Kitten & Cat Rescue - Saving one cat may not change the world, but it will surely change the world of one cat.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
 

Q: My kitten/cat is scratching my furniture. What do I do?

A: When this occurs, do not punish your cat by swatting or hitting. Cats don't understand why you are doing this and they won't learn not to scratch the furniture, instead they will learn to do it when you aren't around and they will learn not to trust you.

Try this instead:

First, make sure you have something that the kitten/cat is allowed to scratch on. Cats need to scratch on something by nature, to help shed old layers of claws and it helps to relax them. Cats also like to stretch while they scratch, so a tall cat tree is preferred. If space is a concern, there are many alternatives. Look in your local pet supply store for options. Most cats especially love scratching on sisal rope and carpet.

Second, pay close attention when you are around, and as soon as your cat begins scratching something undesired, firmly say, 'No' and quickly pick up the cat and take him/her to the object which they are allowed to scratch on. The cat will probably be confused at first, and probably won't scratch the post right away, but keep doing this. Eventually they will learn.

Tricks to try:

  1. When you take your cat to the scratching post, make scratching noises on the post using your own fingers/nails.
  2. When your cat uses the scratching post, praise the cat immediately with petting and "good kitty" so the cat learns that using the scratching post means positive attention.
  3. Try rubbing catnip into the scratching post. Not all cats respond to catnip but for those that do, it's a good motivator.
  4. If you have a tall cat tree, try throwing a toy on a shelf to entice your kitty to climb the tree. If he/she does, offer lots of praise.

Most importantly, be consistent. Your cat will not become trained overnight, but you can train your cat. In our experience using the above methods, most kitties are trained in about a week or two.
 

Q: Wouldn't it be easier if I just declaw my cat?

A: We do not recommend declawing cats. The procedure entails amputating (cutting off) the first knuckle of each of your cat's toes, which is inhumane. Visit Declawing.com for more information.

 

In the first picture, you can see where the cat's toe is cut off.

Declaw Cat

This would be the equivelent of someone cutting off the first digit of all of your fingers.

Declaw Human

Please don't do this to your cat.

There is a high complication rate associated with this procedure and there are humane ways to train your cat not to scratch on your funtiture (see FAQ above).
 

Q: What do I need to have if I bring a new kitten or cat home?

A: The basic necessities you should have for your new feline are:

  • Food and bowl
  • Water and bowl
  • Litter pan
  • Litter
  • Scratching post
  • Kitty toys
 

Q: How do I introduce my new cat or kitten into a household with existing pets?

A: Introducing a new pet to your home takes some patience.

The easiest way to bring your new cat or kitten home is to make sure the cat is in a carrier when you bring it home, so it feels secure. It's best if you have a designated separate room or area for your new kitty to be separated from other pets for the first night at least. It's best to not introduce your new pet directly to your other pets at first, because it can cause some stress for your new kitten and your current pets, and you never know how they will react.

Make sure that your new kitten or cat is comfortable in its new area, and try to leave something that belongs to your other pet in the room with the new kitten for that night. A toy or blanket is best, so that your new kitten can get familiar with the smell of the other animals in the house before they even meet.

If after the first night your kitty seems happy and is eating and playing normally, try introducing your kitty to a larger part of your home in its carrier. Put the kitty in the middle of the room and let the other animals in your home see and smell the new kitty and get acquainted with it.

You know your pets best, so if your other dog or cat is eager to meet new kitty, and new kitty is not acting stressed, take kitty out and hold it in your lap while your other animals introduce themselves. This process may not happen overnight, but different types of animals can definitely co-exist peacefully!

Just have patience and an open mind, and hopefully your new kitty and your current pets will become fast friends!

 

Q: How do I switch my cat or kitten to a different food?

A: Felines have sensitive digestive systems so switching over to different foods should be done gradually. When adopting a new pet, be sure to find out what kind of food they are currently eating so you can buy the same type, and then if you prefer a different brand, gradually change it over.
 

Q: What kind of flea control should I use on my cat?

A: We use and recommend Advantage.Please check with your vet before using any product.

We do not recommend flea collars or over-the-counter flea treatments. We have first-hand knowledge of some of these products causing seizures or death of our animals. Before purchasing any product, research it online or ask your vet.
 

Q: How often should I bathe my cat?

