Photo by: Pinguino K
(Flickr Creative Commons)
Consider the mysterious cat. They can be beautiful, playful companions whose gentle purr relaxes you into sleep. They can also wake you up at 3 a.m., shred your sofa, and think “outside the box” when it comes to bathroom habits. What’s a cat owner—and especially one who is new to cats—to make of all this? Well, a small group of cat lovers old and new gathered at the Germantown Public Library Thursday evening to find out. They were attending Cat Care 101, an information session sponsored by the Feline Focus Committee of the Montgomery County Humane Society and conducted by Dr. Dale Rubenstein, Montgomery County’s only board-certified feline practitioner.
Photo by: Eva101 (Flickr Creative Commons)
One attendee came with questions about the cat she “inherited” just days ago. He may or may not be 10 years old, and he seems to be overweight. Best to take him in for a check-up, Dr. Rubenstein recommended. Someone else asked about feeding routines. Is it really okay for her cats to go all day, even 12 hours, without eating, or should she leave dry food out for them? Yes, healthy adult cats really can go that long between meals, the doctor said (though I’m still trying to explain this one to our cats). Is there any risk of cats spreading disease to pregnant women? Not if you use some common sense, especially when it’s time to clean the litter box. “Wash your hands, and don’t eat poop” was the vet’s advice.
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Some more tips from Dr. Rubenstein:
• Feed canned food as your cat’s main diet, and steer clear of seafood flavors, which contain minerals that may contribute to urinary problems.
• Clean the litter box twice a day. “You don’t like a dirty litter box, well, neither does your cat.”
• Let your cat get used to her carrier in the comfort of her own home, and take her on short car rides in it (not to the vet!) to help her get used to travel.
• Get your cat microchipped in case she’s ever lost.
And the best advice of the evening? “A cat’s going to be a cat,” the doctor said. Expect them to jump on things, to go in high places, to run like crazy one moment and fall asleep the next. Just enjoy your cat for who he or she is.
For more info:
Dr. Rubenstein practices at A Cat Clinic in Germantown, MD.
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