Kitten &
Cat Care
–– Ownership of Feline Pets ––
Studies have shown that the mere act of stroking a cat helps to release feel good endorphins in the brain, producing the feeling of tranquility in the stroker. But, this is not the only stress reliever. Depression and sadness are heightened by loneliness or as a source of isolation. Having a cat around contributes to the feeling of family – contributing to a healthy life. Pet owners enter hospitals less frequently than non-pet owners; and when hospitalized, pet owners have shorter stays. Pet keepers have a reason to get better – they have to get home to the cat.
- stroking a cat lowers blood pressure
- Nurturing a cat increases your sense of well-being
- Living with a cat staves off loneliness and can provide a great source of entertainment
If you do it right,
a shelter cat will spend every day of the year giving back the gift of love.
One of the greatest things you can do
is to give yourself the gift of a purring four-legged friend.
Cost of a therapist: $65-135 per hour.
Cost of fuzz therapy: Only a few minutes of petting a fuzzy creature.
Adopt a Shelter Cat today!
–– Reponsible Feline Ownership ––
- Secure and out-of-the-weather shelter
- Fresh water daily
- Adequate and wholesome food to maintain a healthy body weight
- For inside cats and outdoor cats during the winter months, regularly plant a pot of 'cat grass' or barley to satisfy your cat's craving for fresh greens (especially to keep it from chewing on house plants which may be lethally toxic to your pet).
- Clean and flea-free bedding
- A clean litter box area away from the feeding area (note! more than one litter box may be necessary, especially if you have more than one cat, or you are away from home for any period of time).
- Daily inspection for signs of injury, wounds, parasites, or ill health, with prompt followup for medical attention as needed
- Periodic grooming to maintain a lush coat and healthy skin. Daily brushing (especially with long-hair cats and during spring shedding season) may be necessary to prevent hairball problems.
- Annual checkup by your veterinarian, or a timely visit if your pet shows a sickly condition or unusual behavior. If you pet shows any indication of side effects or unusual behavior, check immediately with your veterinarian.
–– Other Items of Consideration –– - If your cat is an inside animal, provide a scratching post, but keep its claws trimmed to prevent scratching of your furniture.
- Keep your pet secure while traveling to prevent injury
- Spay or neuter your cat to prevent overpopulation and unwanted animals
- Maintain a picture and description in case your pet gets lost (consider implanting a microchip which can be scanned at your local shelter).
- Maintain a feline first aid kit to promptly treat minor injuries
- Don’t allow your pet to be a nuisance or threat to humans or other animals
- Before adopting a cat, be sure you do enough research and check on breed behavior to be sure that you and your new pet will be a good match for your lifestyle now and in the years to come.
–– Kitten Care & Feeding ––
Use the following instructions and formula for baby kittens who have lost their mother and are too young to eat on their own. Ready-made formula and further instructions should be available from your veterinarian.
- Mix together: 1 can evaporated milk, equal amount of water, 1 egg yoke (not the egg white), 1 tablespoon Karo syrup. (Karo is to prevent constipation -- use less if the kitten has diarrhea).
- Heat formula to luke warm to feed with an eye dropper or baby bottle.
- At 2 weeks, feed 4 times a day, such as: 8 am, 12 noon, 5-6 pm, and 10-11 pm.
- Place the kitten with its stomach on your knee so that it is almost upright to prevent it from choking while you are feeding. And, remember to 'burb' it, just like a baby.
- Since mother cat is not available to care for the kitten, be sure to keep the genital and rectum area clean by gentle wiping with a warm washcloth.
- Be sure to keep an area warm with a hot water bottle or a heating pad on low setting, but make sure the kitten can get away if it is too warm, as cats cannot perspire.
- At 4-1/2 weeks, you can start weaning by using strained chicken baby food, milk, and egg yokes. At 6 weeks, the kitten should be on solid cat food.
- You can play with the kitten, but not too much. Place a stuffed animal in its bed for company and to play with at its leisure.
- Remember to spend some time in handling and grooming to get the kitten use to humane contact for future adoption.
Blue Mountain Humane Association
3212 Highway 30 -- La Grande, Oregon 97850
(541) 963-0807
Shelter Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
e-mail: bmha@eoni.com -- website: www.bmhumane.org
www.gildemeister-usa.com - www.thepawssociety.org
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