A cat can fit so seamlessly into your life that it is all too easy to take her for granted. Your intelligent feline friend possesses a great capacity to tune into your emotions, so learning new ways to respond to her day-to-day needs can only deepen your mutual bond.
How we treat a cat from the earliest moments of her life will profoundly influence both her character and inclinations. Kittens, just like babies, are intensely affected by their early environment.
Their eyes open sometime between two and 11 days after birth. At around five weeks they enter a socialization period, which will last up to 12 weeks. The relationships that kittens form during this time are crucial because they determine the nature of their future relationships with both people and felines. Kittens who are adored, picked up, and stroked by people grow up to be happy and affectionate pets. Even if they fall on hard times and are forced into isolation, they retain the capacity and desire for an emotional bond. So even if your cat comes to you at a later stage in life, it is still possible for you to form a close bond with her. When given a good home, with lots of patient and loving care, your cat will blossom.
Feeling very relaxed and at home in her surroundings, this cat—lying on her back and trying to catch your eye—is also clearly in a playful mood.
Bonding With Your New Cat
When you first bring your kitten home she is certain to feel nervous and need reassurance in her new environment, even if she previously received the most tender attention. She has boundaries, and it is important to respect them. Be guided not by how you want to react to your new pet, but by how she reacts to you and the world around her. If you force her into situations that frighten or unnerve her, she will lash out with claws and teeth or run away. Bad experiences can linger in her subtle feline mind and negatively shape her future behavior and personality.
If you have young children, it is particularly important to supervise them when they have contact with your cat or kitten. Children can badly upset a new kitten, or even an older cat from a rescue center. They may want to pick her up and squeeze her body in an excess of affection or pull her ears in fun, but it is a rare feline who relishes these loving advances. Your cat will feel claustrophobic and frightened, long for escape, and struggle fiercely. She may scratch or bite and she may suffer a heavy, awkward drop to the floor.
If she’s old, fat, fragile, or arthritic, she may even be injured. If your kitten or cat associates the attentions of children with being afraid, she will soon avoid them. And if the children think the new family member is going to hurt them if they try to play with her, they will soon begin to dislike her.
Making Her Feel Secure
So how do you behave around this fascinating newcomer? One of the first things your cat needs to learn is that being picked up is not going to be a scary experience. She needs to be approached gently but confidently. Speak softly as you scoop her up, putting one hand around her chest and under her front legs. Use the other hand to steady her as you lift her toward you. Your cat needs to feel secure in your arms, and this means her whole body must be supported. If her hindquarters are left dangling in space, she will panic and dig her claws into your arms or another part of your body in an attempt to cling on, just as she would when climbing a tree.
Holding your cat correctly is vital, because there will be times when she will need to be held and carried for practical reasons—such as for trips to the vet, for example. When you have your cat in your arms, hold her firmly but gently. The moment she wants to be free, put her down again; if she anticipates being held against her will, she will do everything possible to avoid being picked up.
Finally, never try to pick up your feline pal before her mealtimes. A hungry cat has only one thing on her mind, and it’s not being stroked. It’s much better to wait and pick her up and make a fuss over her after dinner, when she is full, happy, sleepy, and languorous.
Cats are instinctively nervous by nature, so you will need to be very patient when you are introducing your pet to unfamiliar sensations, such as being groomed.
What Food Means To Your Feline
Feeding your cat is such an every day, routine experience—yet when it is approached correctly, it can rapidly help to advance the wondrous and unique relationship that you and your cat are forging.
Cats, like us, love food. If you leave out large, tempting bowls of cat chow and simply allow her to munch her way through them—just like a chocoholic left with a box of Belgian truffles—she will soon eat them all.
First your cat’s waistline will expand a bit, then she will become a little lazy. Soon her waist will expand some more, until suddenly and almost unexpectedly you have an obese, unhealthy cat on your hands.
