Things Your Cat Needs
Getting you house ready for your cat to come home is as difficult as it may seem. Just a little advance thought will help make the newcomer feel at home and welcome in strange new surroundings.
Every cat household needs the following:
LITTER BOX AND LITTER.
The litter box should be shallow enough for the cat to jump into easily, but the sides should be high enough to contain scattered litter as the cat scratches in it. Some litter boxes even have high-domed lids on them for this purpose; before you buy such a box for your cat, however, be aware that some cats do not adapt well to them. Be sure to remember to clean the box, too, since the lid will prevent you from seeing inside it.
You probably won’t have to worry about training your cat to use the litter box, but you will need to show your cat where to find it. Cats are fastidious and have a keen sense of smell. It is important that you scoop the box daily. Never place a litter box close to where the cat is fed, because cats believe these two duties are quite separate, and they may choose to do one or the other elsewhere. Many people put the litter box in the bathroom, away from high-traffic areas although the location should generally not be so remote (for example, the basement) that it is inconvenient for the cat as well as her caregiver. In multiple-cat households, it is important to provide enough litter boxes and that all the cats have equal access to them. Occasionally, a more dominant cat may become territorial and try to keep another cat or cats from using the litter boxes. If that happens, you may want to move one or more of the boxes to another location in the house. Just be sure to show your cats where the litter boxes are located.
CAT DISHES.
Each cat should have his or her own food and water dishes. These must be shallow; cats like to keep their faces and whiskers clean while they eat. Choose a stainless steel, ceramic, or glass variety; plastic is hard to clean and disinfect.
GROOMING TOOLS.
Although cats groom themselves, they generally love to be brushed and combed. Longhaired cats must be brushed at least weekly to prevent their hair from matting. Even short haired cats enjoy the attention and the stimulation of being personally attended to. Use a daily brushing ritual to keep an eye on your cat’s overall condition. Check for lumps, fleas, clean eyes and ears, and healthy skin and fur. Some rubber brushes have special teeth that dig down and remove loose dander and dead skin cells. Fine-toothed metal combs are designed to extract fleas from the coat.
NAIL CLIPPERS.
You can buy specially designed clippers for cats or use human-nail clippers. Have your veterinarian or a groomer show you how to clip your cat’s claws. It’s not difficult and should be done every few weeks as needed.
A SCRATCHING POST.
Cats can be easily trained to scratch on a scratching post instead of the sofa arm or mahogany table leg. The scratching post should be tall, untippable, and covered in sisal rope or the webbed reverse side of carpet (a fireplace log is also a good alternative). Do not cover the post with the same kind of upholstery or carpeting fabric that you are trying to protect in your home. That will only confuse your cat. If your cat prefers scratching horizontal surfaces, provide an acceptable option.
AN INVITING BED.
Cats will sleep where they want, which is usually with you. If you do not want your cat in bed with you at night, you must provide a more appealing option, such as a soft pillow or an inviting old comforter. Anything soft and warm, especially if it has your scent on it, can attract your cat. But let your cat discover it; a cat who is forced to lie down on a restricted spot will summarily reject that spot. And consider rethinking your policy against animals in bed. A purring companion at your feet is a better sleeping aid than anything you can find in a drugstore.
TOYS.
Many common household items make great cat toys. Plastic shower curtain rings and Ping-Pong balls are fun to chase. You can make a “mouse house” by cutting a hole in the bottom and the side of a paper bag; flick a wad of paper inside the bag and watch your cat ingeniously fish it out. If you rotate your cat’s toys, you’ll
keep his interest level high each time he encounters his “new toy.” Avoid string, ribbon, or rolls of yarn. Cats’ barbed tongues make it difficult for them to spit anything out once they begin to swallow it. Besides the potential for choking, string can cause serious problems if ingested. When buying commercial cat toys, pick a toy that you could give to an infant. There should be no parts that can come off and be swallowed. Keep small children’s toys away from cats.