This page is for new cat owners or people who are considering buying a cat. 

Consider carefully before purchasing a cat, or any animal for that matter. Cats usually live even longer than dogs, about 14 - 20 years. Are you willing to take the responsibility of the cat's life and wellbeing for that whole time? Are you ready to take care of the cat's basic needs, feed it regurlarly, clean its toilet, cut its nails, clean its teath, take care of its fur, play with it and spend time with it? Are you prepared to pay for its healthcare, vaccinations, neutering, worm medications and possibly very high veterinarian costs, if the cat gets sick or injured? 

Contrary to a common belief, cats are highly social animals and they shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time. If you are working long days, consider taking two cats instead of just one. They will keep eachother company while you are away. 

Pure breed or mixed breed, all cats deserve a loving and permanent home. Do not take a cat just for holidays or just because they look so cute as kittens!

Before the new cat arrives to your home you should have all the basic equipment ready for it. I was shopping like crazy months before Miina came home just to kill the long waiting time...

• food and water bowls (not plastic as it might cause acne and is difficult to keep clean)
• kitten food, dry and canned
• litter box
• cat litter
• small showel for the cleaning of the litter box
• comb and brush
• toothbrush and toothpaste for cats
• nail cutters for cats
• carrier box
• harness, if you plan to take the cat outside
• toys, toys, toys
• medication
  - against worms
  - ear drops 
  - charcoal tablets (poisoning)
  - hydrocortison tablets (bee stings or snake bites)

• scratching tree or post (saves your furniture)
• multivitamin for cats, especially if the cat eats home made food
• sleeping pillow or bed for the cat
• cat shampoo and conditioner

Miina and Vinski eat three times a day, though two times would also be good. In the morning and in the afternoon they eat either canned food or fresh meat and in the evenings they get dry food. Good fresh foods to offer are high quality canned foods, fish (freshwater fish boiled to avoid worms), cooked chicken or turkey, raw beef, mutton or pork (cow's or pig's heart is good nutrition for cats).

It pays to invest in high quality cat foods (Hill's, Nutro, Animonda, Specific...) as they keep the cat healthier (reduced veterinarian costs) and the cat's digestive system can utilize the food better than it can the foods with poorer nutritional value. This is why the cat's that eat high quality food also produce less of the smelly stuff in the toilet. 

Cutting the cat's nails is advisable to do maybe once a week. Only cut the sharp point off and be careful not to damage the pink part in the nail. Cut nails are confortable both to the cat and the owner. Declawing cats is cruel and unnecessary. You wouldn't want someone to amputate your fingers off, would you?

The way I do it, is I place the cat in my lap sitting like a child and then support with one hand and cut with the other. The operation for both cats takes about five minutes. 

Brushing and combing are also easiest to do while the cat is sleepy. Otherwise the cat just wants to play with the brushes and the work is impossible. 

I start by combing the fur thoroughly, also form the armpits, inner thighs and under the chin. Then I finish the coat with a brush. 

This is done weekly. 

Veterinarians sell small brushes and toothpaste suitable for cats. Miina and Vinski have fish flavour toothpaste and they like it so much that it makes it quite easy for me to brush their teeth while they are licking the paste.  

Medication against worms is given to a kitten once a month until the kitten is six months of age. After that, giving medication twice a year is is enough. A good way to do this is to grind the pill and mix it with the cat's favourite food. If this doesn't work I'll mix the pulverized pill with a drop of water and give it to the cat with a syringe without a needle. 

Washing the cat is easiest for me when I don't even try to hold the animal still. Instead I empty the bathroom from all extra stuff that shouldn't get wet and let the cat roam freely as I follow her with the shower hose and wet her coat with warm water. I never wet cat's ears or head, just its body, feet and tail. Cats feel more comfortable if you talk to them all the time in a calm, soft voice while you give them their bath. 

While applying shampoo and conditioner evenly onto fur, I gently massage the cat at the same time. This might make the bath time even enjoyable to the cat. Many times they start purring and pushing against my legs as I do this. Remember to wash also from under the tail and between the toes. After this I carefully rinse the coat until it is clean. After the bath I sweep most of the water off the cat's fur with my hands and then dry  with a soft towel. My cats do not like the sound of the hair dryer, so I don't use it at all. 

Cat owner is responsible for the wellbeing and safety of his cat. Therefore a responsible cat owner never ever lets his cat out on its own without supervision. A cat left out alone is at risk of being run over by a car, being shot or tortured by cat haters, being attacked by other animals etc. 

You may take the cat out on a harness or build an outdoor pen for it or secure your balcony with a net. Many cats are quite happy, however, to stay inside all their lives.   

Please e-mail feedback or questions to shangheli@hotmail.com

Copyright 2005 Heli Fihir