Best Pictures of Cats and More

Sphynx Cat versus Don Sphynx Cat

2012-05-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

Overview

I am writing about two fairly rare cats here. I would expect that there are not that many people within the entire cat keeping population who keep either of these cat breeds. Of the two, the Sphynx is the better known. In fact you will find that the Don Sphynx is not mentioned in most of the books that you can buy in the West about cat breeds. If an author of a book about cat breeds writes about hairless cats, it is the Sphynx that is featured.

One reason for this is that the history of the Sphynx is part of the history of North America, while the Don Sphynx is Russian. Although there is a lively cat fancy in Russia, the largest cat fancy and largest domestic cat market place is North America. Therefore cats get discussed more in North America. Also more books about cats are written in English and therefore more widely circulated. Accordingly the Sphynx becomes better known. Although in Russia, a somewhat closed-off society still in 2012, no doubt the Don Sphynx is what people first think of when they think of a hairless cat.

Appearance

Straight off, you probably would not see a difference between the Sphynx and Don Sphynx. I struggle to find real differences. My personal view is that a person thinking about adopting a hairless cat need not be overly concerned with the fine differences in appearance between these two cat breeds.

Referring to the breed standards tells us that they are very similar. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), in the general section of their breed standard, says that this is a medium sized hairless cat that is warm to touch with a skin texture that is "soft peach or smooth nectarine". They say the cat is "sweet tempered and amenable to handling" and has "surprising weight for its size".

In America, TICA recognise the Don Sphynx (AKA "Donsky", another name for the breed) under preliminary new breeds . They have a breed standard. However, I'll refer to the general description of the breed standard of FIFe, which is a European cat association. The author says that, "The Don Sphynx is a solid cat, soft and warm to the touch. The specific feature is hairlessness".

As I said there is almost nothing to tell them apart in general. Note: the hairless coat of the Donsky takes four forms. "All but one results in hairlessness". So one version is not hairless. You will find that hairlessness in cats does vary. It is the same with the Rex cats which also have a mutation that affects the coat. However, I am sure your breeder will ensure that you cat is hairless as demanded in the breed standard.

History

As mentioned, the cats' history is the real difference but one that is not hugely relevant. The Don Sphynx is essentially Russian and the Sphynx North American. The history of the Sphynx is a bit confused so I want go over it in detail here. Suffice to say that the Sphynx is a selectively breed cat that started life as a mutated random bred cat discovered in Minnesota, America in 1975 and in Canada in 1966 and 1978 (source: Legacy of the Cat). The mutation that causes hairlessness in cats is not that unusual as can be seen. It just so happened that a breeder decided to create a cat breed from that mutation.

The Don Sphynx has a similar history but in a different part of the world; a mutated random bred cat was picked up by a breeder in Rostov-on-Don in Russia in 1987. Rostov-on-Don is in western Russia near Europe. In fact that part of Russia is considered European.

Genetics

This is another major area of difference between these cat breeds. A recessive gene causes the hairlessness in the Sphynx while it is a dominant gene in the Donsky. That should make breeding easier for the Don Sphynx and there should be more hairless cats of Don Sphynx type roaming around Russia.

However, I don't think the genetic reasons for the hairlessness are of importance to people who wish to adopt a cat. The genetics of a cat (its "genotype") is the concern of cat breeders not cat caretakers.

Cat on Pig

2012-05-16T12:11:00.001-07:00

Cats like to be close to their friends. They like to snuggle up. A cats make friends with other cats in multi-cat environments. They treat us as a friend if we are gentle and kind to them. Then there's the warmth. May be that comes before friend! I don't think so though. You'll see cats sleeping on horses, climbing over deer and dogs and in this interesting case settling down on top of a best mate, a fancy purebred pig.

Associated pages:

Cornish Rex vs Devon Rex

2012-05-11T23:54:00.001-07:00

Comparing the Cornish Rex with the Devon Rex and the lesser know Selkirk Rex. I have included the Selkirk Rex as I consider these three the core Rex cats in the cat fancy. I also believe that you will find that the Devon Rex is the best known and most popular followed by the Cornish and then the Selkirk Rex.

You can make a choice (1) stay on this page to see a comparison in photographs by the celebrated Helmi Flick, one of the world's best cat photographers together with a summary of the differences or (2) go to a full blown description of each cat breed:

There is also a Selkirk Rex longhair. All Rex cats have curly hair. That is what makes them Rex cats. The whiskers are brittle and break.

Photos strictly copyright Helmi Flick - violations reported to Google (DMCA)

Overviews

Cornish Rex - This cat has a greyhound-like body conformation. The hair is "marcelled" - wavy or rippled to you and me. The ears are huge and the head small and egg-shaped. This is an unusual looking cat and completely different in general appearance to the Devon Rex. This breed dates from 1950 in Cornwall, England, UK. A farm cat produced a litter of kittens, one of which was to become the founder of this breed: Kallibunker. The breed was exported to the USA in 1957 in a pregnant Cornish Rex cat whose two kittens founded the breed in America. In cat fancy terms the body is "oriental" in conformation. The tummy is tucked in like a greyhound. This cat is medium sized and slim and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. The cat in the picture is a bicolor black and white. Temperament: active, talkative.

