Cat Info Center

An In Depth Look At Siamese Cats

The exotic and somewhat mysterious Siamese cat hails from the country of Thailand.  They had always been a popular breed of cats, some even residing in royal palaces.  Siamese cats, in the past, were trusted to protect royal palaces and monasteries from evil spirits.  These cats were also thought of as bringing good fortune to their owners as well.

During the year of 1884, the very first Siamese cats began to make their way to England, when they were given as gifts to a British general.  After that, they eventually made their way over to America.  Now days, Siamese cats are one of the most recognized of the breed.  Siamese cats are without a doubt the most popular short haired cat and among the top 3 in the entire breed of cats.

Even though there are several different colors to this breed, some questions what makes a cat a true Siamese cat.  These cats have always been known for their bodies which are lighter in color, with darker areas throughout.  The more darker areas found on their bodies are normally around the feet, tail, legs, or face.  They can weight anywhere between 6 - 16 lbs, with bright eyes that are normally slanted - which is another clue that the cat is a true Siamese.

Traditionally, Siamese cats are robust, with round heads and a truly muscular build.  They are well known throughout the world for their color points and unique personalities.  Unlike other breeds, Siamese breeds have a talent for communicating with people.  If you are looking for a cat that is nice and quiet, you wouldn’t want a Siamese cat.  These cats love to play, love to make noise, and they also happen to be the most social breed of cats out there.

Siamese cats demand a lot of attention, because in their minds, they believe that the world revolves around them.  For this very reason, they can tend be quite dependant on their owners.  They love to play, and crave interaction.  If you leave them alone for too long, they won’t like it.  They like to get attention, love to play, and hate to be left by themselves.

Even though Siamese cats are emotionally high maintenance, they don’t need a lot of maintenance They need a minimum amount of grooming, which involves bathing every once in a while, and brushing maybe once or twice a month.  If you like cats with minimal maintenance, Siamese cats are perfect.  Their hair is short to their skin, so a gentle brushing is all you need.  They can get sick however, which is to be expected with any breed of cat.

Siamese cats have a life span that is similar to other breeds, which is normally around 15 - 20 years, sometimes even longer. As long as you feed him on a daily basis and take him to the vet for his regular checkups and shots, he will be around for years and years to come.  Most people who have their Siamese cat for over 10 years, find the cat to be more like a child than a pet.

No matter how you look at it, a Siamese cat is a great pet.  Although the Siamese breed does require a lot of attention, they are excellent pets that you can spend a lot of time with.  They are great for kids as well, simply because kids can spend a lot of time with them.  As long as you give your pet the attention he craves - he will be your life long friend for as long as you have him.

Domestic Cat Breeds

Have you always wanted a cat, but heard some breeds make better pets than others? Maybe you have always wanted a cat, but do not know anything about them? There are plenty of ways to learn about cats and what breeds fit your personality. The choice can come from having an indoor, outdoor or indoor and outdoor cat. The tough and smart survive in the out of doors. Small cats are often pray for birds and other wildlife and should be kept indoors. Tomcats, a mixed breed, are great at surviving outdoors and mousers. So let us look at a few breeds of cats and then you will be able to choose which one may be right for your lifestyle.

Siamese: The Siamese cat can be a fickle creature. They often require a lot of attention when they determine it is necessary. They tend to meow quite a bit and can tear up a home if left alone for too long. These are the downsides.  Siamese can be great pets, especially when raised from infancy. They are often white with brown ears and blue eyes.  You may recognize them from Lady and the Tramp? Those two were a little mean and not the typical portrayal of a Siamese. Siamese are generally very affectionate. They are also one of the most intelligent of the cat species. They tend to be very social, which is why they meow or “talk” a lot. A sign for attention is usually a very vocal meow much like a babies cry. Siamese typically bond to one person very strongly and are territorial of that person.

Persian:  The Persian cat breed is one of the oldest cats around. They are longhaired cats with beautiful shinny coats. They are very soft and friendly; however, they are prone to health problems such as allergies. The Persian does not always play as much as other breeds, but they do enjoy a bit of fun for exercise especially in a social situation. They love to have other cats around to play with as well as have a lap available when they are in need of a lap. Persians are a variety of colors from solid black, white or a mix of white and browns around the face. A popular Persian is the Himalayan.

Manx:  The Manx is known for its stubby tail or having no tail. The downside to Manx cats is the lack of tail. Often a Manx can suffer from worms and other parasites due to improper cleaning and not having the protection of a tail. This does not mean you should discount the Manx as a breed. The Manx breed is extremely intelligent and playful. They are a lot like dogs in the play area because they can fetch when you through toys and bring them back to you. They are very social animals and depend on human care. They don’t like to be left alone for too long, so it is wise to have other cats to play with when you are gone during the day. The best home for a Manx is one filled with children.

These are just three of the more popular breeds of cats. There are over a dozen cat breeds to choose from and finding the one to fit your lifestyle is important. Cats are very social and intelligent, but some breeds can be loners. Most often, a cat chooses when the time is right and what type of attention they want at the time. The phrase “you do not own a cat it owns you” is very true.

