Feline Cat Health Links

• Home

Cat Allergy and Siberian Cats

February 26th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

More than ten percent of the population of living in United States has encountered a dog or cat allergy during their life, cats surpassing dogs in this. Unfortunately, many of these people love cats, or have children or life partners who do, so they sniffle and sneeze their way through the days, wishing someone would invent a hypoallergenic cat.

When people speak of being allergic to cats, they often believe they are allergic to cat fur. In fact, the allergy is caused by a protein secreted by the cat’s skin and salivary glands. When the cat licks itself (and we all know cats are indefatigable groomers) the saliva/protein mixture dries into a powder like substance that coats the cat’s living space.

From many years, desperate pet lovers experimented with many breeds of feline to find out a hypoallergenic variety.

Short Haired Cats

Since the problem is with the cat’s skin, and not with it’s fur, getting a short-haired cat doesn’t help curtail allergies.

Siberian Cats

Some people whose allergies are usually triggered by cats find that they can own Siberian cats with no reaction. The phenomena has lead to a common belief that Siberians cats are hypoallergenic in nature. Scientist arguably present that the Sieberian breed of cats secretes considerably less amount of allergy causing protein. The unadulterated breed of Siberian cost more than $500.

Rex Cats

Devon Rex and Cornish Rex cats both have both been billed as hypoallergenic cats by some fans. They have very light coats of fur. Because they still secrete the protein that causes allergies, however, most cat allergy sufferers will continue to experience allergy symptoms around them. Rex cats are usually sold for $500 to $700.

Hairless Cats

Some people are so frustrated by their allergies, they decide to get hairless cats, thinking they can’t possibly be allergic to a pet without hair. Sphinx cats cost between $900 and $1200, which makes it doubly disappointing when they trigger allergy symptoms. Hairless or not, Sphinxes produce enough allergens on their skin to cause a reaction in many allergic cat lovers.

Gender/Color

Studies have shown that female cats produce fewer allergens than do male cats, and that light-colored cats produce fewer allergens than do dark-colored cats. While this finding is scientifically, however, it doesn’t make much practical difference to the allergy sufferer.

ALLERCA Hypoallergenic cat

In 2004, a company named ALLECRA claimed to have bred a genuine hypoallergenic cat–one that would not produce allergens. ALLECRA claims that their specialty cats are sweet, friendly, free of genetic defects, and long-lived (although of course it’s too soon to tell about the latter claim). Scientific studies so far have shown that in ALLECRA cats the amount of protein that causes allergies is so small as to be undetectable. The price tag for this perfect pet? $3,950.

It is economical to continue on Kleenex.

Facts About Tabby Cat

February 25th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

When shopping for the perfect addition to your family, you need to consider your options.  Cats are by far the most interesting little creatures, and finding one that makes your heart swoon is almost as fun at giving your furry little friend his first taste of cat nip.  A tabby cat is a popular option for cat lovers everywhere, and there are rich facts and interesting distinctions surrounding this little animal.

What Is A Tabby cat?

A tabby cat is not a breed of cat, which many would assume.  It is, in fact, a color pattern.  There are so many different versions of a tabby cat, in all different breeds. Grey tabby cats, silver tabbies, even spotted ones.  It is still debated as to whether of not some form of this tabby pattern is genetic or even inheritable at all.  Scientists say that the pattern of a tabby cat is not related to the color at all, therefore the tabby pattern is a wide variety.  The only color cat that doesn’t come in a tabby pattern is a white cat.  Even a black cat can show a faint tabby pattern.

A spotted tabby may not be a true tabby cat, but they are still classified as such.  Apparently, there is a modifier that breaks up the stripes of a Tabby making it appear spotted.  Interestingly enough, all of these different variations can be found in a wide variety of breeds, making the tabby cat a more interesting choice when compared to other types of cat.

