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1. I can no longer care for my cat. Can you take him/her and find a suitable home?
No. Lonely Miaow does not take in and rehome owned cats. Our resources are already stretched by the thousands of cats and kittens who have no home at all. Please take responsbility and find your pet a suitable home.
Consider why you need to find your cat a new home. If you are moving to an apartment, you may be worried that your cat won't be happy there. Many cats live quite happily in apartments and adjust well to indoor living. After all, cats often sleep for 18 hours a day! Perhaps you could give the cat the chance to decide if he or she will be happy in an apartment.
If you are moving to a new house by a busy road, consider putting cat-proof fencing around your property so that your cat can still go outside but can't get near the road. Or perhaps your cat would be happy to keep you company as an indoor cat.
If you're moving to another city and you'll be living in temporary accomodation (or a place which doesn't allow cats), consider putting your cat in a cattery until you find a suitable, cat-friendly place to live.
If you're moving to another country, this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to leave your cat behind. Many cats move countries each year. However, if your cat is older or has health issues it may need to stay in New Zealand.
If you really can't keep your cat, take some photos and create flyers to put up at your local supermarket. Send an e-mail to all your friends, family and colleagues explaining your situation and asking if anyone could offer your cat a loving home. If they can't, ask them to forward your e-mail on to everyone they know. Advertise on sites like TradeMe and Petsonthe Net.
When choosing a new home for you companion please remember that they love and trust you. You need to make sure that the home you choose for them is suitable and safe. Picking the first home that comes along, even if you're not sure it's a good choice, is not fair on your cat and may result in your cat running away and spending the rest of his or her days on the streets, struggling to survive. Please choose carefully.
2. My cat is lost! What can I do?
You can find some of our suggestions on what to do if your cat goes missing here.
3. I am moving house. How long should I keep my cat inside for at the new house?
You should aim to keep your cat inside for at least two to three weeks after you move, to give them time to settle in and feel confident in their new surroundings. Once you start to let your cat outside at the new house, it can be a good idea to let the cat out for short periods of time while you are supervising, just in case there’s a neighbourhood bully waiting to harass your cat on your property.
4. My cat has started (insert annoying behaviour here). Why? What can I do to stop this?
Sometimes cats develop "annoying" behaviours such as spraying, urinating or scratching furniture.
Spraying is something cats (especially un-neutered males) do to mark their territory. If your cat is not de-sexed, you might like to get this done. This may stop or reduce spraying. If cats are de-sexed before they reach sexual maturity, this often stops them from spraying later in life. Your cat may start spraying if a new cat has moved into the area (or your house) and he, or she, feels threatened. Your cat may even feel threatened by a new pet or new human moving in.
Urinating is often (but not always) caused by a medical condition. First rule this out by taking your cat to the vet. If your cat has a lower urinary tract disease of some kind he or she may be associating the pain of urinating with the litterbox, and therefore urinating elsewhere. If your cat is healthy, then think about what has changed around the house. Has your routine changed? Cats are creatures of habit and don't like their plans and routines to be upset by changes. Make sure the litterbox is always clean. If you have more than one cat, the rule of thumb is that you need one litter box per cat, and one extra. Keep an eye out for cats in your garden - is there a new cat in the neighbourhood which might be bullying your cat. This might make your cat too scared to go outside.
If you can't identify the problem, make sure you thoroughly clean up any messes your cat has made as any remaining smell will signal to your cat that this is where he or she should urinate. Some people recommend using a spray of 50% vinegar and 50% water to discourage use of that location again. There are probably sprays available in your local petshop which may also help. There are pheromone based products which can be placed in areas where your cat sprays. These aim to calm your cat. As a very last resort, your vet may be able to provide something to help your cat relax.
Scratching is something cats do to mark territory and stretch. For a really good article on scratching, and how to stop your cat using your furniture, visit www.catscratching.com.
If you would like help from someone who is well versed in cat behaviour, we recommend contacting Kelly at Happy Pawes Pet Training.
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