HHPCC FAQs

How many cats are there in the United States?

The best estimate puts this number at about 60 million owned cats. It is estimated that there are an additional 15 million strays/homeless cats, but this number is extremely difficult to verify.

I have a cat and am thinking of getting another. Should I and what is my best choice?

By all means get another. If you are away from home for long periods of time (such as work), the two can keep each other company. Even though cats are not social animals in the same way as dogs are, two cats will tend to keep each other entertained when you are not around. As to what sex/age for the new cat, there are no hard and fast rules. Your best bet is always a kitten of the opposite sex, but it's generally possible (with patience and determination) to mix any two cats together. The only likely difficulty would be two whole male adults. But if we're talking household pets we should be talking spays and neuters.

Speaking of spay and neuter, when should I alter my cat?

Traditionally this has been suggested for 6 months for the female and 8 - 10 months for the male. Lately however, great strides have been made in early altering and no ill effects have been found (yet) in altering kittens as young as 10 - 12 weeks. Follow your veterinarian's recommendation.

What is the best way to introduce a new cat into the household?

There are two philosophies on this point: take it slow and easy or let them duke it out. Personally I have always followed the let them duke it out plan. This consists of letting the new cat go in the house immediately and letting the pertinent parties settle their new heirarchy on their own terms. There may be some minor battles, but unless the cats are actually causing bodily harm to one another, then they can be allowed to work it out. I have never (knock on wood) had cats get that violent. It's generally been contained to hisses and off-hand swats, generally lasting only a day or two. The cautious way is to bring the new cat in and put it in a separate room where the resident cat(s) can't see it but can smell it. Then after a day or two put the two cats in carriers next to each other but not necessarily facing each other so they're still working on smell, then facing each other so they can see, then let the resident cat out for further exploration and if they seem to be OK, letting the new cat out too. This usually works well, but determined cats may at this stage proceed to the hiss and swat stage just to be sure that things are understood between them. Don't panic. Just be patient and things should settle down soon. Something you can try if you're still having troubles is to confuse their sense of smell. Put a dab of vanilla or bay rum on the top of their noses so they both smell the same, or bathe them in the same shampoo. Two cats that smell exactly the same are less likely to feel threatened.

My cat isn't using the litter box - what can I do?

This is a complex problem with many possible causes. Here are the most likely.

1. The cat doesn't like the feel of the litterbox filler and/or the location of the box. There are many different types of litter available these days. Try them out and see if something else is more pleasing. Try moving the litter box. Cats like their boxes out of the way, yet where they can see what's going on and have an escape path if needed.
2. The cat doesn't like using the same box as other cats in the house. Yes, they can be fussy. Try adding another box or two. This can also be helpful if you have a cat that doesn't like to use a box that another cat has just pooped in. Since you can't run around after the cat scooping up immediately, this gives the second cat an alternative location.
3. The cat is upset psychologically. Have you made changes in your life recently? A new baby, a new home, a change of working hours, a new spouse/roommate? All of these can upset a cat. Try spending extra time with your cat.
4. If the cat is using a particular wrong place consistently, try putting toys there or a small bowl of food and water. Cats generally will not do their business in an area they consider to be for feeding or playtime.
5. Still having trouble? Consult a good behavior book. Two that I would suggest are Is Your Cat Crazy? by John C Wright, PhD or The Cat Who Cried for Help by Dr. Nicholas Dodman.

Any good suggestions how to clean up these accidents?

There are many cleaning products on the market now for pet odor/stain cleanup. I have yet to find one that I consider absolutely the best in the world, but I have had good results with Nature's Miracle and with Simple Solution Cat Spray & Urine Stain & Odor Remover.

My cat claws the furniture, what can I do?

Any suggestion how I can keep my cat off the kitchen counter/sofa/whathaveyou?

Most cats don't like the feel of crinkled aluminum foil, or something sticky (use double stick tape to make a few lines of resistance), or try using a plastic mat designed for use on carpeting so that your rolling chair will roll, but place it upside down so the nubbins stick up. Another tack is to have several mousetraps set, but upside down so that when the cat jumps up on the counter they all go off (but harmlessly). This will probably scare the cat so much it won't try that again soon.

My cat constantly wakes me up at night for play or for food. What can I do?

First of all, don't ever give in! Each time you do you encourage the cat to think it's all right. I know that can be difficult when the cat is licking your face or careening off the walls, but don't give in. Some things that may help: If it's hungry - leave out a bowl of dry food or make the dinner hour for your cat as late as possible. If it wants to play - have a long hard play time just before bedtime.

I'd like to show my cat, how can I find out where the shows are held?

Most cat shows have a class for Household pets as well as for the purebreds. Cat Fancy Magazine has listings of upcoming shows. You can also check websites for the major associations.

My cat has been declawed can I show it?

It depends on which association. TICA and ACFA accept declawed cats. CFA does not. Other associations ask the entry clerk.

My cat has only one eye (three legs, etc.), can I show it?

In TICA absolutely yes. Since many household pets are rescued strays we are looking for the condition the cat is in now, not what hazards it has had to contend with in the past. I believe this is the case with the other associations also - but of course, only in the household pet class - purebreds must be perfect.

My cat has too many toes. What can you tell me about that and can I show it?

This is called polydactylism and is a genetic trait - I believe it is dominant. There are no hard and fast rules about how many extra toes will appear and from foot to foot is not always consistent. Since this is a dominant genetic trait you will tend to find clusters where it's a more common occurrence. Yes, they can be shown in the HHP class.

I've heard that all calico cats are female, is that true and why?

While it's not 100% true, it is largely a fact that calicoes are female. A simple explanation is that the colors red and black are linked to the X sex chromosome, but each X can carry only one color, black OR red. Since a female is XX it can carry both, but since a male is XY he can carry only one of the colors. Occasionally a male calico comes along but it is generally found to be an anomaly such as XXY and these cats are generally sterile. A very interesting book on the genetics of calicoes is Cats are Not Peas by Laura Gould.

I have a male calico and have heard they're valuable, are they?

No, not really. No one has yet substantiated any of the supposed offers for big bucks for a male calico. You might find someone who's interested in spending a small amount for an interesting genetic quirk, but big bucks - no.