Articles

Cat Introductions 101: It's All About Patience!

cat

A lot of people expect cat introductions to be “difficult” – after all, cats tend to be solitary creatures, possessive of their territory and resources, right? Not always! Think about it – feral cats often live in colonies, in a combined effort to exploit food resources, protect their members, and even communally raise kittens. So shouldn’t our domestic kitties be able to get along together, living in peace within a family? Yes! They can, and they do.

Categories: 

  • Cat Introductions

Kids and Cats Together: 7 Things to Know

cat

The relationship between a cat and a child can be a celebratory union that leads to a deep lifetime friendship. On the flip side, the interaction between a feline and young human can be fraught with complication and even physical struggle. Children often fail to read signals from the cat asking for space, and the result can be scratches and bites, with both cat and child upset and frightened. It's not only falling toddlers or overly friendly 4-year-olds who can have poor interactions with cats; it happens with children of all ages, into the teen years. The stakes of how an interaction goes are high for the physical safety and emotional well-being of both the child and the cat.

Categories: 

  • Resources

Cats & Kids

cat

It’s very common for families to want to add companion animals to their home, especially if they have children. However, some homes are small, and some families may not have time to care for a dog or may include members who are allergic to dogs — making cats a common (and wonderful!) choice.

Categories: 

  • Cats and Kids

Introducing Dogs and Cats

dogs and cats

Although dogs and cats are often portrayed as enemies, if introduced carefully, they can actually get on extremely well. If either pet or both have lived with the other in a previous home, then the introduction process is likely to be easier. However it is still a good idea to take things slowly by following the advice in this leaflet – a gentle introduction is far safer than a rushed one, and will hopefully result in both pets becoming good friends.

Categories: 

  • Cats and Dogs

How to Introduce a Dog to a Cat

dog and cat

Some dogs do fine living with cats; others simply cannot live safely with felines. Sometimes, a dog can live with certain cats (depending on their age, temperament and activity level), but not others. Even if your dog has successfully lived with cats in the past, it is important to remember that each dog and each cat is an individual and therefore each introduction is different.

Categories: 

  • Cats and Dogs

We Asked, You Answered: What's Your Best Advice You'd Give First Time Cat Owners?

cat

There are many ways to prepare a first-time cat owner for bringing a feline friend into her life. We know our readers have plenty of experience — and advice — to share as well, so we took to Facebook and asked our fans: What's the one piece of advice you'd offer someone getting their first cat? Many of the responses are serious, and a few are tongue in cheek (likeConnie Scharbor's advice: "Get ready to lose your authority"), but truly, though this isn't an exhaustive list, there is so much good advice that we just have to share.

Categories: 

  • New Cat Owner Tips

Pages

Subscribe to Articles