ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. THE INDOOR CAT: what's different about it Do indoor cats suffer? Confinement stress. Your captive tiger. The overrated need to roam.

2. HOW MANY: one cat or two or more The single-kitten mistake. Take two. Three or more. Male or female? Choosing a cat. Where to get a cat.

3. KITTEN, ADOLESCENT, AND ADULT: how to mix and match Introduction. Kittens. And adolescents. Adult cats. Cautions.

4. DIET: for the couch potato or the athlete Your cat's basic diet. Water. How much food how often. Supplemental foods. No vegetarian cats. Food bowls. Picky eaters. Refusal to eat. Vomiting after meals.

5. ROUTINE UPKEEP: hygiene and grooming The litter box. Litter-box training. Your cat's coat. Bathing a cat. Your cat's nails. Ear grooming. Care of the teeth.

6. SAFETY: the high-rise syndrome and other hazards The high-rise syndrome. Poisoning. House plants. Swallowed foreign objects. Heatstroke. Burns. Hiding Places.

7. GENERAL HEALTH: illnesses, vaccinations, spay neutering Symptoms of illness. Vaccinations. Feline leukemia virus and feline AIDS. Urinary tract disorders. How to get a urine sample. Fatty liver syndrome. Hyperthyroidism. Internal parasites (worms). External parasites. Ringworm. Allergies. Constipation and diarrhea. Hair balls. Between owner and pet. How to administer medicine. How to take a cat's temperature. Patient care. Spay neutering.

8. BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AND BAD HABITS: how to avoid or cure them Breaking litter-box training. Scratching furniture. Declawing. Eating house plants. Nursing. Crying. Aggressiveness. Scolding a cat.

9. COMMUNICATION AND PLAY: keeping your cat happy and loving Conversing with your cat. Cat body language. Games cats play. Toys for a cat. Sitting and sleeping places. The sociable, affectionate cat.

10. THE GERIATRIC CAT: caring for your elderly pet Signs of aging. Routine care. Hyperthyroidism. The invalid cat. Saying good-bye.

APPENDIX: miscellaneous information for indoor cat owners The cat and babies and children. The cat and the dog. Traveling with a cat. Leaving a cat home when you travel. Giving up a cat. Providing for your cat if you die.

INDEX