Devon Rex - Pixie faced cat of considerable charm. Wavy hair and bat sized ears! A sweet little charmer. This breed dates from 1960 in Devon, England, UK. Devon is adjacent to Cornwall in the south west of England. It is a place of farms, retired people and tourists. The breed was imported into the USA in 1968. This cat has large eyes, set wide apart. There are prominent cheek bones and huge ears. This is a slender cat "semi-foreign" type. As for the Cornish Rex the rexed coat is due to a genetic mutation. This cat breed has a wide range of colors and types. The hair can be sparse, which is normal and due apparently to hormonal changes. Temperament: kleptomaniac! Friendly, charming and easygoing.

Selkirk Rex - "Cat in sheep's clothing", is the well used description. This cat certainly does have the appearance of a sheep. This breed dates from 1987 in the United States (Wyoming shelter cat). The genetic mutation is dominant. Wide range of colors and patterns. This cat is much more stocky in appearance - called "semi-cobby" than the other two. The head is round and the ears normal sized. They have a similar structural appearance to the British Shorthair or perhaps traditional Persian. You could say that the Selkirk is less extreme in appearance than the Cornish and Devon Rex cats. The fur is thick but made up of loose individual curls. There is a shaggy look to the coat, which is soft and dense. Temperament: gentle, loyal and sweet

Hope this helps....

Picture: Tiny Kitten Wearing a Tabby Hat!

2012-05-11T10:46:00.001-07:00

Tiny Thing, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

This an adorable little kitten who has the appearance of wearing a hat. The "hat" is the tabby markings. They are interesting markings too. At the moment this little girl does not have the tabby M mark on the forehead. As all tabby cats have that and as this girl is a tabby cat, the M mark must develop later and it may be the case that the "hat" becomes the M mark!

In the meantime she is adorable. The photographer is the well known Giane Portal, who lives in Brazil.

Associated: Cat Coats Tabby.

Tabby Cat Picture

2012-05-10T22:28:00.001-07:00

Laying on the grass, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

A beautiful, well produced photograph of a golden eyed tabby cat lying in lush grass in Brazil. The tabby cat is probably the most commonly seen domestic and feral cat. The next in line is probably the bicolor cat (white and another color, often black and sometimes tabby and white). There is an infinite range of patterns, tints and markings and all of them have that charm of the "M" mark on the forehead that is associated with a good number of myths and legends. This guy is called "Neko" as far as I am aware. His eyes have a glazed appearance, looking into another world.

At the beginning of the time when people started to breed cats (mid-late 1800s) this cat would have been described as a black tabby because the pattern is dark. I can't see the entire coat but he appears to be a mackerel tabby (pattern made up of stripes). Also in the early days of the cat fancy tabby cats had their own category. Tabby cats are considered part of the normally wide range of coats of a particular cat breed nowadays. There were few cat breeds in the late 1800s. There are over 100 today (2012).

Did you know that the word "tabby" is derived from a kind of taffeta or ribbed silk. When it is "watered" wavy lines are created over the silk. Apparently this was referred to as "tabby" many years ago. You can see a fully description of the origins of the word and the cat in general on this page.

There is a reference to "tabby" in a book dated 1682 "Wit and Drollery" at page 343:

"Her petticoat of satin

Her gown of crimson tabby"

That is an interesting use of the word that you would not see today. Alternative names for the tabby cat have been: tiger cat or brindled cat. In Norfolk, England, in the 19th century the tabby cat was referred to as a "Cyprus cat". The name, now not used, comes from the wavy lined cloth produced in Cyprus made of silk and hair. References to the "Cyprus cat" may go back to the early 17th century. Certainly a tabby cat was referred to in a book of 1693; The Compleat English Physician page 326.

Ragdoll Profile Picture

2012-05-10T21:58:00.001-07:00

Perfect profile, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

This is a nice profile photograph of a beautiful Ragdoll cat. The photograph was taken by Giane Portail AKA fofurasfelinas (on Flickr). The picture is protected by copyright. The Ragdoll is one of the world's most popular purebred cats. The name however is I feel a little misleading. This is a pretty normal cat! Yes, they can tend to me docile, calm and quiet but it depends a bit on the individual cat. Cats do vary in their temperaments.

The Ragdoll head should be a broad "modified wedge". The phrase in hyphens is a cat fancy term that should be dropped in my opinion. It is very strange terminology. I guess it must mean a wedge shaped head that is not entirely wedge shaped! Of course, a cat cannot have a head like a wedge. The head should be wide but in the general shape of a typical domestic cat. The contours of the head should be rounded. This echos the breed standard of the Persian, a similar breed in many ways (e.g. character). The guideline of a round head probably follows the soft nature of the character. The chin and muzzle should be well developed and rounded.

The ears of the Ragdoll should be medium-sized and broad at the base (all ears are actually). The tips of the ears should be rounded. Notice the use of the word "round" again.

The eyes should, of course be blue and large! Diamond blue eyes. Did you know that the Ragdoll has a tendency to develop a pot belly..err I mean a "fatty pad"¹ on the lower abdomen. The Egyptian Mau has what is called a "belly flap". Is that a pot belly too?

