Rules Of How To Pet Your Cat

17 x Cat Facts

How to Prevent a Finicky Cat

When your cat is a kitten, it might be a good idea to feed her different kind of foods so your kitty will experience different textures and flavors of food. Just as people typically stick with the toothpaste they start with as youngsters, cats who are only exposed to one type of food will be less likely try other brands and kinds. That might be a real problem if the brand of food you always give goes off the market, or your cat needs to eat a special food for health reasons. So mix it up on your kitten!

Resource
abcnews.go.com

Picture by blog.bouldersnaturalanimal.com

Thank you, Jimmie!

Cat Facts

Aha, I found more cat facts on the internet!

• Every year, nearly four million cats are eaten in Asia.
• On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life.
• When a cat chases its prey, it keeps its head level. Dogs and humans bob their heads up and down.
• The technical term for a cat’s hairball is a “bezoar”.
• Female cats tend to be right pawed, while male cats are more often left pawed. Interestingly, while 90% of humans are right handed, the remaining 10% of lefties also tend to be male.
• A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the same way. To get down from a tree, a cat must back down
• During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Pope Innocent VIII condemned cats as evil and thousands of cats were burned. Unfortunately, the widespread killing of cats led to an explosion of the rat population, which exacerbated the effects of the Black Death.
• According to Hebrew legend, Noah prayed to God for help protecting all the food he stored on the ark from being eaten by rats. In reply, God made the lion sneeze, and a cat popped out.Mohammed loved cats and reportedly his favorite cat, Muezza, was a tabby. Legend says that tabby cats have an “M” for Mohammed on top of their heads because Mohammad would often rest his hand on the cat’s head.
• The most popular pedigreed cat is the Persian cat, followed by the Main Coon cat and the Siamese cat.
• Some Siamese cats appear cross-eyed because the nerves from the left side of the brain go to mostly the right eye and the nerves from the right side of the brain go mostly to the left eye. This causes some double vision, which the cat tries to correct by “crossing” its eyes.
• Researchers believe the word “tabby” comes from Attabiyah, a neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq. Tabbies got their name because their striped coats resembled the famous wavy patterns in the silk produced in this city.
• In the original Italian version of Cinderella, the benevolent fairy godmother figure was a cat.
• The world’s rarest coffee, Kopi Luwak, comes from Indonesia where a wildcat known as the luwak lives. The cat eats coffee berries and the coffee beans inside pass through the stomach. The beans are harvested from the cat’s dung heaps and then cleaned and roasted. Kopi Luwak sells for about $500 for a 450 g (1 lb) bag.
• In Japan, cats are thought to have the power to turn into super spirits when they die.
• The claws on the cat’s back paws aren’t as sharp as the claws on the front paws because the claws in the back don’t retract and, consequently, become worn.

Resource
Randomhistory.com

Which Vegetables To Feed and Not To Feed?

This post is based on my earlier post from Yesterday. Can Cats Be Vegetarians?

Also read Poisonous Human Food and Additived To Avoid In Cat Food And Supplements.

If you want to mix vegetables with a raw meat diet, use a total of two tablespoons (28 gr) of vegetables per pound of meat. And watch carefully for digestive upset, in which case you can safely omit any of these vegetables. Some cats with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) not only have problems with grains, but also with some vegetables. To avoid this problem, introduce only one vegetable at a time in the diet, and in small amounts.

Finely chop all vegetables to break down the cell walls, because cats typically eat predigested vegetables that are in a prey’s stomach. If you leave the vegetables in large pieces, your cat will probably won’t digest them, and you’ll see bits of vegetables in the litterbox. You can also use a meat grinder or a mixer with the vegetables.

Which Vegetables To Feed?

