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Resources for Cat Owners
Whether you are a new cat owner or a seasoned veteran, every cat has a unique personality, history, and needs. Below are some tips and resources to ensure your cat can live its best life!
Ages & Stages
The average domestic cat lives ~14 years, with many cats living 18-20 years! With each stage of life, a cat's behavior can change. Here's what you can expect as your kitty grows!
Feeding Your Cat:
Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition
Lisa A. Pierson, DVM
Diet is the foundation of health. On her website, Dr. Pierson discusses principles of feline nutrition and explains why cats have a better chance at optimal health if they are fed canned food (or a balanced homemade diet) instead of dry kibble. Putting a little thought into what you feed your cat(s) can pay big dividends over their lifetime and potentially help them avoid serious, painful, and costly illnesses.
With Forgotten Felines, our kitties are offered canned food in addition to kibble every day. To learn more on the benefits of canned food, check out Dr. Pierson's website:
Your Cat's Health
Just as in humans, there are many viruses that can affect cats. With names like FIV, FIP, and FeLV, it's easy to get them confused, and there are a lot of misconceptions about the impact of these viruses on a cat's health. Below are the basics you should know if your cat tests positive for one of these viruses!
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the most common viruses in cats around the world. FIV is primarily spread through bite wounds from an infected cat. Casual, non-aggressive contact, such as sharing food/water bowls or mutual grooming, does not appear to be an efficient route of spreading the virus. FIV attacks a cat's immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to other infections. Though there is no cure for FIV, recent studies suggest that cats with FIV commonly live average life spans, as long as they are not also infected with feline leukemia virus. Because most illness in FIV-infected cats is the result of secondary infections, it is very important that cats be promptly evaluated and treated when any signs of illness occur. These cats may require longer or more intense treatments and courses of antibiotics than cats without FIV. For routine procedures such as dental therapy or surgery, antibiotics may be recommended to help prevent secondary infections from taking hold.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) affects 2-3% of all cats in the US, with significantly higher infection rates (up to 30%) in cats that are ill or otherwise at high risk. FeLV is a retrovirus, meaning it can be incorporated into a cat’s genome and may not be cleared over time. The infected cats shed infectious viral particles in saliva, feces, urine, and milk. Any close contact among cats can spread FeLV, including bite wounds, mutual grooming, or shared food dishes and litter boxes. FeLV can also be passed from an infected mother to her kittens. FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body, so it is unlikely for a cat to be infected without prolonged close contact with an infected cat. While a diagnosis of FeLV can be scary, some cats with FeLV live normal lives for prolonged periods of time. The average survival time for cats after diagnosis is 2.5 years, but this can be longer for cats who have a regressive infection. Careful monitoring of weight, appetite, activity level, elimination habits, appearance of the mouth and eyes, and behavior is an important part of managing FeLV.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral illness of cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus. Most strains are found in the gut - feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), and do not cause significant disease. Cats infected with FeCV may occasionally experience brief bouts of diarrhea and/or mild upper respiratory signs from which they recover spontaneously. In ~10% of cats infected with FeCV, mutations of the virus can alter its behavior, resulting in white blood cells becoming infected with virus and spreading it throughout the cat’s body. When this occurs, the virus is referred to as the FIPV. As a result, the cat experiences an intense inflammatory reaction to FIPV typically affecting the abdomen, kidney, or brain. FIP generally occurs in one of two forms: a “wet form” in which fluid accumulates in body cavities like the abdomen and/or chest, and a “dry form” that affects the central nervous system, resulting in neurologic signs. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal without treatment. However, once treatment is complete, the cat is considered cured and typically goes on to live a full, normal life.
Introducing A New Cat
Bringing a new cat into a home with other cats can be stressful. Since cats can be territorial, it is important to make a slow introduction. For some cats, that's a few days, but for others, the process may take months. Follow the steps below to minimize the chance of problems down the road.
1
Separation
Start by keeping the new cat completely separated from the existing ones. This means having a dedicated room, litter box, food and water, and toys for the new kitty. Give the new kitty a day or two to adjust to their new home before moving on to step 2.
2
Scent Exchange
The cats will be able to smell each other through the door, and they will notice smells on you. Allow the cats to sniff your hands and clothing to help them get used to each other's smells. You can also bring bedding and toys from one cat's space to the other's.
3
Swap Spaces
Let the cats explore each other's space while maintain physical separation. Watch how they move about the other cat's territory. You can let them explore for a few hours or more, keeping watch for signs of stress or bad behavior.
4
Encourage Play
If things have gone well up to this point, you can start to encourage interaction near the door. Use string toys to lure them to the door and encourage them to bat toys back and forth. You can also them to paw each other, but if either cat becomes agitated or stress, take a step back.
