Archive for April, 2008
Apr
2008
You love your Maine Coon Cat, and you do everything to keep him healthy. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your Maine Coon may become ill. All cats, however, work hard to hide pain and illness. In their ‘natural’ habitat, illness and pain are signs of weakness that could cost them their lives. So, because your Maine Coon is a master at hiding how he feels – physically – how will you know when he is sick?
Sometimes, despite his best efforts, he won’t be able to hide it. There will be physical signs that you can’t help but notice. These may include diarrhea, vomiting, listlessness, and excessive sleeping. If any of these things occur, you have to determine whether or not a veterinarian is needed.
First, access the situation. How long has it been going on? If it has been more than a couple of days, call the vet. If it is new, you need to watch the cat to see if the condition worsens, and call the vet if it goes on for more than forty-eight hours.
Apr
2008
Genetic Problems for Maine Coon Cats
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 am by Cat Lover in Cat Health, Cat NewsWhile inbreeding does usually pass or create genetic problems, genetic problems can occur within Maine Coon Cats regardless of whether or not inbreeding has taken place. Here are some problems that are specific to Maine Coon Cats.
Hip Dysplasia a problem that most breeders are trying to breed out. They do this by having their studs and dams tested for potential hip Dysplasia, and then only mating normal to normal. This, unfortunately, doesn’t always breed out the disorder, giving researchers the idea that hip Dysplasia can skip numerous generations.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is also a genetic disorder, which can cause the left ventricle of the heart to thicken and stiffen. This leads to heart failure. Maine Coons can be tested for this disorder between the ages of 1 and 7 years.
Apr
2008
About the Cat Fancier’s Association
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm by Cat Lover in GeneralAre you interested in finding a purebred cat? As you shop for your cat, you may notice the initials CFA in some advertisements. What exactly does this mean? CFA stands for the Cat Fancier’s Association, the largest purebred cat registry in the world. The CFA was created to maintain breed standards and register litters of purebred kittens. In addition, this association holds cat shows, where cats are judged to see how closely they adhere to their breed’s standard. The CFA recognizes only forty one breeds of cats.
When a breeder registers a litter of kittens with the Cat Fancier’s Association, he or she has the option of deciding that the kitten cannot be bred. Only cats with a pin number on their registration forms will be eligible to have their kittens registered. This allows the breeders to continue to better their breeds. Once the litter is registered, each kitten will need to be individually registered by its new owner.
The CFA has placed the cat breeds it recognizes into three categories. These groups are the Championship Class, the Provisional Class, and the Miscellaneous Class. Each of the forty one breeds that the CFA recognizes is placed in one of these groups. When cats are shown, they must win first place in their breed and then their class before they can compete for the title of best in show.
Cats in the Championship Class are those who are solidly established cat breeds. The breeds in the Provisional Class have been more recently established and are still being closely watched to be sure they conform to the new breed standard. Finally, the one breed currently in the Miscellaneous Class is still having a breed standard created and cannot actually compete for the best in show title.
If you live in Canada, you have a second option. You can register your cat in the Canadian Cat Association. This association was formed by Canadians who did not want to register their cats with an association in another country. Other popular cat registries are the Traditional Cat Association, which supports original breed standards and does not uphold current trends that exaggerate breed characteristics, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, which is the United Kingdom’s cat registry, and the Fédération Internationale Féline, which is the European cat registry.
Apr
2008
Cornish Rex
April 1st, 2008 at 12:46 am by Cat Lover in Cat BreedsIf you ever felt the need to take a second look to be sure the animal in front of you was actually a cat, then you’ve probably already seen a Cornish Rex. These unusual looking cats are very different from other cat breeds in appearance and coat texture. Some people think they look like alien creatures and others feel that they are very similar in appearance to the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork. However, the Cornish Rex actually is a breed that was established in Great Britain in the late twentieth century.
These cats have a build that brings to mind the Italian Greyhound or the Whippet and, just like their canine counterparts, they are very fast animals. The Cornish Rex has a coat that resembles the fashionable crimped hairstyles that were so popular in the early twentieth century. Although it may not look very soft, this cat’s coat is so soft that most people compare it to silk or velvet.
If you think that the Cornish Rex is an ornamental, sedate cat, think again. This breed is downright goofy and playful and never actually outgrows kittenhood. This natural born performer loves to learn new tricks and is quite willing to play fetching and catching games for hours on end. This fun loving nature makes the Rex a natural choice for families, as these cats do not mind children who treat them well.
In fact, this breed loves people so much that it is an extremely bad choice for a career oriented individual who spends a lot of time at work. If no one in your family spends much time in the house, you may want to look for a less sociable cat breed instead. If you do decide that you want a Cornish Rex, consider adding a second cat or a cat friendly dog breed to the household, as well. The company of another animal should help your Rex stave off loneliness.
