Table of Contents Introduction 10 essential questions before getting a cat Different types of breeds - Maine Coon - Siamese - Burmese - Persian - Ragdoll - British Shorthair - Birman - Bengal Choosing a Kitten and Where to find one Physical Characteristics/Biology Settling in with other animals or children Inside and outside cats, which is best? Essentials for the cat Grooming Feeding information First medical vaccinations Neutering your cat Cat pregnancy Kitten growing rate When going away what are the options Parasites Behavior – fun facts
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Introduction Cats are a very special domestic animal because unlike dogs they are more independent. It is as if kittens lead two lives, one where they are dependent on you for bonding time. Another where they are free from any obligations and can roam the wild on their own. Kittens are great fun but they come with many responsibilities to consider. As all animals, kittens need a stable and continuous pattern in their life meaning they need an owner who will always love them and take care of them for their whole lives. Kittens act as companions to elderly people and it has been proven that they are helpful when recovering from a physical or mental illness. They also teach children valuable lessons concerning loyalty, trust, bonding and responsibility. Before getting a kitten, you need to make sure that everyone of the family members agrees to it and you need to be prepared for the occasional claw marks, disobedience and expenses that a kitten comes with. You have to be very patient with a kitten because unlike dogs you cannot train them. They will play with anything that comes their way and they will scratch objects, which might damage them. When you adopt a kitten you will become their parent figure and although they will be independent at times they need you in the first couple of weeks of their adaptation to your home. This guidebook will help you decide if you are ready to take on the responsibility and fun of a kitten or not. If you are ready then this guide will tell you everything you need to know to raise an adorable and as well behaved as can be kitten.
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10 Essential Questions It is important to be able to answer yes to all of these questions honestly because if one of them is an inconvenience then you will have an issue. Cats live very long lives and they need to have a stable home so you cannot decide halfway through their life that cats aren’t the pets for you. You also need to remember that a cat does not always stay a kitten and that it will grow up to become a full grown cat. When certain owners realize the amount of responsibilities that they have gotten themselves into they give that cat away to a home or refuge bust sometimes the act is abandoned on its own. Do all your family members agree to adopt a cat or kitten? (They know what they are getting themselves into and they need to all be happy with it.) Are you prepared to pay all the expenses required to keep a cat healthy such as veterinary bills, grooming, toys and food? Can you handle scratch marks, cat hair and other disobedience that the kitten may display? Is your house suitable to the cat? (If it is an outdoors cat, does it have a garden or can it venture off safely.) Can you find a solution or house for your cat when you go on vacation or are absent for a couple of days? (You need to consider feeding, playtime outdoors and comfort) Are you comfortable with the idea that you cannot train a cat and that they need their
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independence from you? (You need to be able to accept the idea that a cat will be with you only when it wants to.) Are you prepared to spend most of your free time with your kitten? (You are home a lot and you are able to be attentive to the kitten. Cats can live up to 20 years old) Are you ready to do the unpleasant aspects of adopting a kitten? (You are ready to clean out the kitty litter on a regular basis and you are able to give medication to your cat when necessary.) Did you ask yourself if your new kitten would get along with your other animals or other children? (No one is allergic to cats and your animals are kind and gentle.) If you are renting a house, does your contract allow you to adopt kittens? (The owner of the house has a certain animal policy stating special conditions.) If you answered yes to all these questions then you are all set to adopt a kitten fully aware of the conditions. The rest of the guidebook will help you decide what kitten is best for you and what you need to do to keep your cat keep living a long and healthy life. As you can see from the picture kittens can find amusement in anything and they still look adorable.