You can see the longer fur around the around the neck forming a kind of bib (low key ruff).

This individual cat is Zucca, from the RagBurt cattery. Zucca seems to be a blue pointed Ragdoll. Giane lives in Brazil so this is a Brazilian Ragdoll cat. I don't know how fancy the cat fancy is in Brazil. I should think it is well developed but we don't hear much about it.

Note: 1. Legacy of the Cat page 134.

Siberian Cat vs Maine Coon

2012-05-01T08:25:00.001-07:00

This is a comparison between the Siberian and Maine Coon purebred cats. They look similar. People sometimes want to know the differences. The differences come from the origins of the breed, their appearance and character. However, all of these factors are somewhat elastic so it is not possible to provide a difference that is as clear cut as black is from white.

The Obvious

Forgetting the color and patterns because both cats can have a wide range of colors and patterns, what strikes you as the obvious difference in appearance?

It has to be the ears. The Maine Coon ears are larger and more pointed which with the ear tufts creates a completely different appearance to the smaller more rounded Siberian cat ears. The breed standard for ears for these breeds is (verbatim for accuracy):

CFA: SIBERIAN EARS: medium-large, rounded, wide at the base and tilt slightly forward. The ears should be set as much on the sides of the head as on top. The hair over the back of the ear is short and thin. From the middle of the ear, the furnishings become longer and cover the base of the ear. Ear tipping is allowed.
CFA: MAINE COON EARS: Shape: large, well-tufted, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed. Set: approximately one ear’s width apart at the base; not flared.

Without getting too technical and becoming a hard core cat fancier, the respective breed standards tell us about the appearance of the ears, a major difference between the Siberian cat and the Maine Coon.

Another difference that you can't see in the pictures by Helmi Flick (images are copyright protected, please note), is that the Maine Coon is larger than the Siberian. On my assessment the Maine Coon is the largest purely domestic purebred cat.

I won't quote the breed standards anymore but highlight some general differences in appearance, character and history.

Appearance

Coat: Siberian: a long thick coat with a tight undercoat. The coat is referred to as triple coated. The hairs are of similar length. Maine Coon: uneven shaggy coat is not dense or full.

Muzzle: Siberian: shorter than that of the Maine Coon. It is full and rounded. Maine Coon: broad and square muzzle.

Head: Siberian: large and impressive modified wedge. Medium in size. Maine Coon: broad modified wedge. The head shape is similar for these cat breeds as confirmed by the photographs.

Conclusion: the Maine Coon has larger and more pointed ears with a slightly more slender face and a slightly less neat coat. It is also a larger cat. The tail in the picture is more plumed for the Maine Coon than the Siberian but this may be just an individual cat difference.

See: Siberian breed standard and Maine Coon breed standard (links to cat association standards).

Character

Siberian: strong minded and independent and therefore likes plenty of living space. Dog-like devotion to human companion. Maine Coon: a relaxed cat and relatively easy going. The Maine Coon is not overdependent on people and good with children and other companion animals.

History

Siberian: native Russian cat. Thought of as an ancient breed. Let's say that this cat was around as a cat companion about 1000 years ago in Russia. Obviously at that time it was not thought of a breed of cat. It was a random bred cat. Maine Coon: I think that the history of the Maine Coon is more interesting but that may be because we know more about it. This is a semi-longhaired cat that originates in the state of Maine, USA. They were farm cats before becoming show cats in the mid-1800s, when the first cat shows in the USA took place. The early origins are probably in the imported long haired ship's cats from Europe that accompanied the first immigrants to America. These long haired British cats where Angoras. Angoras were probably Turkish Angoras. Turkey is near the place where the first domestication of the wild cat took place (fertile crescent). The Maine Coon may have origins that are better connected to the absolute beginnings of the domestic cat.

Popularity

The Maine Coon is ranked the most popular (1st) on my 4,500 vote poll out of over 60 breeds. The Siberian is ranked about 21st. This may partly be because the biggest cat fancy is in America (most visitors to PoC are American) and the Maine Coon is the American cat.

Cat Hedge Picture

2012-04-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

This is a first for me. A hedge trimmed in the shape of a cat with a rat in the mouth! The rat seems to have been just placed there. If you can find it, it is at Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. The house owner is a cat lover of course. I'd bet she was middle-aged and really nice and smart.. the typical cat lover profile.

Cat Hedge - Photo by Lance McCord on Flickr

As allowed under the creative commons license I have (I believe!) improved the image a little bit by reducing the contrast, reducing the brightness of the highlights and filling in the shadows a bit to try and eliminate a feeling that the hedge is in an overly lit hotspot.

This cat seems to be quite aloof. I am not sure that that was intentional. The eyes seem to be shut and the head thrown back a bit as if so say. "humans...those silly creatures..".

Update: Just found this picture from Mary Pratt in Devon, UK:

Cat With Emerald Eyes

2012-04-30T23:21:00.001-07:00

The brightest emerald color cat eyes that I have seen. Sorry the picture quality is not great. It is a close up and the photographer, a veterinarian or vet tech, probably forgot that the camera could not focus that close.

