How to raise a cat?

Humans can be roughly divided into two types: those who love cats and those who have no nature to love cats. The love for cats is deeply engraved in the human soul and has a long history. Cats have been of great significance to human beings for centuries. Cats, as auspicious symbols, are revered and cherished by human beings. They were once regarded as the embodiment of the devil and were slaughtered in large numbers.

When did cats become pets?

Around 3000 BC, in ancient Egypt, the earliest domesticated cat was used to control rat damage, and gradually became a beloved family companion, even worshipped as a god. Egyptians were very impressed by this flexible, robust and secretive hunter. They could kill mice and began to treat them as sacred objects. The Egyptians called these gods "MIW". When Meow dies, the owner will hold a mourning ceremony, coat the cat with antiseptic sesame oil, put it in a coffin, and send it to the Bastian Temple in Bastis. The ancient Egyptians mummified a large number of dead cats, and scientists studied these cat mummies, thus proving that domestic cats originated from African wild cats. (See Close Relatives of Domestic Cats, * 4 1-42). In ancient times, cats were domesticated in the Far East, but later than Egypt. Some authorities think that China started to keep cats in 2000 BC, while others think that China didn't keep cats until 400 AD.

Domestic cats spread from Egypt to Italy, and then gradually spread to Europe, winning "admirers" in many countries. But in the Middle Ages, cats met with bad luck. Unwilling to get involved with pagan idols, the Christian church launched a campaign to persecute cats. Perhaps because cats are incredibly agile, superstitious people believe that witches can turn into cats. This view leads to the unfortunate consequences of cats-they are often burned alive by Christians because they believe that cats are the embodiment of the devil. However, when the use of cats was recognized again, the phenomenon of not welcoming cats gradually disappeared. /kloc-in the 0/8th century, cats became common animals in the family again. /kloc-in the 0 th and 9 th centuries, keeping cats has become very popular. By the end of 19, the first cat exhibition will show early purebred cats (see "What is a cat exhibition? ,* 178)。

What is the value of a cat as a pet?

There is not much money to buy cat flowers. You can also get a non-pure cat from a friend or charity for free. Even if you buy a purebred kitten from a cat owner, compared with other pets such as dogs or ponies, the cost of owning a cat can be said to be negligible.

Although it doesn't cost much to buy and keep a cat, a cat is priceless to its new owner. People can tease cats for fun, accompany them and add elegance to their homes.

You can keep a cat in a small house. Cats are still the best pets when their owners are going to work, because cats don't need to be looked after all day. Old people benefit a lot from the company of cats; Young people can increase their knowledge by taking care of their pets. It's not difficult to keep a cat: you don't need to be led to outdoor activities like a dog, and you don't need a set of expensive technical equipment like a fish tank.

Establish a good relationship with cats

Unlike dogs, cats don't want to be possessed at all, and their independence can never be deprived. Establish a good relationship with the cat, don't treat it as property, try to treat it as a guest living at home. The cat is willing to kill time with you. It doesn't ask for any reward except simple food (see "Feed the cat"). You must cultivate feelings with cats. Unlike dogs, cats do not stay with poor owners out of blind loyalty. On the other hand, if the owner understands and appreciates it, it will be accepted, loved and respected. In order to win the favor of your cat friends, you must understand the cat's habits and treat your cat friends accordingly.

Cat habits

Cats can be regarded as a perfect animal, and nature has arranged it perfectly: cats are good-looking, conscientious, independent, independent of their owners, contribute more and take less. The cat's sensory organs are extremely perfect, and it can always make a keen response to the surrounding environment. All cats are born noble. The domestic cat family is proud of having the most secretive, sensitive, dangerous, beautiful and brave mammal on earth. Compared with puma, cats are very docile, but different from other domesticated animals such as dogs, cats are also slightly wild and independent.

Indeed, compared with other livestock, cats were domesticated much later. Cats are stubborn by nature and never please others. If you want your pet to be an obedient slave, you should not choose to keep a cat, but a dog.

Although both cats and dogs are typical carnivorous sports, cats are more suitable for hunting. Generally speaking, wild dogs hunt in groups, while wild cats, except some lions, venture out to hunt alone. Like wild "distant relatives", domestic cats live alone. Because of this feature, cats are especially suitable for individualistic pets.