Choosing the Right Cat for You

There is such a wide range of choices when choosing the cat that you will decide to share in your life, that taking the time to do some quality research is well worthwhile.

Not only do you have to decide what type of color you prefer, but whether you want a male or a female cat and the associated characteristics that come with them.

You also have to look at your personality and lifestyle and determine how that will work in with the personality that can be expected from any particular breed.

Fortunately there are many books that give comprehensive details on the personality types of the various different breeds and while they are a generalization they are also quite accurate in most cases and can help you make the right decision more often than not.

Some breeds require a lot more attention than others, and you also need to look at your stage of life and determine how much time you will have to devote to your cat. Some breeds will always be more suitable than others when taking into account the term of their lifespan, which can be up to 20 years in some cases.

Your decision might also be based on how long you intend to look after a cat, and you might decide that getting an older cat from an animal shelter rather than a kitten might be a better decision. There are certainly a lot to choose from as animal shelters are generally overflowing with unwanted pets, just waiting for a home.

When choosing your cat, see how it interacts with you right from the outset, as even in one litter there will always be a personality that stands out and shows that it wants you to be its owner. More often than not the kitten will choose you, rather than the other way around.

The Amazing Cat Species

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.

The Various Breeds of Cats

There are various different breeds of cats and there are in fact over 100 different types and varieties that are officially recognized throughout the world.

They can however be divided into five principle categories. In those categories are the British and American shorthairs, the foreign or oriental shorthairs, the Persian or long hairs, and other long-haired cats.

Most breeds of cats have initially come from the ordinary moggy cat, and through a process of selection and breeding various different types of breeds have eventuated.

Due to the fact that cats breed relatively fast and have a short gestation period, and also because litter sizes are quite large most of these breeds have been developed over the last 100 years.

While many people believe that some of these breeds have been around for centuries in most instances this is not the case.

Some of these breeds have appeared just by chance where there have been genetic mutations that have given birth to unusual specimens in a litter and people have taken these unusual kittens and used them for breeding to develop new breeds.

During this process of breeding some types of cats have developed various different personalities, characteristics, and in some cases health conditions where they are not quite as durable as the ordinary moggy that is liable to wander in off the street.

An example of this will be some breeds of British short hair cats that have a particularly snub nose and can sometimes have difficulty in breathing and it is quite common for some of these cats to keep you awake at night with their snoring.

Some of these breeds have originally been indigenous to particular countries but in the majority of cases it is through specialized breeding programs that they have been bred.

With the various different personalities that these breeds of cat’s have, with a little bit of research it is quite easy to find a cat that complements your own personality and that is why it is worthwhile taking the time before getting a cat to determine which one will best suits you and your lifestyle.

Holidays and Your Cat

What happens at holiday time you need to go away and leave your cat alone?

The best solution, provided it is available, is to find somebody who will house sit and mind your cat at home, as the cat will feel most comfortable in familiar surroundings.

You can also find somebody who will come in on a regular basis and feed the cat and sit with it for a short while just to keep it company.

The only problem here is what to do with the cat at night as you don’t want it roaming around the neighborhood where it could be endangering itself.

It can be locked in at night not provided there is sufficient water and a litter box.

Many cats don’t like to be left in unfamiliar surroundings such as boarding kennels, whereas others are completely happy provided they are getting some form of company and sufficient food throughout the day.

If you intend leaving your cat at a boarding kennel do some research first to check on the facilities and if possible talk to other people who have left their cats there to find out whether they would recommend them to other people.

Make sure also if you are leaving your pet at a boarding kennel that it has had sufficient vaccinations to eliminate any possibility of picking up any illness or disease.

If your holiday involves traveling by road then it might be an alternative to take your cat with you provided it doesn’t mind traveling in a vehicle. Your need to test by taking your cat on a smaller road trip first to determine whether it feels ill, stressed, or has any other problems before taking it on a longer trip.

Don’t leave your pet care to the last minute when planning a holiday. By doing some research in advance you can save your cat a lot of stress.

Making a Kitten Feel at Home

There are several things that you should do to make a new kitten feel at home.

First of all they need a good place to sleep that is private and they can feel safe. Fortunately there are many different types of beds and baskets that are available. The area that the kitten will be sleeping needs to be free from drafts and as warm and comfortable as possible.

It will need a litter box initially as it will have to stay inside until it becomes accustomed to its surroundings. The litter box can have shredded newspaper for a cheap alternative but the best content for a litter box is commercial cat litter as it will absorb urine better and won’t smell as newspaper will tend to do.
This needs to be cleaned out regularly to ensure that it is always clean.

Put the litter box in a quiet corner where the kitten can be private and don’t have it where the kitten will be eating its food.

Cleanliness is another important factor with kittens and any utensils, or feeding dishes that are used with its food need to be thoroughly cleaned after every meal. There are also a wide range of suitable products on the market to make feeding a kitten or cat more convenient.

Grooming is very important with cats and even cats in the wild spend much of their time grooming. You can assist by getting a good double-sided body brush for grooming to make sure that the fur doesn’t become knotted and any lose fur is brushed away to reduce the chance of fur balls causing problems.

