CAT ADOPTION A-GUIDE Z WELCOME TO THE A-Z GUIDE TO CAT ADOPTION! THE FOLLOWING IS AN INTERACTIVE AND EDUCATIONAL GUIDE BOOK TO ALL THINGS CAT ADOPTION. Considering bringing a cute cat home from your local shelter? Purrfect! You’ve come to the right place. This guidebook offers great TIPS, TRICKS and ADVICE on how to love and care for your cat following adoption. Wondering how you can help support your local shelter? Pawesome! This guidebook features insight on how to best help out. Love to color and looking for a fun activity for you and your kiddos? Hey Meow! This book is packed with fun. Enjoy. ® A-Z 1 ® CAT Each year around 3 MILLION cats enter shelters DOPT in the United States. A large number of these ION DID YOU cats have lived in TWO HOMES Adopting a cat is both a generous and fulfilling KNOW? BEFORE YOURS act. By adopting a cat out of a shelter, you can and had to adjust to a new give them a forever home full of love and care lifestyle repeatedly. they may have never experienced before. Cats bring joy into our lives that is unmatched by Over any other living being--they love selflessly, but 1.5 MILLION always with added flair. Becoming the parent to a cats are adopted each year rescue feline ensures you’ll never be alone (even in the United States. when in the bathroom), you’ll never get bored and Of the >1.4 million cats you’ll always have a loved one to turn to for comfort. euthanized in shelters each year, 80% ARE HEALTHY At World’s Best Cat Litter™, cat adoption is an enough to be adopted into new homes. issue that is near and dear to our hearts that we support through a variety of efforts including our charitable initiative, GiveLitter™, which donates litter to shelters in need. To celebrate cat adoption, we put together this A to Z guide to help prepare you for bringing a feline companion into your home with interactive games, wacky facts, care tips and puzzles cat lovers of all ages will enjoy. 2 A NEW ® BEGINNING Adoption marks a new beginning for your household. Though a cat may seem like a low maintenance pet, they are a living being with emotions and needs that require care from you. Transitioning to a new home isn’t an easy task, so it’s important to be prepared beforehand. BEGINNING WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING: STRESS Your new cat is likely to be feeling anxious and nervous in their new surroundings. It’s important to be patient with them during this time. HIDING To cope with their anxiety, cats tend to try and find areas to hide away in. To prevent your cat from going “missing” in your house, confine them to a single room without any hard-to-reach nooks and crannies for a couple of days until they adjust to your presence, so you can keep a close eye on them during the transition. SUPPLIES Give your new cat a private place to do his business, away from his food and water. Use a new litter box with two to three inches of fresh litter inside. You may want to use a litter with a cat attractant during this process to help prevent litter aversion from developing. LACK OF APPETITE Another side effect of the stress of relocation is that your new cat may not immediately be interested in eating, or may only consume a small amount. Instead of forcing the issue, allow them to eat on their own time and in privacy. INTRODUCTIONS If you have other pets, confining your new cat to a separate room for a few days will allow time for both pets to grow used to each other’s scents before making an introduction. After a few days, allow the two to share the same space but keep a close eye until they grow accustomed to each other’s presence. See page 28 for answers! 3 CAT LOVE ® We love cats--that’s a fact. They’re odd, adorable creatures who never fail to keep us on our toes. These five crazy cat facts show just how peculiar our favorite fur babies can be. Cats’ vision doesn’t include the area UNDERNEATH THEIR NOSES. Cats have an EXTRA ORGAN that allows them to “taste-scent” the air. When cats are awake, one-third of their time is spent CLEANING THEMSELVES. The average house cat is FASTER THAN USAIN BOLT. Cats’ noses are ridged with patterns that are unique, LIKE FINGERPRINTS. 