Due to the close relationship between modern dogs and humans, their constitutions are very different from those of wild ancestors of wolves. The situation of cats is different. Both the long-haired cats and Siamese cats in the exhibition hall are similar to their ancestors in both physique and personality. The sleepy ginger male cat lying gracefully by your fireplace is a leopard cat in his bones; The female tabby cat stood on the grass and stared at the sparrow. From her face, she could see a pair of eyeing eyes. Indeed, keeping a cat at home can enjoy a lot of fun, one of which is to observe the rich and varied fighting actions of this boxer who has been well versed in martial arts since ancient times. In fact, it is the basic habit of cats to eat meat that promotes the relationship between cats and people. When people's lifestyle changed from hunting to farming and gathering food, they used the bravery of cats to catch mice, which evolved into domestication of cats.

Cats are good at hunting because they are extremely secretive and agile (see "Hunting prey", * 190- 19 1). When a housecat catches a mouse, it is not necessarily out of hunger, but playing a sport or game. Many people think cats are cruel and difficult to understand. For example, if a cat catches its prey, it won't kill it immediately, but it will play a trick on the unfortunate prey first and then kill it. However, we can't apply human moral standards to animals. Cats do this just to practice their skills. This instinctive behavior should not be punished. Besides, many people use double standards for great hunters like cats. On the one hand, I applaud the cat's ability to kill mice at home, on the other hand, I criticize the way cats catch birds.

As a hunter, cats have very good eyesight (see chapter 1, "Eyes", pages 28-30). For most of the day, cats are keenly observing their surroundings. If it becomes "emotionally active", it may be time for it to catch its prey. It will lurk in places that are difficult to find, such as bushes, behind trees, behind half-closed doors, or in tall grass. If it wants to take a nap, it will choose a favorable terrain that can defend against attacks: outdoors, it may choose walls, roofs or ancillary buildings; Indoor, sitting in a chair or bed feels safer. Even when the cat dozes off, its senses are still receiving information. When there is any dangerous action, the cat can jump up immediately to deal with the situation. So cats are still "alert" when they sleep, ready to resist intruders at any time.

Cats have a strong curiosity. Why is this? Why do cats bother to explore an empty paper bag and get into a cupboard or a shed in the garden? Part of the reason is that cats are always foraging, looking for prey to catch, or finding a warm place to curl up and doze off. Part of the reason is that cats are naturally adventurous and have a strong interest in the world around them. For example, a bold cat may wander to a neighbor's house without a cat. If they are popular, they will regard their neighbors as "villas". When you go out, cats will visit there. Unfortunately, the curious nature of cats does not bring all the benefits to cats. As the saying goes, meddling will kill you. A responsible owner should protect the cat, just as parents protect their children, so that it can avoid potential dangers that are not realized! However, don't be overprotective, because senior "individualists" like cats don't like being spoiled.

To raise a cat, we must first understand the basic characteristics of the cat. If you read the common sense provided in this complete book of cats and follow the suggestions, you and your cat will certainly enjoy a long and pleasant friendship.

Selection and Feeding of Cats

Make the right choice

Once you have the desire to keep a cat, you have to make a decision on many issues, the most important of which is whether to keep a pure cat or a non-pure cat.

Why did you choose to keep purebred cats?

If you are interested in cat exhibition or breeding, you should buy a purebred cat. What kind of cat to choose depends mainly on personal hobbies. Remember, however, that long-haired cats need to be groomed every day (* 170), while siamese cats and Portman cats need to be pampered and have a loud voice, which may mature faster than other cats. Choosing a purebred cat requires not only a health examination of the cat, but also an expert's vision to identify the breed characteristics, quality and the possibility of winning prizes in the future. Therefore, you should go shopping with someone who is very familiar with the problem of cat breeds and fully understand your expectations of cats. Unfortunately, purebred cats are expensive. If you can't afford all the expenses, there are two ways to make a deal: one is to buy a "pet-quality" cat, whose characteristics may not meet the standards for participating in the cat exhibition, but in any case, this cat can make a good pet. If you sign a breeding agreement, you can buy a cat with "exhibition quality"; Return the cat to the seller for breeding at the scheduled time. You should reach an agreement with the seller who owns the kitten and write down the agreement.

