Page: 2

SAFETY AND YOUR CAT: Sometimes innocent things can cause big problems for our naturally curious feline friends.

1) Remove string items when you're not in the same room.

2) Check to see where your cat or kitten is when you open the fridge door. I had a little kitten jump into the bottom shelf because it smelled so good in there.

3) Check dryers before you close the doors.

4) Ovens. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the scariest near CATastrophe I ever had involved my own cat when he jumped into the broiler unbeknownst to me.

COLLAR SAFETY: Indoor cats do not normally wear collars. If you MUST have one on an outside cat, PLEASE only use the expanding or breakaway type so he/she can easily get out of the collar if accidentally caught on a fence or tree. We heard of an inside kitten that did not have a break away collar on and was unfortunately hung on a piece of furniture. This information is not to horrify you but to make you an educated cat/kitten mom or dad.

DIETARY NEEDS: First and foremost always have water available for your pets. If you give a diet of mostly dry food this is especially important. Get your cat or kitten started on the best food you can afford. What you feed it now will determine its health in years to come. Look for foods with the lowest magnesium count. It's listed on the ingredient label. Low magnesium keeps the urinary tract healthy and prevents FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome) Speak to your Veterinarian about this as well as reading about FUS, but to be on the safe side, avoid supermarket brand foods which are typically less quality then brand names and I suggest that people avoid any FISH FLAVORED FOODS as they have a tendency to have a higher magnesium count.

Dry vs. Canned Foods: I take the middle ground and give my animals both. Your vet will be the best person to ask about this however. Sometimes you do all the right things, but if your cat or kitten has a proclivity towards FUS, it'll happen anyway.

WARNING SIGNS

The Following is a List of WARNING SIGNS that your cat needs to be seen by a Veterinarian ASAP.

1. The cat squats and urinates in places other than its box.

2. The cat is becoming increasingly irritable. If it's FUS (Feline Urological Syndrome) your kitty will be very uncomfortable.

3. Cat becomes withdrawn and/or cries when walking around.

When it comes to the issue of inappropriate urination, always take the precautionary stance and ASSUME a physical problem. When in pain, a cat has been known to avoid using the litter box as it associates the pain with urinating there. Unfortunately some cats HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED because their owners thought they were hopelessly "dirty cats" with a behavior problem. Without the proper guidance from a skilled professional, owners will incorrectly assume a behavioral issue instead of a serious physical problem.

WHEN IT'S NOT A MEDICAL PROBLEM, BUT A BEHAVIORAL ONE:

There are some times when cats do urinate out of the box and there is no medical reason for this. Ask yourself these questions:

1) Has there been a change in the house lately causing your cat stress?

2) Have you moved the box or changed the type of litter you always used?

3) Had a new baby?

4) Moved, added, or changed people to or from the home?

6) Have you reduced the attention you previously had given. Animals are sensitive creatures and may react negatively if upset by changes in the environment or feeling stressed.

7) Has your animal been declawed? While we may get some heat on this one, we have heard of too many cases where animals that have been declawed developed litter box issues. We are not sure why this is, but it is something to consider when figuring out the problem.

Always ask you Veterinarian for his/her advice first. Try adding another litter box to another part of the home. If after making whatever changes you can to accommodate the animal, the behavior hasn't changed, try calling The Cornell University. They have a free phone-in advice line. That toll-free number is 1-800-KITTYDR.

Page: 2