Archive for the ‘Cat Breeds’ Category

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.

How big is the HCM problem? It’s fairly big, but is currently being bred out by responsible breeders. Of all of the Maine Coons tested for HCM, about one third of them tested positive. Responsible breeders have their studs and dams tested, before breeding, and it is recommended that any Maine Coon that tests positive for the mutated gene not be used for breeding purposes.

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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.

Since the Balinese actually began as a longhair Siamese, it is no surprise that this breed is incredibly vocal. If you have an apartment with thin walls, the chatty Balinese may actually bother your neighbors, so you may want to think about this before deciding to choose a Balinese cat.

Like the Siamese, the Balinese is a cat that enjoys the company of people and other cats. Because of this breed’s need for attention, it is not a good choice for people who work long hours. If you do have a time consuming job, you should consider adding a second Balinese to the household or you will have a depressed and mopey or neurotic and hyperactive cat on your hands. These cats are very intelligent and need quite a few toys and activities to keep them occupied. Luckily, the Balinese will turn anything into a toy, from a paper grocery bag to a scrap of paper.
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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.

 Maine Coon’s thrive on special diets designed for their breed. Therefore, it isn’t just a question of purchasing food; it is a question of purchasing the right food. Obviously, this food is usually a great deal more expensive than regular food.

 Your Maine Coon needs a bed to call his own, with bedding. He also needs a variety of toys to play with. He isn’t just having fun – he is staying in good shape. Toys are vital to his overall good health. He will need cat treats to help keep his teeth and gums in good shape, and also to provide extra vitamins and minerals that he needs. Your vet may prescribe additional vitamins as well.

 Your Maine Coon needs a good brush, which will need to be replaced about every six months. He will also need medicated shampoo to control fleas, as well as medication to keep the fleas and ticks off of him. He will also need a harness and leash if you will be taking him outdoors.

 It is a good idea to invest in a cat tree. Maine Coons are not as adept as climbing up as other breeds of cats, but they will enjoy a well-designed cat tree that allows them to go up – without having to go straight up. They will also be happy with the various hiding places in the cat tree. These cat trees can be expensive.

You will need an animal carrier. Because Maine Coons grow to be large animals, it needs to be one that can accommodate his size. If you don’t travel much, don’t assume that you won’t need the carrier. First, you will need it to take him back and forth to the veterinarian’s office. The animal carrier will also come in handy when it isn’t safe for the cat to be in the house – such as when you bomb for bugs or steam clean the carpet.

Obviously, you will need a litter box. You can purchase expensive litter boxes or cheap litter boxes, but one thing is certain. All plastic litter boxes have to be thrown out at some point. The plastic often absorbs the odor, and it does become unbearable to live with after a certain point. You will also need fresh litter for the litter box. Litter can be cheap or expensive – but if you don’t want to smell anything, you will be willing to pay for the higher quality litter.

Again, before you spend the money to purchase the Maine Coon, understand that this is not the only cost. Maine Coon’s live to be between 15 and 21 years, and that’s how long you can expect to have ongoing expenses.

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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.

Eventually, the American Wirehair breed developed a body type that was very similar to the American Shorthair, although the Wirehair has a slightly more rounded head and higher cheekbones. Despite the coat inconsistencies that still plague this breed, the American Wirehair is still a part of the Cat Fancier’s Association Championship Class. However, only shorthair Wirehairs with thick coats are used in the show ring. Longhair coats are considered to be a disqualification because Wirehairs with long coats look as though they are suffering from an extremely bad hair day, while Wirehairs with thin coats are not shown because they are prone to shedding their hair if they are stressed.

The American Wirehair is one of the few breeds that is required to have one eye color. Unless your Wirehair is silver, he should have deep gold eyes. This breed’s standard calls for large cats, but many Wirehairs are currently on the small side. Ideally, your Wirehair should be close to fifteen pounds, but these cats can weigh in at anywhere from eight to fifteen pounds.
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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.