Why do you choose to keep a non-purebred cat?

Generally speaking, the main purpose of keeping cats is to keep company with people. If that's your goal, it doesn't make much sense to buy a purebred cat. Especially if you live in a city, cat thieves often aim at stealing Persian cats and Siamese cats, let alone raising purebred cats. There are often many cheap hybrid cats, which can meet the needs of ordinary families to raise cats.

Should I choose a male cat or a female cat?

As far as I can see, it is ok to choose castrated male cats or ovariectomized female cats. Because these two kinds of cats can also be considerate good pets. I suggest not to keep a castrated male cat, because it will pee everywhere and give off a pungent and unpleasant smell; It often goes out to wander, often fights, and gets injured or infected. Similarly, a female cat without ovaries should not be kept. This kind of female cat often goes into heat at certain times of the year. If it is not kept at home, it may not get pregnant according to the owner's wishes. Ovariectomized cats do not have these shortcomings, and may also bring cats closer to people.

Should I choose kitten or adult cat?

Petty and weak kittens are cute when choosing pets. But it needs a lot of care and must be trained to develop hygienic habits. On the positive side, kittens can usually adapt to the new environment quickly. For many people, keeping an adult cat is a wise choice. If you work outside all day, or think kittens are too noisy or difficult to train, you should be a cat. If you buy an adult cat, let it stay indoors for the first few days, otherwise it may try to return to its original owner's house.

Should I buy a cat or a pair of cats?

If your income is limited or your residence is small, it is impossible to buy a few cats. However, if every member of the family goes out during the day and there is only one cat at home, it may be very lonely, so you can choose two cats so that you can accompany each other.

Buy healthy cats

There may be many sources of buying cats. It's a good idea to be recommended by others, but what kind of cat to buy depends on which one you decide to buy and how much it costs. Never buy a cat in a hurry before investigating its source.

Buy a cat from a cat owner.

If you have decided to buy purebred cats, you'd better buy them from people who specialize in raising breeds of cats. Although it may be expensive. Maybe the local cat owners club can also provide you with the name and address of the breeder. Otherwise, you'd rather visit the cat show, and you'll meet many cat owners. Although some cats may be sold at the cat show, it is best to go to the cat seller's house to see the whole litter of kittens. There, you can observe the environment where the kitten grew up and the performance of the kitten after leaving the cat exhibition.

Buy a cat from a pet shop

If you have another way, I'd like to advise you not to go to the pet store to buy a cat. Because kittens are particularly prone to illness and infection, and diseases and infections can easily spread in pet shops. If you are sure to buy a cat there, be sure to give the cat a thorough examination. The price of cats sold in pet shops is usually reasonable.

Buy cats from animal protection organizations

Charity life-saving institutions are another convenient source of non-purebred cats. Usually you can get a cat for a little money or even nothing.

Health certificate and vaccination

Before buying a cat, it is an ideal way to have it examined by a veterinarian. If you want to buy expensive purebred cats, you need to ask a veterinarian for examination. Please consult the veterinarian you know and issue a written health certificate. If you get a kitten or an adult cat from a lifesaving association, the veterinarian will usually examine it before giving it to you. However, no matter where you got the cat, it is urgent to arrange a vet to examine the cat as soon as possible after you get it. If you buy a kitten, make sure that the kitten has been vaccinated against feline enteritis and feline influenza at least one week before purchase (* 238,229). If you buy an adult cat, you should find out whether it has been vaccinated when it was young and whether it will be injected with auxiliary drugs regularly to enhance its efficacy in the future. If you have injected preventive vaccines and auxiliary drugs, you must have a written certificate from a veterinarian. In addition, if you have other cats, in order to prevent them from being infected with leukemia (*259), you should ask a veterinarian to take a blood test on the newly bought cat and prove that the result is negative.

Pure breed cat registration

All purebred cats over five weeks old should register these cats in the owner's personal name, together with their coat color, parents and other detailed information. If you don't register, you will not be allowed to participate in the pure cat exhibition in the future.

Check whether the cat has good habits.

