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Spay and Save, Inc. General
Animal Welfare and Education F.A.Q. Page |
Lafayette Hill PA 19444 Phone: (610) 279-9714 |
Page Updated November 15, 2003
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page
Feline CaliciVirus (FCV) have been reported in the northeastern
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Frequently Asked Questions: Caring
for your new pet. We
will photograph nail trimming and post procedures soon. Feeding:
food and water. Your pets play area and your personal attention. |
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If you like these tips you can find a lot
more here Pets at Yahoo by Purina:
Why Spay or Neuter: A common question from cat owners is "Why should
I spay or neuter my pet?" The obvious answer is population control, but
there are additional health benefits as well. As the number of cats
relinquished to animal shelters demonstrates so dramatically, feline
overpopulation has become a big problem. This is the reason animal welfare
groups and veterinarians strongly recommend spaying and neutering cats. And,
it's important to do it early in the pet's life. In addition to helping control
the cat population, it has been found that these procedures also protect cats
against injury from fighting and from some reproductive diseases.
Spay: Having your cat spayed - a safe and simple operation to remove the
female reproductive organs - stops all reproductive function. Your cat won't
ever be in heat again, and she won't contribute to the cat overpopulation
problem. Experts also recognize that if cats are spayed, the incidence of
breast cancer, mammary cancer in cats, goes down dramatically. And there is no
risk of infection or disease in those organs. So spaying your cat is a
win-win-win situation. Since a female kitten can get pregnant as early as four
months of age, you should consider neutering or spaying your kitten early.
Neuter: Having your cat spayed - a safe and simple operation
to remove the male reproductive organs - stops all reproductive function. For
those of you who do not intend to breed cats, one cat plus one cat adds up to a
lot more than two cats. In fact, one plus one can produce thousands of cats.
Millions of cats are euthanized every year in this country. Many vets will
perform a spaying or neutering procedure on kittens within the first few months
of life.
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How to Clip Kitty's Claws: If you have a kitten, handle her paws frequently so she gets used to claw clipping. Wait until older cats are sleepy and calm if they give you a hard time. A small cat clipping scissors should be used. Cat claw scissors can be purchased in pet supply store and some supermarkets for about five to seven dollars. Ask someone else to hold your kitty if possible. |
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If you're alone, hold kitty in the crook of
your arm and extend the claws with that hand. Hold the paw between your thumb
and forefinger. Then gently push down on the paw with your thumb on the pad to
extend the claw. Manipulate cat claw scissors with other hand. Just clip the
tip; avoid the part of the claw where you see a blood vessel. Just take the
curly tip off - that's the part that does the tearing. If you have help, have
your helper hold the kitty and distract it by petting it while you work on the
curly tips. Then give her a treat. Chances are you'll need to wait to do
another claw. It is probably wise to 'manicure' kitty claws every week or so.
Catnip Isn't For All Cats: If you've ever wanted to give your cat a treat,
you've probably offered it some catnip. If your cat seems uninterested in a toy
filled with catnip, she's perfectly normal. Only about half of all cats seem
sensitive to catnip. That's because only about half of all cats have a certain dominant
gene. Also, catnip doesn't seem to affect kittens under three months of age.
Reactions to catnip vary from mild appreciation to extreme pleasure. But beware
-- cats under the influence of catnip aren't always friendlier. Occasionally,
catnip makes some cats aggressive, so never use it when you're trying to
introduce two cats for the first time.
Chocolate Hearts and Kisses: The chocolate your loved one gives you to capture
your heart could kill the furry one you love. Your pet loves the sweet flavor
of chocolate and might gorge on it. Never leave chocolate unattended. Several
components of chocolate can be toxic. Tremors, vomiting and diarrhea are some
of the symptoms of a chocolate overdose.
Cats and Houseplants: Eating plants is normal behavior for an outdoor cat
but not for indoor varieties. There are more than aesthetic concerns for the
feline who forages on the philodendron in the foyer. Plant chewing, although
normal behavior, can be a cause of some problems for the cats if the plants are
toxic. There are some very common houseplants that have a pretty good
possibility of poisoning a cat. For a list of toxic houseplants, consult your
veterinarian.
Keep Kitty Indoors: Should your cat be an indoor or outdoor cat? Do
closed doors mean the cat is cooped up or kept from harm? Is it cruel to keep
your cat cooped up all day inside? Veterinarians say indoor cats tend to be
healthier and live longer than outdoor cats. They don't get exposed to toxic
pesticides or contagious diseases. Indoor cats also can't get hit by a car or
attacked by outside animals. Chances are, your indoor bundle of fur won't pick
up any fleas, ticks or parasitic worms either. Your indoor cat's biggest
problem may be boredom. Give him plenty of toys, perches and posts to scratch.
Play with him often. When it's fun to be inside, many indoor cats who finally
do go out just want to come right back in.
Litter Box Lapses: Cats that have faithfully used litter boxes all their
lives may suddenly decide to answer nature's call elsewhere. The most common
reason for a cat to turn tail on its own litter box is that the box may not be
clean enough. A change in the type of litter used, in the litter box itself, or
in the location of the box can also throw your cat off. If a new cat has been
brought in to the household that could be just enough stress to cause a cat to
not use the litter box. A urinary or intestinal tract disorder could also be
the cause, so if environmental changes are ruled out, take your cat for a
check-up.
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