The hero’s handbook: A survival guide to modern feline living

greetings,young feline compatriot and

human companion.Welcome to a world where kittens no longer have to fear the indignities of parasitic invasion. Welcome to a universe where cats are free to come and go without suffering the invasions of fleas, ear mites, hookworms, roundworm and heartworm. In short, welcome to the REVOLUTION®

(selamectin). In this book, you will find all sorts of tips that can help you as you learn to make your way together in this brave new world of ours. However, there is one thing that you can be sure of. While you may encounter many things on your journey through life together, now that you have chosen to join the Revolution, parasites will not be one of them.

Make it official - log on to www.catsoftherevolution.com and declare your allegiance. You’ll find special discounts, tips and hints that can make any cat owner’s life easier.

Revolution is generally well-tolerated. In studies, <1% of cats and dogs experienced digestive upset. Approximately 1% of cats experienced temporary hair loss at the application site. Do not use in sick, weak or underweight animals.

www.catsoftherevolution.com

Average feline LIFE stages timeline

birth

eyes open

10-14 days

begin to eat solid food,

begin to walk

3-4 weeks 14 months

kitten reaches

adulthood

weaned from mother’s

milk

7-8 weeks 6 months

reaches sexual

maturity

average cat lifespan

(but with modern veterinary care, cats that reach 20 are not

uncommon)

14 years

Kitten can be

spayed or neutered

5-6 months

Basic TrainingProper care and maintenance of your young kitten is vital. The habits you start now will last a lifetime.

Socialization Studies have shown that a kitten must be handled by a minimum of four different people to be comfortable being touched by strangers later in life. It’s recommended that you pet your new kitten at least 40 minutes a day. In addition, if you want your kitten to be comfortable with other animals in the household, you should be sure to expose it to other animals as early and as frequently as possible. Be sure both your kitten and other pets are healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Figure 1: Get your kitten accustomed to strangers

Grooming It’s important to get your cat accustomed to good hygiene when it is a kitten. This will make it much easier to take care of it as it grows. Brush it often. Look into its ears, eyes, nose and mouth regularly. Look at its paws to prepare it for nail trimming when it needs it. Paws should be handled frequently so that nail trimming won’t be scary. Once nail trimming is needed, check your kitten’s nails often to make sure they haven’t grown too long.

Litter box training Watch your kitten closely. When you see it begin to nose around corners or start to squat, place it in the litter box so it begins to recognize where it should leave its waste. If your kitten has an accident, wipe up initially with a paper towel and then place the

Figure 2: Groom your kitten frequently

paper towel in the litter box, so it associates the litter with waste. Do not punish your kitten unless you catch it in the act. Rubbing a kitten’s nose in its mistakes and then placing it in the litter will just cause it to associate the litter box (and you) with cruel behavior.

Spaying or neuteringIt is highly recommended that you spay or neuter your kitten at around six months of age, or as directed by your veterinarian. If your kitten is female, somewhere between five and twelve months, she’ll go into heat and begin to arch her back and call loudly and continuously for a mate. If your kitten is a male, at about six to twelve months you will notice him becoming increasingly territorial. He will also probably begin to spray a pungent-smelling urine to mark his territorial boundaries. If you wait until this stage to neuter him, he may continue to do this even after surgery.

Spaying or neutering your kitten early is also important because it has positive health benefits.

Figure 3: Spay or neuter your kitten before it reaches sexual maturity

Behavior modification

Keep a spray bottle or small, brightly colored water gun near at hand to correct bad behaviors. Be careful not to spray your kitten in the face. You should only use the spray bottle if you actually catch your kitten in the act. Despite what most people think, kittens do not remember past events the same way we do. Punishing them after-the-fact only confuses them.

Figure 4: Be sure not to spray your kitten in the face

TroubleshootingSpraying and/or urinating outside the litter box (dealing with friendly fire)Kittens will urinate outside of the litter box for a variety of reasons. If they are still learning, if they are sick, or if their litter box is particularly dirty. If you suspect your kitten may be ill, take it to the vet immediately. Male kittens spray to mark their territory, particularly if they aren’t neutered before their hormones develop fully. Spraying is characterized by a particularly pungent-smelling urine odor.

