Where did you learn all the things you know about cats?

Just wondering After I joined, I realized how much I have to learn about cats.

I've learned from here on TheCatSite, some books, Jackson Galaxy, surfing the web, and my grandma, too.

Where did you learn yours?

LittleLion said:

 
Just wondering After I joined, I realized how much I have to learn about cats.

I've learned from here on TheCatSite, some books, Jackson Galaxy, surfing the web, and my grandma, too.

Where did you learn yours?

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I started volunteering at a cat rescue group/shelter and that's where I learned the most.  You could look for your local shelters and see what their volunteer programs are like, its a great opportunity.

When I was new to cats I read every book about them I could find. 

I learned most of it trial and error from owning cats. :lol3:

blueyedgirl5946 said:

I learned most of it trial and error from owning cats.

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Me too.

peaches08 said:

 
Me too.

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Yep!  But I also joined TCS just a couple of weeks after we took in four elder cats from a friend who passed away.  I can't tell you how much I've learned from this website over the past year and a half.

Probably the most from TCS also.  I was totally new to having a cat, and doing research led me here.  I credit this community for helping then and even more so when we adopted our second one.  

blueyedgirl5946 said:

I learned most of it trial and error from owning cats.

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I'll go with that one, too. I've had cats since I was 6 years old and pretty much ever since we've been married.

Other than from here, as far as health goes having a kitty with chronic illness through research and finally from a good vet.  As far as behavior probably Jackson Galaxy.  Kitty behavior is still pretty much a mystery to me.  I think that is why I prefer kitties to dogs, I do like dogs as well but they are so predictable when compared to kitties.

My cats taught me/made me learn.  I only looked into things I needed to know about cats and after this many cats and this many years I have the basics and then some down  Google search what the issue was is how I figured it all out.  Vets can be great but a lot of their advice is based on best practices of if you have all the money to spend do this that and the other thing.  Ideally that is what you would follow but with little money you get creative.  Some vets advice is best ignored(dry cleans teeth, let the cat outside,spay at 6 months or even closer to a year)

Angel is my first cat,  (not counting one we had when I was very young).  

I learned SO MUCH, I'd say the majority of what I know from this site!!   Thank You everyone!    Also, from the vet, & reading articles. 

I learned the majority from TCS!  

My fiance has owned cats all throughout his life, so when we adopted our first (also my first) cat, I learned a lot of the basics from him! I will also give credit to Jackson Galaxy videos on you tube

Our family had a cat.  I got my first personal cats when I was married at age 17.  I have had cats all my life.  I first started volunteering at shelters in New Orleans when I was 22.  I worked at the ASPCA Hospital in New York City.  I was engaged to a vet for four years (we're still friends 47 years later!)  I bred Himalayans when the breed was first being developed.  I have always been involved with rescue, and I have only been without a cat for maybe two weeks of my life.  I am 70 years old.  My daughter was raised with cats and her kids were raised with cats.  Both grandkids are now out of High School.  My grandson volunteers at a local shelter.  It's in our genes. 

I came to The Cat Site knowing a lot in a lot of areas, and I have learned at least that much in OTHER areas from being here.  I have my own rescue now AND I volunteer with a bigger rescue too.  I live with too many cats.  I think I'm obsessed.  I will die poor and covered in cat hair.

Red Top Rescue said:

 
 I live with too many cats.  I think I'm obsessed.  I will die poor and covered in cat hair.

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Yeah..this!  I have images of me dying from a fall while carrying cat litter up the steps.

I learned as i went along from my first cat and books.

I learned alot when I found this site a couple of yrs ago. Still visit everyday..
My big knowledge search began in 2007 with my first FELV + cat, Tristan.. found alot of info through Yahoo groups. It was valuable knowledge AND support, where I learned about caring for positives instead of euthanizing them. Could you do that to these kitties ?

Sorry I'll get off my soapbox now.....

I'm going to read this book about cats I have so I can learn more and help others out better!

I grew up with cats but didn't know that much about them till I got Autumn Angel.  She taught me a lot, and really got me interested in reading what I could about cats.  I've read cat books, some being more helpful than others, and I've learned a lot from this site and others.

From my cats, first of all, and from the cats and kittens I foster. Its trial by fire, but I think I do okay. I can give needles and fluids. I can give medications without wasting them. I can restrain a cat. I can hand-raise. I can even  have an animal put down if I really, really have to but I cry like a baby when I do. The skills I learned I learned from my best friend who started this rescue almost twenty years ago. She is the sweetest, smartest, strongest person I have ever had the good fortune to know.

From years of cat ownership, from my mom (who has sort of a "cat whisperer" thing going on ), online research, trial and error. 

I look back with embarrassment and shame at some of the ignorance I (and my family) used to have about cats, many years ago. But it's possible to learn from your mistakes, and outgrow ignorance.