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Cats
General Info
Snowflake and Little Lou.
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Type |
Warm blooded feline- carnivorous
mammal domesticated as a catcher of rats and mice and as a pet. (Felis catus )
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Temperament |
The
domestic cat is a very intelligent, very independent animal. They only do
what they feel like doing, when they feel like doing it. They will not hesitate
to demand whatever they want, be it food, play, or to be left alone. Cats have
different personalities. Some are the quiet type, while some meow all the time,
some are fussy and very selective about food and people and some will eat
anything and want attention from every person. Some like to be held and to sit
on laps and some are loners and do not want much to do with people. When a cat
wants to get your attention it will either endlessly meow at you, rub against
your leg or follow you around. Some cats are smarter than others. Some
really seem to be paying attention to the world around them. Watching, listening
and taking in all that is going on as if to really understand it all. Some
outdoor cats have even been known to look both ways before crossing the street.
Cats are capable of all kinds of intelligent and sometimes surprising behavior.
Some cats enjoy watching TV and even listening to the radio. You can tell if
your cat is relaxed by lifting them up, a relaxed cat is loose and light, and a
scared cat is tight and heavy. Some may even learn to do tricks, just like dogs!
Cats like to take many short naps during the day, hence the expression 'Cat
Nap'. Where they choose to sleep varies with their personality. Some like to
sleep in places like high cupboards, secluded and out of the way, while others
like to be right amongst all the action. Some like soft warm places, others like
sunny nooks and crannies. Cats have a tendency to sharpen their claws and they
may do this in places you do not wish them to do so i.e. the couch. Giving the
cat a place where he can sharpen his claws such as a scratching post and keeping
the claws cut short are recommended. Giving your cat a scratching post covered
in carpet is not always the best idea as it will be teaching your cat that
scratching fabric is ok i.e. your couch. Instead the scratching post should be
sisal rope or carpet turned inside out. With some effort, cats can be taught
that the scratching post is the designated scratching area. Some choose to
declaw their cats. Declawing a cat is the surgical removal of the cats toenail,
however this is very painful for the cat as a cats claw is actually a movable
digit attached to muscle as a finger might be. It has strong ligaments and
tendons which give power to extend and retract the claws. A declawed cat can no
longer properly grasp, hold or establish footing for proper walking, running,
springing, climbing or stretching, and therefore should never be let outside of
the house. It will no longer be able to properly defend itself or climb a tree
to get away from predators. |
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Spaying and Neutering |
Besides the fact that there is a
great over population of cats with out homes, there are many other good reasons
why to get your cat spayed or neutered. Unaltered males (and sometimes females)
cats may start to spray their urine around your house to mark their territory.
The intact cat's urine is especially foul-smelling and can never be completely
cleaned from things such as carpet, upholstery, bedding or wood. Females in heat
will howl, pace and may soil in the house. This can last up to 21 days and occur
three or more times a year. While a female cat is in heat, male cats looking for
romance will howl outside your door. Unaltered cats have an urge to roam far
from the house looking for a mate and may travel great distances in search of a
mate, risking dangers from cars, cat fights and possibly upsetting neighbors.
Spayed and neutered cats are more likely to be calmer, healthier, and more
content. Studies show that spayed and neutered cats have average life
expectancies twice as long as those of unspayed and unneutered cats. |
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Size |
Varies depending on the breed
For adults:
About 6 - 15 pounds (2.7 to 7 kilograms)
Some cats weigh more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms).
About 8-10 inches (20-25 cm.) tall at the shoulder. |
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Living Conditions |
Cats can live solely indoors,
indoors and outdoors, or solely outdoors. Cats who are kept solely outdoors need
to have some sort of shelter provided, such as a barn. Cats are one of the
essential elements on a working farm. They control the rodent population keeping
them out of the feed. One farmer reports that he had a rat in every stall of his
barn until he brought cats into his establishment. Since then he has not seen a
single rat. Cats cannot be kept in cages such as rabbit hutches, they must live
inside your home or free outside. A cat will go crazy if confined to a small
cage for a long period of time. If you plan to keep your cat outdoors first
consider the area you live, some areas are not safe for a cat to live outdoors.
