About Cats

Cat Breeds

A cat breed is defined by a breed standard which describes the cat's physical characteristics in detail. However, characteristics such as color, pattern, or hair length alone do not define a cat breed since most breeds include cats with a wide range of these characteristics.

A documented ancestry is what makes a cat a member of a specific breed. In fact, less than 1% of cats worldwide are cats of a specific breed. Most cats are simply varieties of the species Felis domesticus.

Some terms used to describe cat breeds

• Points: parts of face, ears, legs, and tail colored darker then the fur's base color.
• Shaded: predominantly dark hair, but lighter than smoked.
• Smoked: predominantly dark hair, but hair line silvery.
• Ticking: dark banded hairs.
• Tipping: bright hair with dark tips.

The sometimes stubborn companion

All pets can make good companions, but sometimes their needs and yours come into conflict. Cats are more independent than dogs and can be a good choice for a person on the go - particularly if you get a feline friend to keep them company.

But remember: cats are stubborn in a way and have their own will. They are definitely not pleasers the way dogs are. If they feel like playing, they play; if they do not feel like it, leave them alone. Otherwise they will show their discontent.

House-Training

In the majority of cases, when a kitten comes into your home it is already house-trained. Your task is to keep it that way. The litter tray should be positioned a bit apart from the feeding dish in a spot that is reasonably calm and protected with easy access for your cat. It must be big enough for the cat to turn around and paw. Remove excreta every day and change commercial litter once a week. If you are experiencing problems, you can try different types of litter as your cat may prefer one type over another.

Training kittens never works without occasional accidents. It doesn't help to yell or rub their nose in it. If you catch your kitten going about its business in the wrong place, simply say "No!", pick the kitten up immediately, and take it where it’s supposed to do its business. Don’t forget to praise your kitten when it’s finished.

Contrary to popular belief, you can also teach cats tricks. They need to be motivated with praise and food treats and can be manipulated using their natural curiosity.

Cats and dogs

In general, housing cats and dogs together is not a problem provided that they get to know their different languages. For example, wagging the tail is a sign of cheerfulness for a dog, but it means anger or fury for a cat. To conclude from this that they are natural enemies is wrong.

If they come into the household as very young animals and grow up together, cats and dogs usually become good friends. A grown-up dog tends to accept a very young cat as a member of his pack. On the other hand you should be careful bringing together an adult, self-confident cat and a young dog.

When another animal is introduced to your companion's territory, the animals need time to accept and get used to each other. Do not force them together in the same room or area in the first few days. Give them time to scent the presence of the other animal before their first meeting. And always leave an opportunity for escape, especially for younger cats.