When buying a cat, you must look for a smart, friendly, naughty and disciplined cat. If you buy a kitten, you'd better choose a cat that is strong, courageous and born first. Don't choose the smallest and most timid kitten in a litter, because the youngest cat is often prone to illness, and you may be sad because of the premature death of the cat.

Check the cat you want to buy.

No matter what kind of cat you want to keep or where you bought it, there is a golden rule that you must follow: you must study the health of cats. Never buy sick cats or cats that are not up to standard. If your request for inspection is rejected, don't buy a cat, because any responsible seller will understand that it is reasonable to ask for a thorough inspection of the newly bought pet.

Wash your hands before checking the cat, and play with the cat for a while to eliminate the cat's nervousness. In the whole inspection process, we should firmly and gently grasp the cat's body to prevent the cat from escaping.

How to check the kitten?

Check the coat

Feel the texture of the kitten's fur, whether it is smooth and tangled, and look for fleas or other pests.

Check your ears.

Kitten's ears should be clean and dry. Make sure they are not stuffed with earwax (*250).

Check your eyes and nose.

The third eyelid (*) should not protrude; Eyes should be clean and bright; The nose should be moist.

Check your mouth and teeth.

Healthy kittens have pink mouths, white teeth and no inflammation in their gums.

Check anus

Lift the cat's tail and look for signs of diarrhea. The anus should be clean and free of feces.

Check the abdomen

Touch the lower part of the cat's stomach with one hand. The abdomen should be slightly round and not stiff. Find out if there is a lump (hernia phenomenon), and then let the cat walk freely to see if it is lame.

* How to tell the sex of a kitten?

Although it is easy to identify the sex of an adult cat, it may not be easy to identify the sex of a kitten. When checking, lift the cat's tail and look at the hole under the anus. If the distance between vagina and anus is relatively close and the two openings seem to be close together, it can be concluded that it is a little female cat. There is a dark and prominent place under the anus of the little male cat, which will develop into testicles and penis under the testicles in the future.

Take care of kittens

It is really interesting to observe the life of kittens in the first few months after birth. Moreover, this is an extremely important stage. Because the physical and mental health of adult cats is formed in early life. When the kitten was born, its eyes were not open yet, and its body was weak, like a fluffy thing in the shape of sausage, but after a few weeks, it would become a hunter with smooth back hair and catch mice. A clever owner must carefully observe the kitten's every move, learn to predict its hunger and thirst, and be able to see its joys and sorrows. When you win the love and friendship of newborn cats, your efforts will be fully rewarded.

Newborn kitten

When a kitten is born, it is generally 1 1 to 15cm in length and 70-135g in weight. The newborn kitten's eyes haven't been opened yet, and its ears are folded back, so it can neither see nor hear. She was born unable to walk and lived entirely on the mother cat. It was eight weeks before I was able to live on my own. The first development of kittens is five to ten days before they open their eyes; It takes eight to twenty days to fully open your eyes. The color of eyes is usually gray-blue, and this early color begins to change at about twelve weeks. Kittens begin to crawl at sixteen to twenty days; Three to four weeks, start eating solid food; Completely weaned in about eight weeks.

Family relationship between mother cat and kitten

A mother cat who has just given birth will accept a kitten that is not her own. Once the mother cat and her children form an intimate relationship, this relationship will no longer easily accept foreign cats. When kittens began to eat solid food, this intimate relationship gradually weakened, and female cats began to treat their cats differently from non-biological cats.

A milestone in kitten growth and development

Even in the same litter, the growth and development of each kitten may be different. Some will live independently soon; Others are very dependent on their mothers. Similarly, the degree of physical development may be different. Usually the kitten born last is always the smallest and weakest; The following figures refer to the situation of ordinary kittens.

sight

Open eyes: 8 ~ 20 days

Eyes become a fixed color: 12 weeks.

athletic ability

Climbing: 16 ~ 20 days

Go: 2 1 ~ 25 days

Operation: 4 ~ 5 weeks

Weaning

Start eating solid food: 3-4 weeks.

Full weaning: 8 weeks

train

Start defecation training: 3 ~ 4 weeks.

Deciduous teeth

Flush deciduous teeth: 8 weeks.

Permanent teeth: 12 ~ 18 weeks

Try and master skills.

Wash your face and trim your hair: 4 ~ 5 weeks.