Legend Has It

Some breeds of tabby have a distinguishable “M” on their foreheads.  There are several legends behind this “birthmark,” and most are religious based.According to myths Mary gave the “M” to the tabby cat in return to its services to baby Jesus , the other fraction claim that it was Mohammed that marked the tabby cat with “M “ after it warned him of an upcoming danger.  
But sadly, the reality is that Mary spoke Aramaic and Mohammed spoke Arabic, so neither of them would have used the letter “M” to distinguish their names.  But the legend lives on, and is a fun story to share, giving your special pet a mystical purpose. 

This tidbit of information makes a tabby cat seem like the logical choice when shopping for your new pet.  With its rich historical legends, and interesting genetic makeup, these cats are a step above the rest in terms of variety and quality.

The Joy of Keeping A Kitty Cat

February 24th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Have you been thinking of having a pet but isn’t really sure whether you will get a dog or a kitty cat? Both dogs and cats would make very good pets but if you are one of those people who do not really have much time to go out for walks with your dogs, you might as well get a kitty cat instead of a dog. Note that dogs would need a lot more attention and care than a cat so if you do not have much time to spare, you better not get a dog.

Preparing For Your Kitty cat

The good news about cats is that they are very independent and would not really take as much care a dog. However, that does not mean that you will prepare certain things before you bring your little kitty cat home. So you better get things organized before you go to the pet shop and get you cat.

 First, you will need to find your kitty cat a bed. A wicker basket bed would do very nicely for your cat. Get one of those really nice wicket basket beds and put some cotton or wool blankets on it. Kitty cats love something that is soft and warm so the cotton or wool blanket would do nicely. Besides, cotton or wool blankets are easily to clean or replace so you would really have much of a problem there.

Aside from the bed, you should get your kitty cat a food dish and a water dish. It would be good idea to get a food dish and water dish that are made of steel instead of plastic because your cat might play with the dish. Plastic dish could easy get scratched or damaged so better get a steel dish instead.

In order to groom your kitty cat, first it is advisable that you collect, hair brush, eye ointment, nail clipper and mild shampoo. Actually, most cats hate the water and they would usually not welcome it if you give them a bath so it would be a good idea to big it a bath occasionally only. However, you will need to wipe its face clean regularly using a wet wash clothe and water. It is also beneficial to employ mineral oil to clean the eyelids of your pet kitty, however refrain from directly adding anything in the eyes as it might cause irritation to your cat. Also, you should regularly cut the nails of your kitty cat if you do not want it to start scratching your furniture.

Funny Cats The Most Curious Ones

February 24th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Ever since the invention of the video camera, people have been recording their pets. Funny cats, in particular, are very fun to watch as they are some of the most curious animals on the planet and will get into just about anything to investigate. If you’ve ever been putting groceries away and had your cat crawl into a paper bag only to freak out when it couldn’t find its way out, you know exactly what a funny video that would make. Many people submit their funny cat videos to certain shows that showcase funny pet videos where people can win prizes. In case, you are a proud owner of a funny cat and your pet is always entertaining your entire family through its fun acts then you should probably be always ready with a video camera in order to claim your funny cat video award.

Camera Phones

Many cell phones nowadays come complete with video technology. This implies that every time your favorite funny cat gets into action, you can use your phone to record the action. Whether your cat is playing with the hamster cage or its watching the fish or maybe your funny cat is intently watching the television, these are the things that make hilarious videos. You usually have your phone on you so, if you have video capabilities, you should be able to catch anything your funny cat does as soon as you see it start to happen.

Love Your cat

Just because you have a funny cat doesn’t mean that you should put it in harms way just to get a video that could possibly win you a prize. If your cat is about to do something that could harm it in any way, use your better judgment, put the camera down and get your cat out of the situation immediately. If, for instance, your cat is inching for a hot open oven door, don’t video tape it to see the cat jump, no matter how funny you think it might be. It may harm your cat and video taping the incident is just as bad as abusing your animal. Be smart and only catch innocent things your funny cat may do.

Once you have that prized video in hand, send it off and pray that your funny cat brings you fortune and fame. If nothing else, at least it brought a few laughs, which is as good a prize as any.

