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Old May 13th, 2010, 12:26 PM
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Facts and Fallacies about cats

I have been noticing some disturbing "facts" being put out lately on Pets about cats. Some are/can be life threatening. I do not want people who know next to nothing about raising cats to come here looking for info and believe these "facts" so would like to create a thread to help that.

http://www.messybeast.com/catfacts.htm

'Cats fend for themselves'

Some cats are good hunters and virtually self-sufficient. Others are clueless; their instincts blunted by domestication and selective breeding. Some cats have difficulty hunting because of their physique (e.g. the flattened face and small mouth of a Persian). Made to fend for themselves, cats may scavenge and eat bone splinters or stray a considerable distance seeking food. Strays picked up by animal control may be destroyed if unclaimed or unadopted after a period of time. If you choose to own a cat, you must be committed to providing food and care.

'Hungry cats hunt better'

Some cats are kept as mousers and their owners believe that cats become 'soft' if fed. A hungry farm-cat hunts only enough to feed itself, while one that receives food hunts for 'sport' and catches prey more frequently. Many cats are hopeless hunters, hungry or not. If you don't want the cat to be a hunter, redirect its instincts into play. If you are choosing a kitten, choose one where the mother cat doesn't hunt - the kitten will probably inherit her non-hunting tendencies.

'Cats can live on dog food'

Dog food doesn't contain the right vitamins for cats. Feeding a cat exclusively on dog food will eventually lead to ill-health, blindness and death. Cats may enjoy robbing the dog's bowl, but this should never form their staple diet.

'Cats can be vegetarian'

Cats need the nutrients provided by meat. Dogs and humans can digest carbohydrates; cats get their nourishment from proteins. Feeding it vegetables will lead to stunted growth, blindness and death. There are commercially prepared 'balanced' vegetarian diets for cats, but it is cruel to impose human morals on cats. If you are not prepared to give your cat a meat-based diet you are denying its basic rights and a cat is not the right pet for you (get a house-rabbit instead - similar size, can be housetrained and is vegetarian).

'Cats need milk'.

After weaning, kittens may lose the ability to digest milk. Adult cats on a balanced diet don't need milk and it can cause diarrhoea. There are lactose-reduced 'Cat Milks' available, but most cats are content to drink water.

'Cats only feel cupboard love'

Cats aren't always as demonstrative as dogs when it comes to showing their affections. Some do give cuddles a higher priority than the contents of their food bowl- proof that they do indeed love their owners and not just their owners' cupboards.

'Cats should be put outdoors at night'

Nowadays it may not be safe to put cats out at night. Late night motorists may not see the cat or may deliberately harm it. It may fall victim to cat-snatchers. Even in areas not subject to a curfew, it may be safer for cat and wildlife to keep Puss in at night. Although cats are almost nocturnal, they often adopt a diurnal lifestyle to match that of their owners (cats are not truly nocturnal - they are mostly active at dusk and dawn; the term for this is crepuscular).

Countries that ban declawing, such as Britain and Australia, do so due to animal rights activists trying to decrease pet ownership or because cats are kept as barn cats.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Declawing is banned because it is unacceptable to the vast majority of cat owners. The cats maybe indoor-outdoor cats (needing claws as their main form of defence and for tree-climbing) or wholly indoor cats. Cat owners in these countries find it hard to comprehend how a "cosmetic" mutilation for the sake of the furniture can be considered humane in countries that permit it. Animal rights activists do not play any part in the anti-declaw sentiments. There is no strong lobby trying to decrease pet ownership in Britain where declawing is anathema to cat lovers. Indoor-outdoor cats are household pets, not barn-cats.

MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SEX & REPRODUCTION

Cats breed through instinct not because they enjoy raising kittens. Unlike human parents, they don't sit down and plan pregnancies, nor do they carry prophylactics. With so many cats and kittens destroyed annually simply because there aren't enough homes to go round yet too many owners cling to the 'just one litter myth'.

'Having a litter will settle her down'

There is no truth in the myth that a cat will be more settled or more fulfilled through having kittens. Ask harassed human mothers whether having children has settled them down. A spayed cat will be a more playful, people-oriented pet and won't miss what she has never had.

