Table Of ContentCat Lover's
Daily Companion
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Cat Lover's
Daily Companion
365 Days
of Insight and Guidance
for Living a Joyful
Life with Your Cat
Kristen Hampshire, Iris Bass,
and Lori Paximadis
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contents
introduction: for the love of cats 4
how to use this book 5
the cat lover’s year 5
monday / cats 101
tuesday / feline fact and fiction
wednesday / health and wellness
thursday / the house cat—projects, tips, and more
friday / cat breeds
saturday + sunday / bonding and relationship building
index 314
resources 316
photographer credits 318
acknowledgments 319
about the authors 320
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Introduction: For the Love of Cats
C ats are independent, yet endearingly affectionate. They walk their own path, but only if
we are close by. They may sneak through the house, stealthlike, on a mysterious mission, but
the promise of cozying up with us in a favorite chair will surely sidetrack their journey. Cats
and their humans share a mutual respect for space, freedom, and each other’s intelligence.
They are our children, companions, and loyal guardians.
Cats have been associated with humans for some 9,500 years, perhaps explaining why we
live so easily with our cats. They’re a fxture in the household; the space feels empty without
them. We seem to understand each other, and often that bond is refected through silent
communication, body language, and meows that only we understand. Cats listen. And they
speak to us (they do!). In many ways, our dear felines are like humans who demand “more”
from a relationship. They rub against our legs, insisting that we lavish them with attention.
(If ignored, they’ll invite themselves onto our laps. They don’t take no for an answer.) Cats will
go their own way sometimes, but they always return to us. They are deeply devoted creatures.
This book is for you, dear cat lovers. Its contents celebrate the spirit of cat companionship
through stories, trivia, and practical information. The book is both a reference and a store of
ideas. We cover food, wellness, toys, breeds, crafts, games, communication, and fun facts.
We’ll even show you how to grow your own catnip. And amidst the playful fun, we teach
critical health information that all cat guardians need to know.
Although entries are presented in chronological calendar order, they are not organized by
season, location, or time. This way, you can freely peruse the pages as you fnd time. We
think you’ll want to visit the book often. As you read, you’ll bond with your cat and satisfy
your own curiosity.
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How to Use This Book
This book is organized as a day minder, a journal packed with a year’s worth of ways to
care for, understand, socialize, and honor your cat. Each unique entry will inspire, inform,
and entertain. Every week contains six entries designed to feed your cat-loving soul.
There is more than one way to read this book. You can dive in and read from beginning to
end, cozying up to it as you would a page-turner novel. (For cat lovers, there’s no such thing
as overdosing on cat information.) Or you can read an entry each day—it will last all year
that way. You can crack the book open in the middle and read to the back, then backward
to the front. Go ahead and read the last page frst. That’s not cheating. This book is yours to
enjoy in your own way, at your own pace. Dog-ear the pages (no pun intended) so you can
revisit your favorite entries time and again. Read out loud to your cats.
Each day is a surprise. You’ll discover detailed cat health information, amusing trivia, and
creative projects to make for your cat (and yourself). On every page, we explore the spirit
and love between a cat and her human. This book is one more way to deepen the relationship.
The Cat Lover’s Year
mondays provide practical information, from welcoming a cat home to
understanding his basic needs.
tuesdays contain engaging tales of cats in history and in literature.
wednesdays explore feline health and wellness topics, from acupuncture to
the zodiac.
thursdays deliver ideas for cat-friendly home decor, crafts, and household tips
for cat lovers.
fridays introduce a world of cat breeds, from from Abyssinian to York Chocolate.
weekends are reserved for bonding, relationship building, and planning special
occasions with your pet.
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monday day 1
Gearing Up for a New Cat
When adopting a cat (or cats), you’ll need a litter box, litter, scooper,
few basic supplies immediately. Look for sturdy, and cleaning tool
well-made items that serve their purpose.
