Mushi’s Musings
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007Mushi’s Musings
If you are considering the addition of a cat to your family, I cannot blame you. We are magnificent creatures. My personal belief is that a house is only a home if a cat lives there.However, there are many things to consider before opening your heart and home to a cat. After all, we deserve the very best.
The absolute first question you should ask yourself is, “Do I plan on gaining a pet or a member of the family?” The best pet owners are those who treat their pet as a family member. Those who see the cat as simply a pet or animal are more likely to not remain committed. And adopting a pet should be a commitment one takes on for the duration of that pet’s life. The second question is “Do I have the time for a cat?” I know many people will read that and say to themselves that a cat doesn’t really need that much time. However, cats do crave attention and affection just as much as dogs do. We do like our people to dote over us and play fun games like throw the crumpled credit card bill. I also like being brushed. I like it so much that I actually throw myself in front of my people as they’re walking through the hall. I’m risking their general well being but I get a good half an hour brushing out of it.
Sometimes my mom sings and makes me do these weird dances. Or she puts hair scrunchies on my tail and watches as I roll around to get them off. I pretend that I’m thoroughly annoyed by these activities but I actually enjoy them very much. I know I’m not alone. Whenever my family sits down to play a board game my sister jumps all over the board and knocks game pieces off the table with her paw. She has taken the dice hostage on many occasions. She just wants to feel included. I’m sure I’ve never met a fellow cat who didn’t crave time and attention from their family.
The third consideration is that pesky human concept of money. To provide for your feline family member you will need it. You don’t need a ton of it but you will need enough that you can provide food and vet visits. Of course, we enjoy gifts and treats but they aren’t necessary and there are ways to pinch pennies when taking in a pet. However, food and vet care are two areas where you will want to provide the best.Okay, so you’ve already gone and done it. You adopted a cute kitten or maybe even an adult cat. You may find yourself wondering how to make the transition easier on your new baby. I’ve heard many horror stories from unprepared families who had no idea what to do with their new addition.
They gleefully adopted a cat only to get home and find the poor cat in a terrified frenzy or behaving in an undignified manner. We do this when we’re scared or confused.The key with either a kitten or an adult cat is to not push too fast. Don’t bring the cat home and then invite everyone on your block to come over to celebrate kitty’s homecoming. You need to give your cat time to adjust. This holds true for both kitten and cat but especially so for the adult cat. It may take awhile before your cat wants to be cuddled and affectionate. But allow time if that is what your cat needs.To avoid overwhelming your cat, provide gradual access to your home. The cat will want to explore and get to know the entire house that is now his home. But allow him to do this gradually and he will be more comfortable and it will seem less daunting. As your cat gets to know his surroundings he will become more secure.
Establish a routine. Functioning on a routine provides security and leads to better behavior, just as it does with small children. Trust me on this. I live in a house with three small humans. Routines work and they’ll work for your cat too. Feed your cat at the same time every day. Plan your playtimes and brushings so that they occur about the same time every day. Chaos in the home leads to confusion which breeds disruptive and naughty behavior.
Finally, I’d like to discuss the litter box. It is funny how a small box can cause so much confusion and aggravation for humans. But many humans complain that their new cat won’t use the litter box. I heard one cat parent tell of how her two cats were crawling on top of their covered litter box to do their business. She was at her wits end until a smarter human explained to her that she wasn’t changing the litter enough.The fact is most of us cats are very clean. We like to be clean and we will do what we can to remain clean. For the most part kittens are easy to litter box train. If you pay close attention to your kitten you will know when she is ready to do her business. She will nose around corners or she will squat. If you see this then scoop up your kitten and place her in the litter box. The most important part of all of this is to avoid moving the litter box. Keep it in one place to avoid confusing the kitten.It will probably only take a couple of days to train your kitten. Use a small box rather than a full sized litter box so that your kitten can get in and out easier. You can even assist your kitten in using her paws to cover her waste. Many kittens will do this naturally, but sometimes they need to be shown what is expected.If you have an adult cat not using the litter box there can be a number of reasons. It could be the anxiety of a new home. If you have access to your cat’s previous owners then use them as a resource. Ask them questions. One of those questions might be what kind of litter did they use. Sometimes a cat will simply stop using a litter box because they don’t like the litter.Maybe your new cat has to share a litter box with a cat that was already in the home. Your new cat may not like this. In this case you will want to consider allowing your cats separate bathrooms. It is either that or suffer the smelly consequences. It could be that your litter box is in a high traffic area. I know that I sure like my privacy when using the bathroom and would not appreciate having to do it where there are a lot of people passing by. Or, as was mentioned above, the litter box might not meet your cat’s standards of clean. In that case clean the box more often. Avoid using harsh chemicals such as ammonia. Warm soap and water should be sufficient. If your new cat still won’t adjust to your home and still views the entire area as one large litter box, well then you might want to contact the feline equivalent of Dr. Phil. Or maybe there should be a cat whisperer. Hmm…
Anyway, inviting a cat to become a part of your family is a very rewarding thing to do. But it does come with a lot of responsibility and some hard work. But when all is said and done it is well worth it because we are beautiful, brilliant and cuddly.
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-Mushi Tjaden is tabby living with her American family in Japan. She has three human brothers and a feline sister, Tori. She spends most of her time napping in front of the computer or striking adorable poses in hopes of earning a morsel of fresh seafood.