I don't think it matters that much and it may even help as it throws into focus the unusual color of this cat's eyes.

This is a straight photograph. There is no post-editing of any kind as far as I am aware to enhance the colors. I added the pictures of the uncut emerald stone as reference and lightened the picture a fraction.

Grey cat emerald eyes. Photo Nottingham Vet School on Flickr

This cat was at a UK vet's clinic. I have no idea what he or she was in for. The fur color is grey (gray in the USA) and called "blue" in the cat fancy. The face is that of of blue British SH or Chartreux. But the cat might well be random bred. Anyway the Chartreux is rare and has copper/orange colored eyes under the standard. The eye color of the British SH is not set by the breed standard.

There it is; the cat with the emerald eyes. I'd like to know more about this cat because the eyes look a little unnatural if I am honest.

Domestic Cat and Mouse Picture

2012-04-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

This photograph by Jo and Paul on Flickr, shows us very graphically the difference in size between the predator, the domestic cat and the prey, the little mouse.

It is not always the case that the predator is so dominant in terms of size. Think about the large wildcats, especially. Both the lion and tiger can and do take on prey that is many times larger than them. Lions will tackle Cape buffalo weighing 600 - 900 kilograms, while the average weight of tiger kills in Nagarahole National Park in India was 401 kilograms¹. That is heavier than the heaviest tiger. However from the standpoint of survival the wildcat will prey on animals that offer the least resistance and chance of being injured during the attack. The serval is much like the domestic cat in preying on rodents in long grass using hearing as a major form of prey detection (servals have notably large ears).

The domestic cat has it easy. The mouse is the perfect meal for the domestic cat. Sometimes cats play with a mouse they are attacking, even when it has been killed. This is seen as cruel by people.

Large black calico cat and tiny mouse - Photo by Jo and Paul's pics

Cats don't think it terms of cruelty. There are good and reasonable reasons why both the domestic cat and the smaller wildcats play with prey before and after it has been killed.

You can read about it on this page: Domestic cat hunting.

Associated: Lion prey Kruger NP.

Note: 1 Wild Cats Of The World by the Sunquists

Curious Ragdoll Picture

2012-04-29T06:31:00.001-07:00

This is handsome Ramses. He has a classic, bright, blue eyed Ragdoll appearance. He looks astonished, slightly...The diamond blue eyes are a strong feature of this cat. The history of this cat breed is vague, opaque even, but the eyes are clear.

The placement of the white on the particolor point is subject to a lot of restrictions under the breed standard. In the cat fancy, "particolor" means colors and patterns that come with white.

Curious Ragdoll - Photo copyright Giane Portal.

The Ragdoll is in the top 5 most popular breeds under a long term poll of 4,500 votes that I have run. You can see why. This is a large, docile cat noted for his or her tendency to go floppy when picked up. And the coat is stunning.

Do Ragdolls really go floppy? I don't believe that - unless someone leaves a comment to the contrary. They would be better described as docile cats with even temperaments although individual cats won't even be that.

We are told that they are not interested in going outside. That is a nice quality for a concerned cat caretaker as it prevents the possibility of contracting a disease and putting himself in danger.

Associated: Comparing Ragdoll and Maine Coon

Fat Cat Picture 39lbs

2012-04-28T00:12:00.001-07:00

28th April 2012: The most up-to-date world's fattest cat? Perhaps - at 39.10 lbs he almost equals the world's fattest cat of 1950 - Clauz (39.7 lbs). His name is "Meow"! Imaginative name that. And the former "owner" said that he was a fit kitten until he "suddenly ballooned"! Do you sense a slight abdication of responsibility for the proper caretaking of this cat? Like...what food did you feed him with..and how often?

Meow, bless him, is 2 years old. I think he has been eating non-stop since he was born. Maybe he has a medical condition but I doubt that. I have never seen or read about a cat health problem that results in the domestic cat ballooning to 39 lbs in 2 years all on his own. He is now on a diet and is no longer 39 lbs - he lost 2 already....

Here he is, Mr. Meow at 39.10 pounds.

I can't embed the video so I made a screenshot still image instead. I hope that is OK. You can see the original story here. How does Meow square up with the former world champion fattest cats?

A bit of fat cat history: There has been a series of world's fattest cats. Below is a nice list that I have taken from a page on PoC: Fattest Cat in the World. It seems that around 40 lbs is about the limit for cat obesity!

Cat	Weight	Owner (place)	Date
Poppa	44 lbs (about 20 kg)	Gwladys Cooper (Wales)	1983
Tiger	42 - 43 lbs (19 - 19.5 kg)	Phyllis Dacey (Essex, England)	1970s
Dinkie	42 lb (19 kg)	Miss K Dowding (Gloucestershire, England)	1955
Gigi		Miss Anne Clark (Cumbria, England)	1970
Baby	41 lb (almost 19 kg)	Mr Maefred Slawson (NY, USA)	1982
Snowbie	47 lb (Guinness Record)	Lorna Sutherland (Scotland)	1997
Katy	44 lbs	?	2003
Katy (Munckin dwarf cat)	40 lbs (18.1 kg)	? (Canada)	1991
Tulle (Tubcat)	43 lbs	Pedersen (USA)	2002

Last but not least, there was Clauz - World's Fattest Cat 1950. Clauz weight just a bit more that Meow. That puts Meow into context.

