Friday, January 13, 2006

Cat Growth Stages

More information about cats and kittens

When a kitten is born, it is hard to believe that one of these helpless little pink things will become a graceful and powerful hunter. However, within a year, that tiny kitten will be a mature cat. Since kittens are born blind and are completely dependent on their mothers, it is no surprise that their first stage involves little more than eating and growing. However, once your kitten's eyes open, he will begin to explore the world around him. By the time he is four weeks old, he will be romping shakily about with his siblings. He can begin to learn to use the litter box and should start to become socialized. In the wild, a kitten's mother will start to supplement his diet with dead mice or other small prey. You may prefer to give him some soft kitten food or some dry food softened in water. By the time your kitten is six to eight weeks old, he is ready to begin exploring a bit further from home. If he is indoors, he will venture into other rooms, while a feral kitten will begin to follow his mother when she goes to hang out with the rest of the local cat colony. While the kitten's mother may still bring him mice, they are no longer already dead. The kitten begins to develop his hunting abilities. Eight week old kittens are usually completely weaned and ready to go to a new home.

About cats and kittens

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Cat Vaccinations



One of the most important things you can do for your cat
is to be sure its health is protected.
Cat vaccinations can protect your cat from many
common cat ailments. You should begin vaccinating your
kitten when he is six to eight weeks old. Before this time,
his mother's antibodies have been protecting him from
many of the diseases that vaccinations protect against.
However, now that he is weaned, he will need to develop
his own antibodies.
On your kitten's first veterinarian visit, your veterinarian
will give him a physical examination. He should also complete a
fecal exam to be sure your kitten doesn't have worms.
Before your veterinarian vaccinates your kitten, he should
do a blood test to be sure the kitten is not already infected
with Feline Leukemia. He may also test for Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
The tests do not take long. Your veterinarian will have preliminary
results in minutes.
If your kitten is not already infected with one of these diseases,
your veterinarian will give your kitten his first Feline Leukemia and
FIP vaccines if he is at risk for these diseases. An only cat who
never leaves his home may not need these two vaccines and your
veterinarian may recommend against giving them.

How to choose the right cat breed ?

How to Choose the Right Cat Breed ?

The first thing you should consider is whether you will be able to handle having a vocal cat. Some cat breeds can actually be quite noisy. While many cat owners do not have a problem with these vocal breeds, as they realize their cats are just communicating with them, a loud cat can be a problem in an apartment situation. Breeds that are very vocal are the Siamese Cat, the Korat, and the Burmese. The Scottish Fold, Somali, and the American Curl are considered to be very quiet cat breeds.Next, you will want to think about whether you want a cat who is cuddly or if a more aloof breed is right for you. If you do not have a lot of free time, a cuddly cat who loves attention may be the wrong choice. However, affectionate cats are usually better with children than more reserved breeds. Some of the friendliest cat breeds are the Snowshoe, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese, and the Himalayan Persian. Less sociable breeds are the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung, and the Russian Shorthair.

More about cats and kittens

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