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Different Types of Breeds
Maine Coons are known to be large and powerful cats. Unlike most people think, Maine coons have nothing to do with racoons except for the Coon in their name is descendent from raccoons because of their size.. They originally come from North America, in Maine. The Maine coon is a longhaired cat with a very large tail, which reminds us of raccoons. They do not have a very strong voice, which is to be expected. Their coat is heavy, thick and waterproof. The ears and paws are usually very tufted. Their fur is thicker around their neck giving them a special look. Their coat can be any color such as ginger, beige but it is most commonly grey. It is usually a very independent breed and enjoys being outdoors. They are very demanding and love attention. They are great with other animals and kids. They love to go outside to explore and hunt. They need constant care on their coat (brushing, combing)
Siamese cats are known as oriental cats and are originally from Thailand although they have been in Europe for 130 years. The Siamese, also known as the Royal cat of Siam are reputed for their grace, strong personality and beauty. Siamese usually age very slowly. All Siamese cats have intensely blue eyes, which make their white coat stand out. The “ points� (head, ears, tail paws and legs) of the Siamese are usually black or dark brown accentuating the white coat. They are very intelligent and curious animals. Their shorthair makes them look very slim and thin. They have wedge shaped heads, large pointed ears, long legs and pointed tails. This breed is known to be a bit dog like because they love to retrieve things. Also they are very attached to their owner and consistently want to play with them. They are playful, outgoing and even talkative because of their strong voice. They need a lot of exercise so they are ideal in a garden or venturing off in the wild.
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Burmese
The Burmese originated from Burma. The breed type that we now know was first found in North America after having crossbred with the Siamese. The Burmese are known for their glossy coats. In the pedigrees, they are almost as popular as the Siamese. They are shorthaired cats with a silky and shiny coat. Their back and paws are a bit darker then the rest of their body. They have a rounded head and their eyes are always a yellow gold or amber color showing their oriental side. It is medium sized and very sturdy. Its ears are very pointy and a very firm chin. They have a very wide range of coat colors such as brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. They are extremely active and just like the Siamese are very attached to their owner. They are also very comfortable with other cats. They hate being alone and because of their curiosity they enjoy being in a car unlike most cats.
Persian
The Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds. Longhaired cats are believed to descend from Persia and turkey. The cats believed to descend from Turkey all descend from on cat which is called the Angora, named after the Turkish city it was from. Persians have a very long, soft and thick coat meaning it requires a lot of grooming. Their coat can come in so many colors that some believe it is over 200 different coat kinds. A Persian’s eyes can be orange or blue. Persians sometimes are able to have one eye one color and the other eye another color. Persians are very big and strong. Their tail is very thick but rather short. They have small rounded ears and a very thick neck. Their head is rather round and large. These cats are ideal in an apartment because they rather sleep than exercise. They love to be groomed and t is essential to their wellbeing. They are very calm cats and do not like exercise.
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Ragdoll
There are many tales about ragdolls. The first is that the mother of the first litter of ragdolls was run over and therefore had “ floppy” kittens. It is also said that they cannot protect themselves because they are too docile but all are inaccurate. Ragdolls are a cross between a female Persian and a male Birman. This cat is rather big and has a very strong body. Its head is often refereed to as flat and it has very large “ fluffy” paws. They have a very long and big tail. Their eyes are always an intense blue, and are large and oval. They have a very silky coat and it is medium length. Their coat comes in various colors. Their face, paws, ears and tail are often darker then their coat. When they are kittens they are very active but when older they are very calm and like attention. They are great with kids. They get this name because when you hold them they let themselves go and are very easy to handle. They are great indoors.
British Shorthair
Hence the name, this type of cat is from England. The British Shorthair’s ancestors are Persians and domestic cats. This breed lives in average 15 years, which evens out to their teens. This breed is a very common show cat because they love performing and are successful. This cat is very large and has a strong and sturdy body. Its paws are very big. Its eyes are very large which is in proportion to its very round head and small ears. As its name indicates its coat is very short and dense. Its body in general gives off the impression to be very round. Its eyes usually match its coat and their coat can come in all the colors just like Persians They do not have an overall temperament because they adapt to mostly anything. They are great with kids, other animals and living indoors but they love to adventure anywhere in their environment. They like attention when they ask for it.
