| The emotional life of cats, in some ways, may | | | | other, or miscellaneous items and this is |
| even be richer than a person's, because they | | | | something we like. They may hunt for real and |
| have no inhibitions about what they feel. In a | | | | present you with a dead mouse "trophy" and this |
| short period of time, a cat can go from | | | | we have mixed emotions about: on the one hand |
| contentedness to anger to desire to affection. | | | | we are glad to have the rodent eliminated, but on |
| True, studies show that people with pets live a bit | | | | the other hand, we don't want to know about it. |
| longer and have better blood pressure than | | | | Hunting has become central to cat's behavior |
| benighted non-owners, but in the literal sense, we | | | | patterns, even to their predilection for short |
| don't really need all those dogs and cats to | | | | bursts of intense exercise punctuating long periods |
| survive. | | | | of rest. Hunting mothers generally pass all their |
| One of the things we love about cats is watching | | | | hunting abilities, including the ultimate killing of their |
| them play. Kittens love playing but don't know yet | | | | prey, onto their kittens. Non-hunting mothers, by |
| how to control their sharp claws and teeth. Also | | | | contrast, often pass along the hunting skills except |
| children can unknowingly be a little rough with a | | | | the ability to kill. |
| kitten and may cause it harm. Kitten s obtained | | | | Another of the things we don't love about cats is |
| after 12 weeks may be more difficult to manage. | | | | scratching. This is another thing about which we |
| The experiences of kittens during their first few | | | | may have mixed emotions. On the one hand, |
| months of life are important in helping to shape | | | | scratching behavior seems enjoyable to the cat, |
| their temperaments and personalities as adults. | | | | and even declawed cats will go through elaborate |
| Your kitten will need time to adjust to her new | | | | scratching routines with every evidence of great |
| environment, and understanding this is the first | | | | satisfaction, despite the total lack of results. On |
| step in getting off to a positive start. | | | | the other hand, without a scratching post, your |
| One of the things we don't love about cats is hair | | | | furniture or draperies may suffer. |
| shedding but hair shedding is considered a sign of | | | | One plus is that generally speaking, smaller pets |
| health in the cat, because sick cats do not shed. | | | | mean less responsibility, but even a tiny goldfish |
| It happens for different reasons, but basically it | | | | needs love and care. On the other hand, smaller |
| depends on the time your cat spends outdoor or | | | | pets also have a shorter life span -- which means |
| whether your cat is purely an indoor cat. Hairballs | | | | you or your child will experience an early grief. |
| can be prevented with certain cat foods and | | | | Generally, cats are naturally well-behaved |
| remedies that ease elimination of the hair and | | | | creatures, provided they are given a sense of |
| regular grooming of the coat with a comb or stiff | | | | autonomy. Unlike dogs, who want to please you, |
| brush. Cats expend nearly as much fluid grooming | | | | cats want to feel they are the ones in total |
| as they do urinating. Long-haired cats obviously | | | | control of their lives which some people love and |
| are more high-maintenance than its short-haired | | | | other people hate. |
| counterparts. You'll need to at least bath them | | | | As the saying goes, "everything has its price" and |
| once a week and brush their long manes | | | | yes cats do have things that can potentially be |
| frequently. Owners should wipe away the | | | | annoying, but I feel the benefits far outweigh the |
| moisture that is emitted from the eyes at least | | | | bad side. One of the things we love about cats is |
| once in the morning and at least once in the | | | | that there is nothing that is as comfortable as |
| evening hours. Persians should also be bathed | | | | having a purring cat lying on your lap on a cold |
| frequently. | | | | winter night in front of the fireplace. No matter |
| Also one of the things we do love about cats is | | | | what has gone wrong during the day, it is all |
| watching the cat hunting. Cats are fun to watch | | | | forgotten during this daily ceremony. |
| as they pretend to hunt by attacking toys, each | | | | |