Page 209 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

Showing your cat the ropes WHAT’S MY NAME? INTRODUCTIONS
Part of your cat’s acclimatization involves introducing him to Think carefully about what you When showing a new cat to
a child, always keep hold of
the essential elements of his new life: his basket, the litter box, are going to call your cat. Cats him. Children need to learn
feeding area, and scratching post. Make sure that these are in respond best to short, one- or how to handle a pet, so let
two-syllable names. Make sure it
easily accessible places but are away from busy areas of the them follow your example.
sounds different from the names
house. It is best to start with the litter box—with any luck your of any other pets or even
cat will use it right away. If the box is in a separate room, make members of the family, so that
he will learn to recognize his own
sure that he can always get to it. Feeding bowls should be put
name and come when called.
in a place where it is easy to clean up any spills.
Meeting the residents Start as you mean to continue
It will be hard to keep small children away from something Establish the ground rules from the outset, especially
as exciting and cute as a new cat or kitten. However, too about feeding and sleeping. If you give your cat morsels
much yelling, shrieking, and rushing around may frighten from your plate, for example, he will always expect tidbits
your cat, so make sure they understand this. Show them and may even refuse his own food. Make sure everyone
how to hold your cat correctly (p.216) and let them stroke in the house knows and sticks to the rules. A cat will
or cuddle him, but if he starts looking unhappy, then be not understand if you allow him to do something one
swift to intervene and take control—a nasty scratch could day but not the next.
put a child off of their new pet for a long while. Perhaps
think about providing children with an activity or treat
that will keep them out of the way for an hour or two after BEDTIME RULES
they have been introduced to their new pet, so as not If you allow your
to overwhelm him. Also, make them aware that what they new cat to sleep on
your bed at night,
leave on the floor could be dangerous to their new kitten—
that is where he will
such as small toys—and that they will need to look where always expect to
they’re going from now on to avoid stepping on him. sleep in the future.