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Birman
Certain people believe that the Birman cat was kept as a sacred temple in Burma. Burma is where this breed originated from which is believed to have influenced his character. The Birman were recognized as a breed in 1966 in Britain and in 1967 this breed was recognized in the USA. The Birman has a very long body and like most felines its head is very round. This breed has very intense blue eyes. It has a very long and silky coat. Their coat is usually pale and their ends are darker especially their four paws. They have very varied coat colors such as seal blue, chocolate, lilac, cream etc. These cats have a very soft voice. These cats are average size and require very little grooming. Everyone knows the Birmans for their white glove like paws. They are very calm and love attention from humans. They are said to be like Persians and Siamese. They are non aggressive and they tend to be very quiet. They are great with kids and animals.
Bengal
This breed is domestic but their coat is exactly like the wild feline tigers in the wild. The first Bengals are a cross between domestic cats with small native spotted-cats giving us Asian leopard cats. Because ALC’s were found along the Bay of Bengal they were given the real scientific name of "Felis Bengalensis", abbreviated to Bengals. Their coats are either referred to as spotted or marbled but they are always very glossy and smooth. Their coat is very close to them and they are shorthairs. They have a very long skinny tail. They have long pointy ears and usually green eyes. Their head is not round but has more of a firm chin. Their colors are gold and black, it always looks shiny and they body structure is very small. Because of their wild ancestors this breed is extremely intelligent, alert and love to be mischievous. They need a lot of exercise so are better outside or else there will be a lot of accidents indoors.
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Choosing a Cat There are many factors to consider before adopting a cat such as whether or not it should be a pedigree or mongrel, a male or female, 1 or 2 kittens and what age you should adopt. The first important aspect to look at is to know whether or not to get a pedigree. Pedigrees are cats, which are pure, breed, both father and mother. Owning a pedigree cat will only make you happy because there is no major difference between breeds and non-breeds. Seeing as how cats don’t go out on walks or for trips breeds will not often be seen. Pedigrees are usually less demanding in grooming and expenses, especially the initial cost. You should ask yourself if you know that you like a particular cat or if you like all cats. Certain pedigrees are known for a certain characteristic, for example Siamese are known for their voice and Persians for their calm attitude. You then need to consider thinking about if you want a male or a female. There is not a great difference between a male and a female because they can both be sweet, calm, loyal and grouchy. The major difference between males and females is prominent when they are not neutered because during breeding season males are said to be more aggressive. Also, if you plan on having kittens then you should choose a female kitten. The next step you need to think about is the amount of kittens you are going to adopt. If you know that you are going to adopt 2 kittens it is better to adopt them at the same time. If you aren’t home a lot then you should adopt two kittens 10
because they will amuse themselves when you are gone or else if your cat is alone then he will claw curtains and do mischievous things. A kitten needs to stay with their mother till they are 2 months old but from then on you can adopt them at any age. It is smart to adopt them as a kitten so they adapt to you well and quickly.