Picture of Cat's Ingrowing Claw

2012-04-27T01:09:00.001-07:00

A very clear, clean picture of a cat's ingrowing claw. You can see how the claw has grown into the paw pad. Cats tend to tolerate this despite the discomfort. This can happen quite easily in cats that are inactive and/or full-time indoor cats. Older cats are particularly susceptible even if they do go outside because of a much reduced activity level. This means that the claw is not worn down naturally during use. The claws of a cat's polydactyl thumbs are sometimes not worn down as they are off the ground and need to be trimmed and not surgically removed, please.

The moral is to check a cat's claws from time to time and trim them when necessary. I realised that my old cat had a claw problem when I heard the claws clattering against a hard floor. This indicated to me that at least one claw was too long. A cat's claws retract and don't make contact with hard surfaces if the cat is walking normally over the surface. Teeth and claws need to be checked routinely!

You can see from this picture of a cat's ingrowing claw provided by Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic, how painful it is. It is not that difficult to trim a cat's nails but to trim the nail in the picture will be very difficult and probably or possibly requires a vet to do it. It's a bit late in the day - proactive is best.

Cat ingrowing claw (nail). Photo copyrightCuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic

This photo has been used with permission for teaching/educational purposes at this website.

Note: Never declaw a cat (see some declaw posters to see why). You don't need to. Evolution (or God depending on your point of view) gave a cat all his or her anatomy for a reason. It is wise and the decent thing to do, to leave it all in place. We shouldn't play god for our convenience.

Cats and Bicycles Picture

2012-04-27T00:20:00.001-07:00

Cats and bicycles go together! They look very together in this picture by Bob Hanson. Perhaps the harmony comes from the nice composition and perhaps the harmony comes from the fact that the kind of person who has a cat companion is more likely to have a bike.

Four cats and four bikes - Photo copyright Bob Hanson

Bob rescued the four cats and he acquired the vintage bikes. He says that the four cats are a mother (far left) and her three sons. They were abandoned by a neighbor who moved home and simply left them behind in mid-winter. That, I am afraid to say, is not particularly unusual.

I rescued my late lady cat, Binnie, in exactly the same way in London. Bob had them spayed and neutered and he says cats have always been part of his life. He sees them as companions not "pets". That's what we like to hear. It is the only way to relate to a cat and respect the cat.

Bikes are more likely, I would argue, to be owned by independently minded, intelligent people. This is the sort of person who tends to like the domestic cat. That is why cats and bicycles go together harmoniously.

Feline Oral Resorptive Lesion Picture

2012-04-26T12:44:00.001-07:00

A very clear picture of a feline oral resorptive lesion and periodontal disease plus gingivitis. In short, multiple feline oral health problems.

A feline oral resorptive lesion (FOTL) is damage to the tooth itself in which at the least serious end of the spectrum involves the enamel being "barely" penetrated to loss of the "entire crown" of the tooth in the more serious cases¹.

Feline oral resorptive lesion, gingivitis, periodontal disease
Photo copyright; Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic

Twenty-eight to sixty-seven percent of adult cats suffer from feline oral resorptive lesions¹. The premolars and molars are normally affected but other teeth can be affected. Loss of the outer layer of enamel probably means pain for the cat. Sometimes cats chatter their jaws due to the pain. Some will lose appetite due to discomfort.

Siamese and Abyssinian cats (purebred cats - these are very popular cat breeds) are, it seems, predisposed to this oral health problem.

Causes? Periodontitis, exposure to viruses, kidney problems, dry cat food, acidic diet.

Treatment? See a good vet such as those at the Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic, who kindly provided the picture. This photo has been used with permission for teaching/educational purposes at this website.

Associated: Feline Gingivitis Picture.

Note: 1. Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. Pages 243-244. ISBN 978-0-470-09530-0

Cat Stress And Welfare

2012-04-25T01:22:00.000-07:00

The degree of stress suffered by a cat can be a measure of the welfare of that cat. As it is cat caretakers who create the environment that dictates a cat's level of stress or relaxation, the amount of stress in a cat could also be a measure of our cat caretaking skills.

Just moved! Photo debcha (Flickr)

However, cat stress is an individual thing and dependent on cat personality. There are bold, dominant cats and shy subordinate cats. The former is less likely to be stressed. There are a wide range of potential stressors in the domestic cat environment such as lack of socialisation and confinement in an area that is too small for the cat to express innate drives.

Stressed cats will tend to hide (see picture). We see this when we move home. A house move puts our cat into a strange environment. We get stressed too.

Purring is not a an accurate measure of stress or relaxation as it occurs under a wide range of circumstances.

A cat that is very vigilant and who sleeps poorly as a consequence could be said to be under stress probably due to cats being forced together and/or one cat being a dominant aggressor. Overgrooming and cystitis are two examples of behavior and health that can be caused by stress.

A cat's behavior and posture signals his or her level of stress at any given time. Below is a picture that shows the two extremes and below that is a "composite behavioral scale for quantifying stress". My thanks to the book The Welfare of Cats for this.