 Also note that while Maine Coon Cats sell for a fairly hefty price - $600 to $1000 for 12 week old kittens – a lot of money is invested into them as well. For example, you will need to take the kittens to the veterinarian, at least once, before they are sold. You may need to pay for genetic testing as well to make sure that the kittens do not have any problems.

 Obviously, you must care for the queens and the studs, ensuring that they maintain good health as well. While there is still a profit to be made, in most cases, you should note that you will not get rich breeding these cats – and you may not make a full time living at it either.

 Even if you have titled queens and studs, you aren’t ready to jump into breeding. A good breeder will have numerous cat shows under their belts, and they will be highly knowledgeable when it comes to the breed. Current top breeders suggest gleaning as much information as possible and even asking a current top breeder to mentor you – first with shows, and second with breeding.

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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.

While tabbies are probably the most common Shorthair patterns, cats with self, tortie, smoke, and bicolors patterns are also available. The striking silver tabby color has been popular since one of these gorgeous cats was the winner of the nineteen sixty five United States Cat of the Year Award. However, the tortise shell and white cat, also known as a Calico is also quite popular.

The American Shorthair actually is a descendant of the European Shorthair. As this breed adapted to life in the United States, it developed a heavier, coarser coat to protect it from the bitter American winters. In addition, the American Shorthair is a bit larger than its ancestor, because of the many dangers the breed faced when it first arrived from Europe. Read the rest of this entry »

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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.

The American Curl is known for being a quiet, sweet natured breed and makes an ideal apartment pet. This cat is often a bit on the inactive side and is content to soak up sun on a windowsill for a large portion of the day. While the Curl does not dislike other cats or people, this breed is content to amuse itself and will not pine for other cats to keep it company. The ability to entertain himself makes this breed a perfect choice for people who work long hours but still want to come home to a loving pet.

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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.

The American Bobtail received its name because of its extremely short tail. While no one is completely sure how this breed was developed, cat fanciers suspect that the American Bobcat, Manx, and Japanese Bobtail breeds are all ancestors of the American Bobtail. However, while the Manx can be completely tailless and still are able to compete in the show ring, the American Bobtail must have a tail. The tail should be short enough to stop before it reaches the cat’s hocks.

While many cats have a sleek, slender appearance, the American Bobtail standard calls for a stocky, muscular cat with big paws and a slightly wild appearance. This cat’s head is wedge shaped, but broader than normal. The Bobtail breed can be a shorthair or a longhair, but even shorthair cats do not have smooth coats. The shorthair coat still is long enough to give the cat a bit of a shaggy look. While the Bobtail can come in any color, fawn and white, blue tabby, red tabby, and brown tabby are the most common colors. Shorthair cats are much more common than longhair cats, since the shorthair gene is actually dominant. Read the rest of this entry »

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If you’ve always thought cats were too snooty and unaffectionate, you haven’t met an Abyssinian. These cats are very personable and affectionate animals that love to interact with their families.

The Cat Fancier’s Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

The Abyssinian has a graceful tail that is as long as the rest of its body. Although Abyssinians can have coats in almost any shade, from red to lilac, they all are tabbies with a ticked appearance. This means that each individual hair has bands of dark and light color. This cat breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are green, amber, or hazel colored.
This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images in ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, right down to the ticked appearance of their coats. The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.

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Although the Japanese Bobtail is a breed that goes back several centuries, this breed is still incredibly rare. If you are fortunate enough to find one of these beautiful cats, you will have a wonderful pet.

The Japanese Bobtail was first developed in the seventeen hundreds in Japan. Unfortunately, the longhair cat gene is not dominant, so few kittens are born with the long coats required by the breed standard. To make breeding these cats even more difficult, two related longhairs are not bred together unless there is no other choice. This is because the Bobtail is a very healthy breed. Too much inbreeding would lead to the development of some dangerous genetic disorders.

