Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
If your cat has a white nose and gums, this can be an indicator of a few key things. Learn what it means when your cat has a white nose and gums with help from a dynamic, holistic and conventional veterinarian in this free video clip.
Known for their unusually shaped ears, both the "American curl" and "Scottish fold" breeds of cat result from a genetic mutation. Although these two breeds have certain similarities, they have noted differences in their appearances and personalities, especially in the shapes of their unique ears. While the Scottish fold resembles a teddy bear with his flat ears, the American curl appears ever-alert, with tall, back-curled, rosebudlike ears, making these two types of cats very distinctive.
For a male cat to have the ability to sire a litter of kittens with a mature female cat, he must be able to produce sperm. Typically, a male cat reaches sexual maturity between 4 and 6 months old, although, depending on certain factors, some male cats do not become sexually mature until they reach 1 year old. Once mature, a male cat will seek a female in heat to produce kittens.
Early detection of anal disease in your tomcat is essential to his well-being. Even though anal disease may be treatable, there's always the chance that it's of a life-threatening nature. The anal glands, also known as anal sacs, can cause problems in male cats. Recognizing abnormalities in your cat's behavior and in the appearance of his anal region, can potentially safe his life.
Stray cats are often the forgotten, abandoned or lost felines that are also misunderstood and believed to be a nuisance. Befriending a stray cat requires time and patience on your part, and trust from the cat. A stray's first instinct is to protect herself, so giving her plenty of time to trust and approach you will result in a friendly, welcoming encounter. In time, a stray cat can become a beloved companion and friend.
Feeding a stray cat is something that you need to do with a certain degree of caution. Find out what to feed a stray cat in the winter with help from an expert in animal behavior in this free video clip.
Finding a lost cat is sometimes easier said than done. Learn about finding a lost cat with help from an expert in animal behavior in this free video clip.
If you have a male cat that wanders, you are probably concerned that your pet may get lost and not come home. A male cat’s health and surroundings could be the reasons behind its sudden wanderlust. Medical issues should be discussed with your veterinarian, while changes to its surroundings could relieve stress-related wandering. If you are worried about the safety of your male cat, consider keeping it indoors.
Bathing a cat reduces allergens on the fur. Combing and bathing help to prevent mats in a Persian cat's fur, and it reduces the risk of hairballs, as well as the amount of cat hair on your clothes and furniture. Comb the Persian's fur before washing, as washing will only make mats worse and more difficult to deal with.
When drawing the fur on a long haired cat you'll want to start off by drawing its face. Draw fur on a long haired cat with help from an artist in this free video clip.
Ragdolls are docile and affectionate cats, which like nothing more than to be with people. Ragdolls are gentle and rarely extend their claws even in play. However, female ragdoll cats can reach up to 15 pounds, while males can reach up to 20 pounds, which makes them appear intimidating to people who are unfamiliar with the breed. An abandoned ragdoll cat will probably want to be near people, but may be too confused and frightened to catch. Fortunately, there is a humane way to rescue an abandoned ragdoll cat and bring it in to safety.
A tabby is a very specific type of cat with almond-shaped eyes. Draw a tabby cat with help from an artist who teaches art to children and adults in this free video clip.
Kittens shed off dead hair and replace it with new hair throughout the year. However, a number of factors that contribute to unhealthy skin and coat quality cause excessive shedding. Learning how to evaluate a kitten's coat for shedding is easy and should be done during routine grooming sessions. Being aware of how much your cat should shed makes determining if and what type of treatment may be necessary to reduce shedding.
If you find yourself avoiding your cat right before you leave home, something needs to change. Just because your favorite feline sheds doesn't mean you have to run for cover in order to keep your sweaters clean. Whether your sweater is made from cotton, a pile weave of synthetic fibers or cashmere, there are practical, inexpensive ways to quickly and thoroughly remove cat hair.