• Use non-herbal vinegar, vodka or an enzymatic cleaner to clean up accidents. Do not use an ammonia-based household cleaner as ammonia imitates urine, inviting further misuse of the area.

Scratching furniture and/or carpet (handling environmental sabotage)Try buying the kitten a scratching post. Make sure this post is coated with some other material than carpet. (Otherwise, you could be training your kitten to regard carpeting as an appropriate scratching material.) Location is very important. If your kitten is not using the scratching post, try placing it in a more central location.

Put a row of double-sided sticky tape on drapes or furniture. (Test a small strip beforehand to ensure that the tape will come off cleanly.) Kittens hate the feel of the sticky tape on their paws and should learn to avoid the area.

Jumping on tables (illegal border-crossing or enemy-territory incursions)Put double-sided sticky tape on tables or any other place you want your kitten to avoid. Cats hate the feel of the tape on their paws and should learn to avoid the area.

Hairballs (repelling hair-borne invaders)Regularly brushing your kitten will remove dead hair and help reduce the chances of hairballs. Although some kittens may still require the use of a commercially available hairball remedy or a high-in-fiber preventative diet. (See your veterinarian about the appropriate treatment.)

Figure 5: Be sure to allow easy access to a scratching post

Bath time (avoiding international incidents)Cats do not need to be bathed very often. In order to make the occasional bath easier to handle, consider trimming your kitten’s nails first. Or place an old window screen in the tub or sink; the kitten will dig its claws into the screen, not you. Also, gently wet your kitten using a cup instead of using a running faucet or sprayer. And be sure to use shampoo made specifically for cats.

Chewing on Electrical Cords (dealing with industrial sabotage)

Coat the cord with nail-biting nail polish. If that doesn’t work, add in some cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce. Chewing on electrical cords can be deadly for your kitten, so be sure to take this behavior seriously.

plants (coping with biological warfare)

diggingPut clove oil on the dirt around your plants. This will teach your kitten not to dig there.

chewingMist plant leaves with water and then sprinkle with a small amount of cayenne pepper. Or spray with a product like Bitter Apple (available from your local store).

ToxicSome common household plants may be toxic to pets. A few of the most common plants that are dangerous for cats are: Aloe Vera, Azalea, Dieffenbachia, Poinsettia and most species of Ivy.

For a comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to cats, visit www.catsofthrevolution.com.

VISIT YOUR VETERINARIANAs always, for any persistent problems or questions, be sure to visit your veterinarian. Your veterinarian plays a key role in the prevention of disease and maintenance of good health throughout the life of your cat. Be sure to ask about the benefits of year-round protection with REVOLUTION®

(selamectin).

A few words about parasites.

As proud users of REVOLUTION®(selamectin), you’re already protected against a wide range of parasites. However, it is important to be aware of common parasites and never let your guard down. Parasites can strike at any time without regular use of Revolution. For additional information on parasites and their consequences, talk to your veterinarian.

Knowing the enemy:HeartwormA potentially lethal parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes and can affect even indoor cats. There is no approved treatment for feline heartworm disease. Prevention is the only option.

Roundworm (Toxocara cati)A common intestinal parasite that lives in the small intestine and can cause gastrointestinal problems in kittens and adult cats. This parasite is zoonotic, which means that it can be transmitted to humans. Small children may be more susceptible than the general population.

Hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme)Another common zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted to humans with fairly serious consequences. In cats, hookworms attach to the wall of the intestine and live off blood, potentially causing diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps and anemia.

FleasThis parasite almost needs no introduction — the flea’s reputation as a nuisance pest and hard-to-eradicate home invader is well known. However, fleas can be more than an uncomfortable irritant. Fleas often play host to tapeworms and other parasites leading to compound infestations.

Ear mitesThis irritating invader lives on the surface of your kitten’s ears, feeding off the ear lining. If left untreated, ear mites can cause damage to the ear and put your kitten at risk for secondary bacterial infections. Highly contagious, infected cats and kittens should be kept from contact with other animals.

Prevention is better medicineThe best way to protect your kitten is not to give parasites the chance to invade. The Revolution year-round protection pack gives you a full 12 months of parasite protection in one easy package. Complete with 12 reminder stickers, it can help to keep your cat healthy, all year long.

www.catsoftherevolution.com

Revolution is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. ©2005 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. REV0205020