Care of Cats

The Amazing Cat Species

2010-10-04T17:26:00.001-07:00

We all know that cats are loving and truly wonderful creatures. These days, it isn’t out of the ordinary to see a cat in virtually every other home, sleeping in the window or cuddling up on the laps of their owners. Although cats have been popular pets for as long as most can remember, they weren’t domesticated less than 5,000 years or so ago. Domestication took place in the valley of the Nile, which is what research tells us today.

In the beginning, people were very grateful to cats and encouraged them to stay with them by feeding them various scraps of food. Once they were fed and perceived humans to be no threat, the cats would move in permanently with their human owners. As time went by, even the wildest of cat would allows humans to approach him, often times even hold and touch as well.

In those days, cats were very loyal and endearing pets. They proved to be great hunters, as they done their sleeping in short periods and were much easier to wake up than dogs. Cats also have better night vision than dogs, and much better hearing as well. If someone moved through the house or if they heard suspicious noises, they would wake while dogs would sleep right through it. Humans loved having cats around, and they seemed to get along good with dogs as well.

These days, cats are used for both companionship and show. They aren’t used much at all for hunting mice and rodent anymore at all. There are a lot of breeds available, from the traditional alley cat to the well known Siamese. All breeds are unique in their own way, and will provide you with years of companionship if you take care of them.

Before you get a kitten or older cat, you’ll first want to examine the source. If you are getting the kitten from a breeder, you’ll want to make sure that the breeder has a reputable reputation. You’ll also want to ensure that the cattery is clean and in good shape. The kittens that are still there shouldn’t be overcrowded, and their surroundings should be clean. The litter boxes there should be kept up and both the food and water dish should be clean and full. The kittens shouldn’t be caged, instead free to run around. All cats that are there should appear healthy, with shiny coats and none of their ribs showing.

When you get your kitten, it should be used to being touched and handled. The kitten should be sweet, not afraid in the least. Kittens that have been handled young normally have a better temperament. The better breeders won’t allow their kittens to leave the nest until they are around 12 weeks old, with some waiting until the kittens are 16 weeks. By doing this, breeders ensure that the kitten is in good health and his immune system has properly developed.

There’s no mistaken the fact that cats are great to own. You can get a kitten from a reputable breeder, through a local newspaper, or an adoption agency. Cats can also be obtained from a local pound, although people normally don’t like to choose this option. No matter which way you decide to pursue, you should always make sure that your cat is healthy. If you get a healthy cat, you won’t have a lot of problems later on down the road. Healthy cats were taken care of – and normally have everything up to date – including their vaccinations.

Gary Fulgham

www.care-of-cats.com
www.jungletouchexotics.com
www.exotic-cats-and-hybrids.com

Curing Bad Cat Breath

2010-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Cat owners know for a fact that bad cat breath can be downright awful. It isn’t that much different from bad human breath, as both are caused by bacteria found in the mouth that breaks protein down and releases the sulfur compounds out into the air. Sulfur smells really bad on its own, which is why breath containing it smells bad as well. The bacterium that causes bad breath with cats is normally associated with a buildup of tartar around the teeth. Tartar is yellow in color, known as a coating of bacteria, food, and minerals.

To cure your cat from bad breath, you’ll need to remove the buildup of tartar. There are several cat foods out there that are designed to reduce the buildup of tartar, many containing enzymes that will literally dissolve it. You can also give your cat treats as well, as many of them will help eliminate and prevent tartar. If the buildup of tartar is bad, you may need to have your cat’s teeth professionally cleaned. Once the tartar has been removed, the bad breath will go away.

You may be able to clean the tartar off your cat’s teeth at home. There are several toothpastes available for pets, available in several different flavors. You’ll need to get a mechanical toothbrush, as the motion is very important for removing tartar buildup. Toothpastes that contain enzymes will dissolve tartar, helping to cure bad breath. If you start early with brushing your cat’s teeth, you can virtually eliminate any type of tartar buildup that will ultimately lead to bad breath.

Some bacteria that lead to tartar can be found in your cat’s diet. When you feed him, you should always make sure that the food he consumes doesn’t contain a lot of bacteria. If you shop healthy and feed him only healthy foods, it can help his bad breath a great deal. When you give your pet a treat, make sure that the treat is designed to help with tartar. After your cat has finished eating, you can brush his teeth or rinse his mouth out. This way, you’ll get the bacteria out of his mouth before it has time to build up on his teeth.

Sometimes, cats may have a bad odor in their mouth that doesn’t come from tartar or bad breath in general. In these rare cases, it can be either liver or kidney disease. If you notice bad breath and it isn’t tartar, you should take your cat to the vet. Even though it may be something to do with tartar, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your veterinarian can pinpoint the problem, let you know what the cause is – and how you should go about fixing it.

Gary Fulgham

www.care-of-cats.com
www.jungletouchexotics.com
www.exotic-cats-and-hybrids.com

Are cats really solitary animals? - Feral Cat Behavior

2010-02-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

Cats have always been known as solitary animals. They never hunt with other cats or share one little morsel of their catch with another feline. There are of course those times that some cats will get together with cats from aadjoining territories for a bit of grooming each other, but for the most part they are not very social when out and about with others of their kind. As in everthing cat, this also does not always hold true.

An exception to the solitary life are barn cats. They can live in a family setting normally decended from only one or two females. They will patrol their territory policing the area of rats and mice and will chase away and unwanted feline that may enter their domain. This behavior doesn't always match the solitary hunter of common wisdom.

Ferals can be pretty efficient at feeding themselves as barn cats. The real issuses for their survival come into play in the terms of disease or injuries. Both can be a death sentence to a cat. I have watched ferals in the past looking down trodden and scraggly, heal themselves up by eating graass and certains kinds of plants. I truely believe that they learn what plants will make them feel better.

Some of the most intriguing behavior I have observed in regards family members who were injured was a very handsome and friendly boy, who had the unfortunate talent for getting into trouble. One day he came heavily limping into the barn wailing at the top of his lungs. I watched his mother and sisters run to him as quick as they could. While he continued to cry, I watched his mother begin washing his face and ears while his sister layed down over top of him. They stayed that way for some time while I called the vet. He was quickly caught and I am happy to report that he recovered just fine with only a hitch in his giddyup to remember his adventure by.

Another male, a black and cream tomcat just under a year old, got into a fight with his eldest brother. During the fight his foot was injured and began to swell. The next morning, I found him limping along on three legs. I lured him onto our porch and closed him in, where I could keep a close eye on him and he could recover without further injuring his foot. While he was recuperating, various members of the family perched outside the porch windows, keeping him company.

These are just a few examples I've seen when studying barn cats. Maybe these are unusual, but I have certainly never observed cats act this way before. Or maybe, just maybe, cats aren't such social isolates as everyone's always thought!

Gary Fulgham

www.care-of-cats.com
www.jungletouchexotics.com
www.exotic-cats-and-hybrids.com