• How should I feed my cat?
• Should I leave water out for my cat all the time?
• My cat seems healthy. Do I really need to bring my cat to the vet?
• My cat often attacks me when I get home from work. I think she's playing, but she won't leave me alone. What can I do?
• My cat coughs up gross stuff all of the time. My vet says it's hairballs. What should I do?
• My new kitten is scratching everything in sight. Help!
• Keep your cat from scratching
• I'm worried about my cat not using the litterbox -- what should I do?
• Follow these guidelines to keep your cat happy using her litterbox.
• I lost my cat. What should I do?

My cat seems healthy. Do I really need to bring my cat to the vet?

Yes, your cat will need to see the vet at least once a year for the rest of her life. Annual vaccinations protect your pet from viral diseases (Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Distemper). Rabies vaccinations are required by law to protect pets and people. Worms, ear mites, fleas and other parasites are best prevented by keeping your cat indoors and away from other animals who may be carrying parasites. If your cat ever acts strangely or appears to be sick, call your vet immediately.

My cat often attacks me when I get home from work. I think she's playing, but she won't leave me alone. What can I do?

Play with your cat every day. Every cat needs exercise and companionship. plus love and attention. Great cat toys can be easily made using household items. Anything that jumps or dances around will entice a cat to hunt and pounce. Playing with this type of toy allows cats to act out their instincts appropriately, (instead of chasing and biting people's ankles.) You might also consider adopting another feline friend to keep your lucky cat company when you are away from home. Warning: do not use your hands or fingers as play objects or you will teach your cat to bite and scratch people.

My cat coughs up gross stuff all of the time. My vet says it's hairballs. What should I do?

Brush your cat regularly. Grooming will protect your cat from developing skin disorders, mats, parasites and health problems associated with swallowing hairballs. Although your new cat will groom herself, she still needs some help from you: to brush her coat, clean her ears, and trim her nails. Brushing is especially important — once a week for shorthaired cats, and daily for long-haired cats. Start early and go slowly, until she learns to love grooming time with you.

My new kitten is scratching everything in sight. Help!

Cats need to scratch and stretch to loosen old nail sheaths, allow new nails to grow and keep their muscles toned. Most cats tend to do scratch and stretch at the same time, using a scratching post. Some cats prefer scratching on a horizontal surface. Make sure that your scratching post is tall enough for your cat to stretch her whole body while scratching (usually 3-4 feet tall). If she uses a scratching pad, make sure she has enough room around it to stretch while scratching.

Keep your cat from scratching your furniture and curtains by providing an appropriate place for her to scratch, trimming her nails weekly, and training her not to scratch your belongings.

• The Scratching Post!
  Keep your scratching post near your cat¹s favorite napping place. Your scratching post should be covered with sisal rope, bark or another material which is not found elsewhere in the house so your cat doesn¹t learn to scratch other items, such as the carpet. You can build your own or purchase one at a pet supply store. Scratching pads (for those horizontal scratchers) are available also, usually made with sisal or cardboard. An inexpensive alternative is a tree limb (3-4 inches thick and 4-6 feet high) propped up in a corner. The limb will provide a natural scratching object that will be a real cat-pleaser. Make sure that any scratching post you use can not fall or be knocked over, frightening or injuring your cat.
  
  
• Trim your cat's nails every week to reduce the intensity of your cat¹s scratching.
  Use regular toenail clippers. Never use scissors! Be careful to clip just the tips of the hooks, and avoid the vein that reaches about halfway down each claw (called the "quick"). Ask shelter staff or your veterinarian for a demonstration. (Declawing is increasingly considered an inhumane solution and causes a great deal of pain and stress to a cat. Please contact MHS for more information before putting your pet through that ordeal.)
  
  
• Training your cat not to scratch the furniture is simple.
  Covering the surface she likes to scratch with aluminum foil, a cloth sprayed with lemon scented furniture polish, double-sided tape, or another material that cats don¹t like will effectively protect your couch. Also, a squirt bottle used at exactly the right moment (and coming from an unknown source) will "punish" your cat for scratching where she shouldn¹t. If you see her scratching the furniture, quietly take her over to the scratching post and praise her like crazy! Most importantly, however, is to make your cat¹s scratching post a perfect place to scratch and stretch — and to praise her every time she uses it!

I'm worried about my cat not using the litterbox-- what should I do?

If your cat doesn't use the litterbox, (even once) something is wrong and you need to find out what. Clean her litterbox immediately with an enzyme cleaner or a solution of half water, half white vinegar (not an ammonia-based cleaner).

If that doesn't fix the problem, DON'T WAIT! Call your vet or the Monadnock Humane Society. Most litterbox problems can be easily solved if you notice them early and take action. The longer you wait the harder it will be to break your cat of her bad habit.

But don't worry too much — litterbox problems are easily preventable.

• Your cat needs a clean litterbox in a safe, quiet place with some privacy. If your cat is scared or disturbed while using the litterbox, she may decide not to use it again, and will find someplace else to go. Basements are often the first place we think of to put a litterbox, but make sure it's not near any appliances that may startle your cat while using the box. Also, many cats like to scratch the ground after using the box, and basements often have cold, hard floors, not conducive to scratching. If your litterbox is on a floor like that, put a throw rug or carpet scrap next to the box for your cat. Be careful not to put the litterbox too far away from where your cat spends most of her time...she might not be able to make it to the box in time.
  
• Changing the type or brand of litter can cause your cat to stop using her litterbox. Plain, unscented clay litter is what your cat is used to. If you need to change the type of litter, do so by adding the new kind gradually. Each time you clean and refill the box, increase the amount of new litter and decrease the amount of old litter. Pay close attention to your cat¹s behavior, to ensure she continues to use her litterbox. Eventually you will have all new litter, and both you and your cat will be happy.
  
• One to two inches of litter in the box is enough. Scoop the solids from the litterbox at least once every day. If you have more than one cat, or your cat is extremely clean, scoop it more often. (It's best to have at least as many litterboxes as you have cats.)
  
• Keep it clean. Putting more litter in the box does not mean you can scoop it less often. Most cats prefer only a thin layer of litter, and may not even use the box if there is too much litter in it. Empty, wash (with mild dish soap or a vinegar and water solution) and refill the box with clean litter at least once a week to keep your kitty happy. Never use ammonia-based cleaners to clean the litterbox — it will smell like a dirty litterbox to your cat.
  
• Keep the litterbox in the same place. If you do need to move it, immediately find your feline friend and place her in the litterbox in its new location. Praise her just for being there! That way you can be sure she knows where it is, and understands that being in it is a good behavior. If you have a large home, it is best to keep a litterbox on each floor or at both ends of the house.