The Cat Owner Club

Information, Resources & Tips For Cat Owners & Cat Lovers!

Archive for February, 2008

29
Feb
2008

Do you want a cat that is considered to be a sacred animal? Many people think that the beautiful Birman cat breed originated from cats that guarded the Burman temples. This breed is even rumored to have helped the Burmese monks fight off attackers when a Birman’s coat turned the golden color of the goddess the monks worshiped, except for his paws which stayed pure white. Of course, less fanciful cat lovers say the Birman is simply a French relative of the Himalayan cat breed.

While no one is completely sure where the Birman breed came from, all cat fanciers agree that it is an older breed. Some breeders say the Birman is closely related to the Siamese cat, since it resembles a slightly stockier Siamese in appearance. In fact, more than one person has said that when the pure white Burman temple cats changed color, it was probably because a stray Siamese cat fathered a few litters of kittens.

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26
Feb
2008

Wow, It is so cute. Just wonder what is so interesting that is keeping the cat fascinated who keep his focus at the background. The little tortiose is also a small terror, anyway it is really nice and such a joy to see pets living in harmony. Cheers.

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26
Feb
2008

There is always common health issues associated with any breed of animal. For Maine Coon Cats, one of those health problems is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which is often shortened to Cardiomyopathy, and abbreviated as HCM. HCM can be inherited, but it can also be developed without inheritance, although most reported cases are through inheritance. HCM is a disease that causes the left ventricle of the heart to thicken and stiffen. This eventually leads to heart failure, and may also cause aortic thrombeoembolism.

In most cases, your breeder will give you a health guarantee or statement. Ideally, they will have had the parents tested to ensure that they do not have a mutation of the gene that determines the presence or development of this disease. If they tell you that the 12 week old kitten has been tested, and tested negative, don’t believe it. HCM can only be detected with cardiac ultrasound, and cannot be detected in a cat younger than one year. Testing is recommended between the ages of one and seven years.

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25
Feb
2008

When people first see a Balinese cat, they often think that this elegant looking cat must be haughty and unsociable. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This breed may look refined, but it is actually incredibly friendly and fun loving.

The Balinese has a graceful body that can move in unusual ways and helps it get into all kinds of places. This flexibility and ability to escape from seemingly impossible places causes many people to compare the Balinese breed to the great magician Houdini.

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24
Feb
2008

If you are thinking about getting a Maine Coon Cat, you need to be fully aware of the cost. The first cost that you will experience is the cost of the kitten. If the parents are titled, the Maine Coon kitten will cost anywhere from $600 to $1000. If the parents are not titled, you can expect to pay between $200 and $400. Adult Maine Coon’s, who are not titled, cost anywhere from $100 to $200.

First, make sure that you can afford a Maine Coon Cat. This does not refer to the cost of buying the kitten – this refers to the cost of lifelong care for the animal. First, he needs to see his veterinarian every year for a checkup. An emergency fund also needs to be set up to pay the vet in the event that the animal gets sick. Despite how healthy and strong Maine Coon Cats are, they do still get ill, just like any other animal.

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23
Feb
2008

Do you want a cat that has a distinctive and unusual looking appearance? If so, you may want to consider the American Wirehair. This breed has hair that looks like colored steel wool, although it doesn’t feel quite so coarse to the touch.

The American Wirehair started with a litter of kittens born in a farmer’s barn. When he noticed one of the kittens had an unusual coat, he consulted a cat fancier, who decided to try to breed cats with the wirehair trait. Unfortunately, this trait was not truly dominant, so there was quite a lot of inbreeding, and any cat who showed even the slightest tendency to be a wirehair was used for breeding. Concern that the breed would become susceptible to hereditary diseases and weaknesses led the people working with the American Wirehair to cross it with the American Shorthair, one of the other cat breeds to be developed in America.

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22
Feb
2008

If you love Maine Coon Cats, you might be interested in breeding them. However, Maine Coon Cat breeding is not something that one jumps into overnight. There are a number of things to consider.

First and foremost, it is not advisable to breed just any Maine Coon Cat. Most good breeders agree that only titled Maine Coon Cat’s should be bred, keeping the pedigrees incredibly pure. Breeders also work to breed out certain genetic disorders that are common to the Maine Coon.

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21
Feb
2008

If you aren’t familiar with pedigreed cats, you may be under the impression that the American Shorthair is a fancy name for an alley cat. However, the American Shorthair, which was called the Domestic Shorthair until the nineteen sixties, is a pedigreed cat that meets a specific standard.

These cats, which are classified as a part of the Championship Class by the Cat Fancier’s Association, are on the large side, weighing in at eight to fifteen pounds. The Shorthair has a wide face with prominent cheeks and a powerful well muscled body. His tail is slightly thicker at the base than at the tip and is shorter than his body. His eyes are big and have an alert expression.

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20
Feb
2008

The first time you see an American Curl, you may think that the cat has a deformity. After all, cats don’t usually have ears that curve back toward the back of their heads. The American Curl has varying degrees of curl to the ears, from ears that barely tip back to ears that curve so far back that they form a crescent shape. Only cats with ears that form a crescent curve are suitable for showing, but all American Curls make delightful pets.

This breed was developed in the early nineteen eighties from one stray cat that a California cat lover adopted. Surprisingly enough, all kittens are born with ears that look completely normal. When the kittens are about ten days old, their ears begin to curl. The kittens are about four months old before the ears develop their final position.

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19
Feb
2008

If you want a friendly cat and don’t mind that the breed you’ve chosen is a bit of an upstart in the cat world, since it only has existed since the nineteen sixties, you may want to consider the American Bobtail.

The American Bobtail is one of only three breeds in the Cat Fancier’s Association’s Provisional Class, which is where cat breeds are placed until they show that they are able to stay true to their standards. This breed is a lightweight compared to many other breeds, weighing in at seven to fifteen pounds.

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