5
Visual Interaction
Allow the cats to see each other by opening the door an inch. They may hiss or growl at first so it's important to divert their attention with toys and play. Reward good behavior with treats, praise, and petting! Keep the sessions short (5-10 minutes) but repeat sessions 3-5 times throughout the day.
6
Physical Interaction
You can start physical interaction with a pet gate. If you don't have one, you can also allow the cats to meet face-to-face, but be extra cautious. Encourage play and reward good behavior, remembering to keep sessions short, just as you did in step 5. Watch for signs of aggression or stress.
7
Integration
In previous steps, the interactions were supervised. In this step, you can start to leave the cats alone together to see how they interact in your absence. Only do this for short periods of time initially, and if possible, set up a video to monitor their behavior from afar. If all goes well, lengthen the amount of time you allow them to be alone together until they are safe together 24/7!
Finding A Lost Cat
Losing a pet is absolutely devastating. Here are some tips to help you find your furry friend.
01
Search Your Home
First, make sure your cat is really no longer in the house! Maybe your cat has become trapped someplace or is hiding because it is sick or injured. Do not assume your cat will meow or come to you. Look in closets, drawers, air ducts, behind appliances, under beds, in the hollow under reclining chairs, behind books in a bookcase, wrapped in the bottom of drapes, in any hidden recesses, basement crawl spaces, in sheds, garages, under decks, in pipes and culverts, dumpsters, garbage cans, in trees, on rooftops, etc. Calmly call your cat by name or make some familiar and attractive noise, like rustling a food bag, or shaking a can of treats.
02
Search the Neighborhood
Remember that a frightened or injured cat will hide and may not come to you. Pause often and listen. Look under porches, behind bushes, under cars, etc. Ask neighbors for permission to look in their yards. Most cats are recovered close to home. Another possibility is that your cat has become trapped in a neighbor’s garage or shed or on a construction site. Check in trees and on rooftops. Bring a flashlight to examine dark places. The best time to look and call is early morning and late evening when there is not much activity. Take along a photograph of your pet to show neighbors and people who know the area. Again, call them calmly and make familiar sounds.
03
Attract Them Back
In our experience, many cats make their way back home eventually – sometimes long after they have gone missing. Leave strong scented items outside like clothing, pillow cases, your cat’s bedding or litter box, or some fragrant food, taking care that other animals don’t eat it. If at all possible and practical, leave a window, door, or garage open so your cat can get back in on their own time. If you suspect your pet is around but not coming to you, a good trick is to sprinkle flour and check for paw prints, or check security or doorbell cameras. If necessary, set a humane trap.
05
Post & Check Online
The are lots of online resources to help find a lost pet. Below are a few options:
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Facebook - Create a blast from your page! You can also check out the local lost and found Facebook page (e.g., Lost and Found Pets – Huntsville, AL/Madison County).
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Pet FBI - Search the Found Cat Reports and post a Lost Cat Report.
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Craigslist - Check the lost and found for your area and post an ad.
Don't forget to also notify your microchip company!
07
Visit Local Shelters
Stop by local shelters to look for your cat. You will need to do this in person and often as new animals are constantly turned in to shelters. Bring a photo of your cat to leave with the shelter, but don't depend on them to contact you if your kitty shows up - most shelters are simply overwhelmed with all the animals and may not have time to track all of the lost and found pets. You really need to return to the shelters regularly to look for yourself. Here are some shelters to be sure to check in the Huntsville area:
4950 Triana Blvd SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 883-3782
Mon-Fri: 9AM-5PM
Greater Huntsville Humane Society
2812 Johnson Rd SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 881-8081
Mon-Fri: 10AM-4PM
139 Bo Cole Rd
Huntsville, AL 35806
(256) 851-4088
Tues-Sat 11AM-3PM
04
Post Flyers
Create a flyer that includes a picture and description of the animal, date lost, area the cat was last seen, and how to contact you. This is one of the most successful techniques. Be sure the letters are large and easily visible from a passing car. Using a colorful poster board will also draw more attention. Be sure to make outdoor flyers water-resistant to withstand rain or snow. Post the flyers on utility poles, at bus stops, at vet offices, and on community bulletin boards, for increased visibility. You can also hang flyers from doorknobs in your neighborhood.
06
Contact Local Authorities
Contact the local animal control agency:
4950 Triana Blvd SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 883-3782
Mon-Fri: 9AM-5PM
3210 Hi-Lo Circle
Huntsville, AL 35811
(256) 532-1519 or
(256) 532-1651
Mon-Fri: 7:30AM-3:30PM