Here is a summarized description of behavior, posture and appearance of the cat set against a score (1-10). This test was devised with caged cats so there is reference to a cage.

Completely relaxed, cat laid out on back sometimes, pupils normal, ears pricked forward, possibly purring. You might see the slow blink that a visitor described. Tail extended and held upwards with whiskers forward or normal. Chin may be resting on a surface.
More aware than at level 1 but relaxed with ears forward and normal (midway position between forward and back), purring, meowing possibly, slow blink and whiskers forward or normal.
Belly may be exposed. Ears forward or pricked. Legs may be stretched out and paws turned in.
Cat may sit away from the direction of the front of the cage. Whiskers and ears normal or forward.
Eyes slightly dilated. Cat may meow and look around. Head moves around. Body a little tense.
Eyes dilated. Ears flattened slightly and back or forward on cat's head. Posture is tense. Plaintive meows. Actively exploring and trying to escape cage.
Posture is stiff. Cat focuses on observing person. Plaintive meows. Ears back. Pupils dilated and cat may try to escape.
Pupils dilated or very dilated. Prowling or motionless. Yowl. Ears flattened a bit and back on head. Body crouched. Tail close to body.
Pupils very dilated. Body crouched and close to ground. Breathing fast. Shaking perhaps. Cat at rear of cage. Quiet or very vocal. Hiss perhaps. Whiskers back.
Full-on defence. Hair, body and head flattened. Pupils very dilated. Warning hiss or and spit. Back in cage. Sits on all fours. Rage. Fast breathing.

Associated: Cat personality questionnaire (PDF file will download)

Feline Offensive Threat Posture?

2012-04-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

A picture of an offensive or defensive feline posture? I will leave it to you to decide if this strong and capable looking domestic tabby cat is showing us an offensive threat posture or a defensive threat posture. Comments would help. The obvious answer is that the posture cannot be an offensive threat because the cat is cornered by a large dog.

Offensive/Defensive feline posture - Photo by Demond Handy on Flickr

However, this cat does not look overly defensive to me and the dog is quite passive, not knowing what to do next. The pupils of the cat's eyes are not dilated but constricted. Dilated pupils indicate a defensive threat posture. He is looking at the dog and looks calm and not fearful and ready to defend himself. Perhaps his behavior is between defense and attack.

Offensive threat posture

A cat shows:

hairs raised along back (piloerection);
back legs extended;
ears drawn back (to protect them);
cat looks directly at the opponent;
pupils are constricted;
tail held down pointing towards ground and not tucked under. Tip of tail may be "flagging" slowly.

Defensive threat posture

A cat shows:

hairs standing up on his back;
square on: cat presents himself towards the other animal with "arched lateral display" (an attempt to look larger);
a defensive facial expression reflecting his state of mind (contradicting the attempt to look larger);
ears flattened and whiskers drawn back;
teeth bared by corners of mouth being drawn back;
pupils of eyes are dilated;
tail is erect or concave - tip pointed down.

Associated: Cat Body Language.

Refs: The Cat Its Behavior Nutrition & Health page 139 - ISBN 978-0-8138-0331-9 (the quote is from this excellent book)

Jaguarundi Sounds (Vocalizations)

2012-04-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

The vocal repertoire of the jaguarundi is "totally different from other felines". Perhaps this is not surprising as the jaguarundi looks different to all other felines! It looks like a marten or weasel or similar non-feline creature. The jaguarundi is a bit of an anomaly and classifying the species has been difficult.

Jaguarundi - Photo Dave Irving.

Balazs Buzas and Eszter Gulyas working at the Rare Species Conservation Centre in Sandwich, Kent, England, have raised jaguarundi cubs and in doing so have observed at first hand their vocalisations. They confirm the sounds made by this interesting wild cat as recorded by Cutter (1957) and Hulley in 1976.

There are 13 different sounds apparently:

Short whistle: used for attention seeking. The response is a single "peep".
Long whistle: a greeting.
Chirp: calling when the other cannot be seen.
Short purr: female calling kittens. Calling each other.
Long purr: expression of contentment as for the domestic cat.
Single quiet hiss: greeting from aged four weeks.
Loud hiss: from the age of 2 days kittens and cats use this as a warning to stay away.
Spit: warning to keep away. Insistent. A spit is on the video above.
Scream/growl: sound made during fighting and when feeding and a challenge (scream) when mating. Listen to video but turn the sound down!
Snuffle: vocalization made when patrolling territory.
Chatter: made by smacking their lips together and a close greeting sound.
Muted "yap": communication between individual cats under slight stress.
Faint cry: made by female when sexually receptive.

Associated: Cat Sounds MP3 WMA WAV

Reference: All references to Hand-raising jaguarundis (puma yagouaroundi) by Balazs Buzas and Eszter Gulyas in Feline Conservation Federation magazine vol 56 issue 2 March/April 2012.

Cat Watches 22 Badgers

2012-04-22T22:53:00.001-07:00

One cat in the back garden ("yard" in America) in close proximity to 22 badgers at night. The cat is curious. The badgers ignore the cat. You'll have to look at the picture for a short while before you see the cat! One badger appears to be looking at the cat.

