Kittens for dummies
Book - 2004
Explains how to choose and raise a kitten, including selecting the right one, maintaining its health, understanding its psychology, and adapting your living area.
Saved in:
- Introduction
- About This Book
- Conventions Used in This Book
- What You Don't Have to Read
- Foolish Assumptions
- How This Book Is Organized
- Icons Used in This Book
- Where to Go from Here
- Part I. Your Companion for Life
- Chapter 1. Getting the Lowdown on Owning a Kitten
- Can You Fit a Kitty into Your Life?
- Keeping Kitten Healthy
- Keeping Kitten Happy
- Opening Your Home to an Orphan
- Chapter 2. Choosing the Right Kitten for You
- Living as an Innie or an Outie
- How Old Is That Kitten in the Window?
- Fluffy or Baldy?
- Considering an X or a Y Chromosome
- A Random-Bred from the Pound or Registered with Papers and a Crown?
- Picking the Right Place to Pick Out the Pick of the Litter
- Selecting the "Purr"-fect Kitten
- Chapter 3. Buying a Registered Kitten
- Looking at Purebred Registered Kittens with Pedigrees--Huh?
- Understanding What's Behind that Pedigreed Price Tag
- Matching Your Lifestyle with a Breed of Kitten
- Defining Colors and Patterns
- Locating a Registered Kitten
- Chapter 4. Adopting a Random-Bred or Special Needs Kitten
- Thinking about Adopting a Random-Bred Kitten?
- Caring for Special Needs Kittens
- Part II. Preparing for and Bringing Home Your Kitten
- Chapter 5. Making Your Kitten Comfy
- Getting the Lowdown on Litter Boxes
- Checking Out Litter Options
- Looking into Scoops
- Discovering Kitten Dinnerware
- Getting Carried Away: The Right Kitten Carrier
- Bedding Down for a Cat Nap
- Finding a Scratcher for Scratch-Along Cassidy
- Collaring Your Kitten
- Toying with Your Kitten's Affections
- Chapter 6. Welcome Home, Kitty!
- Planning Kitty's Arrival
- Coming Home
- Coaching Kids to Care for Kitties
- Coming Together with Other Animals
- Chapter 7. Providing a Meal Fit for a Kitten King
- Sniffing Out Quality Cuisine
- Dishing Up Dinner
- Deciding How Often to Ring the Dinner Bell
- Treating His Tummy
- Don't Forget the Water!
- Part III. Caring for Your Kitten
- Chapter 8. Out of Harm's Way: Ensuring Your Kitten's Safety
- Being Prepared for Emergencies
- Ensuring Safety Outside: It's a Jungle Out There
- Understanding the Perils of an Indoor Kitten
- Chapter 9. Recognizing Common Illnesses and Diseases
- Catching Kitten Colds
- Getting the Skinny on Skin Problems
- Talking about Tummy Trouble
- Getting Ticked Off at Parasites and Organisms
- Diabolically Deadly Diseases
- Knowing When to Take a Kitten to the Vet Immediately
- Chapter 10. An Ounce of Prevention
- Understanding Vaccinations: What You Don't Know Can Hurt Him
- Forget Shots, Give 'Em Tabs or Dots: Preventing Heartworms
- "Spay"ing (Or Neutering) on the Safe Side: Altering Your Kitten
- Giving Your Kitten a Monthly Exam
- The Latest in Identification and Loss Prevention
- Chapter 11. Cleanliness Is Next to Catliness
- Perfecting the Pedicure
- Brushing Up on Coat Care
- Bathing for Beauty
- Cleaning Kitty's Canines
- Chapter 12. I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane: What Should I Do?
- Leaving Kitty with a Qualified Pet Sitter
- Boarding Kitty
- Traveling with Kitty
- Part IV. Kitten Psychology: Understanding Your Furry Friend
- Chapter 13. What Did You Meow? Understanding Felinese
- Felinese 101. Kitten Vocalizations
- Felinese 201. Reading Kitten Body Language
- Chapter 14. Managing Behavior Problems
- Understanding His Antics
- Overcoming Litter Box Avoidance
- Nixing the Spraying: Spaying and Neutering
- Saving the Furniture and Walls from Kitty Claws
- Keeping Kitty off the Counters
- Dealing with Aggression
- Seeking Professional Help
- Chapter 15. Keeping Your Kitten Entertained and Out of Trouble
- Showering Him with Attention When You're Home
- Home Alone: Encouraging Safe Play While You're Away
- Part V. Welcoming the Unplanned Kitten
- Chapter 16. Rescuing an Older Kitten in Need
- Capturing the Kitten Safely
- Making Your New Friend Comfy
- Finding the Stray's Family
- Chapter 17. Critical Care for Orphans
- Making the Rescue
- First Things First: Setting Up Your Home and Seeing a Vet
- The Responsibilities of Being Mom
- Weighing In on His Progress
- Chapter 18. Combating Health and Behavior Concerns Common to Orphans
- Looking at the Main Health Risks for Orphans
- Addressing Orphan Behavior
- Losing Your Bottle Baby
- Chapter 19. All Grown Up: What Should I Do?
- Enrolling in Kitten Kindergarten
- Finding Him a Home of His Own
- Part VI. The Part of Tens
- Chapter 20. Ten Common Kitten Emergencies and How to Deal with Them
- Freeing Foreign Objects from the Airway
- Dealing with Bleeding Cuts
- Treating Animal Bites
- Soothing Burns
- Handling Electrocution
- Counteracting Poison
- Treating Trauma
- Calming a Kitten in Shock
- Surviving Seizures
- Taking the Bite out of Frostbite
- Chapter 21. Ten Ways to Bond with Your Kitten
- Dining Together
- Treating Him like a Special Kitten
- Offering Her a Little (Cat)Nip
- Massaging Your Kitten
- Grooming with a Soft Brush
- Sleeping with Your Furry Friend
- Disciplining with Love
- Going Fishing with Your Kitten
- Making the Bed
- Playing with the Irresistible Pheasant Feather
- Index