Archive for October, 2008

A rare and ancient breed of cat, the Turkish Van was depicted on ornaments as far back as 5,000 B.C. The Turkish Van was so named for its region of origin, central and southwest Asia. The area includes the modern countries of Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Syria, and eastern Turkey. Van is a very common name in the area. There is in fact, a Lake Van which is also Turkey’s largest lake, so it is not surprising that Van was used as part of
this breeds name. In fact, this cat is known sometimes in its lands of origin as the “Vancat”. Turkish Vans were brought back to Europe by the Crusaders on their return from the Holy Land. These cats were called several different names during that time including; white ringtail and Russian Longhair.

The first Turkish Van cats to arrive in England were brought in 1955.The breed was initially called the Turkish cat in England but this name was modified to Turkish Van later to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. The various names under which this breed was known in Europe created the misconception that is was simply a variant of the Turkish Angora. They are, in fact, very distinct breeds with separate histories. The Turkish Van is very much the new kid on the block in America having been here only since a first importation of a few kittens in the mid 1970s, but the breed only began to take off in this country with a second importation from France in 1983. The Turkish Van has since attracted a loyal and spirited group of breeders and fanciers.

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Are you a cat owner who is curious about your cat and how they function on a daily basis? Of course, you cat likely cannot comfortably survive without the food and shelter you provide him or her with, but you may be curious about their senses. Do you ever find yourself wondering how well your pet can see or what their tastes are like? If so, please continue reading on.

As for your cat’s hearing, have you ever heard that your cat’s ears are similar to a satellite dish? There are many pet owner and veterinarians who make this comparison. What does this mean? It means that your cat does have a relatively good sense of hearing. You may notice your cat turn their head and move their ears when you start talking or when they hear a noise outside. This provides cats with the ability to hunt mice and other small, quite rodents.

As for your cat’s sense of touch, all pets are just like humans. They have a fine sense of touch. Whether you touch your cat’s whiskers, her paws, or her tail, it is a movement that she can notice right away. The most sensitive part of your cat’s body is their whiskers. As a cat owner, you should already know how important a full set of whiskers are to a cat. Your cat’s paws are also a sensitive area on their body.

As for your cat’s sight, he or she has good vision. It has been claimed that cats see at 1/5th the intensity of humans. Although cats cannot see perfectly in the dark, they are still able to make out distinctive shapes and movements. Cats are also able to see movement quicker than humans are. A movement that may appear as nothing to us, is a movement that a cat can notice. However, during daylight humans do have a better sense of sight.

Depending on your cat and his or her eating habits, you may assume that cats have a sensitive sense of taste. After all, many cat owners report their pets as being picky eaters. Although it may appear as if your cat is a picky eater, they logically aren’t, at least for taste reasons. In fact, cats are more likely to pick and choose their food based on smell, rather than taste.

Speaking of smell, this is the most heightened out of the five senses for your cat. Cats have a much better sense of smell than humans do. In fact, did you know that cats have about 200 million cells in and on their noses that are odor sensitive? They do. This is much more than us, humans, have. In addition to using smell as a way to decide which food to eat, cats can also use smell to determine if an environment is safe to enter. Smelling is also a method of communication for felines. It has been said that cats can smell odors that humans can’t even detect.

Now that you know how your cat’s five main senses are, you may be able to better understand the behavior that your cat displays and the habits that they develop. With that said, also be sure to use your best judgment. If your cat is refusing to eat their food, it may be something more serious than them just not liking the smell of their cat food. If your cat appears to lose or have problems with the above mentioned senses, you should consider scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian.

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When you and your new pet get to know each other more, you will begin to notice many traits and characteristics that your cat displays. After all, all living animals have their own personalities. In no time at all, you will be understanding your cat, just like he or she is one of the kids or another human being.

As nice as it is to hear that you may be understanding your pet in no time at all, you may be looking for more information. After all, you may be curious as to how you will understand your pet. No, you will not receive a human response when talking to your pet, but there are other signals that your pet may send you. To be the best pet owner possible and to provide your cat with proper care, it is important for you notice and take action when these signals are displayed.

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Are you a new cat owner? If so, there will come a point in time when your cat becomes ‘just like one of the kids.’ However, until that time arrives, it is up to you to understand your cat and the small signals that he or she may be sharing with you.

As important as it is to hear that it will be your responsibility to understand your cat and decipher the signals that he or she may be sending you, you may be wondering why. Many pet owners often respond with something like ‘what the heck?’ If you are a new pet owner or a first-time pet owner, you may not understand just how much your cat relies and depends on you.

