the means, to befriend strays and sterilise them also, returning them to their homes and ensuring they are well fed and cared for and their area kept clean. There are too many unwanted animals living around us; we must be responsible pet owners and ensure that we do not contribute to its proliferation.

Sterilisation is also beneficial to many cats in terms of preventing disease and straying.

For more information on this, please visit SPCA Singapore’s website at http://www.spca.org.sg/help_us/sterilisation.asp

5) Scratching.

Cats need to manicure their claws. If they are not outdoor cats where their claws are maintained naturally, it is good to provide them with a scratching post. This can be home made or store bought. All that is needed is a rough surface that can withstand their repeated scratching and provide resistance. Many cats will seek out a favourite piece of furniture to scratch, sometimes even if a scratching post is provided. This can be stopped if caught early enough. Methods include spraying water at the cat while it is scratching, shooing them away, or rubbing orange zest or pepper on the furniture under attack. Sad to say, once the habit is ingrained, it is unlikely to be broken.

6) Fleas.

Should you be unfortunate enough to have a cat catch fleas, know that cat fleas are not interested in humans, neither do they bite us. They do, of course, disturb your cat. Look out for clusters of tiny black specks at the base of the fur near the skin. Once you see this, you know your cat has fleas. Apply a safe flea powder to the fur, combing it well in to the roots, and use a carpet and rug cleaner to kill those who have already jumped off.

Read up about natural and safe flea prevention at http://www.care2.com

7) Giving Medicine.

This is a very trying experience, however the stress of this can be minimised for both cat and giver. While you are calm and relaxed, hold your cat firmly by the scruff (the area of lose skin at the back of the neck, just before the shoulder blades) and face it away from you. Open the jaws gently and place the pill as far back in the throat as you can. Close the jaw, covering the nostrils at the same time. Once the cat has swallowed, let go of the nose and give it a stroke. If the medicine is in liquid form, use a child’s syringe, or the one the vet will give you, and place the end into the cat’s lips at the corner, where there are no teeth, and depress the plunger. Again, close the jaw and nostrils until the cat swallows. It is possible to mash the medicine into food or milk, but some finicky and suspicious cats will suss this ruse immediately and not go near it!

8) Showering.

Cats, contrary to popular belief, are not afraid of water, what they are afraid of is being drowned. If a cat feels her paws are submerged in water, the drowning fear will activate. So, it is best for showering if you can raise your cat’s paws out of the water. Stand your cat on a draining basket, wire rack or similar, so that the water drains away.

Hold your cat firmly by the scruff and pour water over her body, shampooing as you go. Leave the face until last and be careful not to pour water into her eyes. Wrap her in a towel and rub vigorously as a post-shower treat. If your cat is a short-hair, and has not fallen in any ditches or rolled in any disagreeable substances, it is quite acceptable to leave a cat un-showered, as they are excellent at performing the washing ritual themselves.

9) Nail clipping.

The best way to do this is either to pin the cat, face forward, between your legs and clip each paw in turn, or to wrap the cat in a towel and extract a paw at a time. If your cat struggles while clipping, I suggest the first option. Of course, if you allow your cat to run outside and climb trees, you will not need to clip their claws!

10) Ghost sightings.

Yes, it is true, cats CAN see ghosts. If you see a cat staring into the distance for a long time, when you can see nothing there, they could be witnessing a spirit passing from another world. Or, if you see your cat suddenly wake up and rush out of the room, it is likely she is warning off a ghost for you.

The myth that a cat sitting on your chest while you sleep will suck your the breath away, is a myth. Cats will sleep on your chest to either get comfort from your warmth and regular breathing, snuggling up tight or to protect you from harm during the night.

11) Which brings me to my next tip; cats are an excellent early warning system.

They are able to detect danger, say an unwelcome presence, fire or a storm brewing, for example, well ahead of it happening. Be alert to your cat’s behaviour and use it as the warning that it is. If they run under the bed, close your windows, a storm is coming. If they run out of the room, pay attention, a visitor is coming. If they seem agitated and try to get your attention, a fire, or other hazards, could be about to happen.

Let me share a lovely instance of “early warning” with you, that reinforces the belief that cats have the power of ESP. (Extra Sensory Perception.)

Harry, our wonderful cat of 11 years, would magically appear at the gate to greet me whenever I drove back home. He would always be there. I wondered if he sat there all day, waiting for me. So I conducted an experiment. 

Over several different occasions, I asked my husband to tell me where Harry was while I was out. He said that he was everywhere, but at the gate. Then, suddenly, he would move and go to his position at the gate. Sure enough, within minutes, I would appear. He couldn’t have heard the car as he arrived at the gate too soon to hear it. And it wasn’t that I came home at the same time every day. I could come from either direction, at any time, and he would still be there. 

I cannot express enough how wonderful it is to have your cat waiting for you when you come home. A cat, who by nature is usually so independent, wanting to share his space with you.

Cats are a joy! Just ask any cat owner – but be warned, they will wax lyrical on the subject!