Try to adjust the amount of food you give your cat to her appetite. She should feel hungry when dinnertime arrives, and eat her food rapidly and enthusiastically. If she doesn’t finish it within 10 to 15 minutes, you’re probably overfeeding her and need to take the remains away.
All prepared cat food includes feeding guidelines that will initially help you get the amounts more or less right. But remember that cats are individuals. An active, stalking, hunting, outdoor cat needs more calories than one that prefers to curl up next to that warm radiator.
Cats need somewhere quiet to eat. If you need to change her food, start by mixing the two brands together for a few days to minimize the possibility of any loss of appetite or digestive upset.
If you put your cat’s food out at the same times every day, her internal body clock will let her know that food should be arriving soon. She will begin to seek you out—behavior that will strengthen the magical bond between you. Typically, she will attract your attention by twining herself around your legs. Some call this cupboard love, for obvious reasons, but it is more significant than this. She is marking your legs with scent from glands on her face, thereby including you in her social group. Of course, if you ignore her when she knows that chow is due, she will meow loudly, incessantly, and demandingly until you fill up that cavernously empty bowl.
You can use mealtimes to begin training your kitten to come when called. If you repeat her name as you give her food, she’ll soon recognize your voice, feel a positive association with it, and learn her name. Then establish a routine, such as putting her out in the backyard for a set period of time and then calling her, and she will quickly respond to your voice. Always call your cat with an enthusiastic mellow tone, even if she doesn’t respond at once. If you shout or sound angry, she will think that you are going to reprimand her. Who wants to come home only to be scolded? In a few short weeks your cat will begin to accept this routine as part of her life, so if you are out at the appointed hour, you will return home to find a disgruntled cat sitting on your doorstep.
The Scratching Post Why Cats Love Their Food
Keep an eye on your cat’s appetite, because this can give you clues about her state of health or lifestyle. If she is not eating as much as usual, it could be an early sign of illness—or your pet may have found a tastier source of food nearby! The weather may also affect your cat’s appetite, since felines generally eat less when a storm is imminent. A change in the cat’s environment or, in the case of an intact tom, the desire to mate can also cause a temporary decline of interest in food.
It makes sense to take advantage of life stage kitten diets, which have been formulated to meet the needs of growing cats.
Giving Rewards
Everyone knows dogs will perform tricks for a treat—sit up and beg, or roll over—but will your cat? Cats are clever creatures and are far more responsive to training than most of us imagine. Like dogs, cats will come to the table and beg for food. Initially they sit patiently, hoping you will offer them a succulent tidbit, but if this strategy fails, they often stand up on their hind legs and put their front paws on your leg. You’re bound to notice them now.
Sitting up and begging—a position halfway between these two postures—occurs when your cat is still resting her weight on her hindquarters but her front paws are raised. If you reward your pet just at this moment, before her front paws come to rest on your leg, she’ll promptly revert to her original sitting position to devour the juicy morsel. If you make this into a routine, your canny feline will soon realize that “begging” brings a desirable reward. Agile, compact cats—such as Siamese—find this trick easy. But for some cats, particularly those who are older and obese, it can be difficult or painful. So if your cat resists, give in to her better judgment.
The look of intense concentration on the face of this young cat as she catches her toy reveals the importance of mastering hunting skills, which would be crucial for her survival in the wild.
Caring For Her Well-being
Your cat’s eating habits can also provide important clues to her health and state of mind. For example, if she stops eating suddenly for just a short period of time, it could be a sign of a generalized infection. Starving herself as a cure, she is depriving the bacteria of the energy and minerals they need to survive. Because she is also weakened by lack of nourishment, she will rest and conserve her energy. Your cat may be so determined to rest and not eat that she will hiss, spit, or even try to scratch if you dare to approach her chosen lair. However, when your cat is ill, you need to deal with the root of the problem and have antibiotics administered by a vet.