Appearance Of The Domestic Short Hair Cats

February 22nd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

While not officially considered a breed by the cat associations, the domestic short hair cat is the most common breed found in individual’s homes in the United States. The domestic short hair cat is often considered an ordinary everyday cat that is not bred for show but rather just for house cat purposes. Despite this, ninety-five percent of all cats in North America are domestic short hair cats.

History Of The Domestic Short Hair cat

Today’s domestic short hairs are descendants of working cats that were brought to America on ships from England for keeping down the rat population. Cats that have no clear defined parentage are considered domestic short hairs.

Appearance Of The Domestic Short Hairs

The domestic short hair cat is perhaps best known for their diversity. They have a variety of colors, personalities and styles. This is possibly, what makes them so adored as house cats. It is noted that there are more than eighty different color patters of domestic short hair cat.

It is well known that domestic short hairs can be either calicos, tabbies or color cats. Although perhaps the most popular domestic short hair cat is the black and white tuxedo cat. The looks of a domestic short hair cat generally depends on the your geographical location and other breeds found in the vicinity.

If you live in a colder location then you are likely to get a domestic short hair cat that has a stocky build with a dense coat. Cats that come from regions with warmer temperatures will often be thinner with lighter coats.

Domestic Short Hair Personality

The temperament of the domestic short hair cat is about as diverse as their coat colors. When you get a domestic short hair kitten, it is often very difficult to determine what their personality will be like as an adult. As adults they may turn either quiet or vocal type. They may hide under the bed most of the day or they may be tripping you up trying to get attention as you make your way around the house.

Purebred cats usually have a distinct personality and pattern, however domestic short hair cats have not been specifically bred hence it is difficult to judge its personality. Since domestic short hairs are randomly bred, you never know what you will get. No matter what domestic short hair you get however, they are usually friendly and social.

Taking Care Of Your Domestic Short Hair cat

Most of the time domestic short hairs require little grooming, but it can vary depending on the length and texture of the individual cats coat. However, grooming is very important in all cats to help remove dead hair to prevent hairballs. It can also help the skin, muscles and blood circulation through the stimulation that is caused when grooming a cat.

How To Prevent Your Cat From Getting Overweight

February 21st, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Have you been feeding your cat, a cat that has ballooned into a considerable size? You might think that a fat cat is cute but the sad truth is, a fat cat may not be healthy. If the cat you have is over weighted by 19% than the ideal weight of its breed, then your cat high risk of becoming a fat cat.  According to many studies, a fat cat has shorter life span than a cat, which is just within the ideal weight bracket.

Cats are just like human beings, when they get too fat, they become at risk of some diseases that are associated with obesity. Studies show that a fat cat is at risk of contracting diabetes mellitus. Lower urinary tract disease, joint stress and aggravation of osteopathritis, non-allergic skin disease, and hepatic lipidosis or the deposit of fat in the liver. These types of disease could prove to be fatal for your pet so make sure that you do not over feed your cat and turn into some kind of a puffed up cat. 

Aside from the diseases mentioned above, a fat cat is at risk of many complications. According to experts, if your cat is fat, it may have some breathing problems that could lead to some fatal conditions. It is worthwhile to note that an obese cat lacks stamina and is unable bear long exercise routine. If a fat cat is suddenly exposed to rigorous exercise, it could become out of breath and might suffer from some complications.Additionally, an obese cat might suffer complications when giving birth to kitten. It was observed that many obese cats die just after giving birth due to complications.

What To Do To Keep Your cat From Becoming Overweight

The first thing that you should to keep your cat from getting really fat is to make sure that it is eating the right types of food and that you are not overfeeding your cat for that matter. A fat cat do not just happen overnight so there is a big possibility that you can control the weight of your cat be choosing the right food that it will eat. If you notice that your cat is gaining too much weight with the type of food that you are giving it at the moment, you should consult the vet and ask him or her to help you find other types of food that will not make your cat fat.

Next Page »

Copyright © 2009 Feline Cat Health Links

Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund