What the INDOOR Cat Misses*

• Fleas
• Ticks
• Fights
• Worms
• Abscesses
• Dog attacks
• Becoming lost
• Being tortured
• Being hit by a car
• A shorter life span
• Being stolen for profit
• Being eaten by a coyote
• Skin cancer and sun damage
• Exposure to FIV (feline AIDS)
• Poisoning by food or pesticides
• Exposure to Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
• Becoming trapped in a shed or garage
• Exposure to Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
• Exposure to Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)
• Relocation by jumping into a car or moving van

*ASAP volunteers have seen the results of each and every one of these

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What you gain by keeping your cat INDOORS

• Fewer fleas
• Cleaner furniture
• Lower Veterinary bills
• Fewer health problems
• A healthier cat that lives longer
• A friend close by when you want one
• Peace of mind knowing your cat is home safe & sound

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Bringing Home a New Kitten

The first few days of your new kitten’s life with you should be quiet days. Most likely it has just had surgery and now needs to familiarize itself with a totally new environment, complete with new sounds, smells, perhaps children and a resident cat or dog. ASAP can provide you with literature to help you introduce your kitten or cat to resident pets. We also maintain a small library of articles pertaining to cats and kittens. Come in for a visit and a browse through our file cabinet in the lobby.

Confine the kitten in a room close to its litter box. Remember, small kittens may not find the litter box in time if given too much space to roam. Also, It is easier for the kitten to feel comfortable with you and its new surroundings if it can take its time exploring every nook and cranny.

We recommend feeding your kitten a good quality food such as Nutro Max Kitten or Wellness Kitten Food for its first year. These brands are only available in pet stores. Kittens adopted through the ASAP program are old enough to eat kibble, but most veterinarians recommend that cats have a daily meal of canned food. Kittens need to be fed 3 times a day or have kibble available between the morning and evening wet meal. KEEP FRESH WATER AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES!!! Do not give kittens (or grown cats) milk or cream. It causes diarrhea.

Inexpensive clay litter works well for kitten’s cat pan. Never use the clumping variety while they are young. It has been known to stick to their noses and feet. When licked, off it can create a non-digestible lump in their intestines which could need surgical intervention--if diagnosed in time.

Kitten proof your home. Toilet lids need to be kept down. Watch the mop bucket. It is possible for kittens to drown in them. Rubber bands, needle and thread, ribbon, string, yarn, tinsel, Q-Tips and other small enticing items could mean surgery or death. If a glass breaks, lock your kitten away at once. It’s natural curiosity can send it running straight into danger. To varying degrees, most house plants and picked bouquets are poisonous to cats—and they love to chew on them. You will find artificial plants a better decorating choice now that you are owned by a cat or kitten. Kittens love to play in silk flowers too, but at least they won’t send your kitten to the vet!

Your kitten will be teething on your possessions. It will chew on book corners, papers, baskets, etc. The kitten is not being bad and harsh discipline will only cause it to avoid you. A squirt bottle is an effective training tool. Provide your kitten with safe toys. The most loved and cheapest cat toys are pipe cleaners loosely coiled into a ball, paper bags and paper balls. Invest in the tallest scratch post you can afford. It will save the furniture as well as provide you and your kitten with hours of entertainment.

Most important, keep your new friend inside where it is safe from the many dangers of our modern world. Kittens need the safety of your home for AT LEAST A FULL SIX MONTHS. Studies have clearly shown that the indoor cat lives a much longer and healthier life than its outdoor buddy.

Coyotes are a major factor in all parts of Santa Barbara. They came out of the hills in the last drought. They live in ALL PARTS of the city and county and their numbers are increasing and they are growing bolder every year. If you insist on allowing your cat outside, do so only when you are there to monitor it. PLEASE, make sure that dinner is served indoors before sunset and is the signal to stay inside for the night. The morning is not safe from coyotes until the sun is high in the sky—if then. Stories of sightings and daytime cat killings are heard all too often at the Shelter. We don’t want you to be one of the many people we talk to daily who is looking for their lost cat that, "never leaves the yard."

ASAP volunteers are eager for you to have a long and happy life with your new pet. Please come by with photos and cat stories. Your stories and photos are shared enthusiastically at our monthly meetings

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Cat Owner's Mini Manual

The ASAP volunteers thank you for adopting your new cat or kitten from our Shelter. We hope you and your new friend have a long and rewarding life together and offer the following recommendations for introducing your cat to your home:

• A new cat needs time and attention when acclimating to a new environment. The best place to start is a small room fully equipped with bedding, litter box, food and water, and a good place to hide (box, carrier, or closet). When the cat is relaxed and comfortable in this area, gradually introduce the other rooms in the house for a few hours at a time. If there are other pets in the house, rotate them between rooms for a few days until they are familiar with each other's scent. Rotate items of your clothing around as well. Introduce your new cat to resident pets gradually and only under your complete supervision. Take it slowly and don't expect immediate friendships. Relocation is stressful for cats and it takes varying degrees of time for them to form bonds with new people, places, and animals. Try to make the first few days as quiet and comfortable as possible. Keep children under close supervision, move and speak quietly, and don't force the cat to interact. All the "first" experiences should be positive ones. If you encounter any problems, back up a step. Be patient and reassuring.
• It is EXTREMELY important you keep your new cat 100% indoors for a minimum of three weeks to allow them to adjust. The decision to let a cat outdoors at all is one that should be carefully considered. Keeping a cat all indoors greatly increases thier life span and greatly decreases your vet bills.
• Buy your cat/kitten a collar and permanent I.D. tag immediately. Devise a temporary I.D. tag until the permanent tag arrives or purchase one at the Shelter. Buckle the collar tightly with just two fingers of space between collar and skin, and insist that the cat ALWAYS wear the collar. Take a picture of your new cat as soon as possible for identification purposes.
• Make an appointment to take your cat to a veterinarian for an exam and vaccinations. ASAP has tested cats over 6 months old for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and we have given one "distemper" vaccine along with a rabies vaccination. You will need to complete the testing for kittens between 2 and 6 months of age and provide additional vaccinations (leukemia) for both kittens and cats, if this is what you and your vet decide is best for your cat. This is part of responsible pet ownership and a wise investment.
• IF you decide to allow your cat outdoors ALWAYS bring the cat indoors between dusk and dawn to prevent predation by coyotes. Don't kid yourself-there are coyotes killing cats everywhere in the Santa Barbara area every night and day. Accompany your cat on the first several ventures outdoors and help the cat establish a "safe" territory away from cars and other hazards.

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Why Adopt An Older Cat?

So many people want kittens. Please consider the following:

• A kitten is only a kitten for a short time period.
• Older cats often adjust quickly and easily to new situations, walking in like "been there, done that".
• Older cats don't climb your curtains or run the Indy 500 in the middle of the night.
• Older cats are more affectionate - the older they get, often the more lap time they want.
• Older cats have developed a good immune system.
• Older cats have a stronger stomach tolerance and don't get the upsets as easily as kittens.
• Older cats don't require constant supervision - kittens do.
• Older cats are TRULY appreciative that YOU have deemed them worthy of love - kittens will love everyone.

Please consider adding an older adult cat to your household.