'She's not strong enough to be spayed'

If the cat isn't strong enough to be operated on then she certainly isn't healthy enough to have kittens.

'I'd like the children to see her have kittens'

Such owners should then take the children to animal shelters or vet surgeries to see unwanted kittens being destroyed. Out of every 5 kittens born, probably only one is likely to find a permanent home. If the children want to see kittens, get them to help at an animal shelter where they can learn the true facts of life.

'I always find good homes for all the kittens'

Every kitten born means one less home for a cat. How many of those 'good homes' still have the cat 3 or 4 years later? How many are genuine good homes - or are the kittens destined for laboratory use, the fur trade or abuse?

'I can sell the kittens and use the money to pay for spaying'

It is more expensive to care for a pregnant cat and her kittens up to rehoming age than to pay for spay surgery. Pregnant and nursing cats need additional food. Kittens eat more than you may realise because they are growing fast. Moggy kittens are not profitable because they can be obtained for free from rescue shelters or as strays.

'I don't want to spoil their fun'.

Mating is short and painful, not fun. It's no fun producing up to 20 kittens a year. Constant kittening is debilitating and can shorten her life. Nor is it fun to fight for the right to mate; tomcats risk catching killer diseases such Feline Leukaemia or Feline AIDS through bite wounds. Wandering tomcats may be injured or killed on the roads as instinct, not fun, sends them in search of a mate.

'I enjoy my sex life s/he enjoys hers/his'

Sex = kittens. Cats do not have recreational sex. Cats don't have voluntary contraception. Stop being anthropomorphic. Hundreds of thousands of healthy cats and kittens are destroyed each year because they can't find homes. Population control by birth prevention is better than population control by disease, starvation or destruction of healthy animals.

'Altered/desexed cats get fat and lazy'.

Altering/desexing may keep cats from wandering far afield, but only bored, overfed cats get fat and lazy.

'Kittens make delightful gifts'.

Kittens are not toys that can be forgotten when the novelty wears off. Most were never truly wanted by the recipient in the first place. Hundreds of ill-considered gift kittens are put out with the trash each year. A cat should be a companion, not a gift machine.

'Males are friendlier'.

If the cat is desexed, its gender makes no difference. It's how you treat a cat that makes the difference. Some are naturally friendlier than others, regardless of gender.

MYTHS AND FALLACIES ABOUT CATS & HUMAN HEALTH

The cat is often blamed for health problems - they cause Toxoplasmosis, smother babies, attack children and cause allergies. While cats are not entirely blameless, such tales are fuel for those who try to perpetuate a dislike of cats.

'Cats give you Toxoplasmosis'.

European studies suggest that more people get Toxoplasmosis from undercooked meat, unpasteurised milk and garden dirt than from their cats. Precautions are simple - wear rubber gloves when handling soiled cat litter or when gardening, cook meat well, wash vegetables thoroughly and keep cats off of kitchen worksurfaces. Cases of babies affected by Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy get media coverage because, like serial murderers, they are rare. If you've had a cat most of your life, you've probably already had Toxoplasmosis without knowing it and should be immune.

"My baby is due so the cat must go".

Despite tales of cats smothering babies, cats dislike the smell of human breath and will generally stay away from a baby's face. In spite of all the myths, there is only one verified case of a cat smothering a baby - far fewer than the number of babies murdered by their parents. Cats see cots as cosy beds and babies as warm things to snuggle against. Sometimes a cat becomes quite protective of its human's 'kitten'! To keep the cat out of the cot or pram, fit a net cover (a fly-shield). Later on, move the cat's food bowl and its litter tray to places where the baby or toddler can't get to them.

'It's vicious - it scratched the toddler'.

What did the child do to provoke the cat? Cats usually ignore young children (people-kittens!) and tolerate a certain amount of being pulled about, but will scratch in self-defence if continually mauled. Most children get the message. Punishing the cat teaches children that it's okay for them to annoy it. When my niece complained that the cat scratched her, she was sent to her room 'for annoying the cat'. She is now grown up with cats - and children - of her own! (See Cats and Babies Can Coexist).

