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Some Final Words | |
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How to Reach Us | |
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Part I | |
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Chapter 1 | |
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How Cats Became So Popular | |
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Some Common Misconceptions about Cats and the Facts | |
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All cats are cold fish | |
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Cats love places not people | |
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Cats can take care of themselves | |
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Can You Have a Cat If You Have Allergies? | |
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The Indoor versus Outdoor Controversy | |
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Chapter 2 | |
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Which Is a Better Choice for You? | |
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Adult cat considerations | |
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Which Ones Better? | |
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Let the Fur Fly | |
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Should You Consider a Pedigreed Cat? | |
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Characteristics by Breed | |
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The gogo group | |
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A touch of the wild | |
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Longhaired beauties | |
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The big cats | |
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Something different | |
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The unCATegorizables | |
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Chapter 3 | |
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What You Need to Know about Shelters | |
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Animalcontrol shelters | |
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Private nonprofit shelters | |
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Volunteer RescueandPlacement Groups | |
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The Reputable the IllInformed and the AvoidatAllCosts | |
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Finding the elusive good breeder | |
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Spotting the lessthanideal breeders | |
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What about Those Kittens in the Window? | |
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Your Neighbors Or Coworkers Kittens | |
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Chapter 4 | |
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Help for the Wild Ones | |
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Finding the solution that isnt | |
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But arent these cats pests? | |
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How to Help | |
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Helping the helpers | |
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Help or harm? | |
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Learning to Care for Feral Cats | |
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Setting up a routine | |
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Lining up help | |
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Trapping cats | |
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Neutering cats | |
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Releasing cats | |
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Part II | |
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Chapter 5 | |
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Evaluating the Environment | |
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Getting a read on a kittys history | |
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Making special considerations | |
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Choosing a Kitten | |
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Adopting at the ideal age | |
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Looking at a litter | |
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Personality testing your kitten | |
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Considering the SecondChance Kitty | |
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Recognizing Good Health in Kittens and Cats | |
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The outer cat | |
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The inner cat | |
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Taking a Leap of Faith with Your Eyes Open | |
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Chapter 6 | |
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PreCat Preparations | |
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Eliminating household hazards | |
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Organizing a safe room | |
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Bringing Your New Pet Home | |
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Hello Kitty | |
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Children | |
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Other cats | |
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Dogs | |
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Other pets | |
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Chapter 7 | |
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Making Sense of Cat Senses | |
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Smell | |
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Hearing | |
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Vision | |
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Taste | |
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Speaking Cat | |
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Eyes | |
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Ears | |
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Voice | |
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Hair and whiskers | |
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Posture | |
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Chapter 8 | |
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Finding the Best for Your Cat | |
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A Place to Go | |
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Getting the poop on litterbox choices | |
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Litterbox accessories | |
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The scoop on litter | |
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Collars Tags and Microchips | |
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Microchips | |
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A Place to Scratch | |
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Beds | |
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Bowls and Waterers | |
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The Carrier | |
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The Ins and Outs of Cat Doors | |
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Cool Toys for Your Cat | |
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The best you can buy | |
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Freebies cats love | |
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More Fun Stuff | |
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Part III | |
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Chapter 9 | |
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Fur the Purrfect Complement | |
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Why Cats Groom | |
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Whats in It for You? | |
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Tools of the Trade | |
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Coatcare tools | |
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Nailtrim aids | |
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The Importance of Patience | |
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Keeping Kitty Coats in Shape | |
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Combing and brushing | |
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Cat + water + soap Oh my | |
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Keeping external parasites under control | |
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Clipping Your Cats Claws | |
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Chapter 10 | |
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Convenience at a Price? | |
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Maintaining the Perfect Cat Diet | |
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Fulfilling Basic Nutritional Needs | |
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Carbohydrates | |
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Fats | |
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Vitamins | |
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Minerals | |
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Water | |
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Choosing Foods | |
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What type? | |
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When to feed? | |
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What about veterinarianprescribed foods? | |
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Treat your cat | |
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Curbing Eating Problems | |
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The toomuch cat | |
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Chapter 11 | |
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Recognizing Signs of Good Health and Bad | |
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Vital signs | |
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The emotional cat | |
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Choosing a Veterinarian | |
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Understanding Your Veterinarians Role in Preventing Illness | |
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The notsoroutine exam | |
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Vaccinations | |
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Dental care | |
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Parasite control | |
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Chapter 12 | |
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A Cooperative Approach to Cat Health | |
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When Does My Cat Need a Specialist? | |
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