One cat and 22 badgers cohabiting nicely. Photo at John McNab (Flickr)

I have found that my cat is ignored by foxes. He is big, though, and in one encounter he got the upper hand. I've seen him close to foxes at night. Recently a fox started to scream at him and he got scared and ran in. But domestic cats seem to be ignored by wildlife. This is the UK, though.

In the USA there are larger wildlife species and some are predators such as the coyote. The coyote kills domestic cats in the USA and it is one reason why people keep their cats in all the time. I'd prefer it if they used secure cat enclosures to protect their cats as F-T indoor life for a cat is not natural enough as it curtails natural behavior and drives. That can lead to stress related illnesses that are hard to diagnose.

See the original picture on Flickr.

Picture of Singing and Dancing Cat

2012-04-22T13:02:00.001-07:00

Cat performer, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

This is a very interesting photograph of a cat performer who looks like he is singing and dancing. Well, he is definitely dancing, not sure about the singing bit.

The cat dancing is Chihiro and the cat watching is Toji. Chihiro is a tabby cat. He appears to be a spotted tabby. The white underside is typical of the wildcats incidentally.

In reality Chihiro is probably just playing with Toji and is about to pounce on him.

The photograph was taken in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The photographer is Giane Portal. She is probably the best known cat photographer on Flickr. Her Flickr name is fofurasfelinas. Giane used flash to freeze the action.

The photo is copyright protected and is published here with Giane Portal's permission.

Feline Eosinophilic Keratitis Picture

2012-04-22T04:31:00.001-07:00

Feline eosinophilic keratitis is a cat health eye problem in which a lot of blood vessels grow into and across the cornea of the eye. You can see the blood vessel in the picture below coming from the top left and going across the eye.

Eosinophils are white blood cells, a part of the cat's immune system. In a cat with this condition, the outer layer of the cornea has many eosinophils and mast cells (another component of the cat's immune system). The eye has a white plaque over it. These cells are associated with immune reactions and allergies.

Eosinophilic Keratitis - Photo copyright Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic

The cause of eosinophilic keratitis is unknown. Apparently herpesvirus may be the cause or one cause.

The treatment is more about controlling the condition by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (topical steroids and oral corticosteroids)¹.

Associated: Shocking truth about the feline herpesvirus.

Thanks: This photo has been used with permission for teaching/educational purposes at PoC. The photo was provided by Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic.
Note: 1. Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook 195-196 ISBN 978-0-470-09530-0

Cats Love Veterinarian Sinks

2012-04-22T04:04:00.000-07:00

Cats love veterinarian sinks because it is probably the best place, the only place, in a veterinary clinic's consultation room to hide. That is not to say that veterinarians are people to hide from, it is simply that the environment looks unfamiliar, the smell of the place is unfamiliar, there are other cats and dogs in the waiting room (perhaps) in close proximity and in short the cat's world is turned upside down. We know cats like the security of routine and familiarity.

So what does a self respecting cat do? He or she finds a place to hide, to protect himself. The clinic's sink is far from ideal as there is no top on it but at least the sides and bottom are protected. Cats do like protection from above though. This is probably because a lot of the danger comes from above (think human, the giants in the cat world).

Vet's patient hiding in a sink looking a bit anxious
Photo copyright Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic

The cat in the picture is a brown mackerel tabby random bred cat by the look of him or her. The classic "M" mark on the forehead give than away.

This photo has been used with permission for teaching/educational purposes at PoC. It was provided by Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic. Thank you.

What could a vet do to improve, from the cat's standpoint, the consultation room? Put a little hiding place in the room...lol. I am not sure though when a cat has time to go and hide.

Mobile Veterinarian

2012-04-21T14:20:00.001-07:00

Is the mobile veterinarian an invention of the United States? Perhaps not but I would bet that there are more in the United States than anywhere else. Mobile veterinarians come to the patient (the cat) and client (the cat's caretaker/guardian). That is really convenient because going to the vet can be stressful for both patient and guardian.

The mobile veterinarian is sometimes referred to as a house-call veterinarian in the US. With people becoming busier all the time, the convenience of a veterinarian who comes to you is very attractive. The mobile veterinarian may also be able to make emergency calls when you simply don't have to time to get to the vet. Elderly people come to mind as suitable clients of mobile veterinarians.

Apparently the typical client is 30-55 years of age and in work. My mother called out a vet to treat Charlie, her three-legged cat. That is in the UK. Vets do come to your home in Great Britain if you pay for it but these vets don't have mobile units.

The biggest downside to using a mobile veterinarian is cost and the service provided might be slightly limited due to the necessity of having everything in a mobile home/clinic.

Mobile Veterinarian Photo copyright Tony Alter (Flickr)

However, house-call veterinarians will be able to provide all the usual services such as: blood testing, examinations, disease screenings, dentistry, preventative care, vaccinations, dispensing medicines plus the added bonus of providing home euthanasia, which is a great comfort for both patient and caretaker. It is sensible to check the services offered, however, as some mobile veterinarians will be able to provide surgical procedures for example.