If she eats less than normal over a long period of time and is losing weight, it may be an early indication of chronic illness, so it is wise to take her for a checkup. However, if her weight remains stable or increases and she seems happy and healthy but is out and about for long periods of time, it’s a safe bet that you have a rival for her affection. It could be a person who is feeding her food she prefers. Try to stay tuned to the type of food your cat enjoys.
A Cat’s Tale Natural Acrobats
A cat’s natural agility means they are among the most talented athletes in the animal kingdom. They can even stand up on their powerful back legs, using their tail to maintain their balance, to gain extra height. Cats often stand like this to catch an insect or butterfly, attempting to knock it down with a paw. As your pet grows older and less active, her reflexes slow, so her hunting instincts are less apparent.
How Your Cat Reads Your Body Language
Cats have a strong response to visual cues. And they are particularly interested in both other felines’ and your facial expressions. Your cat reads in your countenance a complex mix of emotions and intentions, positive and negative, which determine how she is going to react.
It’s well known that when a cat walks into a room full of people, she will usually approach the one person there who dislikes cats. But why? Is she psychic and behaving like this simply to be contrary? No—she is simply interpreting human behavior in cat terms. Cat lovers automatically stare at a cat who slinks seductively into a room, eyes wide, fur gleaming. They can’t help themselves. Cats, however, perceive this as a direct challenge to their presence rather than a display of interest or affection. People who are indifferent to cats simply don’t look at them at all. This signals in cat language that they are benign, that they are well disposed to the newcomer, and would be very happy for her to approach. Almost immediately, your cat is on their lap!
Showing Her Your Feelings
When your cat begs, comes when called, or shows some other sign of responding to you so you want to praise her, bend down to her level. Let her see the emotions crossing your face and drink in their meaning. Communication is a two-way process—besides learning how to communicate effectively with your cat, you need to understand what she is saying. All cats have a large repertoire of facial and body expressions, which they use to communicate effectively with one another. They also convey enormous amounts of information through scent marking. Kittens and their mothers talk to one another constantly. They also have a wide range of distinct vocalizations, which they use to convey very specific messages to each other and to us (see Chapter 3 for more information).
Teach your children how to understand your cat’s moods and emphasize that there will be times when the family pet wants to be stroked and others when she wants to be left alone.
Cats are aware that humans have very little ability to communicate by scent, and a limited ability to use facial and body expressions effectively. Luckily, they realize early on that vocalization is an effective means of gaining their mother’s attention; therefore cats understand the principle of communication by vocalization, and they put enormous effort into teaching us their language.
Listening To Your Cat
To understand what your cat is saying, really listen to her. Absorb the different vocalizations she makes at different times. “Meow” is never just meow when your cat is addressing you. Often it is a simple request to accomplish a task that she cannot perform without your help: Maybe she is saying, “Let me out!”, or “Open the refrigerator and give me some smoked salmon now!” But it can also be a very important nugget of information about her physical or emotional well-being.
Mother cats can tell their kittens with vocalizations whether the supper they are bringing home is a mouse (never dangerous) or a rat (possibly lethal if it is only stunned and able to revive in the nest). If you pay close attention, your cat may be able to tell you that she much prefers cream to chicken. She may also be able to tell you something else about how she is feeling.
Even young children like to play with cats, but make sure you are nearby to supervise to be sure that neither gets hurt.
It’s all a matter of observation, and spending some time unraveling this fascinating mystery can only deepen your inter-species bond and reward you with extraordinary insight into your cat’s world.
Kittens will soon adapt to their new home and rapidly come to trust you, but do not be surprised if your pet is nervous at first.
This silver tabby is rubbing against the leg of this stool just as she would against one of your legs, depositing her scent and laying claim to the territory.
Sitting Comfortably
A person’s size relative to that of a cat can act as an obvious barrier to good communication. It is important to lift your cat up and place her alongside you when you are sitting down so that she will feel closer to you. Not all cats are instinctive lap cats, and as they become older, cats often find it more uncomfortable to sleep this way, preferring to lie alongside people. Longhaired cats may feel uncomfortably hot, and rheumatic cats may find it painful, preferring to lie out alongside us instead. If your feline protests, let her go.
