Welcome to the Caring for Cats Resource Library!
If you are looking for the resources you need to plan for adopting a cat, you’re in the right place. We have gathered trusted resources to help you choose the right cat, understand cat behavior, and keep your new companion healthy.
Adopting A Cat
Start your adoption journey with confidence
These resources offer guidance on choosing the right cat for your family, including older cats and rescue cats, and what to expect when bringing your new companion home.
Navigating the Newbie Nerves
Helping your new cat feel at home takes time, patience, and a little strategy. This PDF guide created by Caring for Cats volunteers walks you through what to expect in the first few days, weeks, and months, and offers practical tips for creating a calm, welcoming space where your cat can adjust, explore, and begin to thrive.
Introducing Cats to Your Other Pets and Children
Bringing a new cat into your home can be a big adjustment for everyone. These resources offer helpful tips for smooth introductions to other cats, household pets, and young children, so everyone feels safe and welcome.
Introducing Cats
Introducing Other Pets
Introducing New Babies
Understanding Cat Behavior
Cats have their own ways of communicating. These resources can help you make sense of common behaviors like aggression, scratching, or fabric chewing, and offer practical tips for creating a calm and happy home.
Cat Conflict & Aggression
Fabric Chewing
Managing Litter Box Issues
Litter box troubles are common, but they don’t have to be stressful. These resources can help you understand your cat’s behavior and find simple, effective solutions to keep everyone happy and your home clean.
Enriching Your Cat's Life
Play isn’t just fun. It’s essential for your cat’s well-being. These resources offer ideas for toys, games, and daily activities that help keep your cat mentally sharp, physically active, and connected to you.
Keeping Your Cat Healthy
Regular vet visits are an important part of keeping your cat healthy and happy. These resources offer tips for stress-free appointments, giving medication at home, and knowing when it’s time to call the vet.
- Taking Your Cat to the Vet
- Tips for Giving Your Cat Medication
- Trimming Your Cats Nails
- Low-cost vet and cat care resources in Minnesota and Wisconsin (PDF)
- Ani-Meals pet resources
- The Bond Between and other Twin Cities area resources for pets
University of Minnesota Animal Health Education Series
To see more videos from the University of Minnesota Animal Health Education Series, visit their webpage.
Medicating Pets Safely: A Guide to OTC Drugs for Dogs and Cats Led by Alisa Craig, PharmD, FSVHP
Dr. Craig explains why giving human over-the-counter medications to dogs and cats can be risky, and how some commonly used drugs can be harmful to pets. The presentation covers which OTC medications may be safe to use, which should never be given, and why cats and dogs can react differently to certain medications. Attendees also learn basic dosing guidelines and receive helpful tips for safely administering medications to pets at home.
Feline Dentistry: What You Need to Know About Your Cat’s Oral Health Led by Jennifer Kelley, DVM, DAVDC
Dr. Kelley addresses what kind of diseases affect cats’ oral health, how you can recognize signs of these diseases at home in your cat, what kind of treatments can be performed by your veterinarian or a dentistry and oral surgery specialist, and what you can do at home to maintain your cat’s oral health.
Scratching under the surface: Allergies in dogs and cats Led by Annette Lundberg, DVM, MS, DACVD
The Microbiome in Dogs and Cats: What’s New and Why do We Care Led by Emily Coffey, DVM, DACVIM, PhD
In this presentation you will learn about the microbiome, how it affects pet health, and strategies veterinarians use to promote microbiome health for their patients. Dr. Coffey also discusses exciting new developments in this field, ranging from fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) to the discovery of a urinary microbiome.