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BIOLOGY OF CATS PAGE
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Other animals All kittens can create a great bond with children but you need to teach your kitten to behave when around children from the start. A kitten with a grown up cat! Place your new kitten in another room so that he can explore that room and he will meet the cat there will only be one excitement. Give the cat a treat so that it associates the kitten with something good. Rub the kitten and the cat with one of your sweatshirts so that they both know they are apart of the same family. Then let the grown cat go into the room where the kitten is and pet the cat for not reacting to the kitten. Try and leave them alone but keep a watch on them so that nothing goes wrong. A kitten and a dog! At first keep both animals separated from each other. Place the dog in a room where the kitten was so that he can smell their scent. Then let the kitten explore the rest of the house as well as the dog’s basket so that the kitten knows what to expect. Once the dog has calmed down take treats with you and introduce him to the kitten while always holding and focusing on the dog. If the dog ignores the kitten give it him a treat. If the kitten is scared stop and start again later. Keep an eye out for the dog! A kitten and a bunny! To get a bunny and a kitten to know each other demands a lot of patience. The first time keep the bunny in its enclosure. Even at the start get your kitten to understand that it is not a game to chase the bunny. Try the same sweatshirt trick as for another cat. If the kitten seems to ignore the bunny, take the bunny in your arms and show him to the kitten. Stay near them
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Inside Cats There are certain cats, which can have great lives indoors, and others that need to live outside to get the exercise. To both living styles there are advantages and disadvantages. For indoor kittens there are a couple of disadvantages such as toxic chemicals like paints, sprays, solvents and toxins for mice. Electrical cables are often a big problem because if a kitten finds them then they will love to play with theses and bite them, eventually leading to a heavy object such as a toaster falling on them. The stove, especially the electrical ones are dangerous because the kitten cannot see a flame. Household plants are dangerous because kittens love to eat them and many species are poisonous. Kittens know which plants are extremely harmful and avoid them. The ideal fix to this situation is to simply buy them a plant for cats, which looks like grass. Eating grass is a necessity for them so it is very smart to do this. Often shutting your kitten in cupboards, fridges and dressers happens. This is why before you leave your kitten home alone you need to make sure you know where he or she is so that they are not enclosed during the time you are gone. A small kitten can pick out, chew and swallow every small item that maybe you don’t even notice such as needles, elastic bands. All of these disadvantages do not out way the incredible advantages of having your kitten at home. A cat living indoors is always with you and will become extremely attached to humans and his or her owner especially. You always know where they are and that they are safe in your house. They can still have lots of exercise and great time. Some breeds are recommended to keep indoors.
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Outside Cats After having been vaccinated your cat still shouldn’t go outdoors until it is used to your house, which is around two weeks time. Outdoors, there are a lot of dangers and their consequences are greater than the ones indoors. The dangers outside cannot be controlled which scares most of the owners out of letting their cats completely free. The traffic on the roads means that if your cat starts crossing the streets it may get run over. If you live far away from any big roads then this risk will be reduced. The other big threats are other animals. Your cat may encounter a wild dog or another cat, which could lead to fighting especially if your cat is a male. Injuries from these fights could be fatal, cause diseases such as toxoplasmosis and worms from eating an infected prey. Your kitten could be trapped in someone else’s garage or outbuilding by accident. They could also be stranded on a tree and not know how to come back or on top of a roof. Overall for a cat to be outdoors or indoors there are disadvantages and advantages. A kitten living their whole life completely outside and free and can come home whenever they want to loving owners is great for most breeds but the dangers are bigger especially living next to roads. On the other hand a cat always living indoors and never going outside isn’t much fun either. This is why most owners keep their cat indoors but allows it to go outside, in their backyard, whenever they want. If the backyard is big enough, it is like living outside without all the dangers.
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The Essentials for your Cat Before your kitten comes home you should try and get everything ready before he arrives. This will allow your kitten to feel safe and know where everything is right away. Pet carrier: you are going to need this to bring your kitten home. Wire or plastic cages are easiest to clean and with a blanket to keep your kitten warm can be comfortable but there are many different types, which you can choose from. Litter tray: This is where your kitten will go to the toilet so put it somewhere on it’s own and quiet. There are closed litter boxes, which have an opening so that it doesn’t smell and your kitten is alone. Put a tray liner and a fine litter in the tray. You will need to clean this out every day with a scoop and maybe rubber gloves. Food and bowls: Have a certain area for your kitten to drink and eat. You will need two bowls, one filled with water and one with dry kitten food, which you can buy at the supermarket. It is a good idea to have a towel underneath the bowls incase of spills. Scratching post: your kitten needs to sharpen its claws every day and it is better if it has somewhere to do this, not being your sofa. There are many different kinds, with levels, toys, hiding places and more but the simple ones work too. Toys: Although many shops sell the cutest pet toys homemade toys work just as well. Kittens will find anything amusing, a piece of ribbon, a feather, string and hair ties. Warm bed: Find a quiet place, in a room such as your bedroom. You can buy a simple cat bed or use a wicker basket and put a warm blanket and sometimes a hot water bottle. You can put a toy in there as well to amuse your kitten when it wakes up. In addition: grooming tools, cat collar and identity tag and a cat flap if going outdoors.