Grooming will keep the fur clean from dirt and other problems such as fleas. Kittens and cats with longer fur will need more time spent on them than shorthaired cats as they will lose more fur and this will get swallowed if they are left to do all their own grooming.

Litter Cleaning For Cats

Almost everyone, adults and kids alike have a natural fondness for cats.  They are loving, quiet, and very playful pets that can provide you with years of entertainment.  Although most of us have a fondness for cats, that fondness can rapidly diminish when it comes to the litter box.  Even the most hardened cat lover may get tired of litter box duty, especially when it comes down to scooping “you know what” from the litter box.

Cats are very intelligent, instinctively knowing how they should use the litter box.  After the cat has finished using the litter box, someone in the family will need to scoop the waste from the litter box.  This can be a very dirty and somewhat smelly job, one that is often overlooked during the day when the workload gets heavy. Cleaning up the litter box doesn’t take but a few minutes, although most would prefer not to do it at all.  Although the litter box will need to be scooped out daily, it will also need to be changed once a week as well, by throwing the current bag out and replacing the box with a new bag and fresh litter.

Those who don’t like to scoop out the litter box should invest in one of the best inventions ever – the self cleaning litter box.  These litter boxes are easy to use, and will keep the area clean.  After the cat has used it, the self cleaning litter box will automatically clean the litter either by sifting or using a device that resembles a rake.

Self cleaning boxes that use shifting will often times have a round design.  Once the cat leaves the covered box, the dome on top will revolve for the box to clean.  The litter in the box will be shifted with the waste being put below the litter where it is discarded.  Once the waste is properly disposed of, the litter will be returned to its normal position in the box for the cat to use again.

Boxes that have raking systems will often times sport a rectangular design.  Once the cat leaves the box, the rake will automatically come out and clean the litter.  The rake will clean all of the litter in the box, including the clumps of waste as well.  Rakes are popular, although the shifting litter boxes are by far more popular and more common.

Those who are often times away from home could greatly benefit from a self cleaning litter box.  They are great to have for cats that spend a lot of time by themselves, as they virtually eliminate any scooping of litter on your part.  You can find them at your local pet or department store, even online as well.  They are very affordable – and ideal for anyone who doesn’t like scooping waste from their litter box.

Cat Naps and Sleeping

Cats are one of the most relaxing pets on earth and they are also one of the most relaxed animals with their ability to sleep almost anywhere at anytime of the day or night. Cats can spend over two thirds of their life sleeping but while they may seem to sleep for many hours at a time, they will rarely sleep deeply for more than about 10 minutes at a time.

They have the ability to sleep for a short period, commonly called a cat nap, and then awaken in an instant totally refreshed and alert.

For the short periods of time that a cat does go into a deep sleep, its basic senses are still highly alert to any danger that might be around them. This allows it to wake in an instant if necessary and get out of a dangerous situation.

A domesticated cat that feels comfortable and secure in its surroundings will not be so ‘on edge’ all the time and will be able to sleep in a more relaxed manner. In these situations the cat can often be a little sleepy when it awakes and even disorientated for short while. This is a more common occurrence with older cats, and particularly those who have lived in the one house all their life.

Once they see familiar surroundings or people they are less likely to feel anxious, as this anxiety can sometimes cause them to bite or claw someone before realizing where they are.

When the cat is in a deep sleep its feet, tail and whiskers can twitch periodically as they are in a state of REM (rapid eye movement)

If the cat is lying in a hot sunny position it can go into a deep sleep and take a little longer for it to become alert after awakening. On awakening it will generally yawn and stretch and often sit for awhile until it is ready to move about again.

Unless there is a very good reason, the cat will never feel rushed.

Is It Better To Have One Or Two Cats?

Most people who are thinking of getting a cat will usually only consider getting one kitten. People are of the belief that cats enjoy their solitude, and while this might be the case a lot of the time, they also enjoy interacting with other cats and people. And in fact, cats can also enjoy the company of dogs if they are brought up together and provided the dog has a personality that is acceptable to the cat.

The benefit of getting two kittens rather than one is the fact that a good portion of most people’s day will be taken up with work and other activities in the weekend. By having two kittens, they can keep each other company, playing and learning from one another.

They won’t be as inclined to get bored, and they won’t be as demanding of your attention when you come home after a tiring day at work. Additionally, at those times when you want to go on vacation, the cats will have companions and won’t feel as though they’ve been left alone.

Also, if you need to use the services of a cat boarding home, there will be less stress involved if the cat has its everyday companion with it in the boarding home.

Cats do in fact live in communities in the wild so this is a natural state for them to be in. Many people find that having two cats helps them to remain more contented and less likely to wander onto other people’s properties.

While there will be an additional expense with owning a second cat, the benefits might outweigh those costs and it is something that is well worth thinking about if you are deciding on getting a cat.

Usually cats of a similar breed will interact with one another better than a combination of two different breeds. This is not a rule that is set in stone as anything and everything changes according to a cat’s personality.