Feral cats are born wild and are born from once-domesticated cats, often family pets that were abandoned, lost or allowed to breed indiscriminately. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, feral cats account for tens of millions of free-roaming felines in the United States. Unlike stray cats, feral cats have had little or no human contact and are typically too elusive and fearful to be handled or tamed. Despite this distrust of people, ferals often depend on human caretakers for their survival. A reliable source of food and adequate shelter from inclement weather can dramatically…
Stray cats showing up on doorsteps are a problem in many neighborhoods. Most stray cats look skinny and appear as if they are starving. If you have a soft spot for strays, you may want to feed them. However, if you are not a cat owner, you may not know what cats eat or what you should feed them. There are a few things that you can feed a stray cat.
A cat show allows an owner to show off their favorite or prize cat in a competition with cats of the same or similar breeds. For a cat to be able to compete in a sanctioned cat show, such as by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), they have to be one of the 40 pedigreed breeds the CFA recognizes. Many shows also allow for a miscellaneous class for mixed-breed house cats or rescue cats whose breeding cannot be determined. Judging cats at a cat show requires a great deal of knowledge about all breeds and knowing what to look for,…
A cat kennel allows you to transport your pet safely without fear of injury to the cat, or to anyone that may come into contact with it. If your cat does not like to travel, then just the sight of a carrier kennel can cause problems. But there are ways that you can make the journey a safe experience for you and your pet.
The Persian is among the most popular, recognizable and beautiful of cat breeds. Persians combine long, luxurious coats with lovely round eyes, flat faces, short bodies and stocky legs. Females weigh up to five pounds; males weigh up to seven. Despite the size difference, female Persian cats require the same regular grooming as male Persians to prevent their lustrous coats from matting. You should inspect and clean your female Persian cat’s ears, nails and eyes as part of the grooming process. Use the right tools to easily accomplish the task of grooming your female Persian.
Individually owned and operated cat rescues and shelters often struggle to care for the many cats in need. Food, shelter, toys and medical care are expensive. However, fundraising may help you increase your cash flow, provide care to the cats in your shelter and meet members of the community interested in adopting.
Petting a cat’s long, silky fur can be relaxing for both owner and pet, until you run your hand across a tangle of matted fur. Long-haired cats need daily grooming to keep their fur and skin in top condition. Without consistent brushing, long-haired cats can develop painful mats in their fur. Gentle grooming can restore your cat’s coat to a healthy softness.
A feral cat becomes a feral cat one of two ways: it was once a house cat that, for one reason or another, got out and had to learn to fend for itself; or it was born to a feral cat mother and has always been a feral cat. Stray cats can be socialized back into indoor environments more easily if they are either very young kittens (eight weeks old or less) or were, at one time, indoor cats. You can make a stray cat feel at home over time, at a leisurely pace.
Persian cats are known for their long hair, short muzzle and round face. The name refers to Persia, where the country of Iran is today, as the breed's place of origin. These cats have been a popular breed since the 1600s, and according to the Animal Planet website they are the world's most popular breed in terms of the number owned. They also have the longest hair of any domestic cat species, which can make grooming difficult.
Hairless cats are known for their lack of fur, and sphynx cats were the first such breed developed. The first sphynx was born in 1966 in Canada, and it took over 10 years and many tries to create a strong hairless cat gene line. Although they are called hairless, there actually is a very fine layer of hair on their skin. Yet they are more challenging to take care of than traditional house cats.
All cats need grooming, but Himalayan cats require daily combing and brushing. Because of the breed’s long fur, this cat is susceptible to knots, tangles and mats. However, if you properly comb and brush your cat on a regular basis, you can avoid unsightly, snarled fur that can lead to infection if your cat scratches or chews it.
Pet hair is one of the most stubborn things to clean in a house. If you own an inside pet, you know all too well the daily maintenance that cleaning pet hair requires. Cats are especially notorious for shedding indoors, and their fine hair is frustrating to remove. Cat hair can cause allergies and even introduce viruses and parasites into your home if you leave floors and upholstery items for long periods without cleaning.
An angry male cat can inflict damage to both you and any animals in your home if not kept calm. An aggressive cat will have dilated pupils, make himself appear larger by puffing out his fur, place his ears back, growl and hiss at you, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Avoid direct eye contact with the cat so you do not encourage an aggressive challenge. If the cat tries to bite or scratch you while pet him, stop touching him and slowly back away from him before taking measures to calm him down.