Getting In Touch
Stroking your pet can be another way of reinforcing your bond, as long as she is feeling relaxed and secure. Most cats let you stroke the tops of their heads, and if they are enjoying this attention, they purr and tilt their heads to one side, encouraging you to stroke under their chins or caress their silken ears. If your cat is lying on her side, stroke her flank gently and rhythmically. The more often you do this, the more she will enjoy it.
If she is feeling very relaxed, your cat may lie on her back, exposing her tummy. But does she want you to stroke it? Yes and no. In this position your cat is at her most vulnerable, but most dangerous. Her teeth and sharp claws are all available for attack. Differing emotions can war in her mind—she may savor the sensual feeling of having her tummy stroked, but even if she accepts this caress at first, she may move her hind legs up, and prepare to attack. One stroke too many and your cat may scratch your hand, or simply decide she has had enough and stroll archly away. Be guided by her responses, and over time your relationship will deepen.
Kittens often lash out with tiny paws or bite with milky white teeth when stroked. Often, this is because they really want to play—now where’s that mouse on an elastic string? Kittens can be particularly playful before dinner, when they recognize the first stirrings of hunger. They are simply following an eternal hunting instinct, for it is play that allows a kitten to learn the skills she will need to hunt a mouse or deal with a rat.
The Scratching Post Contact With Feral Cats
Kittens who are used to seeing people in their world but are never touched by them only tolerate us. Our presence does not make them nervous, but they remain aloof, disinterested in our attentions, and back away from expressions of physical affection.
Just like wild animals, feral felines—those who grow up exclusively with other cats—mature with an instinctive distrust of people that is irreversible. A cat feral from birth can never become your pet. She may accept offerings of food left in your yard, but she will never enter your home. She neither craves affection from us nor has any desire to bestow it. It’s hard not to be tempted by the wild beauty of feral cats with their thick, colorful fur, but even if you hand-rear a feral kitten at home, the likelihood is that she will never be yours. Her only aim will be to escape your company.
Our lives change constantly. We may meet a new partner, who comes with a cat or dog. A parent may die and leave us to look after their pet. The way we handle these situations in their early stages is critical.
Introducing Stepcats: Understanding The Rules
Cats are territorial creatures, and they often object very strongly to newcomers—feline, canine, or human—invading their territory, at least at first. Put yourself in your cat’s place: imagine a complete stranger suddenly appearing in your house, sitting on your favorite sofa, eating your chocolate, snoozing on your bed, and finishing off the milk. How annoying would that be? Wouldn’t you do everything you could to eliminate this irksome invader? A cat feels this invasion strongly, and it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to diffuse any conflict until all parties have settled down.
Introducing A New Cat Into Your Home
•Feed the cats in separate places.
•Make sure the newcomer has her own litter box in a place your cat does not normally visit—your cat may use her rival’s litter box to establish it as her territory. The newcomer is driven away and forced to urinate and defecate elsewhere—which may be your bed, that lovely silk cushion you bought last week, the Ficus plant in the corner... (see the Cat Behavior A–Z, page 164)
•Don’t play with either cat while the other is in the room—two cats chasing after one ball will cause conflict.
Dogs and cats can form a strong bond, especially if they grow up together, although at first they may be rather wary of each other—as shown by this kitten’s uncertain reaction to her new companion.
If you have introduced a second cat, both cats will initially be wary and may spend long hours stalking one another. In time, however, as long as you do not force them into one another’s company, they will establish their own, unique way of living together. If your cat is an older female, she is likely to welcome a youthful, playful feline, adopting and mothering her. If the newcomer is the same age as your cat, the two may squabble at first and then become companions. Other personalities may simply live separate lives and carve out their own territories. Cats are individuals, and their relationships are multifaceted.
A New Dog In The Family
Introducing a dog into your household—although initially more problematic—is likely to develop into a harmonious relationship more quickly, because your cat won’t feel so territorially threatened by a dog.
