As I mentioned previously, I have an affinity with cats of all kinds. I really do. I love them all, even ugly Persian cats with smooshed faces.
Cats are so agile and graceful. They’re smart as a whip, and they have very distinct personalities.
You can have the most hateful, vicious cat in the world, and that cat will jump in my lap, start purring, and will cuddle with me. I am convinced that I was a cat in a previous life. Maybe I was a cougar, a panther, a tiger - even a mangy domestic cat - but I’m certain I was one.
I have found that those who are adamantly not “cat people” give off a vibe that cats don’t like, and they mirror your own hateful and fearful energy back to you. You may say you hate cats, but keep in mind that hatred and fear are potent energy forces. A cat will volley back to you what is in your own heart. Or at least that’s the way I see it.
My late cat Nathan was such a cool barometer for good guys and bad guys in the heyday of my dating years. Nathan was the most loving creature ever; he liked almost everyone. Nathan only hissed at one guy, and I knew then to trust my cat more than the guy. Call me the Cat Lady if you want, but I know of that which I speak. Nathan was right!
Until now, I was able to push down my love of cats so that it didn’t flare into a full-blown urge to get a couple of kittens. I think it’s best to get two felines so they keep each other company and remain socialized when you’re busy or away.
Lately, with kitten season fast approaching, I’m finding it harder and harder to resist.
Every day, I take a peek on Craigslist’s Pets section just to test the waters and to see if there are any extra-cute pics of kittens on there. Not to make any sudden commitments; just to see…
I didn’t know this, but apparently black kittens have a hard time in being adopted due to human superstition of black cats. That’s too bad! Maybe I’ll consider getting at least one black kitten.
I prefer wild-looking and exotic cats like Bengals, Abyssinians, and Maine Coons, and I fancy male cats more.
I think it’s highly important for any aspiring cat owner to vividly imagine their kittens PAST the cute baby stage. Too many cat owners become disenchanted when their cuddly little kittens mature, and they are quick to put them back on the market.
Not fair!
Here is a very cool Maine Coon:
A regal Abyssinian from Egypt:
Look at this lovely Bengal cat:
By the way, I am AGAINST declawing cats. Declawing is cruel and totally unnecessary. As long as you keep a cat’s claws clipped and provide them with an effective scratching post, you should have no problems with the natural growth of their claws.
It’s the easiest thing in the world to start a kitten off young by gently clipping the very tips of their claws, away from the nerve, or “quick.” If you start while they’re kittens and talk baby talk to them and cuddle them as you clip, they’ll look forward to it. Nathan did! It only takes three minutes to clip the claws on both of a cat’s paws. I clipped Nathan’s claws every other week.
Nathan would run toward me when I’d pull out my nail clippers, and he would get mad if I took too long before I actually clipped his claws. He’d cry and cry until I gave him a good clipping. I even bought a leash and collar and took Nathan for walks outside. He loved this!
See, this is the beauty of raising a kitten into a cat from a place of love.
As for nutrition, I am a fan of the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) Diet for cats, as that is a diet that closely mimics what a cat would catch outdoors or in the wild.
When cats are in natural surroundings, they are not looking for crunchy, oven-baked, meat-flavored kitty nuggets. Cats eat birds and mice!
My vet told me that although Nathan led a happy, long life, his elderly kidney failure was partly due to my feeding him commercial cat food that was, unbeknownst to me, way too high in protein for an inactive, indoor adult cat.
According to my vet, adult domestic cats that are sedentary and indoors need LESS protein, not more. Too much protein is murder on an indoor cat’s kidneys. If not utilized, the excess protein is only wasted and excreted. My vet recommended that the next time I get cats, that I feed my adult indoor cats reduced-protein (lower, but not too low!) cat food. Canned senior-formula cat food is usually made with a lower protein content.
If you have a cat with kidney failure, here is some good info on the condition.
You can even make your own homemade cat food, adjusting the protein as appropriate. Some cats love veggies, and many of them appreciate your providing them with
organic kitty grass to chew on.
Regarding hairballs and vomiting, my cat only got hairballs when I fed him dry cat food, and too much of it.
It is my opinion that dry cat food swells in a cat’s belly. Since there are no enzymes in dry cat food, it is too hard for your cat to digest, so it just sits there like a brick. Add a bunch of swallowed cat hair to it, and you have yourself a fine mess to clean up when your cat upchucks.
Furthermore, some hairball control cat food is almost pure fiber, which made my cat lose too much weight!
The best remedies I found for hairballs and constant vomiting were:
1. Brushing my cat a few times a week, or bathing him monthly
2. Easing up on the dry food and snacks
3. Giving smaller portions of food at a time. No overfilling the cat dish!
4. Using Petromalt as a last resort.
If you insist on giving your pet dry cat food, at least do him or her a favor and supplement with these cat enzymes for easier digestion! This will even help to break down the excess fur your cat has digested, thus preventing hairballs.
For those in the L.A. area in need of safe, reliable petsitting in your home, check out
The Kat Lady.
As for me, maybe I’ll get one Abyssinian and one Bengal cat; whichever two temperaments will get along and co-exist peacefully! I’ve certainly got my research cut out for me… Decisions, decisions!
Do share this Good Luck Deluxe Mini-Guide to Cat Care with anyone you know who has one or more cats and may not be aware of the tips I have mentioned.