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Grooming The type of coat does differentiate the amount of time you spend grooming your kitten but for any kitten you do need to groom its coat regularly. Kittens need to be used to being groomed from a very young age. For shorthaired cats you need to brush and comb them around once a week. Cats do keep themselves clean but to give their coat that silky and shiny look brushing them will do that. For shorthaired cats you can use a comb, which will also show you if your cat has fleas because you will be able to see black dots on the comb if they do. For longhaired cats, they too clean themselves, but you should brush them once a day because their coat is so long. If you put off brushing them then they will get a lot of knots, making it harder to keep their coat extremely silky. For this type of coat you need to use a metal comb simply to remove loose hairs. Use this comb very gently and don’t try to brush the whole coat with this, as it will hurt. You can then use a soft thick brush, which can be used under the belly and around the tail, which are areas, which often have knots. The tail area is very fragile so be very gentle. Most experts say that when grooming the cat it isn’t simply for the benefit of the cat’s coat but it’s also because it creates a bond between your cat and yourself. If cats can associate being pet with an object as something positive then it will make the cat less afraid of the veterinary’s office. Brushing is the biggest and most frequently done part of grooming but you can also brush cat’s teeth to keep them white and shiny. To do so, you can use any soft toothbrush (baby ones work best) and animal toothpaste, which you can buy at pet shops or veterinary offices. This is not required however if your cat has yellow teeth ask your vet. You should constantly remove black residue around the eyes very gently with a wet cue tip to keep your cat gorgeous.
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Feeding To have a fit and healthy cat live a long life you need to make sure that its feeding habits are sensible which is eating the right about of healthy food. Most prepared foods have all the essential vitamins and minerals that a cat needs to have a healthy and balanced diet. These foods have a manufacturer’s instructions and you should feed the kitten accordingly. When feeding the kitten, dried food you need to make sure there is a lot of water. For kittens there are special types of food and you should feed them multiple small feeds during the day (four to five). At six months you can change your kitten’s diet to a cat’s diet meaning the frequency of feeding is down to two daily but multiple feeds can continue throughout the day because cats rather snack. Never feed your kitten food straight from the refrigerator because it should be fed at room temperature. Never leave real meals such as pate down, if it isn’t fully cleared remove it and feed your cat less next time. Always wash the dishes in hot water with detergent, then rinse well and dry. Your cat should have its own dishes. Never try to forbid meat to your cat especially in dry food even if you are vegetarian. How much do I need to feed my kitten? It depends; some cats eat more than others. If your kitten is always leaving its food behind you are probably feeding them too much. On the other hand, if it is always asking for more, consider this carefully and then feed it more. Often, a measuring cup is given to you by your vet telling you how much to give daily and for what age. No matter how much you feed your kitten it needs constant water supply.