A cat is a good pet for apartment life. |
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Clean-up |
Indoor cats need to have a
litter box provided where they can eliminate. Litter boxes need to be scooped
daily and thoroughly changed and cleaned at least twice a week. Cats do not like
to eliminate in dirty places, therefore, if you do not keep the litter box clean
to your cats liking, your cat will find other places to go. This will most
likely not be a place of your choice! |
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Grooming |
Cats are very clean animals. In
general they will take care of their own grooming needs, grooming themselves
with their rough tongue. Some long haired cats may need to be brushed. A cat who
suddenly stops grooming themselves may be showing signs of illness and should be
taken to the vet for a check up. Cats whiskers should never be cut as they are
used for balance; their tail is also used for balance. |
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Feeding |
Cats, unlike dogs, are true
carnivores which means they thrive on meat only diets and require no vegetable,
grain, or dairy supplementation. Cats can be fed high protein dry or can food
made just for cats. While can food is tastier for the cat, dry food is better
for their teeth. Some like to feed a combination of dry and canned. Be sure to
pick a high quality food, with the main ingredient being a meat and not a meal
or bi-product. Cats are hunters and need meat to be healthy. They have a higher
protein requirement than many other mammals and are unable to adjust to a low
protein diet and will use body protein to satisfy their needs. There are many
other nutrients and amino acids found in meat that cats need to be healthy.
Contrary to popular belief, cows milk is not good for cats. The proteins in cow
milk are too large for cats to properly digest which can cause intestinal upset,
diarrhea, and vomiting. If fed dry food, cats can either be fed by free-choice
feedings or scheduled-feedings. Cats who are fed by free-choice will usually eat
every few hours all day long if left to themselves. If obesity is a problem, or
only canned food is fed, scheduled-feeding, that is, feeding a specific amount
of food at specified regular mealtimes, is recommended. Fresh clean water should
be provided at all times. |
Exercise |
Most cats will exercise on
their own, dashing through the house, leaping across the furniture,
chasing a bug or swatting at the family dog. Young cats like to play and will
find ways to entertain themselves. They will also enjoy it if you play with
them. There are many great toys made just for cats, however things such as a
rolled up sock will also work. |
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Life Expectancy |
On average cats live to be 12-14
years old. Some have been known to live more than 20 years. |
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Health Problems |
Some of the most common feline
health problems are colds and sniffles i.e. respiratory viruses, urinary
problems, digestive problems - if your cat vomits more than 24 hours or vomits
and acts depressed, call your vet. Eye problems, if your cat is squinting only
in one eye there may be something in its eye. If you cannot remove it take your
cat to the vet. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva membrane.
It can become swollen and reddened often making it more visible. Conjunctivitis
can affect one or both eyes. Cats with conjunctivitis tend to have a discharge
from their eye(s) which can be clear and watery or thick with a pus like
appearance. If you think your cat has conjunctivitis call your vet. Bite wounds
and abscesses (mainly in outdoor cats) Bite wound abscesses can usually be
prevented if antibiotics are given within the first twenty four hours after the
wound is inflicted. Never give cats aspirin, Tylenol or similar human
medications. All cats should be taken to the vet regularly for shots,
immunizations and check-ups. Cats with live with
Feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis virus) is a very common upper respiratory virus of cats, especially for those who live with multiple cats or those who are in contact with new cats. Barn cats are often affected. The virus is spread through the air. It replicates in the upper respiratory track affecting the tonsils, nasal area and the conjunativa of the eye is often also affected. The virus remains latent in the nerves that serve the eyes. When a cat is stressed or exposed to new serotypes (different strains) of herpes virus, the ocular disease can recur. Keeping cats who are affected with this virus on a natural supplement called Lysine can stop an outbreak or cure an existing one. Lysine is an essential amino acid. It competes with another amino acid, arginine, that herpes virus must have in order to reproduce. It is that virus that often spreads among farm cats causing them to get respiratory issues and goopy eyes. It is sold in forms of powder, gel and even treats (which most cats love). You can treat a sick cat with it, or put the powder on food to prevent it. |
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Gestation |
A female cat
can go into heat as often as every 2 weeks until she is either pregnant or
spayed. Female cats in heat will go to any lengths to get outside and mate. They
will scream and howl calling for a mate. The gestation period for a cat is
typically from 57 to 69 days, with the average of 63 to 64 days. Litter size can
vary from 1 to 8 kittens with the average litter size of 2 to 5 kittens. Female
cats can have up to 3 litters a year. |
Origin |
Domestic cats were first
domesticated in Egypt, where they soon spread to Asia, Europe and the rest of
the world. The domestic cat, is a direct descendant from, or a subspecies of,
the African Wildcat. It is placed in the genus Felis, which represents the
Domestic cat lineage - the second oldest branch of the Felid family tree. Cats
were first domesticated over 5000 years ago. They are now one of the most
popular pets in the world. In several countries, including the United States and
the United Kingdom, there are more cats than any other pet. Domestic cats now
live on every continent except Antarctica and have evolved into over fifty
distinct breeds. |
Cats groom themselves daily. This is Shadow Kitty keeping herself all nice
and clean.