4 DOS AND ® DON’TS So you adopted a new cat…Now what? There are a few basic rules to cat parenthood that are great guides to follow during this transitional period. DO ... DON’T ... • Create a space just for them • Rush it • Spend time together • Force them into an alone to bond overwhelming environment • Go at their pace • Leave them too much to their own devices • Slowly transition to new • Suddenly change their food litters or foods (if necessary) or litter • Keep their surroundings calm • Expect immediate results 5 ENDLESS ® PLAYTIME Cats love to play, and it’s good for their health! Daily play will help your cat stay at a healthy weight, keep their muscles in good use, and keep their mind sharp. Just find your cat’s favorite toy, whether it’s a felt mouse or an old sock, and try a little game of cat and mouse. We’ve hidden 10 feline favorites in this crossword. WHICH CAN YOU FIND? SCRATCHES HAIRBALL FUR LITTER MOUSE CLAWS TOYS TREATS TREASURES PAWPRINTS See page 28 for answers! 6 GETTING ® FIXED GETTING FIXED Spaying or neutering your cat is essential to help reduce the population of stray cats, by reducing the number of kittens that could end up abandoned or in + shelters. Another reason to consider getting your cat “fixed” or “altered” is that it Swelling has a few health benefits. Discharge HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPAYING & NEUTERING: Spaying female cats can help reduce the risk of her developing breast tumors or uterine infections, especially if done before her first heat. In male cats, neuter Persistent redness surgery can help reduce the risk of testicular cancer and other prostate issues. Continuous or intermittent bleeding AFTERCARE: Odor Make sure to check the surgical site twice daily for any unexpected symptoms like: Trouble breathing Unless advised by your veterinarian, don’t use any ointments or treatments on the surgical site. These can obstruct your cat’s natural healing process. Don’t groom Poor stability or bathe your cat after surgery for a few days, and keep the surgical site dry. Any physical contact with your cat’s skin, especially near the surgical site may cause Bruising extra irritation or disturb your cat’s stitches. Abnormal body temperature Shivering Diarrhea Loss of appetite 7 GROOMING ® What better way to welcome your newly adopted cat U into the house than with a little bit of a kitty makeover. These grooming tips will keep your cat looking spiffy R and feeling fantastic. U NAIL TRIMMING BATH TIME BRUSHING Help your cat get used to the feeling of Try bathing your cat at a time when they are Regular brushing will help to keep cats’ skin having their nails extended before you try to feeling most relaxed. and coat healthy, prevent hairballs, and will trim them. Calmly sit them in your lap and 1. Trim your cat’s claws beforehand remove excess fur or dead skin. gently massage the back of their paws until a 2. Keep a mat on the bath floor so your cat 1. Gently run a metal or rubber brush over nail is extended. If your cat is especially doesn’t slip their back, sides, stomach and tail anxious, spend time trying this with each of 2. Use talcum powder, or your fingers to their nails on all four paws. 3. Use lukewarm water, not cold gently pull apart knots or mats 1. Wait until your cat is feeling calm or tired 4. Use a hand-held shower head or a cup to 3. After combing, check their skin for ticks, to trim its nails, like after play or meal time bring the water to your cat, instead of moving the cat underneath a nozzle fleas or any other irritants 2. Choose an empty room and a large chair 4. For short-haired cats, brush weekly. where your cat can fit comfortably on your lap 5. Avoid getting water near or in their eyes, ears and nose For long-haired cats brush every 2-3 days 3. Try cutting some uncooked spaghetti with the clippers to get your cat used to the sound 6. Gently massage shampoo into the fur from neck to tail, in the direction of hair growth 4. Gently massage the back of your cat’s paw, so that the nails extend forward 7. If you need to clean your cat’s face, use a damp washcloth to wipe down their fur, and 5. Trim only the white part of the nail, as the avoid their ears and eyes pink portion is a highly sensitive area containing nerves and blood vessels 8. Wrap them in a warm towel and give them a towel massage to help them dry off 6. Reward your cat with a treat afterward 9. Reward them with a treat, and some extra cuddles 8 HOME ® SWEET HOME Adopting a cat is about more than getting a cute and cuddly kitty to call your fur baby—it’s about giving a cat a forever home filled with love, laughter, and of course, ™ World’s Best Cat Litter .