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First Medical Vaccinations Kittens, like humans, need many vaccinations during their life. At the beginning of their life, they have vaccines, which are called the initial vaccines and then along their life they have renewals, which are also known as booster vaccinations. They need to be vaccinated against: Feline Infectious Enteritis (Panleucopania) Feline Influenza (Cat Flu) Feline Chlamydia Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Rabies (obligatory if traveling)
Feline Infectious Enteritis (Panleucopania) is one of the most serious diseases, which spreads very quickly. It is most dangerous to kittens and during the summer. The symptoms are a very rapid rise in temperature, loss of appetite; the cat huddles near water without drinking, vomits occasionally and cries when picked up. Death can occur in 24 hours. Feline Leukemia virus can cause suppression of their immune system or tumors and occasionally fatal. It targets kittens Feline Influenza’s symptoms are the ones of flu in cats. Those are runny eyes and nose, sneezing, congestion of lungs. Occasionally symptoms are a blocked nose, loss of appetite because of painful ulcers in its mouth. You should keep them warm, quiet and you should call a vet. The symptoms of Feline Chlamydia are swelling of the eyes, discharge from the eyes, nose and mouth, loss of appetite and coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing. Some of the symptoms of rabies are yowling, excessive drooling, odd behavior, fever, irritability and vomiting. Your vet will be able to give you a table indicating when to get these vaccinations done and when to do the boosters for these vaccinations. It is important to do all the necessary vaccinations on time so that your cat can remain healthy and safe from any other catfights
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Neutering your Cat The RSPCA recommend neutering your cat unless they are pedigrees, which you would like breed. Some people find it unfair to neuter a cat but others believe that is something necessary to do when owning a cat. It is really up to you but before making your decision you need to think about the advantages and disadvantages of either choice. If you choose to neuter your cat, you can do so at 6 months in most countries because that is when most Scientifics believe the organs are fully-grown. In the United States a law has passed stating that you can neuter your cat at 3 months. You should ask your vet. Some people believe that neutering your cat it will affect its character and its weight. While others believe it is cruel to deny their instincts. It is safe to say that neutering your cat will not affect its weight or character. On the other hand too frequent mating will result in a tired and over worn female. As for the male, he will most likely be battle scarred and most likely wounded from fights over females. If this is not enough, remember that a female comes into season every two to three weeks for around eight months of the year. The chances of your female cat not getting pregnant without having been neutered are extremely slim. You will then have to take care of those kittens or try and find a home for them, which will become more and more difficult. “Many thousands of unwanted cats and kittens are destroyed each year, so it is obviously wiser to spay your female.� RSPCA Team.
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Cat Pregnancy Your kitten will not be able to have kittens of her own until 6 months. At six months your kitten will go into heat every 2-3 weeks for around 8 months of the year. When she is in heat, in means that she will go out and try to find a male cat to have kittens with. When she is in heat she is annoying, meows a lot, becomes unusually affectionate and she might spend excessive time licking her genital area. She will go outside a lot more than usual. Once she is pregnant you can tell because she is fatter and if careful enough you are able to feel the babies. She lays around more, she is calmer, eats more, hides in places, doesn’t play as much. Towards the end she might even start making a nesting area and starting to get comfortable. You need to be carful that you do not touch or hurt her belly because it can kill the kittens. You also need to make sure she has a quiet place to have her babies and that she knows where that quiet place is. During her pregnancy, there are no special vaccinations but you need to make sure that she has had all the necessary vaccinations to protect her against diseases which will also affect her kittens. During the last week of her pregnancy she spends most of her time in her nesting area. The night before she will want comfort from you and she will want to be pet and reassured, some females purr a lot. She will make you follow her around until she finds her nesting area. Her water will break and she will go into labor.
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Cat Pregnancy When giving birth, the mom licks the babies and bit off their cord and then she licks off the placenta, which the babies come out with. The baby kittens want to lie on top of each other because when they are in the belly they are close together. However this is not a good idea because then the umbilical cord wraps around them and sometimes causes damage to the kittens so you should try to separate them very gently. When the mother does not eat the kitten’s placenta that means she knows he is going to die. When the cat is giving birth you can not do much but you should try and help the mom clean the babies with a soft damp towel and cut the umbilical cod by tying a string around it and cutting the cord with rather blunt scissors. During the first couple of months, the mom takes care of her kittens by looking after them. She cleans them and makes sure they eat. She also feeds them. You have legal responsibilities after your cat has kittens, which are that all your cats, meaning your cat and its babies, need to be neutered because the law says that you can only have one litter per household unless you are a professional breeder.
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Kitten Growing rate A kitten goes through stages in their lives just like humans. It starts off as a newborn and is then considered old enough to be able to part from its mom. A newborn: A newborn kitten sleeps most of the day and night. When he is hungry he will drag itself to its mom for milk. One week old: The kitten is still blind, deaf and overall helpless. Now he is able to cry to his mom when he is hungry for milk Two weeks old: His eyes are now open and he can crawl around exploring everything. He still doesn’t have much control over its legs. Three weeks old: The kitten can now walk, and has its first teeth. He has started to try and explore his environment in which he is living. Four weeks old: The kitten can run and play with his brothers and sisters and enjoys playing. His mom has taught him how to wash himself and he is doing it on his own now. Nine weeks old: The kitten is now old enough to travel to his new home. He has learnt everything from his mom and can leave her.