Initially the two may have a standoff. Cats and dogs have been known to stare at one another, utterly motionless for hours, until finally one makes a dash for the other or one simply becomes bored and wanders off. The dog may try to corner your cat who will probably seek sanctuary under the bed or on top of a cabinet. But in almost every case, after some initial skirmishes, the two settle down and become firm friends, even sleeping together. And the dog often takes his friendship seriously, protecting your cat from rivals—driving invading felines from his new pal’s territory.
Older cats can be surprisingly trusting and patient with kittens, but allow them time for their own unique relationship to evolve rather than trying to force them together.
This cat is in a playful mood and entreating you to give her some attention. Just be very careful that your cat’s mischievous ways don’t lead to your hand being seized between her front paws.
When Your Cat Is Unfaithful
Sometimes, unintentionally, we fail to give our pet the attention she craves. We are busy, there is a deadline at work, or we are simply accustomed to her warm furry presence. We think nothing of it—but our cats are sensitive to this diminished affection and, if bored, seek it elsewhere.
Your cat may wander to another doorstep. Once there, she may meow pitifully, giving every appearance of being lost. Human hearts melt at the sight of this poor sad creature; arms and then refrigerators will open wide. Soon your cat is visiting this accommodating human on a daily basis—one day she may leave forever. Once you realize this is happening, it’s time for action. Attach a message with your phone number to your cat’s collar, and ask if anyone she is visiting could give you a call. If they do, explain your plight. Ask the well-meaning stranger if they would mind not feeding your cat. You miss her! And once she realizes home is the only place dinner is served, you hope she will return more often. If she does, it’s up to you to make home so interesting she never feels the impulse to stray again.
Cat Custody Battles
Of course, sometimes it is human relationships that break down. Your partner may leave and want to take “their” cat, or dog, with them. It’s hard at times like this to always think what’s best for the animals in our lives, because we have such strong emotional bonds with them. But they are depending on you to make the wisest decisions you can for them and their future. And every situation is different.
If a dog and cat have been living together for years, with the cat curling up in the shelter of the dog’s legs night after night, splitting them up is going to be a traumatic experience for both. Or opting for joint custody over a cat—shuttling her from place to place all the time—can be both deeply distressing and utterly unsettling for the cat.
But perhaps your cat never really did accept the overpowering newcomer and so will actually welcome their disappearance and the restoration of her territorial primacy. Only you can judge.
Cats are very patient creatures by nature, whether hunting or engaging in minor territorial disputes, like these two cats, staring very intently at each other. Ultimately, one will get up and wander away.
Caring For Your Cat Throughout The Seasons
Like all other creatures, cats who live in temperate areas of the world adjust their lives to the weather and to their changing circumstances. And we must also adapt to these changes.
There’s plenty for a kitten to investigate and learn about outdoors. Don’t be surprised if your cat hides away at first—it is just a sign of initial nervousness.
Spring
In spring your cat will shed her dense winter coat and will need frequent grooming—particularly if she is a longhair. As the weather becomes hotter, she will leave earlier in the day to stalk and play. She may climb onto that warm bench to nap blissfully in the sun while her body manufactures vitamin D—vital for health—through a biochemical process triggered by sunlight falling on her coat. But hours spent in the sun can, paradoxically, be unhealthy, particularly for cats with white fur and pink ears that are prone to sunburn and skin cancer.
If your cat has pale skin, buy her a special sunblock. You can massage that onto the tips of her ears to protect them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Don’t be tempted to use human sunblock, because it contains chemicals that can harm your pet.
Summer
Cats love to roam after dark; toms in particular can disappear during the summer, sometimes for days at a time. And your plaintive calls will mainly go unanswered because your cat has purely biological imperatives on his mind.
Neutered cats may roam less, but they, too, will feel the call of age-old instincts and long to patrol their territories and hunt for succulent rodents in the warm and inviting night. Your cat will return. But if you are worried for her safety—if you live near a busy road, for instance—try setting up a routine of tempting her home by rewarding her obedience with a succulent treat.