Maintaining the litter box is a necessary part of owning a cat, but the task is not enviable. One of the factors cat owners need to consider is the type of cat litter to use. There are a variety of litter types on the market. In the last several years, clumping cat litter has become increasingly popular. However, there is considerable disagreement over the safety of clumping cat litter, and whether its benefits outweigh the possible health risks.
Feral cats live outdoors. Born and raised outdoors, these cats are different from stray cats. Strays are lost or abandoned pets. According to the ASPCA, feral cats do not make good house pets. However, feral cats are similar to domestic cats in a few ways. Feral cats get into mischief and cause problems in flowerbeds, gardens or lawns. Digging up flowers or urinating to mark territory damages a flowerbed. However, there are methods to repel feral cats from a flowerbed.
Siamese cats are an attractive breed that has marveled pet owners for centuries due to their striking physical appearance. They were one of the most prized possessions of many rulers in the past. Their popularity has stood the test of time, as even today many people hold them in extremely high esteem due to their loving, loyal, inquisitive and intelligent temperament.
The Siamese cat -- one of the world's most enduring and popular breeds -- is descended from an albino cat breed, so it is not rare for a litter to produce at least one pure white albino kitten. However, other than a pure white coat throughout its lifespan and occasionally pink eyes, these cats are no different from standard Siamese cats.
A tabby cat is not a specific breed of cat. Most tabby cats are mixed breeds. The tabby name comes from certain distinct features of the cat, including stripes, a M shape between the eyes and occasionally swirls. Orange, black and gray tabbies are the most common. Most tabby cats also have a white bib or stomach and may have white “socks” on their feet. Breeding a tabby cat is not difficult as long as both parents have characteristics of tabby cats.
According to Persian World, the Persian cat breed was first taken into protection by Queen Victoria of England, when breeding became concentrated and controlled. The Himalayan Persian was then created around the same time in England and in the U.S. by Virginia Cobb and doctor Clyde Killer by crossing the Persian breed with the Siamese. Himalayan Persians are a common breed of cat with multiple coloring patterns.
Rescued cats come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are abandoned by their owners in the streets, others have been abused or neglected. Because of the possible lack of proper socialization at a young age or fear of people, rescued cats require more patience and gentle handling than other cats. Whether you find a cat wandering the streets with no collar and identification, or adopt a cat from a rescue organization, your cat will need care and love to help it adjust to its new home.
Tabby cats are not a breed. Rather, the tabby coat is a set of patterns that are present in many breeds. Features of the tabby coat include stripes, swirls and a characteristic "M" shaped mark on the forehead, and the exact placement and shape of these features depends on the particular variation of tabby. Keeping a tabby cat happy is no more difficult than keeping any particular breed of cat happy -- adequate nutrition and stimulation are required to keep a cat active and content.
Stray cats are cats that used to live with an owner but now live on the streets. If you decide to adopt a stray cat and you want to introduce it to your other cats, you have to follow a few steps to make sure your cats get along. Felines are territorial and may have a difficult time accepting other cats. Don't expect a stray cat to accept other cats overnight, and allow weeks or even months for it to adapt to its new home and its other inhabitants.
Even if you restrict your cat from entering the kitchen, you are unlikely to stop cat hair from finding its way into the room and into your refrigerator. Because cat hair clings to clothing and is stirred from the floor and other surfaces by routine activity, control the amount of loose hair in your home to help keep it out of your refrigerator. Brush your pet regularly to reduce the amount of hair in your environment. Prevent a buildup of cat hair in your home and around the refrigerator through regular sweeping and vacuuming. Unplug your refrigerator and vacuum behind…
Male cats become more affectionate after neutering, according to a survey of 100 practicing small animal veterinarians conducted by veterinarian Bruce Fogle. Neutered male cats even tend to show a little more affection than spayed female cats. Neutering a male cat also has other beneficial behavioral side effects, including a reduction in aggression, urine marking and roaming.
