When I was a child, no one ever allowed a cat inside the house.
Cats were for keeping pests under control in the yard and barn, and that's just the way things were.
When I first started dating my future husband, I was dumbfounded when I went to dinner at his home and found a cat sitting in the living room on his grandmother's lap.
After we married, I resisted the idea of pets in the house and although our children each had a dog (who lived outdoors), I still thought of cats as germ-laden, noisy, pretty much useless pets unless you had a yard full of mice for them to catch.
When my daughter moved into her first apartment, she got a cat and called him Mickey.
I didn't pay much attention to Mickey until our daughter showed up at our door begging us to keep Mickey for her.
New owners had taken over her apartment house and installed a "No Pets" rule.
Of course you know what happened.
I couldn't stand to see a grown woman cry so we agreed to keep Mickey until our daughter found a new place to live where Mickey could join her.
We kept Mickey until he died, more than 18 years later.
And not only did we keep Mickey-we also adopted Cocoa, a beautiful little Siamese cat who became my shadow around the house just as Mickey had latched onto my husband.
Over the years, we discovered that keeping a cat happy is pretty easy as long as you keep him or her comfortable.
Here are some ways to make sure your cat is both comfortable and happy.
1.
Stick to a regular feeding time and make sure your cat always has fresh water.
Most cats aren't shy and will let you know by pitiful meowing when they aren't comfortable.
2.
Give your cat a reasonable amount of attention.
This doesn't mean you have to be petting and holding your pet every minute of the day, (although that would undoubtedly make some cats very happy), but do be sure you connect with them for a few minutes several time every day.
When you encounter the cat as you go about your daily chores, talk to him or her just as you would another human being living in the house.
3.
Take steps to protect your cat from loud or unexpected noise.
If your cat is like either of ours, you probably know that it is going to react badly to the vacuum cleaner.
Since you know t his ahead of time, why not take a minute to shut the cat in another room with a favorite toy or maybe a cat treat, before you even start to clean your carpet? 4.
Make a schedule for grooming your cat.
It is easy to put off grooming your pet, thinking every now and then that you need to remember to do it.
Put it on your calendar.
Maybe an evening once a week at 7 P.
M.
while you are watching television.
That way the cat will get a thorough brushing while you aren't rushing to get the job finished, and he or she will reward you with some high speed purring.
5.
Keep track of your cat's check-ups and shots.
Be sure to check your cat frequently for fleas and sore spots that might need treatment from a vet.
As soon as you return from a trip to the vet with your pet, thumb ahead on your calendar and circle the date for his or her next visit.
Knowing your cat's shots are up to day will give you peace of mind and you won't have to worry that some easily preventable disease will attack your cat.
6.
Make an effort to learn your cat's language.
People often complain that their cat meows too much.
It may see that way, and it is true that cats learn quickly that excessive meowing can get the more attention.
Unfortunately, it won't always be the kind of attention he or she was looking for.
Listen carefully to your cat.
Can you hear a difference in its meowing? Some meows mean, "I'm hungry.
" Others mean, "There is something outside I'm afraid of.
" And, one of the most common means, "My litter box is too full and I want it emptied, now!" Work to recognize what your particular cat is saying to your, and life with your little furry friend may turn out to be much easier.
Cats were for keeping pests under control in the yard and barn, and that's just the way things were.
When I first started dating my future husband, I was dumbfounded when I went to dinner at his home and found a cat sitting in the living room on his grandmother's lap.
After we married, I resisted the idea of pets in the house and although our children each had a dog (who lived outdoors), I still thought of cats as germ-laden, noisy, pretty much useless pets unless you had a yard full of mice for them to catch.
When my daughter moved into her first apartment, she got a cat and called him Mickey.
I didn't pay much attention to Mickey until our daughter showed up at our door begging us to keep Mickey for her.
New owners had taken over her apartment house and installed a "No Pets" rule.
Of course you know what happened.
I couldn't stand to see a grown woman cry so we agreed to keep Mickey until our daughter found a new place to live where Mickey could join her.
We kept Mickey until he died, more than 18 years later.
And not only did we keep Mickey-we also adopted Cocoa, a beautiful little Siamese cat who became my shadow around the house just as Mickey had latched onto my husband.
Over the years, we discovered that keeping a cat happy is pretty easy as long as you keep him or her comfortable.
Here are some ways to make sure your cat is both comfortable and happy.
1.
Stick to a regular feeding time and make sure your cat always has fresh water.
Most cats aren't shy and will let you know by pitiful meowing when they aren't comfortable.
2.
Give your cat a reasonable amount of attention.
This doesn't mean you have to be petting and holding your pet every minute of the day, (although that would undoubtedly make some cats very happy), but do be sure you connect with them for a few minutes several time every day.
When you encounter the cat as you go about your daily chores, talk to him or her just as you would another human being living in the house.
3.
Take steps to protect your cat from loud or unexpected noise.
If your cat is like either of ours, you probably know that it is going to react badly to the vacuum cleaner.
Since you know t his ahead of time, why not take a minute to shut the cat in another room with a favorite toy or maybe a cat treat, before you even start to clean your carpet? 4.
Make a schedule for grooming your cat.
It is easy to put off grooming your pet, thinking every now and then that you need to remember to do it.
Put it on your calendar.
Maybe an evening once a week at 7 P.
M.
while you are watching television.
That way the cat will get a thorough brushing while you aren't rushing to get the job finished, and he or she will reward you with some high speed purring.
5.
Keep track of your cat's check-ups and shots.
Be sure to check your cat frequently for fleas and sore spots that might need treatment from a vet.
As soon as you return from a trip to the vet with your pet, thumb ahead on your calendar and circle the date for his or her next visit.
Knowing your cat's shots are up to day will give you peace of mind and you won't have to worry that some easily preventable disease will attack your cat.
6.
Make an effort to learn your cat's language.
People often complain that their cat meows too much.
It may see that way, and it is true that cats learn quickly that excessive meowing can get the more attention.
Unfortunately, it won't always be the kind of attention he or she was looking for.
Listen carefully to your cat.
Can you hear a difference in its meowing? Some meows mean, "I'm hungry.
" Others mean, "There is something outside I'm afraid of.
" And, one of the most common means, "My litter box is too full and I want it emptied, now!" Work to recognize what your particular cat is saying to your, and life with your little furry friend may turn out to be much easier.
Source...