Carrots – Contains Beta-carotene but high in sugar and carbohydrates.
Pumpkins – Have a low glycemic load, despite being high on glycemic index. It’s also high in fiber, which helps with constipation. It tastes good to cats, especially canned pumpkin. And it has high beta-carotene.
Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index and are high in fiber and beta-carotene.
Winter Squash / Acorn – High in moisture and fiber, both of which help with constipation. Steam to soften the skin and beak down cell walls.
Summer Squash / Zucchini – High moisture content and mild taste.
Celery – Celery has mild diuretic properties, benefits the liver, stimulates appetite and helps relieve digestive upset.
Parsnips – Is high in potassium and fiber.
Peas / Green beans – Both have mild smell and taste, and both contain soluble ánd insoluble fiber. Both must be cooked to cut phytic acid, maximizing mineral absorption.
Mushrooms – All mushrooms are high in fiber. Cooking increases fiber levels and prebiotic amounts.
Portabella – High in oligosaccharides, which help feed gut bacteria, and beta-glucans, which boosts immune system and have antitumor properties.
Maitake / Shiitake – High in beta-glucans.
White Buttons – High in fructo-oligosaccharides, a prebiotic.
Greens / Dandelion Greens / Collard Greens / Kale / Swiss Chard – All contains fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamin k. Dandelion greens has kidney-protective benefits.
Grasses / Wheat / Rye / Oat / Barley – High in vitamin A, B, C, E and K. As well as trace minerals. Also high in chlorophyll and anti-oxidants.

Vegetables To Avoid

Onions – Onions can cause Heinz Body Anemia, a type of damage to red blood cells.
Shallots / Leeks – Related to onions, with the same effect.
Garlic – Same as with the onions.
Vegetables in the nightshade family (white, red or yukon gold potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants) – Solanine can cause digestive problems.
Iceberg Lettuce – Has very little nutritional value. Instead, you can use fresh wheat grass on the side or mixed food.
Raw alfalfa / red clover – Contains coumarin, an anticoagulant.
Radish – Are very difficult to digest, causes gas and bloating.

fructo-oligosaccharides – Wikipedia
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also sometimes called oligofructose or oligofructan, are oligosaccharide fructans, used as an alternative sweetener.

Beta-carotene – Wikipedia

Glycemic Index – Wikipedia
The glycemic index, glycaemic index, or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates in food on blood sugar levels.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Wikipedia
In medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine.

Phytic acid – Wikipedia
Is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially bran and seeds.

Beta-glucans – Wikipedia

Chlorophyll - Wikipedia
Chlorophyll (also chlorophyl) is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.

Remember, cats should not eat vegetables only, cats are carnivores and they can’t survive without meat.
If want to know why, read Can Cats Be Vegetarians?

Resources

Wikipedia.com
Whole Health For Happy Cats by Sandy Arora.
Cats.about.Com

Sunbathing Hazards – The Dangerous Sun

Some of you know, or don’t know. But the sun can be dangerous, for humans and for pets. Especially for white cats, or cats who have white ears.

Hiro enjoying the sun.

White cats, and cats with almost to no fur, are sensitive to the sun. And if they stay in the sun too long they might get sunburnt, skin cancer and other skin conditions. The ears and nose don’t have a lot of hair covering the skin, and the skin there is very thin.  That’s why cats — especially white cats — have a greater chance of getting skin cancer on their ears and/or nose if they lay in the sun for too long. It’s also the reason why white cats, and cats with pale ears and/or noses, need extra protection during the days when the sun is very strong. (Other places that might need extra protection from the sun are pale or pink eyes and feet).

Shade
It is a good idea to provide shade for your cat during the hottest time of the day to prevent heatstroke. When your cat doesn’t want to stay in the shade, you can try to keep her in the house for a few hours during the hottest time of the day (between 11 am and 3 pm). If you are unable to keep an eye on your cat, make sure she has access to a shaded area when you are away from home.

It is also good to know that sunbathing inside, behind glass, reduces sunburns. Unfortunately, the rays that increase the risk of skin cancer are still able to penetrate glass. So even when your cat is sunbathing inside, you need to provide shade and make sure she doesn’t stay in the sun for too long.