Forget about fancy grids, fip-fop systems, and
the like. A good-size litter box with high sides
bowls and food
(start a kitten in a slightly lower one) is all you
You’ll need at least two per cat, for food and for
need. Note: Some cats balk at being enclosed by
water; add a third if you plan to serve your pet
a lidded box; if you want to try this kind, get one
both dry and wet foods.
whose separate lid could be left off if it doesn’t
agree with Kitty. See Day 106 for more about
Thick china, food-safe ceramics (avoid artisan
selecting litter. (Boxes made from plastics with
pottery), CorningWare, and Pyrex are best. Plas-
a slightly metallic-looking sheen are formulated
tic attracts bacteria that can cause acne to erupt
to keep wastes from sticking.)
on your pet’s chin. Some cats dislike the refec-
tions and darkness of metal, so although stain-
Buy a scooper to remove solids and clumps of
less steel is safe, your pet may shun it. Never use
wet litter. Or just use a slotted spatula dedicated
vintage china or lead crystal, which could leach
to that purpose.
lead into a cat’s food or water.
Keep a stiff brush or nylon sponge on hand for
A water bowl shouldn’t tip easily; some cats
litter-box/scooper cleanup. Do not use this to
like to paddle a paw in the water. If you have
clean human toilets, because some waste-borne
multiple pets or your home has more than one
diseases can be shared by cats and humans
story, provide multiple bowls in various loca-
(see Day 129).
tions. Note: Cats often prefer their water bowl
to be at a distance from their food bowl(s); this carrier
also helps keep the water clean.
Even if you don’t plan to travel with your cat,
a carrier will be useful for visits to the vet. You
Dry food can be served in a curved or straight-
want to be equipped in an emergency. If you
sided cereal dish–size bowl. Resist using large
have multiple cats, consider buying more than
bowls that could leave uneaten, drooled-on food
one carrier, just in case. For more about choosing
mingling with the “fresh” food.
a carrier, see Day 36.
Wet food should be served in a deeply curved
bowl about 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter. This
will keep the food from being nosed out while
Kitty chows down. In a multipet household, each
cat should be given her own wet food bowl.
Don’t expect them to peaceably share a platter.
Place on a washable mat or tray to catch spills.
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tuesday day 2
The Proverbial Cat
You may recognize these familiar cat proverbs: • I gave an order to a cat, and the cat
When the cat’s away, the mouse shall play . . . gave it to its tail.
—China
curiosity killed the cat . . . there is more than one
way to skin a cat . . . and so on. Other proverbs, • If stretching made money, all cats
however, seem unique to particular countries would be wealthy
—Ghana
or regions.
• In a cat’s eye, all things belong to cats.
• Books and cats and fair-haired little girls —England
make the best furnishing for a room.
• In the eyes of a mouse, the cat is a lion.
—France
—Albania
• A blind cat catches only a dead rat. • It is a bold mouse that nestles
—China in the cat’s ear.
—England
• A cat has nine lives. For three he
• Nature breaks through the eyes of a cat.
plays, for three he strays, and for
—Ireland
the last three he stays.
—England • The borrowed cat catches no mice.
—Japan
• A house without a dog or cat is the
house of a scoundrel. • The cat was created when the lion sneezed.
—Portugal
—Middle East
• A peasant between two lawyers is
• The cat who frightens the mice away is
like a fsh between two cats.
as good as the cat who eats them.
—Catalonia
—Germany
• After dark all cats are leopards.
• The man who loves cats will love his wife.
—Native America
—Russia
• An old cat will not learn how to dance.
• To please himself only the cat purrs.
—Morocco
—Ireland
• Beware of people who dislike cats.
• When the mouse laughs at a cat,
—Ireland
there’s a mouse hole nearby.
• Cats don’t catch mice to please God. —Nigeria
—Afghanistan
• Women and cats in the house, men
and dogs in the street.
—Catalonia
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