A: Unlike dogs, cats usually do not require baths. Cats are very clean animals and do a very good job of bathing themselves, and sometimes even bathe each other.

Generally the only time bathing a cat is necessary is in situations like these:

  • Your cat is unusually dirty
  • Your cat has gotten into something which is unsafe for them to lick off thier fur and ingest
  • Your cat has peed or otherwise dirtied themselves
  • Your cat has a medical condition and a vet has recommended bathing the cat
  • Your cat has many mattes in the fur. Sometimes mattes are easier to comb out if the cat is wet. Please do not try to cut out severely matted fur on your own and take your cat to a groomers instead.

If you bathe your cat, please also remember to dry your cat off. Towel dry as much as possible and follow up with a hair dryer if the cat allows it.
 

Q: I can no longer keep my cat. What are my options?

A: There seems to be an infinite number of situations that arise that cause people to feel that they can no longer keep their pet(s). Here are some things to consider when thinking about giving up your pet.

Are you considering taking your cat to a shelter and relinquishing ownership?
Facts:
According to the American Humane organization, 56% f dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized.
According to the ASPCA the numbers are 60% of dogs and 70% of cats entering shelters are euthanized.

What does this mean to you? It means that chances are good that if you drop your cat off at a shelter, you are dropping him or her off to be killed. That's stating it bluntly, but it's the truth. If you think that your cat is so adorable and friendly that surely YOUR cat will be adopted....think again.

When cats are taken to shelters, their personalities often change. They get depressed, feeling abandoned, in a strange place with strange people. Cats often withdraw. Many times people mistake these previous happy-go-lucky cats, with ferals. Why? Because the cats are afraid and people perceive their behavior as unfriendly.

**We do not recommend taking your pet to a shelter.**

Are you moving and the new place does not accept pets?
We urge you to find a home that accepts pets. There are so many vacant affordable apartments and homes today, and many accept small pets. If you find a place you like that does not accept pets, talk to the owner or property manager to see if they will make an exception for you. If not, keep looking. You CAN find a place to rent that accepts pets (we know because many of our volunteers rent their homes and have pets with permission of the owner/property management).

Food for thought: If you found an apartment you LOVED and they said it was an adult only community and you have children, would you give your children away to the county? You might be laughing and thinking this is outrageous...yet many people do this same thing with their pets. A pet is part of your family too.

Are you thinking about trying to call no-kill shelters or rescues to see if they can take your cat?
Most no-kill shelters and rescues are full, all the time. There is a very slim chance that you may find one to take your cat, but chances are not good. When relinquishing a pet, most no-kill shelters require you to live in the same city or county as the shelter.

Rescues receive many calls every day from people wanting to give up ownership of their pets. Unfortunately, both no-kill shelters and rescues must turn people away by the hundreds because they don't have enough space to house that many pets.

I'm in transition and may not have a home for a couple of months.
Consider boarding your pet. This may not be ideal in the short-term, but long-term, your cat will thank you for doing what it takes to keep them as part of your family. There are many places to board your cat that are affordable.
Please note that if you drop your cat off for boarding, and in the future you stop paying for boarding, your cat may end up at a shelter.
Another option is to ask friends and family to care for your pet until you are back on your feet.

Best Option: Find a way to keep your cat.
Where there's a will, there's a way.

Second-Best Option: Find a new home for your cat.
You can check with friends and family to see if anyone is willing to take your cat.

You can also place ads for your cat to place it up for adoption. We have had very good luck finding adopters on Craigslist. Here are some tips when creating your ad:

  1. Give yourself plenty of lead time. Full grown cats take longer to find homes for than kittens. On average, we place very young kittens in a week or two. Older kittens take up to a month or two to place. Adult cats take from 2-6 months on average to find new homes for. Take this into consideration and start advertising as early as you can. Don't wait until the last minute.
  2. Take good photos and include as many photos as possible of your kitty. People will often fall in love with a cat just because of the photo.
  3. Include your cat's name.
  4. Describe your cat's personality and any quirks he/she has. Tell a story about your cat. Let people get to know your cat based on your ad. Why is your cat different than other cats?
  5. Charge an adoption fee (minimum $25). You may be tempted to give the cat away FREE. Please don't. There are people that pick up "FREE" animals for testing or performing cruel acts on.
  6. Talk to the potential adopters and make sure you are comfortable with them.