With all apologies to T.S. Eliot, the naming of cats is not all that delicate a matter. But some thought should certainly be given to it. Giving the cat a foolish or ugly name on the spur of the moment because it sounds funny is no way to start a relationship. It encourages a careless and disrespectful attitude toward the cat not only in yourself, but in other people as well. A bad name encourages a bad attitude toward the cat. Fortunately, coming up with a good name can be fun and there are endless possibilities for ideas.

One very popular way for finding a good name is to look up the names of stars, galaxies or constellations. You don’t have to stick with just the major ones. Look up some of the minor constellations and stars as well. You could find just the perfect name in a constellation you had previously never heard of. You too may find you have a Dorado or Indus on your hands. Another popular means of naming cats is using human names. Matilda, Annie, Pete and Bobby are all quite popular. Some people name their cats after movie stars or characters in a favorite film or book. I’m certain that at this very moment, there are a large number of Frodos purring contentedly on their favorite windowsill right now.

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Cats have been famous for hunting mice and rats for as long as cats and people have been together. As strange as it may seem to some people, cats are not born knowing how to hunt. It is a skill they learn from watching their mothers. If the mother cat is a good hunter, then her kittens will learn to be good hunters. Interestingly, kittens seem to learn the best from their mothers. They do not seem to learn as well or as quickly from watching other adult cats.

At about five or six weeks of age, a mother cat will begin teaching her kittens how to hunt. At first she brings dead mice to the kittens. She will eat some of the mice in front of the kittens. In this way she is showing them that mice are their prey and that they are good to eat. As time goes on the kittens begin to play with the dead mice their mother brings them. Before long the kittens are flinging the dead mice around and pouncing on them. It’s a good idea to stand clear of them when they’re at this stage. You might get smacked by a flying mouse if you don’t!

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Cats are what are known as obligate carnivores. An obligate carnivore is one that must east meat. You cannot just turn her out to graze in a pasture. The digestive tract of cats has been shortened and optimized proteins from meat. They simply don’t have the dental or digestive apparatus to process plant materials. It’s therefore surprising, given their physical inability to process plants, that you will still find cats nibbling on plants from time to time. There are many theories for why cats would nibble plants. They may be trying to balance an upset digestion or add missing vitamins and minerals. Perhaps they simply like the taste. Maybe it’s a combination of factors. The jury is still out on this matter.

Fortunately these days, we don’t have to go out and hunt for food to feed our cats. There are a large number of very good, nutritionally balanced foods available in pet stores to satisfy any cats’ tastes. Try to feed good quality food. It really does make a difference in the health and appearance of your pet. Pick one that your cat likes and stick with it. Cats don’t actually need a lot of variety. Changing their food constantly tends to
just make them picky eaters.

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The ancestry of these big, hearty cats from New England is unknown. Most likely they came across from Europe with the early settlers as working cats on the ships. Some of these long haired ship cats apparently decided to disembark in the new world and made their home there along with the new colonists. Winter in New England can be extremely tough. Only the strongest survived those early winters, human or cat. Once they settled in to their new homes, these long haired cats began to thrive. The Shaggies, as they were called then, became a familiar part of colonial life throughout New England.

The Maine Coon Cat is a big, strong, intelligent cat. They are also very loving and devoted family members and remain very playful into old age. Maine Coon Cats do not seem to make snap decisions about people. They remain somewhat reserved when they first meet new people or move into a new home. Once they have made their decision, they become affectionate and devoted companions. Maine Coon Cats also have an unusual fascination with water. They are known to dabble in their water dishes or play in showers before the water has all run out. Once in a while, a cat will actually go swimming.

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Are you looking to get a new cat soon? Great! You may want to consider a purebred cat. There are many breeds that can be found in this country, each with its own characteristic appearance and temperament and history. Think carefully about what you would characteristics you would like to see in your new companion. Perhaps you would care to consider the Siamese cat.

Famous in songs and movies, the Siamese cat was the Royal Cat of Siam. Though their origins are uncertain, they were the companions of royalty and priests for centuries. The cat was so highly valued that it was rarely given to outsiders. Siamese were first exhibited at the famous 1871 London Cat Show at the Crystal Palace. People fell in love with the new breed. Despite the difficulty in importing these highly valued cats, they became wildly popular in Britain. The Siamese arrived in America in about 1890 and quickly gained favor with cat fanciers here.

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Cats as deities are most closely associated with ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians had several feline gods and goddesses. Lions were said to guard the great god Ra during his nightly journey through the underworld. The Egyptians had a fascination with lions. They created their sphinx with the body of a lion and the head of Pharaoh. Three lion goddesses existed in ancient Egypt.

Sekhmet was a fierce and powerful goddess. She was a war goddess who was sent by her father Ra to earth to destroy his enemies. She is usually depicted as a woman with the head of a lion. Another lion headed goddess was Tefnut whose name means moisture. She represented a primeval force of nature. The third lion goddess was Mafdet who was the goddess of protection.

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Your cat is expecting kittens. How exciting! Raising kittens can be a highly rewarding and enjoyable experience. What should you expect? What will you need to make sure the little tikes grow up happy, healthy and strong?

Let’s start from day one. Most likely, you walk in and find your cat already nursing her new litter. As there will be a bit of a mess where she is, you will want to move her and her kittens somewhere clean and safe. Mother cats prefer a darkened den, so putting a blanket over her box and lining it with nice clean bedding will do nicely for a nursery. The nursery should be set up in a quiet area, away from traffic.

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1. Keep your pregnant cat indoors.

Don’t expose an expecting kitty to danger. But there are more reasons. Some queens go into heat even during pregnancy. Cats are capable of being pregnant of two different litters at the same time. And of course, a pregnant cat should not give birth in a cold place outside.

2. Give your kitty the right food.

It should be high on calcium and protein. Kitten food is specially designed to meet the need of pregnant and nursing felines. Vitamin supplements are recommended too.

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Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.

Playing with your cat is the best possible way to build up a bond between the two of you. Do you want your cat to think of you as more than someone who is there to provide food, shelter and warmth? Then regular play sessions will go a long way to ensuring that your feline friend sees you as an object of his or her affections, that you are someone to greet when you arrive home.

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Have you ever had this happen? You’re a happy cat owner, your kitty is using the box just fine, but one day…you come home and find a giant urine spot in the living room…the bathroom…heaven forbid – on your bed!

What happened? What went wrong? It isn’t normal for a cat to use her litter box faithfully, then one day decide it’s no longer right for her. There’s always a reason why a cat stops using the litter box. Always!

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