By fall a young cat born in spring will have gained the confidence to patrol his territory, often being quite ready to drive off any intruder she encounters.
Fall
The look of breeds such as the Maine coon starts to change dramatically at this time of year as they begin to grow their longer winter coats. Even so, as the weather becomes cooler, cats will generally start to spend longer indoors again, where it will be warmer, and they will also be less inclined to wander at night.
Young cats often seek to improve their hunting skills by chasing after leaves blowing along the ground. They will also look for signs of any rodents in search of snug winter quarters.
Winter
In winter you will see much more of your comfort-loving cat, yet whatever the breed, your cat or kitten will enjoy venturing out into the snow. If the ground is frozen solid, your cat will be unable to dig in the earth, an important element in her toilet ritual. She may soil inside your home as a result, perhaps using your potted plants as a convenient substitute. It’s time to buy a litter box!
Your cat will still hunt in winter, and this can be devastating for a bird population verging on starvation. Put a bell on her collar to warn birds when she is coming, and put out food for birds on cat-proof tables, which have a ring around them to prevent cats from climbing up.
Caring For Your Cat At Vacation Time
We all want to take time out to go on vacation, visit friends, explore exotic faraway lands, or simply chill out in the sun. But what about your cat?
Some cat owners decide the best option is to put their feline into a reliable well-run cat kennel, where she will be safe. Your cat, however, may have other ideas—particularly if you have done this before. Sensitive to changes in routine and the significance of an open suitcase, your crafty cat may simply decide to disappear. You then have two options: miss your flight or ask a friend to find your cat. The answer is to book her into the kennel a couple of days in advance so she has no idea of your true intentions.
Another option is to book a reliable pet-sitter to come and stay in your home. If you have more than one pet, this is an extremely cost-effective solution and your pet sitter can also water plants and take in the mail. Your cat will appreciate being in her own familiar surroundings, snoozing on her favorite cushion and stalking through your flower beds, and she can also entertain herself by wheedling extra treats out of this new obliging human!
If you’re just going away for the weekend, it’s fine to ask a neighbor to feed your cat, but for more extended periods of time, this could prove tricky. Your cat comes home not just for her food, but also for the companionship of her human family. And if that family’s absent, your cat is likely to amuse herself elsewhere. There’s always something to explore, or she will take time to find a warm spot in the sun, which is perfect for dozing. Neighbors can often be cajoled into letting her spend an hour or two on the sofa. But there’s always the outside chance that your cat could fall ill or have a serious car accident and your neighbor might not realize anything is wrong—until she finds your cat’s food untouched.
Of course, cats naturally miss the presence of their human families, but they don’t pine in the way that a dog does, so try not to feel guilty about going away. If you are back home in two or three weeks, your feline companion will slip naturally back into your life. It will be just as if you had never been away.
Comfortable surroundings will help your cat adapt to a temporary stay in a kennel. Check out the environment in advance to make sure you are happy.
How you treat your cat as she begins to age has a profound effect on her emotional and physical well-being. It’s all too easy to miss the imperceptible changes that will lead to problems in the senior cat. There are cats that are old at 10, and those who are still youthful at 15. Although aging is genetically predetermined, your cat’s environment has an overwhelming effect on how she ages mentally.
Keeping Her Brain Active
There’s no need to take for granted the slowing of old age in your feline. What she needs is mental stimulation, and if she receives it constantly, she can remain alert and lively for the majority of her life.
Your cat was born to hunt; she is one of nature’s supreme ambush predators. From kittenhood, if left with her mother, she is trained for the hunt. Her play with other cats, or with you, has only one goal—to ready her to slay her prey. Her reflexes are sharp, her eyesight acute, and her concentration awesome. Hunting is a demanding job guaranteed to keep your cat fit.