At what age do they? Open their eyes: a week Stop drinking mom’s milk: Usually after one month Use the litter box: 3 weeks Go outside: 6 months
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When going on Vacation If you are only going away for one or two days then there are programmable food dispensers, which can feed your cat at the right time of the day, the right amount of times. For longer vacations you can bring your cat along, tell someone to come feed your cat, give your cat to a neighbor or a friends for the time your gone, or put your cat in a pension or refuge. Going on Vacation with your cat: Most cats dislike going somewhere else because they are only well adapted to their usual environment, which is your house. They hate long voyages by train, car, plane etc because they cannot drink, eat or go to the bathroom. This option is best if, when you leave, it is always to go to the same place, such as your secondary house or a family member’s house. This option is also ideal if your cat is extremely attached to you and does not deal wellbeing away from you. The cat stays at home: Most people find this the best solution because the advantages are great. It is good if the person coming to feed your cat also stays for a while and lies with your cat, plays with your cat so that it does not feel alone. However this person should be very familiar with your cat. Along the lines of this idea, the best way is to get this person to take your cat at their home so that your cat is constantly with someone. Having your cat stay in a refuge: This is a good idea because people are there to take care of your cat but you need to be careful about which one you choose. You need to make sure they are real animal lovers. The disadvantage is that it is rather expensive.
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Parasites Fleas: Fleas can come in even the cleanest and finest cats. If you find some you need to ask your vet about some anti-flea treatment. It is important not to use aerosol on a young kitten. When you find fleas it is important to deflea the bedding, carpets and corners because they will just keep coming back on the kitten if you do not deflea your whole house. If you think that vacuuming your house is not enough then ask your vet for an anti-flea spray for the floors and not the kitten. Worms: Cats can be infected with two types of worms, which are roundworms and tapeworms. The roundworm is round in cross section. They are 5-15cm long. It can be a particular problem for kittens that get these from their mom. This is why kittens should be treated against these at four weeks and then repeatedly until they are six months. The life cycle of the tape worm: An adult tapeworm sticks to an intestinal wall of a cat. Then segments of worm break off and are passed in faeces. Segments break open to release eggs, which are eaten by larvae of flea. Tapeworm develops within the flea. The cat then eats the flea when it’s grooming itself. Lice: lice may also affect Cats although they are more difficult to see but their white eggs, or nits show up well. Cats, which often lick and bite themselves, may be infested with lice and you should take them o the vet for an examination. The vet will be able to prescribe a good spray that will be needed to use for at least a month.
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Behavior Facts Why does a cat purr? A cat purrs because of the obvious reason, which is that a purring cat is a contented cat. In addition to this, a cat purrs when in great pain, in labor and when injured because they are reassuring themselves. A mood that fits all cases is that purring signals a friendly social mood, indicating the need for friendship r as a signal to an owner saying thank you for friendship given. Why is a cat called a cat? This is an ancient word and its source seems to be Arabic, because the oldest use of it was found in North Africa, where it is quttah. This is coherent with the idea that all domestic cats are descendent from the North African wild cat, Felix Lybica because of the domestication by the ancient Egyptians. Why do cats keep crying to be let out and then cry to be let in again? Cats absolutely hate doors because they find that they prevent them from exploring their second environment and being able to come back to their home whenever they please. They always want to go back outside because each time your cat rubs against a landmark or a tree it leaves a personal scent, which fades away after a while so they need to do it again. Why does a cat spend so much time grooming itself? There is more than one reason to this. There is the obvious one, which is that they want to stay clean but there is also the fact, that when licking its fur, it helps to sooth out their coat. By smoothing out their coat it gives them more warmth then a ruffled coat.
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Bibliography
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