Moore - Keeping Your Indoor Cat Happy & Healthy

Arden Moore

My first cat, Corky, was an adventurous Siamese who came to my whistle, swam with my familys two dogs, and brought me a few birds as birthday presents. I was 12 and living in a rural Indiana neighborhood with a lake in the backyard. As soon as I stepped off the school bus each afternoon, Id let out a loud whistle and Corky would come running down the street to greet me. In the middle of the night, when Corky finished prowling and wanted to come inside, he would meow outside my bedroom window. I would lift up the screen and watch him hop inside and find a comfy spot at the foot of my bed.

Cats and dogs ran free all over the neighborhood without ID tags and rarely with collars. All of us knew all the dogs and cats by name. And we knew who owned them. We never worried about them getting hit by cars, getting lost, or harming anyone.

Times have changed. Its rare that we know all the neighbors in our block, let alone their pets name. Many of us live in apartments, town-houses, or homes with little or no yards. With fast-moving cars, stray dogs, fleas and ticks, and people who abuse animals, the great outdoors isnt so safe anymore for free-roaming cats.

The safest and best place for cats these days is right inside your home. As much as I loved the freedom that Corky had 30 years ago, Im glad that my latest bunch Little Guy, Callie, and Murphy live safely inside my southern California home. The truth is, they run the place. Its become a cat castle.

Some 72 million American households include cats. Of them, nearly 80 percent of owners brag about their beloved cats, according to the latest survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. And 79 percent fess up that they allow their cats to sleep on their beds at night, and 27 percent celebrate their catsbirthday.

Lets admit it: We adore these felines. And we want to keep them healthy and happy for a long, long time. In this booklet, Ill show you how to turn your house into a cat haven, a place of fun, security, and contentment. Read on!

Why Indoors Is Best

Roaming cats face an increased risk of injury and exposure to infectious diseases. Indoor cats live longer than their outdoor counterparts. Statistics from the Humane Society of the United States indicate that the cat who makes his home outside lives to be five, on average. Cats kept inside can live into their early 20s.

When was the last time you had a conversation with your cat? No, Im not talking about those one-sided conversations like, Come here, Toby, its time for your medicine or Bikini, get down from the top of the TV. Two-way communication is important to maintain between you and your cat. These social creatures deserve and occasionally demand your attention. The happiest housebound cats are those who feel like part of the family. So speak with your cat often. Greet her when you come home. Acknowledge her when you stride past her on the way to the kitchen. Let her know that she matters in your life.

Speak in soothing, flattering tones so she wont feel neglected. And always use your cats name each time you begin a conversation with her. It helps her recognize her name and, more importantly, she learns to associate hearing you speak her name with good experiences such as receiving praise, getting a friendly head scratch, or being offered tasty treats.

As silly as it may sound, try mimicking your cats sounds once in awhile. When your cat meows at you, she may be asking, Hey, did you see that bird perched on the power line across the street? Give her a half-wink look and meow back. Dont worry if your meow translates into Yes, it is a sunny day. Words can get lost in the translation, but not your good intentions. Your cat will appreciate even your most feeble attempts at Cat Speak.

Cats dont need to speak English. Their simple language suits them just fine, thank you. But if you pay close attention, youll discover that cats communicate clearly through different vocal sounds and body language. Unlike us, cats dont clutter their vocabularies with slang, double meanings, or sarcasm.

Dont forget how a cat communicates the most: through her body language. If she rubs against your leg and you know she will she is marking you. Its her friendly way of telling other scent-skilled animals, Hey, this is mine. Dont worry. Its a form of feline flattery.

Pay attention to her tail. She uses it as mood barometer. When it is held loosely upright during a walk, she is signaling confidence and contentment. When she flicks the tip of her tail at you, she is conveying, Hello, my good pal. A light twitching motion means relaxed alertness. On the other hand, when the tail puffs out like a pipe cleaner, she feels spooked and frightened. And when the tail whips side to side or thumps repeatedly on the floor, she is definitely irked and angered by something or someone.

Whether speaking or using body cues, cats always communicate directly and never play mind games. As novelist Lewis Carroll wrote, You might not like what they have to say, but cats will never deceive you.

They are certainly not shy in expressing what they want. When the sun pokes up above the horizon each morning, my cats line up at the foot of my bed and begin full-throttled purrs followed by a three-part harmony of me-OWS (accent is on the second syllable). The minute I open an eye, Callie, the ringleader, nudges my pillow up with her head. Its their direct way of reminding me that its time for their spoonfuls of wet cat food (a once-a-day event). Obediently, I stumble into the kitchen and prepare their breakfasts. This ritual occurs every morning, rain or shine. Theyve communicated and trained me well.

You can make your home fit for a cat without spending a lot of money, whether you live in a penthouse, a ranch home, a basement apartment, or a townhouse in the city, suburbs, or country. All you have to do is help your cats feel like they belong, like they are viable members of the household. They need their own spaces. You can claim the couch and the recliner; they have dibs on the scratching post and the top shelf of the bookcase.

A cat with its tail held high and head up is happy, confident, and glad to see you.

What Did You Say?

Here are a few translations of your cats communication:

Meow. Your cat delivers this sound when she demands your attention. She may be saying, Come see me play now! or Its late. Where have you been all night?

Chirp. This musical trilling sound ends in a question mark. It conveys a friendly greeting given only to people, not other cats. It can mean Welcome home or I just woke up from my nap and its really good to see you.

Purr. Cats have the unique skill of breathing in and out while making this engine revving sound with their mouths closed. Cats purr when they are happy like during a massage and, strangely, when they confront a stressful situation, such as a vet visit.

Hiss. Your cat is plainly telling you to back off. If the warning is unheeded, a defensive swipe of the paw likely will follow.

Cat-pleasing household items to consider include the following: