We're talking 35 years ago something like that.

So that's what we're going to do today.

I'm going to give you guys the 10 things that I wish I knew about cats before I brought them into my life and my home.

And before I get into any of that stuff don't forget to give this video a like just because you want those 10 things and because you want to love the channel also don't forget to subscribe.

Let's talk about introductions.

Man I wish I would have known about that one.

I mean 30 years ago the common wisdom was you're bringing the cat into a home with another animal they'll work it out.

Yeah that's what I got to say to that.

I mean I did have a roommate who had a dog I had a roommate who had a cat.

Now when it comes to introducing cats to cats I have a whole playlist on that so please check that out.

Now in terms of dogs man that was a problem and that could turn ugly really fast depending on the dog themselves the size the prey drive etc etc.

Before you bring that cat into the home make sure that your dog can do a reliable down stay.

That is to say you put your dog in that down stay and if they break out of it while a cat walks across that room get back to the training.

That should be something you can count on because the first time that dog chases the cat it's game over.

And listen if your dog can't hold a down stay it's not their fault it's yours you just have to lean into training.

But if you can't trust them during that introduction process they're on a leash and even if they're trailing the leash around if they make a move you foot the leash you can at least guarantee that there won't be a chase.

Once that chase happens it happens you can't undo it.

Meaning the cat's confidence in that moment is shot.

Besides that you want to make sure that you're doing all introductions in a step-by-step way.

That whole thing about them working it out that is straight up shooting the dice man.

It just the amount of times that it does work versus doesn't I wouldn't be telling you about it right now if it worked out for me and it didn't.

Do make sure that you're introducing the right way.

The next part of the introductions I want you to listen to me about again from experience was about food and water and litter resources.

You want to make sure that the dog has no access to the litter box and an easy way to do that is you have a room where the litter box is.

You have a baby gate that basically clears the space underneath so the cat can walk through but the dog cannot because dogs love to help clean litter boxes and that makes the litter box an unsafe place for your cat.

Same thing goes for food and it goes both ways.

The first time your cat goes into a dog's dish to eat their dinner, I'm going to help myself to that.

If your dog is a resource garter that's going to end really badly for your cat.

Same thing goes from the dog to the cat.

Again it's about the sanctity of the resource itself so you want to play it safe, take the cat's dish, put it off the ground, and feed them separately.

So my next point piggybacks.

I almost said piggy tails.

So my next point piggybacks off the first one because when you're introducing animal to animal you do want to make sure that your cat's nails are trimmed.

Don't bank on whomever you got that cat from shelter, rescue, foster parent, somebody else who had the cat, whatever, had trimmed the claws because when you're doing an introduction and it's not going as well as you wanted it to all it takes is a tiny little touch when those nails are just razor sharp that it's going to cause a problem.

Let alone the fact you don't want like on day three of having a cat in your life all of a sudden they're shredding things around the house because you've allowed that to happen and by the way if you're learning who they are and they're learning who you are and you go for a pet too fast or pick them up too fast and they go like this to you those things get sharp.

So just like humans you want to make sure that you are trimming those nails every three to four weeks tops.

I know it doesn't feel like the funnest thing in the world to do but the earlier you do it and the earlier you get started the easier it becomes and you just got to stick to it.

It's just one of those things.

The other thing you want to worry about is the damage it can do to the cats themselves.

Those claws grow fast and as they grow they start to curve under and I have seen it before where they get so long that they actually start digging in and poking through the pads underneath their paws.

I mean that is painful.

So don't think that just because they scratch things that they're blunting them by themselves.

You got to help them.

All right this is a big one.

A big one because it was a big one in my life and this is all about optimum nutrition.

Don't listen to just anyone.

Do your due diligence.

That's what I wish I would have done.

Due diligence on what a cat needs to eat.

If you bear in mind a cat is an obligate carnivore.

A cat needs to eat meat.

The of their hydration through water.

They get it through their food.

So if you put those two things alone together you're going to be better off.

But let me just tell you a story about the first cat who I considered my family member.

That was Rabbi and when I brought Rabbi into my house I was told by a number of sources including my vet at the time.

Oh yeah keep him on on this kibble.

It's it's balanced.

It will uh you know keep his teeth clean which of course was a lie and etc etc.

So Rabbi was on a dry diet free fed for seven years.

In his seventh year he developed diabetes.

Seven years old and he became insulin resistant.

They didn't tell me change up his diet that may help bring down his glucose levels.

Long story short I lost him before he ever turned eight years old.

That's why I turned as militant as I am when it comes to nutrition.

But I would do anything to go before Rabbi came into my life so that I knew about nutrition.

Just learn about it.

Be your cat's best advocate when it comes to nutrition.

Wish I would have known about that.

Next up is enrichment.

Common wisdom at the time all these years ago.

