Are you a Cat Champion?

Cat Champion Quiz

Think you know everything about taking care of your cat? Test your knowledge below and see if you are a true Cat Champion!

True or False? When bringing a new cat into your life, you should stock your home with ALL of the following essentials:

Low sided food and water bowls
High quality food
Scratching Post and/or scratching pad
Litter box
Cat carrier (large enough with top and front opening)
Cat bed
Toys
Scoopable unscented litter
Nail trimmer
Cat toothbrush
Cat metal comb
Breakaway collar and id tag

True

False

The environment around a cat can affect their emotional as well as physical wellbeing. Select from the below statements which of these environmental factors is false.

Cats react positively to unfamiliar scents from people, other cats, and dogs.

Calm cats like a reduced-noise environment, with soothing music and low, soothing tones when talking to them.

Cats prefer to be petted on the head and neck and for brief time periods.

Calm cats like to retreat into places that allow for some visual privacy, such as a tall-sided or igloo cat bed and cardboard boxes.

Your veterinarian is your trusted partner in keeping your cat happy and healthy throughout their lifetime. However, less than 50% of cat caregivers bring their cats in for routine checkups. From the following statements, select the reason why caregivers should bring their cats in for routine checkups:

Cats age more quickly than humans and checkups are crucial because a lot can happen in a “cat year.”

Cats are excellent at hiding signs that they are sick or in pain.

Overweight or obese cats can be at risk for diabetes or heart, respiratory, and kidney disease.

Regular checkups can help avoid costly medical emergencies by detecting conditions or diseases before they become significant, painful, or more costly to treat.

Dental disease is the most common disease in cats three years of age and older, yet there aren’t many obvious signs of dental disease that a caregiver would recognize.

All the above are true.

We know sometimes it can be stressful getting our cat to the veterinarian. Which of the following statements are true?

If your cat doesn’t like going to the veterinarian, you should skip their annual checkup.

You don’t need to put your cat in a carrier to bring them to the veterinary practice.

The carrier should be left out in a room where your cat spends time so it becomes familiar to your cat.

Wait until it is time to head to the veterinarian and chase your cat if you have to in order to get them into the carrier and to the vet.

Playing with your cat is essential to providing them with enough mental and physical stimulation that allows them to act out their natural, instinctive behaviors such as hunting and stalking. Which of the following statements is false?

If you have a kitten it is okay to use your hands and feet as toys during play.

Cats tend to play more when they are hungry, so hiding food around your house helps to encourage them to play.

It is important to let your cat capture its ‘prey’ at the end of a play session to satisfy their natural hunting instinct and prevent them from becoming frustrated.

When a cat walks away from you, they are done playing and it is important to not force interaction, instead letting them initiate, choose, and control the type of human contact that they desire.

Cats like to have lots of enrichment areas, such as cat trees, elevated perches, and windows to watch outdoor activity that enables them to play on their own when you are not at home.

True or False? String, yarn, rubber bands, tinsel, ribbon, and streamers are great toys to use when playing with your cat.

True

False

The litter box is an important part of your cat’s life at home. Which of the following statements is true:

You only need one litter box per cat in your home.

Cats prefer to eliminate in scented, aromatic, and dusty litter.

The litter box does not need to be washed with soap and hot water.

The litter box should be large and should measure at least the length of your cat from her nose to the base of the tail.

In a multi-level home, you only need a litter box on one level.

What we feed our cats is important, but equally important is how they are fed. How a cat is fed can affect their physical and emotional wellbeing. Select from below which of the statements is true:

You should put out enough food one time a day (one large meal) so your cat can graze when she is hungry.

If there are multiple pets in a household, your cat should eat in a visually separate area as the other pets in order to reduce stress and prevent food aggression, gorging, and weight issues.

A cat that is eating food with ears flattened and in a hunched or crouched posture is in a calm state.

Using a puzzle feeder can confuse your cat and decrease activity, and has little impact on stress and obesity-related issues.

It is easy for you to tell if your cat is over or undereating.

True or False? Vomiting, hairballs, and diarrhea are normal parts of a cat’s life and not a major cause for concern.

True

False

Scratching is a normal behavior for cats. It serves as a way for cats to communicate with each other, leaving scent and visible markers to demonstrate territorial domain; a way for them to stretch their bodies; and helps them keep their nails well-groomed.

True or False? It is possible to train your cat to scratch certain approved items and not others.

True

False

One of the best ways to ensure your cat stays healthy is ensure they receive recommended vaccinations. Which of the following is NOT a reason that your cat should get vaccinated?

Vaccines help protect cat caregivers from diseases, such as rabies, that could be transmitted from cats to humans.

Vaccination series help protect a kitten’s developing immune system from the decline in antibody levels against infectious diseases.

Indoor cats can still be exposed to diseases as a result of travel or boarding, interactions with other cats, the addition of a new cat to the home, or even viruses carried on a caregiver’s clothing.

Vaccines are able to abolish ANY risk of disease.

Licensing regulations where you live or travel may require vaccinations by law to help prevent the transmission of disease among animals and people.

True or False? The following signs are all related to your cat getting older:

Changes in behavior and sleeping patterns
Increased ‘talking’ or meowing
Pain-related to movement (jumping, using stairs, in/out of high-sided litter box)
Changes in sight and hearing
Decreased sense of smell and taste
Weight loss and loose skin
Brittle nails or nails that need to be trimmed more often
Decreased ability to absorb nutrients and increased need for protein
Decreased movements when chasing moving objects

True

False

True or False? The veterinary visit doesn’t have to be super stressful. There are Cat Friendly Practices® and veterinary professionals that obtain Cat Friendly Certificates who take extra steps to provide the best care and experience for you and your cat.

True

False