This small cat breed weighs in at a very light six to nine pounds. However, the Bobtail may be small, but it is no weakling. These cats are actually very muscular. You can find Bobtails in a wide range of colors. They come in tortoiseshell, tabby, and bicolor patterns, as well as solid colors.

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It is your youngest son’s birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household.  You decided that a cat would be a good idea.  But how does one go about choosing a pet cat?

First you have to do some research on the breed of cat that interests you, or that would fit your son or your family’s personality.   Most people will give a cat one look and they have already decided.  Of course, a nice-looking cat would be a welcome treat but the choice of cat should not only be based on its looks but also on its temperament.

Consider if there are children in the household and research what breed of cats are friendly and are easy to groom and to take care of?  And then decide whether you would like to get a kitten or an older cat.

Once you have decided on the breed of cat,  then look for legitimate cat breeders who can supply you with the cat you require.  Try to attend cat shows and ask for a recommendation.  It also helps to read the newspapers or surf the internet since most breeders have their own sites.

Buying a cat from a responsible cat breeder will not ensure you have a purebred cat but will guarantee that you are getting a healthy cat.  You can also ask about retired breeders as they can sell at lower prices.  Cats purchased from retired breeders are often better than kittens as they are probably already neutered, of high quality and they can easily adjust to their new home.

Responsible breeders will not sell very young kittens that are not yet weaned.  Also choose a breeder who will provide a health guarantee for the kitten as well as complete papers and registration.

Tips in finding cat breeders

1. To get good cat breeders, make sure to talk to people who may have purchased animals from the same breeders as they can give you insights as to how responsible the breeder is.
2. Ask the breeder for references and go check on these references.
3.Check a cat breeders cattery list because if the breeder has lots of available kittens, then it may mean that the breeder is having a hard time finding homes for these kittens and the reason may be significance to you.
4. Make sure the breeder can give you the cat registration, health records and pedigree records.

A cat’s lifespan is normally 20 years or more, depending on the care it is given.  Choosing a responsible breeder will make your cat not only healthier, but live longer.

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The Balinese is a breed of oriental cat with long hair and Siamese-style markings, or points. They resemble a Siamese with a medium-length silky coat and a plumed tail, but not nearly as fluffy as a Himalayan, and they require much less grooming. Balinese are extremely intelligent cats, although less talkative than their Siamese ancestors.

The Balinese was originally registered as a ‘longhaired Siamese’, and examples were known from the early 1920s. The occasional long-haired kittens in a Siamese litter were seen as an oddity, and sold as household pets rather than as show cats. This changed in the mid-1950s, when two breeders, Mrs. Marion Dorsey of Rai-Mar Cattery in California and Mrs. Helen Smith of MerryMews Cattery in New York, decided that they would commence a breeding program for the longhaired cats. Helen Smith named the cats ‘Balinese’ because she felt they showed the grace and beauty of Balinese dancers, and because ‘longhaired Siamese’ seemed a rather clunky name for such graceful felines.

The breed became quite popular after this, and a number of breeders began working on ‘perfecting’ the Balinese appearance. This led eventually to the development of two entirely separate ’strands’ of Balinese cat - some owners prefer a traditional or ‘apple-headed’ Balinese, while breeders and judges tend to prefer a more contemporary appearance.

Like the Siamese, there are now two different varieties of Balinese being bred and shown - ‘traditional’ Balinese and ‘contemporary’ Balinese. The traditional Balinese cat has a coat approximately two inches long over its entire body and it is a sturdy and robust cat with a semi-rounded muzzle and ears. The traditional Balinese closely resembles a Ragdoll cat although they do not share any of the same genes or breeding other than having a partially Siamese ancestry. A ‘contemporary’ Balinese has a much shorter coat and is virtually identical to a standard show Siamese except for its tail, which is a graceful silky plume.

In most associations, the Balinese is accepted in a full range of colors, including the four traditional Siamese point colors of seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac, as well as less traditional colors such as red and cream, and patterns such as lynx (tabby) point and tortie point. However, in CFA, the Balinese is only accepted in the four traditional Siamese colors; all other colors and patterns are considered Javanese (cat).