American mobile veterinarians will probably charge the usual fee but add a surcharge for travel costs (something in order of $50 - April 2012). If the vet only operates out of a mobile unit he or she should not charge extra because their overheads are probably less than if they were operating out of a building.

In addition to the reduced levels of stress suffered by patients and their caretakers when attending a mobile vet clinic there is also the reduced risk of infection that is at least potentially present at normal veterinary clinics. There are no waiting rooms to sit in.

Thinking of using a mobile veterinarian? You can find one on the The American Association of Housecall & Mobile Veterinarians.

Small Girl Carries Big Cat

2012-04-21T04:34:00.001-07:00

This is an outtake from videos made by me with video material generously provided by Kathrin Stucki of A1 Savannahs. A1 Savannahs is the premier Savannah cat breeders in the world and they are located near Ponca City, Oklahoma, USA. Oklahoma has a wide open landscape with a big sky; and a warm wind.

Leonie is Martin and Kathrin's daughter. She has grown up a bit since this video was filmed. I think she looks very cute carrying Magic, a female F1 Savannah cat, raised at A1 Savannahs who was soon, at the time of filming, to become the world's biggest domestic cat and the world's most celebrated and exotic domestic cat.

You have probably seen Andreas with Magic in the famous boy/cat relationship video also made by me with video material filmed by Kathrin.

You can see that Magic is a beautiful cat in more ways than just appearance. She has a great character. She was socialised really professionally. Being a first filial wildcat hybrid she has a lot of wild cat serval in her yet she behaves in many respects like a docile domestic cat.

In the video you see her rubbing her head against a towel. This is scent exchange. I think the towel may be impregnated with catnip as she seems very animated. She is crazy about it.

Cat Scent Exchange

2012-04-20T00:09:00.001-07:00

Cat scent exchange is well observed but little understood. That is a personal view. Is it purely functional in nature or is it about expressing emotion or a mixture of both? We tend to think of animal behavior as mainly functional - supporting survival. If a form of behavior helps in survival it will happen. But the question is, do animals operate on a higher plain? We know cats have emotions.

As cats have an excellent sense of smell they rely on it or use it much more than we do. As humans with a relatively poor sense of smell we are unable, as yet, to fully understand olfactory communication in cats. We just don't get it. Although we observe it.

A cat's sebaceous glands are distributed throughout his or her body particularly the head (think head-butt), perioral region (around the mouth), perianal area and between the toes (think scratching and depositing scent at the same time). Cat sniffing provides "olfactory clues" - information about the source of the smell.

Scent exchange - giving and receiving. Photo by eyesore9 on Flickr

We also know our cat rubs against us. This happens when we feed our cat, for example. Our cat is happy that he is about to be fed. In response, and instinctively, he rubs his head against our leg. Or rubs the side and rear part (perianal) of his body against you. He deposits his scent onto you. He can smell it. You can't. Why does he like his scent on you? And why do it when he is happy? Cat to cat greetings include mutual scent exchange when the cats are friendly with each other; a merging of each cat's scent with the other's.

In the video above, Magic, the cat obviously has a close bond with Martin Stucki the person who Magic is rubbing against. Magic loves the smell of Martin's shoes and seems to want to collect some of the scent from them and at the same time deposit his scent on them - scent exchange.

It is said that when a cat's scent is on you or an inanimate object he feels more at home as he smells himself everywhere. It creates a more friendly environment for the cat. I can understand that. That is more a functional aspect to scent exchange. In this instance I would call it scent depositing as that would appear to be the purpose. It makes life feel better. Note: when my cat is about to be fed he will also deposit scent from his head onto the end of the bed.

Apparently when a cat rubs against a human's legs it is a transference of the behavior seen between cats when one of the them returns from a hunt. As we are feeding our cat perhaps we are seen by our cat as the hunter/mother returning with food for the kitten; our cat retains a kitten's behavior. Social bonding is reinforced with this kind of rubbing (called allorubbing).

But when cats merge their scent in scent exchange greetings by rubbing their heads together is it a bit like us, a man greeting a close female friend, touching cheeks and doing an air kiss. In terms of appearance it is close to what we see when cats indulge in scent exchange on greeting. In fact you could argue humans are exchanging scent as their cheeks touch. But that is not the purpose. The purpose is to make contact. Cats who scent exchange are probably, primarily concerned with making contact and touching each other just like humans. Perhaps the scent exchange element of contact is akin to our kiss - a form of magnifying the emotional pleasure derived from the need for contact. Making contact more intimate. That is an entirely personal thought. The books don't refer to it that way.

In scent exchange, if one of the objectives of each cat is also to touch the the other cat it is a strong sign of friendship and a way of reinforcing that friendship. It is primarily emotional in character. Although, through friendship a cat is more able to survive. You will see friendly cats lie next to each other. Touching each other is important to a cat. Is it as important to a cat as it is to us? I would answer; yes. We should respect the cat more because they operate at a higher level than many people recognize.

You will find that wildcats deposit scent from their perioral region onto rocks and trees on trails. This is not about friendship but about providing information about the cat's presence to other cats in the area. Clearly a cat's scent is multipurpose. It allows for a form of communication that is as important and as strong as using the voice.

Associated page: Cat Spraying.