Arden Moore - A Kids Guide to Cats: How to Train, Care for, and Play and Communicate with Your Amazing Pet!

Arden and Casey

Cats are cool. You know it. I know it. And cats certainly know it!

Ever since I was eight years old, Ive been fortunate to always have a cat or two in my life. My childhood cat, Corky, was a friendly, adventurous Siamese. He joined me each time I fished off the pier in our backyard lake in Crown Point, Indiana. He loved eating bluegill fish I caught. He also enjoyed swimming with our two dogs to the raft in the middle of our small lake. When we kids were done swimming, I would place Corky back in the water and he would happily paddle back to shore, using his long tail as a rudder. Once back on land, Corky shook each wet paw and found a sunny spot to finish grooming.

Since Corky, Ive had cats named Samantha, Murphy, Callie, Little Guy (a.k.a. Dude), Zeki, Mikey, Mort, and now Casey. Each one had a different purr-sonality, and each one made my life a bit better. And I know the special cat in your life does the same.

All cats deserve to feel safe, learn, and spend time with their favorite person you! Casey and I are here to give you what you need to become your cats best friend, whether you just got a new kitty or you have had a cat in the family for a long time. Time to unleash the learning and fun activities!

Paws up!

Meet Casey

Your feline guide throughout this book is Pet Safety Cat Casey. He is a comical, confident orange tabby whom I adopted from the San Diego Humane Society when he was just four months old. This long, lean purring machine charms everyone he meets and that includes other cats and dogs!

Casey also loves to learn. He has aced how to come on cue, sit, sit up, touch paws to say hello, and do a 360-degree slow spin. He walks nicely on a leash and sits tall and proud inside a pet stroller as I push it. Hes even willing to sport a cowboy hat or a bow tie when required.

Casey is always game to explore new places. Together we have traveled to 12 states to give our pet first-aid classes and pet behavior talks. Locally, he visits kids at animal shelter critter camps and seniors at memory-care centers as a certified therapy cat. Look for Caseys tips throughout the pages of this book, as he has a lot of good things to meow about!

Whether you are about to adopt your first cat or are curious to learn more about the fine feline who already shares your home, one thing is clear: having a cat in your life offers you many benefits and can teach you important life lessons.

How do cats make your life better? For starters, a cat can be your BFF (thats best feline friend) who purrs on your lap and patiently listens to whatever you want to discuss. She can be there to comfort you when you are having a rough day or to cuddle with you when you are in bed getting over a cold.

Have you heard the saying Laughter is the best medicine? A cat can make you laugh out loud, especially when she is zooming around the house or playing inside an empty box or waiting in the bathtub for you to turn on the faucet so it goes drip-drip-drip. Its hard to feel sad or lonely when you have a cat to amuse and entertain you.

A cat can also teach you an important skill: patience. Because cats tend to be solitary in nature and many are somewhat shy, youll learn to wait and chill out until your kitty is ready to play. Youll learn to approach her slowly and speak in a calm voice, so shell want to hang out rather than dash from the room because youve startled her. Learning to zero in on her feelings and needs is good practice for being thoughtful of others, too.