PROLOGUE
Before you start reading this review, allow me to make a few points clear:
This review is about knowing and caring for pet cats and does not deal with a magazine called The Cat. The reason I put this review here is because no category exists for pets or general advice on pets on MS, and inspite of requesting for one, it was turned down. I fail to understand why, since there seems to be a category for literally anything under the sun on MS, except pets! For eg. there are categories like ''Choosing gifts for 11-15 year olds'', ''Caring of dry hands and feet'', ''Filling out application forms'', but no category for a simple ''General Advice on keeping pets'' or ''How to care for a pet''...strange! Anyways, this review is for new cat owners or curious people who want to know more about cats and what its like living with a cat!
THE STORY
I was never a pet person, we never had pets at home except for three parrots a long time ago. My next tryst with a pet came when I came to Dubai. It was not out of choice, because the house I share here, already had TWO pet cats! I was quite apprehensive at the beginning, not knowing how to deal with cats..but soon changed my mind!
The female, called Meow, is an anti-social. She prefers isolation and makes her presence felt only during meal times. All other times, she makes herself unapproachable and aloof. I wouldnt want to give her too much space here! The male cat, Homer, is a total darling. He and I share a special rapport. He may not know my language, nor do I know his, but we have both secured first class degrees in corresponding very successfully through the universal language called LOVE!Here are a few tips n tricks that I have gathered about cats from Homer, that could help anyone interested in them:
# Cats depend a lot on their noses. Sniffing something, including food or even us humans, is the easiest way for them to decide if its safe enough to indulge.
# Cats love personal hygiene. They religiously groom themselves almost every 15 minutes by giving themselves a thorough tongue lick! Yes, it might sound disgusting, but they use their tongues to clean every inch of their fur and bodies!
# Cats are adorably affectionate. If dogs are a mans best friend, then cats are not far behind! A cat may not miss you much if you are not home for a couple of days, but when it does feel like being loved, it will rub against you and caress you in every way possible!
# Cats love discipline. From daily meals to play time, a cat will inform you in its own way if you forget. If one forgets its food time, the cat will linger around near its bowl while trying to make eye contact with you. Similarly, if you play routinely with cat at a specific time and forget once, it will hover around you trying to coax you into a game.
# Cats are notorious for being in the way of us humans or making us step on them. This is not intentional, normally it is just the way cats show their affection. A cat loves rubbing the side of its face against a leg or a knee. It spreads a certain chemical this way, and it means that the cat has marked you as ''trustworthy'' or it needs some cuddling and caressing.
# Some cats like to be touched and fondled, some dont. If you decide to touch a cranky cat, it will either end up in you getting scratched or being snarled at.On the other hand, if you touch a cat who loves to be touched, be prepared to hear it purr, and nudge its face against you and make the most adorable gestures with its beautiful eyes. The best way is to spend a few minutes judging what kinda cat it is, before making your move.
# Cats like to rest at a height. This is why you will find a cat on top of a wardrobe, on the TV or wherever it is a little elevated, than on the floor. The reason for this is because they get a birds eye view, and most importantly, they get a sense of safety being somewhere high.
# Cats have sensitive tails, which convey many messages. For eg. when a cat is annoyed, his tail will swish from side to side constantly, and if his tail points straight up, it means he needs some love from you! If you step on a cats tail, no doubt the cat will paw you.
# Cats rest or sleep 90% of the time.Yes, cats are lazy and nap a lot..Garfield is a good example! However, a cat lazing around with eyes closed will have its all powerful ears ready to pick up any stray or unusual noise as it sleeps. Cats rarely sleep in a totally unconcious state.
# Cats shed their fur on a regular basis.To prevent this natural occurence and consequently prevent your dark clothes from getting stuck with cat hair, it is best to give them a good brushing every few days.
# Cats hate water.I do not know a specific reason for this, but even a few drops is enough to make most of them scamper to safer territory. Cats should be given thorough baths nevertheless, but restrict it to once every few months or so.
# Cats are notorious for scratching everything from humans to sofa covers. This is not intentional, it is just a craving for them as their nails grow. To avoid this, it is best to trim their nails with a clipper! Ofcourse, declawing them is another option, but an inhumane one.
# Cats have their breeding seasons, but if you want to avoid this, the best thing to do is have the male cat neutered. This doesnt kill his drive to be naughty, it just ensures he doesnt overdo it!
# Cats can be toilet trained to perfection. We have two cats, but just one toilet corner for them, and it is heartening to sometimes see one cat wait in queue outside the toilet if the other cat is busy inside! However, since they are ultra hygienic animals, it is mandatory to keep cleaning up the cat litter atleast once a day. If a cat finds the corner unclean, it will not pee or poo there!
# Cats are carnivores. The easiest way to feed them is to get cat food satchets from your local supermarket. A hearty cat meal once a day normally suffices. Keep a permanent, somewhat secluded area for their food and water bowl. During summer, drop an ice cube in the water bowl and enjoy the grateful nudges your cat will give you!
# Cats are very safe pets to keep, but it is good to annually immunize them with an injection/tablet from the vet, to prevent rabies or any other infection. Avoid letting your cat out of your house/flat as much as possible to keep your house and the cat clean and disease free. Cats do not need to be taken out for walks like dogs do.
EPILOGUE
I have grown to love cats, and specifically Homer, to bits. After a tiring day at work, when I come home, there might not be anyone to welcome me, or whoever is there might be just watching TV, but Homer is sure to dart to the door as soon as I turn the door handle and nuzzle and caress me until I pick him up and molest him with his full consent. Similarly, in the morning, the first thing that both of us need is a warm hug from each other, only then can the morning start! He does get naughty at times, and tries to paw me or sometimes even scratches me a little, but hey, even cats have their bad days!
I hope this review has given you all a good insight on cats and what it is to live with them, and if you arent a cat lover yet, hopefully you will become one soon!
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