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The Asian Semi-Longhair is a cat breed similar to the Asian Shorthair except they have semi-long hair instead of short hair. These cats are normally known by the name Tiffanie. They are recognized in any of the Asian Shorthair or Burmese colors and patterns.

Like the Asian Shorthair, the breed was developed in Britain, and is not currently recognized by any U.S. Registries. It has full recognition in the GCCF and although it is a relatively rare breed some fine examples have become champions.

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Cat breeding is not as easy as just letting cats mate. Breeding is not just about choosing cats to produce adorable kittens to earn money. To breed cats is not the same as to produce them. Breeding encompasses that stage.

Breeding cats involves scientific and systematic concepts. Producing cats involves only common sense. Breeding cats has an emotional aspect to it. Fulfillment does not come from mere moneymaking. Sacrifices have to be made to achieve the breeder’s goal: to safeguard the welfare of the cats.

A lot of things must be taken into consideration before breeding cats. Here is a guide to help us better understand the dynamic process of cat breeding.

- A cat breeder’s concern is the preservation or improvement of cat pedigree.

This is a serious matter. Selection of the parent cats is done on the basis of health, quality traits and reproducing capability. A breeder will never pair cats carelessly.

- A cat breeder is dedicated to learn more about cats.

A lot of things must be learned regarding cat breeding. Latest researches must be employed to properly select the cats to be bred. The welfare of the cats depends on how much the breeder knows.

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Have you always wanted a cat, but heard some breeds make better pets than others? Maybe you have always wanted a cat, but do not know anything about them? There are plenty of ways to learn about cats and what breeds fit your personality. The choice can come from having an indoor, outdoor or indoor and outdoor cat. The tough and smart survive in the out of doors. Small cats are often pray for birds and other wildlife and should be kept indoors. Tomcats, a mixed breed, are great at surviving outdoors and mousers. So let us look at a few breeds of cats and then you will be able to choose which one may be right for your lifestyle.

Siamese: The Siamese cat can be a fickle creature. They often require a lot of attention when they determine it is necessary. They tend to meow quite a bit and can tear up a home if left alone for too long. These are the downsides. Siamese can be great pets, especially when raised from infancy. They are often white with brown ears and blue eyes. You may recognize them from Lady and the Tramp? Those two were a little mean and not the typical portrayal of a Siamese. Siamese are generally very affectionate. They are also one of the most intelligent of the cat species. They tend to be very social, which is why they meow or “talk” a lot. A sign for attention is usually a very vocal meow much like a babies cry. Siamese typically bond to one person very strongly and are territorial of that person.

Persian: The Persian cat breed is one of the oldest cats around. They are longhaired cats with beautiful shinny coats. They are very soft and friendly; however, they are prone to health problems such as allergies. The Persian does not always play as much as other breeds, but they do enjoy a bit of fun for exercise especially in a social situation. They love to have other cats around to play with as well as have a lap available when they are in need of a lap. Persians are a variety of colors from solid black, white or a mix of white and browns around the face. A popular Persian is the Himalayan.

Manx: The Manx is known for its stubby tail or having no tail. The downside to Manx cats is the lack of tail. Often a Manx can suffer from worms and other parasites due to improper cleaning and not having the protection of a tail. This does not mean you should discount the Manx as a breed. The Manx breed is extremely intelligent and playful. They are a lot like dogs in the play area because they can fetch when you through toys and bring them back to you. They are very social animals and depend on human care. They don’t like to be left alone for too long, so it is wise to have other cats to play with when you are gone during the day. The best home for a Manx is one filled with children.

These are just three of the more popular breeds of cats. There are over a dozen cat breeds to choose from and finding the one to fit your lifestyle is important. Cats are very social and intelligent, but some breeds can be loners. Most often, a cat chooses when the time is right and what type of attention they want at the time. The phrase “you do not own a cat it owns you” is very true.

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