Play: 4 ~ 5 weeks.

Start practicing hunting: 6 ~ 8 weeks.

* Registration

Pure cat registration: week 5

Vaccination and removal of sexual organs

First vaccination: week 9

Second vaccination: week 12.

The female cat was ovariectomized: week 16.

Male cat castration: week 36

Leave the mother cat and live independently

The earliest time to leave the mother cat: 6 ~ 8 weeks.

Time to live completely independently from the mother cat: 6 months.

Cats' Placement, Grasping and Transportation

A place where cats are kept

Even if your cat snuggles up to you most nights, it needs its own place to sleep. Your cat may prefer to doze off on your bed or mat or chair rather than sleep in the nest. But in the future, when it is sick or feels unsafe, the cat's nest will be an important place for the aged, which can meet its deep needs.

Buy a cat nest

At present, most pet shops sell cat nests. You can choose one for your cat companion. These cat nests come in many styles, from bean-wrapped cat nests (large round pads filled with polystyrene particles) to Eskimo-style cat nests (this is a dome-shaped cat nest). But it's made of plastic instead of ice! The traditional wicker basket looks very attractive. It is said that the creaking sound of the basket can soothe the kitten, but this kind of basket is not easy to clean: it is also suitable for using cheaper wooden boxes or cartons with many newspapers as cat nests. In addition, cardboard can be disposed of casually, and it can be replaced when it is dirty.

A soft and warm cushion should be laid in the cat nest to make it comfortable and attract cats. You can put some newspapers in the nest first and then some soft cloth. An old wool pullover can easily be turned into a luxurious cat blanket. If you buy a new kitten, it may miss its mother and brothers and sisters. You can also put a plush toy in the nest to accompany the kitten.

Clean the cat's nest

Cats are naturally clean animals. If the cat's nest is dirty, they will despise it. So you should clean the cat's nest regularly and take off the dirty pads. Plastic cat nests are the easiest to clean at present, and another advantage is that there are not many fleas. Dilute with non-toxic sterilized hot water and thoroughly scrub the cat's nest. When the cat's nest is dry, spread a new layer of newspaper, and then iron the mat or change it.

Where should I put the cat nest?

Cats have a quirk. They like to find the gentlest place in the house and curl up and doze off. If your home is central air-conditioned, your cat will probably choose to sleep near the boiler. As long as there is no through flow, it is the best place to put the cat's nest.

When the weather is cold, you can add a warm pad (such as an electric blanket) to the cat's nest to keep the cat warm. But the warm pad must be placed on one side of the nest, not in the middle, so that there are both warm and cold places in the nest, so that the cat can choose its favorite temperature.

The cat's bedtime

You can take the cat to the cat's nest, but you can't let it sleep in it. Many cats find it difficult to obey the position you have arranged for them at home. Even if you prepare a bed for him to sleep in, when it is time to sleep, you will probably find him curled up in your bed. If you don't mind a furry "hot soup pot" sleeping in your bed, it's not a problem. But if you like to sleep quietly at night, you must firmly set the rules at home when it is still a kitten.

When you start the bedtime system, just before you get ready for bed, put the cat in the cat's nest, turn off the lights and close the door leading to the cat's nest room. Don't forget to put the cat bedpan and the cat water bowl where the cat can reach it. At first, the kitten may not like this forced separation, but after a week or two, the kitten will fall asleep quietly every night.

Feeding of cats

The diet that cats need.

There is no vegetarian cat in the world: cats are carnivores, and they have to eat meat to live. But this doesn't mean that cats don't like or need to eat some fruits or vegetables. Some wild cats occasionally like to eat fruit or delicious vegetarian food as a supplement to meat. For example, after killing their prey, lions and tigers often dig out their appetites directly, wolf down vegetarian soup that is being digested by yeast, and then taste main dishes such as sliced meat and ribs.

The nutrition that cats need

The main principle to be followed in feeding cats is diversification of food. Kittens should get used to eating all kinds of food from the first day of weaning. Although the diet of pet cats should contain at least 25% protein, they should follow the example of their wild distant relatives, and their diets should be varied, not only fish as the staple food, but also vegetarian.