Cats are low maintenance.

That low maintenance.

Because they don't protest as much.

Because they're not like right the second my dog off to the side of the camera who's like I need things.

I want things.

And because a lot of cats are not like we just go okay well they don't need anything.

Not true.

Cats need enrichment.

The first thing is play.

I say it every day.

Play with your cat.

Play with your cat.

But play with your cat.

And there's a lot of reasons for that.

I got a video about it again down in the description.

The second thing speaking of having made a lot of videos about something.

Catification.

Environmental enrichment.

So important to your cat.

Don't forget cats look at a room like this.

Not like us.

I walk explore every square inch of space and finding their own confident where in that space.

Really optimizing your environment based on what your cat needs.

I wish I would have known this stuff.

That's why I'm telling you right now.

Because I wish I would have known the vast difference in the quality of their life.

Both play and catification makes to that life.

And an extension to yours.

So again to piggyback on something.

Piggy tail.

Piggy bank.

Piggyback.

Talking about catification environmental enrichment.

Now we talk about what happens if you don't.

It's not just about enriching your cat's life.

It's about protecting them and protecting the home itself.

That is cat proofing your house.

So let me tell you a story.

Again there is not a single thing I'm going to tell you today that I haven't fallen victim to myself.

And speaking of falling victim to.

Valoria my beautiful may she rest in peace died when she was 26 years old.

Would have died a lot sooner if it weren't for some quick thinking on the part of my good friend at the time who was a vet.

And the vets who cared for her.

Because I came home one time.

At that point she's only about 10 years old.

And I come home within.

I'm not kidding you. 30 seconds of me coming home.

Suddenly she's foaming at the mouth.

And she's hurling herself against the walls.

Like to the point where I was afraid she was going to hurt herself from that.

And just white foam pouring out of her mouth.

And I scoop her up.

And I run her to the vet.

And for a while there I was convinced that it was because she got into something under the sink.

She had gotten into some poison under the sink.

I'm then leaving her at the emergency room to run back to the house because my other cat at the time Benny was still in the house.

And is he poisoning himself?

Now it didn't actually turn out that that was the case.

It turned out to be a whole other thing.

But the fact is it could have happened because I had not cat proofed my house.

And so to that end the first thing that you remember is to put child locks on everything.

Remember cats are like toddlers that can reach the ceiling.

So everything floor to ceiling you want to make sure is kid proofed and cat proofed to that end.

They get into whatever you don't want them to get into.

Medicine or otherwise.

Don't forget.

Got a video all about cat proofing.

The second thing catification principle number two.

Block off the unders.

Make sure that no matter what it is.

The under of your bed, coffee tables, whatever your cat's going to get under that you can't reach to.

Reach to?

Anywhere where you can't get to?

That's a problem.

God forbid there's an emergency.

You got to get out of the house.

You got to get the family out of the house like that.

Good luck when it comes to the place that they will go when they're the scared.

Which is hidden.

Now look I understand that a lot and the actual the vast majority of cats that come into your life just come into your life.

Whether you know you have a friend that was moving or they just showed up on your front step and you're like okay cat you have a home.

This is if you have the option.

If you get that chance to plan research.

Researching specifically vets and pet sitters.

Making sure that you have a deep bench behind you before you ever start.

And it's not just there's a vet down the street who but because they're down the street.

But you don't know about the quality and this is not bad-mouthing veterinarians.

This is bad-mouthing anybody.

Just go into them because of convenience.

Let alone if it's somebody you trust your animal's life to.

So the best thing that you can do is solicit as many opinions from friends and family members who have animals in your general area.

And just go with that first and then research.

Same thing goes for pet sitters.

And the reason I really stress pet sitters is because if you are called out of town.

If there's an emergency out of town somewhere.

If you can't be in the home for some reason.

You wouldn't want to just trust that you can put them into boarding or something like that.

You do want to make sure that you have somebody who is bonded, insured, that friends can vouch for.

They're going to be in your house.

They're going to be in your life.

And I really really advocate for pet sitters.

Check out my vacation video.

It talks all about that.

But those two things veterinarians, pet sitters, man that would be a great thing to know before you bring a cat into the home.

Now at this point, I will make the caveat that when I first brought a cat into my life, this idea was just a glimmer in somebody's eye at the time.

But now it's not and it is really important.

And that is pet insurance.

If you haven't considered pet insurance for your cat, do more than consider it.

In my opinion, do it.

Things happen.

Emergencies happen.

Unforeseen things happen.

And if you're not prepared, those bills are really high.

I am not trying to scare you away from having a cat in your life.

I'm just saying there's an easy way to prepare for it.

Now here's the other thing I would tell you to do.

Number one, shop around.

Because different plans offer different things in terms of what the premiums are, what the deductibles are, and what types of problems they will address and to what extent.