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Patricia H Ladew
Foundation, 2004

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1) Let cats be cats!

Cats aren't small dogs. They're not small people either! They're cats. So we need to let them be cats. Cats like to scratch. It's part of their marking behavior and it also allows them to remove the outer sheathe of their nails. It is necessary for you to provide something for the cat to scratch on. Some cats like horizontal surfaces and others prefer vertical. You'll have to figure out which is best for your cat.

2012 is a great time to learn how to clip your cats nails, if you don't already know how to. Clipping the nails is also a great time for you to examine your cat's paws and make sure all is well. If you start when they're young, most cats don't mind this.

We all know that cats like to use a litter box which is fantastic for us because we only have one spot to clean up (and we don't have to walk them in the pouring rain!). But, just as you wouldn't use a dirty bathroom (how many times do you go from stall to stall in a public bathroom until you find a clean one) your cat doesn't want to use a dirty litter box. Scoop it out once (or twice) a day and make sure you have enough boxes -- behaviorists recommend one for each cat that you have, plus one. Sifting litter liners are a great way to keep the box fresh.

Entertainment -- in the December issue of ladew mews, we provided lots of toys that cats love - many that involve you. Interactive toys are a great way for you to spend time with your cat.

Snuggle time -- Some cats like a little snuggling from time to time - make sure to take some time with your kitty. For those that aren't lap cats, just being nearby is another way you can spend some quality time.

2) Take your cat to the veterinarian yearly for check-ups.

Cats are masters at hiding disease. They do this because in the wild they might otherwise become prey. I can't tell you how often clients come in with a very sick cat who was "just fine yesterday." The cat will pretend it's just fine for as long as he/she can. It's important to see your veterinarian once a year for check-ups just to make sure everything is status quo.

3) Keep their water fresh.

Cats are prone to bladder and kidney problems, so it's important to find a way to get them to drink more. Many cats like to drink out of the faucet. Since it's not always practical to keep it running, why not try one of the automated water fountains made for cats. Drinkwell has one that has a pretty large reservoir, but there are plenty other ones that are just as good.

4) Feed a diet that works for your cat and don't overfeed.
We're all so busy, it's easy to just plunk down a big bowl of dry food and let your cat chow down. While this can work for some cats, others tend to over-eat and really pack on the pounds. Be careful if you have one of these cats. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes mellitus, joint problems and others. Feed your cat a premium diet (or one that your veterinarian recommends specific to your kitty's needs). I usually recommend feeding dry food (which is good for the teeth) along with some canned food (which helps get moisture into those cats that don't drink much water.

5) Keep your home feline friendly.
Make sure that you keep your home free of things that can cause harm. String, ribbon, rubberbands are very interesting to kitty and potentially deadly. Be careful of what type of plants and flowers that you bring into your home. One ingestion of a lilly leaf is enough to cause kidney failure. Medicines, that we commonly take, such as Tylenol, can cause death in a cat. Use common sense and when in doubt, call your vet or Ask Dr. Susan . If your pet has ingested something that you're not sure of you can also call the ASPCA Poisoin Control Hotline at 888/426-4435. (The ASPCA also has a comprehensive list of substances that are potentially harmful at www.aspca.org.

6) Help us work even harder to reach out to potential adoptive parents to increase our adoption rate and find forever homes for our wonderful cats.
Sometimes it really takes a village and we could use your help. Forwarding our emails with kittens and cats for adoption to those who may be looking to add to their family would be a huge help to us to increase our adoption rates. Remember, the more we adopt out allows us to rescue more from kill shelters. You can make a difference!

7) We will finish our spay/neuter clinic so we can reduce the overpopulation rate.
So many cats and kittens are abandoned each year or are forced to fend for themselves outside. Our spay/neuter clinic will help to keep those numbers down in an effort to find a home for every cat that comes our way. Our clinic should be up and running in the spring and will offer low cost spay/neuter to rescue groups and other shelters.

8) We will continue to care for and seek sponsorship for our special needs kitties who are more difficult to adopt because the require medical attention.
Each mewsletter that we send out will feature a kitty that needs sponsorship, you can help by sending it out to fellow cat lovers to help us with those kitties that need expensive medicine and/or ongoing treatment.

9) You can . . . Volunteer at your local shelter.
There is no replacement for the feeling that you get volunteering. Even if it is one or two hours a week, you can really make a difference. We're always looking for volunteers -- call us at 516-922-CATS. If you can't volunteer with us, call your local shelter - they'll appreciate it and you'll feel good helping.

10) We all can . . . Educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering.
Millions of cats and kittens are euthanized each year due to lack of homes. Spaying and neutering can help reduce those numbers. In 2012 we hope to step up efforts to educate the public that spaying and neutering their cats will help achieve the goal of no cat being euthanized for lack of a home.