Chapter 2: Part 2B:
the daily routine of cats

unwanted kittens


The most humane way of (disposing of unwanted kittens is to take them from the mother as soon as possible after birth and have your vet or local ASPCA put them to sleep. If you wait until the mother cat has begun to get used to them and care for them, you'll have a mighty unhappy pet to account to for your heartlessness in breaking up the home.

Once the little family is established it's only fair to the mother to wait until weaning time, about eight weeks. Then ask your humane society to find the kittens a home or ... well, look those babies straight in their faces and decide for yourself.

the old cat

Another painful moment comes when the well-loved pet reaches the end of its allotted span. Much as you may want to prolong an old association, it may be that illness or infirmity is making the cat's life difficult. Each cat owner must choose for himself the best course to follow, but it should be known and understood that modern drugs are swift, painless and mercifully efficient.

feeding your cat

Feeding a cat properly is largely a matter of using good sense. What man has learned about the values of the food he eats applies pretty generally to cats, too. They need proteins, vitamins, minerals and the rest. Almost any food rich in these elements is good for the cat -- if she likes it and doesn't have to eat too much to get the essential benefits.

This may horrify the purists. There are many cat owners and experts who supervise their animals' intake right down to the last drop of vitamin concentrate, and many who obey such long-standing taboos as no starches, no vegetables, no table scraps, and so on.

This shows consideration for the cat and will do her no harm. Indeed, the majority of cats so fed are undoubtedly strong and healthy. The point is, though, that successful results can also be achieved with less attention to detail and more to the general effect of your cat's diet on her appearance and vitality. A healthy cat is neither fat nor thin. Her eyes are bright, her fur is thick and shiny and she is as active as her age allows. You do not need to know much to keep her that way. Some general points first It's almost impossible to say how much or how often a cat should be fed. This must be worked out with the individual cat. Try only to avoid the extremes of over- and underfeeding. This is not so easy as it sounds. Cats are interested in food and eating -- yours as well as theirs. No matter how well they may have dined, or how recently, they will sit staring wistfully whenever people eat. The temptation to share with them is strong, but resist it. It is no favor to your cat to let her get fat and flabby from overeating. At the same time, don't think that because she has caught a mouse she's through eating for the day. There is food value in all the creatures a cat catches, but in these civilized times it is difficult for her to snare enough of them to keep herself adequately fed. Remember, too, that hunting is hard work. No cat can do it well on an empty stomach. Feed your cat at regular times each day, and keep her bowl in the same place. Serve her food at room temperature, and always keep fresh water available to her. Cats have been known to like, and thrive on, so many unusual items that few foods can be ruled out absolutely. It seems to be agreed, though, that salted or spiced meats are not good; that pork in all its varieties is probably the least satisfactory meat; that a small amount of vegetables goes a long way; that any bone which splinters is deadly and must be avoided; and that candy and cake are less than ideal. What's good? Practically anything else the cat will eat. Lean, raw meat is most attractive. Beef, lamb, veal, poultry are all dandy, if you can afford them. Horsemeat, frozen or canned, is just as healthy -- and cheaper. Pork is possible, but should be cooked. Fish is fine, but it, too, should be cooked -- and boned. Perhaps more than anything else cats relish innards -- liver, kidneys, heart, lung, gizzard. Unless you are a giblet fancier yourself, these items are a fairly inexpensive way to give your cat a de luxe diet without cutting into your own menu. Beef heart and lung, in particular, are pieces for which most butchers are willing to charge little or nothing. Also chicken heads -- if you can stand them. Serve all of these things raw. Prepared cat foods are nutritious and tasty, although you may have to discover which flavors your cat prefers. The main thing is to avoid monotony. Alternate prepared meat, fish and cereal dishes with horse-meat and innards, or whatever serves as a special treat at your house. Your cat does not need a different dish at every meal, but she will appreciate variety and, in fact, will probably require it to guarantee that her diet is properly balanced. She will need a raw egg two or three times a week to brighten up her fur. And an occasional spoonful of green vegetable -- spinach, parsley, lettuce -- will help keep her vitamin intake up. Again, serve raw, and without seasoning. Ideally, the vegetables should be mixed with a food the cat is very fond of. Normally she won't eat vegetables straight. For their medicinal quality rather than their food value, it is wise to include a little garlic and a little mineral or vegetable oil in a cat's bill of fare. Garlic is insurance against worms in the intestinal tract, and the oil helps prevent the formation of hair bails in the stomach. The garlic -- about half a clove -- can be mashed and mixed with the cat's dinner once every couple of weeks. The oil may be mixed or given straight. The oil in a sardine can meets the need very well. Despite tradition, milk is not necessarily a favorite food of adult cats. They may drink it occasionally or disdain it completely. Either way, don't fuss about it. Grown-up cats will get the same values elsewhere. You may discover, usually by accident, that your cat has a taste for something unheard of -- perhaps grapes or peanut butter or Münster cheese. If so, indulge her every once in a while. It won't hurt her. feeding kittens The feeding of kittens is a little more complicated, mostly because attention must be paid to the frequency and amount of their meals. The mother cat normally does the job very nicely for the first month. Your only contribution will be to see that she is herself well fed, both during pregnancy and after the young ones have arrived. She will need bone-building calcium and muscle-building proteins in particular, and more water than usual while she is nursing. If her milk supply seems insufficient you can supplement the kittens' diet with a small amount of slightly warmed, watered-down milk (unsweetened evaporated milk is easier to digest than milk with a high fat content). By the time kittens are a month old they can begin to eat solids and should be encouraged to do so. Eggs, milk, fine-ground beef or horsemeat, or the various human baby foods containing meat are ideal for small, growing cats. It's also not too early to start introducing them to garlic. Up to two months, the kittens should eat about four meals a day, at regular intervals. Quantities are small perhaps a tablespoon of meat or half a jar of baby food at each meal, plus a shot or two of milk or milk-egg mixture. After two months, the meals can be reduced to three (and eventually to two) a day, but quantities should be increased until the cat is getting slightly over a third of a pound of meat at each feeding. As noted, the amount may vary, depending on the cat. Whatever keeps her in fine fettle is just right for her. If you're in doubt, however, consult your vet. Go to: Chapter 2 Part 3: Sickness & Health

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