Sunblock
Sunblock is no longer for humans only. It’s a good idea to apply sunblock on areas that are sun-sensitive, such as the ears, nose and places that don’t have much hair.

But sunblock isn’t entirely safe for your cat. Cats might lick off the lotion, spray, cream or whatever form the sunblock is in, which can be toxic for your little friend. So it’s a good idea to consult your vet about what kind of human sunblock you can use.

Tip

• If you see a wound on your cat and you don’t know what it is from, never hesitate to ask your vet to take a look at it. Because when caught on time, skin cancer can often be removed without trouble.
• Always provide fresh water.
• Let the lotion/sunblock soak in before licking can occur.
• Avoid products with Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate (common sunscreen ingredients). Products containing Titanium Dioxide as an active ingredient are OK to use on ear tips and noses.

You can also read this post at the Anipal Times.

10 Minutes & Talking.

Give your cat at least 10 minutes of physical attention every day.
Stroke and scratch your cat for at least ten minutes a day. It will sooth both you and your cat.
Did you know that recent evidence shows that contact with cats may reduce your risk of heart attack by as much as 30%.

Talk to your cat every day.
Have you ever wondered why cats come to visit people when they’re on the phone? It’s been speculated that your cat thinks you’re talking to her when you’re on the phone. In a soft, high voice, talk to your cat every day. You’ll both like it.

Resource
cat-lovers-only.com

Why Do cats Approach People Who Don’t Like Cats?

I’m sorry if there are any mistakes with the text. I am trying to get used to my new tablet.
Hence the short post. It’s also the reason therevis no picture. Buuuh…

So, why do cats approach people who don’t like cats?
When one cat is threatening another, it stares boldly, sometimes hisses, and frequently moves in toward the other cat.  Usually, the person whsdo doesn’t like cats avoids looking at it, doesn’t talk to it, and sits quietly, hoping to be ignored by the cat.  The cat, therefore, sees the person’s behavior as “cat-friendly” and practically inviting.

Usually, the person – your visitor – who doesn’t like cats, won’t be doing this. Instead he’ll sit quitly, without looking or talking to the cat, hoping to be ignored by the cat. The cat, therefore, sees the person’s behavior as “cat-friendly” and practically inviting.

Cat Facts

• A female cat named Mincho in Argentina, went up a tree and didn’t come down again until she died six years later. While treed, she managed to have three litters.
• The richest cat in the Guinness Book of World Records is a pair of cats who inherited $415,000 in the early ’60s. The richest single cat is a white alley cat who inherited $250,000.

• The tiniest cat on record was Tinker Toy from Illinois. A male Himalayan-Persian, he weighed 1 pound, 8 ounces fully grown and was 7.25″ long and 2.75″ tall.
• Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run.
• Cats lose almost as much fluid in the saliva while grooming themselves as they do through urination.
• All cats need taurine in their diet to avoid blindness.

Aaah! I’m out of cat facts for now!

Cat Facts

Wednesday, Cat facts day!

• 

  This cat has an extra toe on her front paws.

  There are two cats commonly listed at the longest living. The first is Puss, who was born in 1903 and passed away on 29th November, 1939. The second is Granpa who lived to the ripe old age of 34. was a Sphyx adopted from the Humane Society in Texas.

• A falling cat will always right itself in a precise order. First the head will rotate, then the spine will twist and the rear legs will align, then the cat will arch its back to lessen the impact of the landing.
• The Maine Coon cat is America’s only “natural” breed of domestic feline. It is four times larger than the Singapura (the smallest breed of cat).
• Cats paw (repeatedly treading on a spot – often it’s owner) to mark their territory.
• Older cats can at times act aggressively towards kittens.
• The life expectancy of cats has nearly doubled over the last fifty years.
• Most cats in Halifax (Nova Scotia) have six toes.
• Cats have flexible bodies and teeth adapted for hunting small animals such as mice and rats.
• Cats must have fat in their diet, because they can’t produce it on their own.
• Cats eat grass to aid their digestion and to help them get rid of any fur in their stomachs.