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Socializing kittens is probably one of the most enjoyable parts of raising cats.

Introducing them to people will make a huge impact on their lives. Even if they are barn cats and never leave the farm they were born on. Being friendly and relaxed with people will improve the quality of their lives. It will make it easier to find new homes for them when it is time for them to move on. It will also make having them more pleasurable for their owners.

Socializing is not only enjoyable, it is very important. Before a kitten is ready to leave home she should have learned that people are good to have around. Petting, playing and good food all happen with people. Purring, not hissing brings these good things her way. Fortunately, cats are smart and observant creatures. It is really very easy to instill this attitude in a kitten. It just takes a little bit of patience and perseverance on your part.

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Are you a cat owner? If so, your cat may typically appear to be a calm, cool, and collected cat. After all, many cats are content with lounging around all day with just a few hours of play. Despite the fact that your cat may appear to be calm and mild mannered, there may come a point in time when you notice a change. It is not uncommon for pet owners to report occasional aggressiveness with their cats.

If you have just witnessed your cat in an aggressive state, fear may be the first thought that enters into your mind. Many cat owners have questions when they witness their cats attack. Many owners want to know if something is wrong with their cat or if it is a danger to those around him or her. In all honesty, you will find it depends. Before deciding if you should contact your cat?s veterinarian, there are a number of important points you will first want to take into consideration.

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A very ancient breed of cat, the Persian was first mentioned in hieroglyphs beginning at approximately 1684 B.C. The Persians’ beginnings have long been lost to time. The Persian was so named for their ostensible country of origin, the great ancient empire of Persia which was located in around the modern country of Iran. The first known Persian cats to arrive in Europe were brought by an Italian traveler, Pietro della Valle, in the 1600s. Persians became very popular throughout Europe. At the first modern cat show, held in 1871 in London at the Crystal Palace, Persians were a featured breed. The show at the Crystal Palace, and the others that followed, served only to increase the popularity of this already very popular breed. Queen Victoria herself adored blue Persians.

Persians are a wildly popular breed. They are, in fact, the most popular breed of cat on the planet. Their long flowing coats and sweet faces immediately endear them to so many people. Their personalities are gentle and affectionate. They are strong creatures of habit and are most comfortable in secure environments with regular routines, but with gentle support, they can adapt to a more lively environment if need be. Persians are soft spoken cats with pleasant and melodious voices that many people enjoy. Their expressive eyes charm people of all ages. Persians are built long and low with sturdy short legs. They are not big jumpers but do enjoy lounging in their favorite strategic locations. They can often be found beautifully draped on a sunny windowsill posing for sheer pleasure of it. Friendly cats, Persians will seek attention, but not demand it. Persians have long been a fixture in artwork. Their great beauty has earned them frequent roles in commercial advertising and in movies.

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Originally known as the Domestic Shorthair, the American Shorthair is truly America’s cat. The Shorthairs’ ancestors came to America from Europe with the early settlers. Records show that the famous Mayflower had several working cats aboard her on her famous voyage to the new world. Also, written records exist that mention the cats that lived with the colonists at Jamestown in 1609. These cats were working members of their communities and valued for their contributions to the well being of these early settlements. Ever since that time, this breed has patrolled farms and stables for mice and rats all over the country.

In the early 20th century, foreign breeds arriving on these shores threatened the distinctive look and temperament of the native shorthair breed. Admirers of the American Shorthair began acquire the finest examples of the breed that they could find. They set up selective breeding programs based on these individuals to preserve this beautiful and unique breed of cats. The breed was officially recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) in 1904 as one of its first five breeds. The very first registered American Shorthair was named Buster Brown. In 1966 the breed registry changed its name from Domestic Shorthair to American Shorthair. The move was made to accentuate it all American heritage and to distinguish it from other shorthair breeds.

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The Munchkin

When you think of the Munchkin, think of a cat that is built like a dachshund. A cat built with a long body and short legs. Munchkins are a very recently developed breed. They have only been established since 1983. The foundation cat was a female named Blackberry who was rescued from dogs by school teacher Sandra Hochenedel. Blackberry was a black cat with very short legs. Found pregnant, she passed on her unusual body type to her kittens. Blackberry’s son, Toulouse, was left unaltered and it wasn’t long before there were a good number of short legged cats living around his owner’s home. Strangely enough, Toulouse and his short legged sons had no trouble competing with standard toms for females.