7 week old Kittens - From Left: Clover, Suga. Midnight III, Talic.
Dusty sitting on top of her dog friend's kennel.
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Whiskers, A Story of a Wild Barn Cat |
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"This is Whiskers, a feral cat. Whiskers is one of 5 kittens found living
under some boards at the Maguire Farm, along with the mom cat. The mom cat and kittens
were all wild. Having a farm, we decided the wild cats were more than welcome to
stay. Knowing winter was coming we decided to try and tame the kittens. We
captured the kittens and handled them every day. The kittens were wild and would
try and bite us when we handled them. We named the mom cat, Mom-Cat and the
kittens Nasty-One, Nasty-Two, Nasty-Three, Nasty-Four, and Nasty-Five. We had to
wear heavy gloves to handle them. The Mom Cat was upset her kittens were in a
cage so we let her have two of them back. We continued to try and tame the other
three. We were somewhat successful with the remaining three. The mom and the two
kittens we let go were hanging around the barn because of the food we put out.
Even the mom was becoming slightly more friendly. We eventually let all of the
kittens go. They hung out around the barn for months until they all eventually
disappeared. They were all gone for months. One day we heard a cat crying. We
looked around and saw Whiskers on the barn roof. My daughter climbed up onto the
roof (it is ground level on one side) and picked Whiskers up. He was skin and
bone and very hungry. She carried him to a bowl of food. Whiskers never left
again. He lives right on our porch. My daughter is the only one who can hold
him. He comes really close to us and will rub against our legs, but does not
like to be held or touched. If we reach down to pet him he will dart away and
come back to rub our legs when he thinks we are not looking. The only time he
will semi tolerate petting him is while he is eating. We can always count on
Whiskers being right outside our door. He never goes far from the house (the
cats are all fed on the porch). Once in a while we will spot another Nasty-Cat,
but they do not hang around like Whiskers does. We think they hang out at
another barn in the area. Two other Nasty-Cats hung out enough to earn real
names. One black female was named Claudia and one of the other male tiger
kittens was named Cutie-Pie (my daughter called him Cute-Stuff), however we have
not seen these cats in quite some time now. Like all of our barn cats, Whiskers
has his shots and is neutered, thanks to the wonderful house calls of my awesome
vet!" |
"One Eyed Hammy is a feral cat who
ended up at the Maguire Farm by mistake. A load of hay was being delivered.
When the van doors opened, out jumped Hammy, who was apparently hitching a
ride! He ran off as fast as he could. We thought, we'd never see him again.
However a few days later he was spotted on the barn roof. I took a picture
of him and when I zoomed in on the picture, not only did I realized he had a
cold, but he also only had one eye! His missing eye was completely gone of
out of the socket. One can only imagine how that happened. We also
realized he could not hear. There was nothing we could do about the missing
eye and the loss of hearing, but we could do something about the cold. We
started wrapping antibiotics in Velveeta cheese and tossing them to him. To
our delight, if we moved far enough away from him, he'd eat the cheese along
with the pill. One Eyed Hammy, as we now call him, would still not come near
us. He stayed very far away. However over time we were able to get closer
and closer. We even touched him once. He no longer runs when he sees us. He
sleeps in the barn with Little Lou, our best mouser cat. We still cannot get
close enough to really pet him, but he does not run when he sees us and
that's a huge leap. Maybe someday we'll be able to get close enough to give
him some good old kitty love. Perhaps someday..."
"Sylvester our can who has to be in the middle of everything we do. Kay was doing pay roll and he had to be right there."
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General Cat Info
Cat Breeds
Dogs with Cats
Amazing Cat
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