Below is a list of reasons people have given as to why they no longer want their cat. Choose a reply as a responsible and caring cat owner. 

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Seventy thousand (70,000!!) kittens and puppies are born every day just in the United States. These unwanted kittens are tossed out the door, and join feral colonies, scrounging for food each and every day. They suffer from hunger and/or disease, become an annoyance in the neighborhood, and either continue to add to the population, or are killed. Spaying/neutering your pet ensures it will have a longer, healthier life. It prevents unwanted litters, needless suffering, and an increase in taxes to pay animal shelter costs. 

Most cats enjoy being brushed, and will soon come running as soon as they see the brush in your hand. Daily or frequent brushing will greatly minimize the amount of loose fur settling in the corners of your house, and will also prevent a lot of hair balls being coughed up. 

Train your cat to use a scratching post. It should be sturdy and tall enough to let the cat stretch to his full height. If he still persists in scratching the furniture, try placing a few balloons or pieces of aluminum foil around the area. The noise of a bursting balloon or crackling foil should frighten him off without hurting him. Many times you can simply "redirect" him to the scratching post, and he will eventually get the idea.

Persistent spraying occurs in unneutered males as a form of territory marking. But some unspayed females spray also. Neutering should stop the spraying habit in most cats -- especially if done while the cat is still young. Note that in some cases, a cat who has been neutered and hasn't sprayed, may start doing so when it is very stressed, such as when you bring a new person or animal into the house. If that happens, lavish a great deal of affection on the cat and try to eliminate the stress factor.

Medication for the treatment of worms is easily and inexpensively obtained from your vet. If your cat is constantly shaking his head or scratching at his ears, he has ear mites. Treatment options from your vet for ear mites may include: medicine which you put in his ear; one or two shots of medication; or using an ear dropper to put a few drops of slightly warmed mineral oil in his ear; or (new) a vial of liquid that you break open and put on the kitty's skin between his shoulders.

Many superstitions still abound about cats. Here are some more.

All kittens are playful, but will calm down in a few months. Give her "approved toys" such as a kitty tree, so she can exercise. And since the draperies are already shredded, you can replace them with horizontal blinds, so kitty can go through them to sit on the windowsill.

Your cat thinks you are simply another cat (a rather large one. For that reason, she wants to sleep where you are, to cement the bond. If you really don't want kitty to sleep in your bed, keep the bedroom door closed.

Cats are generally very tolerant of children, and will defend themselves only if they are being hurt. Don't let your youngster pull your kitty's tail or ears, and show him the proper way to carry the kitty. Instill in your child a respect for all lifeforms; studies have shown that serial killers started out abusing animals.

The cost of owning a pet is considerably less than that of raising a child, but it is, nonetheless, a responsibility. You are literally responsible for another life. Spay or neuter your pet, and have your pet vaccinated against disease. Give your cat the most healthy food (no, it doesn't have to be the most expensive), and the care of a good veterinarian (yes, do shop around - quality care is not ensured just because he's a vet, and be aware that all fees are not the same at all offices).

To keep your cat off the kitchen counter, stack a few baking pans or other noise-making devices along the edge of the counter so that they fall down when the cat jumps up. In many cases, though, you can simply pick the cat up off the counter, say "No!" firmly, and drop him (firmly but not sufficient to hurt) onto the floor.

Get in the habit of hitting the hood of your car a couple times before starting the engine, just in case a "neighbor's" cat is sleeping under the hood.

You can purchase a small bottle of a substance that can be sprayed onto your Christmas tree that will persuade him to stay far away. The spray can also be useful for keeping him off of furniture; be sure to follow the directions and don't spray directly on that beloved Victorian antique, however.

If your existing cat displays animosity toward your new one, it is probably feeling jealous. A very workable solution is for you to sit down, with a cat on each side, and pet them both at the same time. This will let your existing kitty know he's not being replaced in your affection, as well as subtly inform the new kitten that his new sister/brother is his equal in your eyes.

If your cat pushes out too much kitty litter, the litter pan may be too small, or the sides may not be high enough. Numerous shapes and sizes of litter pans are available, including those with high sides and a lip, or completely enclosed.

If your cat craves attention while you're sitting quietly, why not go ahead and indulge him by letting him sit next to you on the sofa, and petting him softly? If he persists in bothering you, you might want to ask yourself if you've remembered to feed him.

Cats spend at least 18 hours out of every 24 sleeping, and will sleep even more if they're bored. Spend some time daily with your cat, letting it chase a feather or string. [Aside: You might want to invest in several toys and keep them in a basket - though your cat won't put them back in the basket, you may be surprised to find that they go to it regularly to pick out a favorite toy to play with.]

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