If a truly feral cat fails in the hunt, she will starve; wild predators must succeed or die. Because we offer our domestic cats food and shelter, they can live much longer than their feral counterparts—if your cat fails to catch a mouse, she doesn’t risk starvation. Stiffness in her limbs gradually makes her prefer the sofa to the rigors of hunting. In her prime, a tom carved out his territory and defended it from all visitors. Now he is vulnerable to younger rivals seeking to claim their first territory and he may even be injured. This can make him reluctant to patrol his territory, stroll on the lawn, or even bask in the sun. He is also less stimulated, so his mental acuity declines.
But make a real effort to play with your cat and the rewards will be astonishing. When she is 15 or 16, she may not be able to leap as she did when she was five, but you can play less physically demanding games with her. A ball rolled across the floor will grab her attention just as well as a tantalizing feather toy bouncing on a piece of elastic above her head. She may not be able to squeeze under the sofa to retrieve her ball as she gets older—but isn’t that what you’re there for? The important thing is to keep her active. This will not only improve her coordination but also her general level of fitness.
The coloration of some cats, such as this colorpoint, does alter as they grow older, with darker shading often developing on their flanks. However, black cats do not turn gray.
As cats grow older, their level of activity declines. This begins from about seven years onward, but changes tend to be subtle and are not easily noticed, particularly at first.
The Scratching Post Nutrition For Older Cats
A good diet helps stave off the physical effects of aging. “Senior” diets include antioxidants, which keep at bay free radicals that age the body, while other ingredients act as joint protectors against arthritis. Natural anti-inflammatories, such as nettle tablets, may help reduce damage and pain. Your vet will be able to prescribe a special diet if your cat starts to suffer from kidney or heart failure, suggesting foods to help ensure that your cat will enjoy a good quality of life with you for as long as possible.
Her nutritional needs are just as important, because these alter with age. There is a real risk that your cat could start becoming overweight, so be sure not to overfeed her. Special senior diets have reduced calories to take account of the lower activity level of older cats. This also helps to protect your pet from potential health problems linked with obesity, such as diabetes mellitus. Being overweight can also worsen other underlying health problems, such as arthritis.
However, the day will dawn when your cat seems stiff on waking. Years of running, leaping, and jumping powered by her hind legs will finally begin to take their toll. Even then, do not give up playing games with your pet (see Chapter 3 for more on playtime). They will still help her to stay fit and aid coordination, helping her stay mentally alert. All you need to do is adjust her routines so the games are not too energetic, and take care not to overtire her.
As her stiffness becomes general, your cat will find it hard to groom herself, and the amazing contortions and stretches she performed earlier will become difficult, and later even impossible. But felines are fastidious. They hate their thick, beautiful fur being dirty or unkempt.
Groom your cat frequently and with as much care as she would groom herself. Enjoy her pleasure and the reinforcement of the special bond that links you together. Some cats enjoy being gently massaged, and for the rheumatic senior it can bring pain relief, especially if performed with the right essential oils, (see Chapter 2 for information on massage).
Anticipating Her Needs
As jumping becomes more difficult for your cat and her eyesight becomes less acute, she may be reluctant to leap onto her favorite chair or your welcoming lap. Anticipate her needs so she can live her life as usual. If she stares and meows loudly to attract your attention when you sit down, lift and place her on your lap and put her down when she asks. (Don’t worry about leaving her on a sofa. She will find it easier to get down from there.) For her comfort, buy her a bean bag or velvet cushion. Put this in a place that catches the sun for most of the day, or by a radiator. Your cat will be drawn to this warm, safe haven, and it will become another one of her favorite places.
Your relationship with your cat develops and changes throughout her life. As she gets older, she will become more dependent on you, but in her feline heart she is still her wonderful, true self. In her dreams she still chases mice and scales big trees, and she still loves you, the person who has nurtured her from kittenhood to seniority.
And all she asks is that you love her in return.
Introducing a young kitten to an older cat may encourage your older companion to rediscover some of her youthful playfulness.
