Articles tagged: humane society
<< previous page 1 next page>> written by Pamela Ravenwood If you own a kennel or manage an animal shelter you know how loud it can get inside. This is not only a nuisance for the occupants such as the employees, but it also can be a nuisance for those who may live within earshot of you. written by chan chan Kittens are among the most charming of all young animals. Cuddly, playful and enchanting to watch - few people can resist them. written by chan chan Kittens are among the most charming of all young animals. Cuddly, playful and enchanting to watch - few people can resist them. written by chan chan What should you look for in a cat? Of the thousands available for adoption, how will you select one from among the fabulous feline faces? Before you start looking, think about the characteristics you like in a cat. written by chan chan The vast majority of new kitten owners do want their kitten spayed or neutered to prevent the kitten from becoming sexually active. The average age at which we spay or neuter a kitten is six months, when they go through puberty and their sex hormones become active. written by chan chan By their very nature, cats are free-ranging animals. Mature males especially, are wanderers. Before the concept of selective breeding about 150 years ago, this wanderlust in domestic cats provided plenty of opportunity for the intermingling of genes. If there were teo distinct races of cat in any region, they blended over a period of time, so we cannot be sure of the origin of many of our modern domestic breeds.
Nevertheless, studies of the skeletal structure, body type and hair length of modern breeds enable us to make an informed guess. The spread of pedigree cats - and also the development of new breeds or colour varieties - continues throughout the world. There are now dozens of different breeds and hundreds of different colour varieties.
The heavier, more thickset body type, found in British Shorthairs and Persians, shows the influence of the European wild cat. The foreign and Oriental breeds retain the lithe body of the African wild cat. By the late 19th century, exports and imports of pedigree cats were starting in earnest, and by the end of that century the Siamese, Russian Blue and Abyssinian had already reached Britain.
There are no evidence for the claim that some domestic breeds (such as the Angora, Chinese cat and Siamese) have an Asiatic origin and may be descended from Pallas's cat or its close relatives, because the skulls of these cats show no similarity to the Asiatic species.
It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the idea of selective breeding and recording of pedigree cats took hold in Britain and Europe. Some breeders started their breeding programmes using ordinary shorthaired 'moggies', selecting them for their body shape and coat colour. From these humble ancestors, over the years and through selective breeding, today's British and European Shorthair breeds were created.
In America the foundation stock for short-hairs also came from local cats, but these were the descendants of the cats taken over by the early settlers 200 years earlier, and they had developed quite distinctive characteristics of their own. These are now reflected in the American Shorthair. During early days of cat breeding 'there were already longhaired domestic cats, but the main development of the pedigree longhair breeds came initially from the Angora cat, which had originated in Turkey, and later from other longhair breeds imported from Persia and Afghanistan. Both the latter types wuickly became known as Persians. Their popularity grew at the expense of the Angora, which almost disappeared from teh breeding scene. written by chan chan Recently, in United States experienced a spate of pet deaths caused by kidney failure, most likely brought about in turn by a wide range of well-known commercial pet foods using ingredients from China that were later discovered to be tainted with toxins. written by chan chan Your cat's health depends on regualr, well-balanced meals. Adult cats should be fed twixe a day and will almost certainly remind you when it's mealtime! Growing kittens need several smaller meals a day, to suit their smaller stomachs.
If your cat is a longhair, remember to groom it daily. Shorthairs need brushing only once or twice a week to remove dead hairs. Grooming-time is also when you will spot any injuries, early signs of illness, or fleas. Best of all, it helps you to bond with your cat, which will enjoy the attention. written by chan chan our cat may be a member of your family for as long as 20 years, so it makes sense to choose carefully << previous page 1 next page>> |