In 1990 a study of the genetics of these short legged cats was conducted. The study found that only one copy of the short legged gene to create more cats with the same characteristic. The spines of these cats were also examined because there were fears that they would have issues just like the low long bodies dog (e.g. dachshund) have. Though nothing wrong was found at that time, judgment was reserved due to the extremely small population that existed at that time.

Munchkins were named for the little people in Wizard of Oz that Dorothy met when she first arrived in Oz. Breeders became interested in the quirky little Munchkin and began controlled breeding programs. The Munchkin was first introduced to the public at the Madison Square Garden Cat Show. The breed has faced some opposition. There are people who believe that deliberately breeding for a mutation, even one that
occurred naturally, is ethically wrong. The cats themselves seem unaware that they are in any way different from there long legged cousins. They self-assured, outgoing and curious in nature. Munchkins tend to be people-oriented and bond easily with their people. Munchkins leap and play just like other cats. The only difference is they can’t jump as high due to their short back legs.

The Sphynx

If you ever wondered what a cat would look like naked, look no further. The Sphynx is virtually hairless. Sebaceous oils secreted by the skin are normally transferred to the fur in other breeds. The Sphynx requires regular wiping down to remove these oils to prevent skin infections.

This breed originated in 1975 as spontaneous mutation in a shorthaired litter. One hairless kitten was born in that litter. She was named Epidermis. The following year a hairless male was born. He was called Dermis. When bred to normal shorthaired cats, Epidermis produced normal kittens. When Epidermis was bred to one of her sons, three hairless kittens resulted. The hairless gene was a recessive. Both parents must carry it in
order for hairlessness to be expressed.

The breed was named after the great Sphynx monument of Egypt. The Sphynx cats are devoted, loyal companions, who love attention and will purr happily if their favorite person is near them. They are very athletic and like to jump to high places or hang upside down from their climbing trees. Sphynx have strong personalities and don’t like being left alone. A feline companion will help to keep a Sphynx happy and
occupied while you are gone.

These very unusual cats are not everyone’s’ cup of tea. Give these very different cats a closer look. Their unique appearances and lively personalities might just make a great pet. These cats may be exactly what you are looking for in a new companion.

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Ah yes, everyone’s favorite pet chore. One day you clean your cats’ box and discover little white chunks of what appear to be cooked spaghetti lodged in the feces, that is, until one starts to move. You know then that it’s time to deworm your cats. If your veterinarian says that your cat doesn’t have anything particularly tough or nasty then he or she may recommend a regular schedule using commercial dewormers that can be
found readily in any pet store. Your veterinarian even may have a good general purpose dewormer on hand for your use. Fortunately, there is a wide range of deworming medicines available on the market. Most are liquid or pill form.

If you have only one cat, your task is relatively simple. Choose a dewormer that your cat will find acceptable if not palatable. Many liquid dewormers claim to be very tasty to cats. Unfortunately, many cats would vigorously disagree with that assessment. In such a case, if you have access to a pill form of dewormer that your cat is willing to swallow, you’re in luck. If your cat won’t swallow pills without major mayhem breaking
out and turns his nose up at every liquid dewormer you try, then you have a problem. If you have more than one cat, it can become even more of an issue. If your cats will happily take whatever you offer, then the only thing you have to worry about is keeping the greedy guts from getting more than they should. But, If each of them has a different idea as to what is acceptable (or not) for deworming medicine, then you have a major
headache.

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Beautiful and rare, the elegant Turkish Angora is considered a national treasure in its home country of Turkey. The breeds name came from the former Turkish capital, Angora, now called Ankara. The Turkish Angora probably originated in the mountains of Turkey. This graceful breed may have descended from the Manul cat, which was a small cat domesticated by the Tartars. Turkish Angoras can be traced back in European writings to 16th century France.

The breed was enormously popular with French and British nobility in the 1700s. Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI as well as King Louis XV are said to have been Turkish Angora fanciers. The breed almost disappeared entirely in the early 1900s due to indiscriminate interbreeding with Persians to the point where nearly all longhaired cats were referred to as Angoras. Fortunately, Turkish breeders continued controlled breeding of this lovely breed. In the 1950s, American servicemen discovered Turkish Angoras at the Ankara Zoo. These servicemen reintroduced the Turkish Angora to cat fanciers everywhere. All modern Turkish Angoras must trace their ancestry to Turkey.

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