It is wise to provide cat food with fat and carbohydrates as a cat's physical strength. Because, to some extent, a whole protein diet that only eats fish and meat is a waste. This is because these expensive foods only generate heat after being digested in cats, rather than being used to repair cells. Another reason why you can't feed all foods with protein is that this diet is bad for your health. Too much raw meat in cat food will have adverse effects: eating only fish and not eating other foods will make cats suffer from vitamin B deficiency; Cats that only eat animal livers will have abnormal stools; Cats that only eat lean meat will be short of calcium and vitamins.

If cats can be provided with a variety of selected foods as shown in the table below, and the main nutrients are sufficient, the cat's diet will naturally reach a balance. If you accept an old cat whose diet is difficult to change, you may try to pull it back from the road of death by making some efforts on cat food instead of feeding it crayfish and caviar all the time. When your family has a new cat that eats "fashion", as the owner, you'd better give it a healthy new diet; After a few weeks, new food was gradually added.

supplement nutrition

If your cat is healthy and you feed it a wide range of foods, you don't need to add vitamins and minerals to your cat. If supplemented, these vitamins and minerals will only be excreted. However, for sick cats, it is sometimes beneficial to supplement these things: for example, iron supplements can help anemic cats recover. This treatment can only be carried out under the guidance of a veterinarian. Vitamin and mineral supplements are also good for pregnant or lactating female cats.

How long can a cat not feed?

Cats can live much longer than people without food, because cats will not die if they lose 40% of their body weight (but cats lose 10%- 14% of their body weight, which is generally fatal). As we all know, under special circumstances, cats can survive for several weeks without food and water. For example, a male cat named Chips from Liverpool, England, was accidentally packed in a machine parts box and shipped to Mombasa, Kenya. Four weeks later, when the box was opened in Africa, Chips was thinner, but still alive. It is believed that it survived by eating some engine oil coated on the outside of the machine and licking a little water produced by condensation.

Prepackaged food

There are three kinds of prepackaged foods for cats in the market: canned meat, semi-wet food and dry food. Although these three foods are convenient to feed, they should only be used as part of cat food, not all of it. Ideally, feed fresh food at least twice a week (see page 162). This is because if you plan to keep your cat healthy for a long time, this special food can't provide all the nutrients your cat needs. It is said that many of these foods meet the requirements of protein content in cat food (25%-30%). However, like humans, cats should eat some fresh food in order to get enough vitamins and minerals. Moreover, it is too monotonous to feed only cats this kind of food, even if some cats can tolerate this excessive monotony, and in terms of nutritional value, the price in prepackaged foods is quite expensive. However, sometimes, you may feel that you must use prepackaged foods as the only cat food. Just feed it for a few weeks, not years; And when feeding dry food, you should also feed a lot of water, so that your cat won't be too much.

You will find that the chemicals added by food technologists to processed foods are exactly the same as those added to packaged foods for human consumption. I suspect that most of these things are added to make them more acceptable to shop customers and cat owners, not cats. Of course, consumers-cats-have the most say in which of these foods is the best. They will not be influenced by advertisements; They either like to taste or refuse to eat.

Canned food

This kind of food includes meat, fish, salt, jelly, vitamins, chemical pigment additives, water and grains. Most foods are made from fish, chicken, beef, rabbit meat or animal offal. They contain 25% ~ 30% protein, which can be used as the main food for cats. Cats can be fed canned food. Because they are sterilized and easy to store. In addition, there is a lot of water in it, and the standard of vitamins will be reduced during canning and after storage.

field/marching rations

These biscuits contain grains, fish, meat, yeast tablets, vitamins, fats and pigments. They are cheaper and easier to store and carry than canned or semi-humid foods. But it has the following disadvantages: low content of fat and protein; Some people suspect that they can cause cystitis in cats (see page 253). If you feed the cat with dry food, be sure to let it drink water often.

Soft and moist food

These granules contain meat, soybeans, fat, vitamins, preservatives, chemical pigment additives, and usually thickeners and sugar. The water content accounts for more than 33%. The nutritional value is not very high. Soft and wet foods are the main foods for cats, because they contain just over 25% protein and low fat. This kind of food is packed in silver foil paper bags and can be preserved, but it doesn't last as long as the other two kinds of food.