The Tortie Point Siamese cat is still a Siamese cat, but has a distinct mottled pattern to his colored areas. A regular Siamese has solid coloration in the areas where the fur is a different color from the rest of the body; the Tortie Point, however, has a tortoiseshell-like pattern in those areas. Because the Tortie Point is one type of Siamese, he shares the behavior characteristics of the Siamese cat. The Tortie Point, like other Siamese cats, is vocal, affectionate, active and demanding.
Cat lovers often see stray cats and kittens around their properties. These cats are usually abandoned or lost pets that now live outdoors fending for themselves. Stray cats are different from feral cats. Feral cat only know life outdoors. Some people offer food to the stray cats, while others catch them and take them to a shelter. A few people adopt the stray cat and bring it into their home. But to bring an outside cat indoors requires some preparation to make the transition as stress free as possible for the cat.
Whether you are superstitious or not, having a black cat cross your path doesn't have to be a bad thing. Black cat crafts can turn a boring, chilly fall day into a fun-filled afternoon of artistic adventures. From a simple shape collage to textured sculptures, you can make your own Halloween decorations that feature these fabulous furry felines.
Getting male cats neutered is important for health factors and to prevent unwanted offspring. Unneutered cats often roam from home to breed. They may also have higher risks for illnesses such as sexually transmitted diseases and testicular cancer. However, some male cats have a condition known as cryptorchidism, or undescended testicle. Though the surgery to correct this abnormality can be invasive and costly, male felines benefit from the procedure.
Called "The Royal Cats of Siam," Siamese cats were first protected and bred under Siam royal supervision, according to the Cat Fancier's Association. Known for their regal appearance, Siamese cats have been the inspiration, and at times the primary genetic source, for other cat breeds, like Javanese, Oriental, Colorpoint Shorthair and Balinese. There are seal point, chocolate point, lilac point and blue point Siamese cats. The blue point Siamese cat is considered rare.
Just like humans, cats continue to grow and act differently as they mature. If you're the owner of a new cat, you may wonder how to tell when a cat is fully grown. It's slightly easier to tell when a female cat is fully grown because of the way she acts as she approaches sexual maturation. Behavioral factors and other considerations also come into play when determining when a female cat is fully grown.
Animals such as cats and dogs become strays through a variety of circumstances, such as by running away from home or being carelessly abandoned by a former owner. Some strays, particularly cats, are born in the wild and thus are more leery and frightened by human interaction. Some people want to take in strays so they can adopt the animal while others want to catch the animal and take it to a shelter. Several strategies can be employed to lure a stray into your home so it can be properly tended to.
Millions of domesticated cats become lost or abandoned and are considered "stray." Since stray cats were previously pets, they are generally relaxed around people. Stray cats roam parking lots, streets and yards searching for food and shelter, oftening wander onto household porches where cat food is left out. While some homeowners enjoy feeding and caring for stray cats, others don't like stray cats nor wish to care for them. Fortunately, there are numerous humane methods for ridding your back porch of stray cats.
Maine coon cats evolved in New England's harsh climate, where they adapted by developing long fur with two distinct coats. The undercoat helps keep the Maine coon warm while a topcoat repels water and snow. Matted areas tend to develop in the longest and most dense areas of fur along the chest and the back of the legs.
Even if you understand what causes bowel problems in a Manx cat you may not be able to ease its discomfort. The same genetic mutation that causes the breed's signature short tail can also result in serious deformations that make the breed susceptible to bowel problems like incontinence, stoppage, constipation and megacolon. However, the Manx mutation is not the only cause of these and other bowel problems. If your cat appears to be in distress, take it to the vet immediately to rule out treatable conditions.
If a stray cat has been hanging around your house, you may be wondering what you can do to help the poor critter out. In addition to laying out food and water, consider building an inexpensive shelter that will protect the cat from rain, snow and cold temperatures. It doesn't take much work to build an effective shelter that the cat will love.
Cats come in many varieties -- from longhaired to shorthaired and from bobtail to hairless. Breeders aim to highlight certain traits in cats and, in their pursuit, create new breeds. Each breed has defining characteristics that span coloration, size and personality. Breeding cats with certain traits creates kittens that carry on desired genes.
