Cat Fact Files

What Is The Siberian Forest cat?

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:54:29 +0000

It has been debated over whether this ancient breed, which can be traced back over more than a thousand years, is the forerunner of all long-haired cat breeds, including Persians and Angoras. This is a rough-and-readybreed, genetically traceable to modern-day tabby cats that live around St Petersburg, and has an extremely thick coat to help [...]

What Is The Cornish Rex Cat?

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:21:53 +0000

This wolly-looking, short-haired cat first appeared in the 1950s when a British farm cat produced one curly-haired male kitten in her litter. It was consequently bred back with her. Since then, this breed has been crossed with Burmese and British Shorthair. Its short coat is incredibly soft to the touch, resembling velvet, and is said [...]

What Is The Devon Rex Cat?

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:52:18 +0000

The product of a different gene mutation, this curiy-coated cat appeared about ten years after its Cornish cousin. It is said to have resuited from a cross between a curled-coated feral male and a stray British straight-haired female. The gene for a curly coat is recessive and inbreeding became necessary in order to continue the [...]

What Is The Abyssinian Cat?

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:13:21 +0000

This is one of the oldest of all domesticated cat breeds. It was first established in 1868 by soldiers returning from war in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) and was accepted as a breed in 1882. It is similar in 1882. It is similar in appearance to cats illustrated in tombs and mummified individuals that can be [...]

What Is The Selkirk Rex Cat?

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:00:17 +0000

Records suggest that this very young breed, recognized in 1987, resulted from a curly-coated female stray mated with a black persian. There are long and short-haired types,with males more readily abtained because females are usally restricted to breeders who wish to retain them for their programmes. This cat’s distinctive patches of curls, rather than a [...]

What Is The Sphynx Cat?

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:46:16 +0000

This apparently hairless cat, often found without whiskers, is the product of a natural mutation first recorded in 1966. However, the Sphynx cat probably has a gene history going back centuries, with obscure references made to it around the world. Some cat fancy associations choose to take a negative view of this sude-like downy-haired breed, [...]

What Is Feline Urological Syndrome?

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:49:59 +0000

This condition, once common in cats fed only on complete dried foods, resuits in a blockage in the urethra in male cats. The combination of this diet, dehydration and early castration can lead to the formation of salt crystals in the bladder that block the urethra. A cat suffering from the effects of this condition [...]

What Can I Do To Stop My Rescue Cat Wandering Back To A Previous Home?

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:43:03 +0000

The simple answer is to provide a combination of food and comfort, and a happy home. A contented cat will not want to wander far from the place where creature comforts are never far away. If an adopted cat attempts to return to a previous area, it is important that the neighbours there do not [...]

I Need To Rehome My Cat? How Can I Find The Best Possible Home For Him?

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:41:03 +0000

The best home for my cat is yours. However, someone you know and trust may be the best person to adopt your cat if that become necessary. You could approach a close family member, a relative or a neighbour if the need to rehome is urgent. Failing that, you can contact rescue organizations and individuals [...]

Why Does My Cat Hide When My Partner First Arrives?

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:19:39 +0000

Some cats become entirely dependent on their owner. As ‘replacement litter mothers’ or ‘replacement lead cats’ humans can easily turn the relationship into one that encourages feline over-dependency and nervousness. In this situation. When a partner first appears they are probably viewed by the cat as an extremely large competitor. An ‘intelligent’ Cat, in feline [...]

Where Should I Feed My Cat?

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:19:49 +0000

It seems logical to offer a cat food in the same place all the time. Many owners place the food and water bowls on the same feeding mat, which is left permanently in position, but in fact it is useful to provide alternatives. If you can supervise, it is a good idea to move the [...]

What If There Are Complications At The Birth?

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:41:39 +0000

There are a couple of ‘complication’s in which you can intervene to help the kittens and/or the litter mother. Most kittens are born head first, but many can be born tail first (breech). This is not really a complication, but in some instances you may need to encourage the cat with a helping hand if a [...]

Can I Just Ask A Friend To Come Into My Home And Feed My Cat?

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:08:09 +0000

You can avoid having to board your pet by asking a family member, friendly neighbour or friend to act as a ’sitter’ for the holiday period. This is a good idea, because research suggests that cats (and dogs) prefer to remain in the place they know and in which they feel secure. However, it is [...]

How Do I Arrange To Have My Cat Buried In A Pet Cemetery?

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:29:11 +0000

The staff at your veterinary surgery should be able to give you details of local pet cemeteries. Alternatively, you can find them listed in business telephone directories. It is usually possible either to transport the cat’s body yourself or to arrange for the veterinary practice to transter the body to the cemetery. Many pet cementeries [...]

Cat Cost Calculator

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:48:40 +0000

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Should I insure my kitten?

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:46:56 +0000

Pet insurance has become a necessity for most cat owners. The sophistication of many policies now means that you can obtain a range of cover from basic veterinary costs to more unusual referrals to specialists. This becomes especiaily important if your kitten develops a physical or psychological problem later in life and your budget has [...]

Do I Take My Cat To Another Cat To Have Her Mated?

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:25:57 +0000

You can contact a breeder through professional registers of your local veterinary surgery. You will need to discuss breed standards to ensure that any resulting kittens measure up and will therefore find good homes. You will also need to talk about the fee structure, and then arrange to have your queen mated. An alternative for [...]

How Long Do Cats Live On Average?

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:58:52 +0000

The average lifespan of a domesticated cat is somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Of course, some individuals may not reach 12 years while others may survive beyond 20 years. There is little information about longevity in wild cats, but it is thought that the domesticated cat lives twice as long as its feral relative. [...]

How Can I Stop My Cat Scratching At Any Door That Is Closed?

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:57:39 +0000

The main problem door for attention seeking cats is the bedroom door. Often the owner finds it easir to allow the cat access to the bedroom rather than have it continuaily scratching to enter. One successful method of dealing with this problem is to place a large scratching with this problem is to place a [...]

Can My Cat Stay Out In All Weathers?

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:44:49 +0000

Cats have a fur coat to keep them warm and are equipeed to survive normal weather conditions. Some breeds, such as the Norwegian Forest and Siberian Forest cats, are extremely hardy and can survive in rough condition. A cat caught out in bad weather will want to return home as fast as possible. If it [...]