'You can get AIDS from cats'.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or FAIDS) is spread from cat to cat by close contact such as mutual grooming and possibly by biting. Humans can't catch it any more than they can get Cat Flu. FIV has been cultivated in human cells in the laboratory - but it needed the help of scientists to do this. People who have HIV or poor immune systems are sometimes recommended not to keep cats or dogs because of other infection risks.

'I must be allergic to the cat'.

A surprising number of people (and their doctors) jump to this conclusion, rehoming the cat only to find that they are allergic to something else entirely. If possible, have tests to see if the cat really is the culprit. In the US, owners of indoor only cats can reduce their allergic reaction by giving the cat a monthly bath in distilled water to remove allergens from its coat. There are products available which can reduce allergic reaction if sprayed on the cat's coat.

'Asthma sufferers can't have cats'.

Severe asthma may be a barrier to cat ownership, though many sufferers of mild asthma own cats. Rather than using their inhaler when an asthma attack starts, they use the inhaler to prevent an attack. They also find it helpful to keep the cat out of the bedroom. Many children with childhood asthma will grow out of it because exposure to the cat strengthens their immune systems. Be careful of being over-protective of children, it causes problems in later life due to poor immune response.

'Hairless cats are hypo-allergenic.'

Relatively few people are allergic to cat hair itself. Most allergies are caused by proteins in cat dander (dandruff) which is made up of skin flakes and dried saliva from where a cat washes itself. Hairless cats and Rex cats (curly-haired cats) still produce dander which can trigger an allergic reaction. Some people have less symptoms with hairless cats or shorter haired cats (e.g. Siamese) because bare skin or short fur means less surface for dander to form on. Many other people are just as allergic to hairless or Rex cats as they are to cats with ordinary fur. Some people who are strongly allergic to longhaired cats but only mildly allergic to shorthaired cats because longhair traps more dander. Occasionally people are allergic to all cats except for one particular individual cat - either because that cat produces a different type of dander without the usual allergen or because the person has become desensitized to that particular cat's dander.

From - http://hubpages.com/hub/Panting-in-cats -

Although it is part of a dog’s nature, it is just not normal in cats
Panting in cats is very uncommon

Panting in cats is very uncommon and is something that should be taken very seriously. Although it is part of a dog’s nature, it is just not normal in cats. There may be an occasion when your cat may pant after an extensive play period, but that is also very rare.

In most cases when your cat does pant, they are either in stressful situation, very hot, or they are actually in distress from an underlying and potential life threatening condition.

Panting in cats in most situations will the result of overheating or when they have become extremely stressed by some type of a traumatic event. The panting that they will exhibit will be very rapid but also a very shallow form of respiration. A normal respiration in your cat should be between 20 to 30 breaths per minute.

This is a long article. Please check the website listed above for the continuing piece.....

Cats purr when they're happy.

Purring is one of the most special elements of a cat, as far as most humans are concerned. Caressing a purring pet has proven to relax the person doing the stroking and lower the blood pressure, too.

But careful observers of the cat know that purring isn't just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they're injured, while giving birth -- even when dying. British zoologist Desmond Morris has observed that purring is "a sign of friendship -- either when [the cat] is contented with a friend or when it is in need of friendship -- as with a cat in trouble." In other words, purring is sort of like smile: Sometimes you smile when you're happy, sometimes when you're hoping a smile will get you out of trouble.

Another site for more info on s/n:

http://www.medicinenet.com/pets/cat-...ur_cat_faq.htm

There are many other sites available to learn how to properly care for these little angels. Please take some time to educate yourself. If something does not look/sound right it probably isn't.
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We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Last edited by 14+kitties; May 15th, 2010 at 02:54 PM.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 01:21 PM
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When to take your cat to the vet.........

http://www.cat-world.com.au/when-to-...cat-to-the-vet

Overview:
Cats can be extremely stoic & if they are feeling unwell they tend to hide it well. Therefore it is up to you to be aware of subtle (or not so subtle) changes in your cat which may require veterinary attention.
Always be observant. You should be aware of eating habits, toileting, behavior, sleeping, weight & general wellbeing. If you notice any changes, no matter how subtle it should be checked out with the vet. The earlier problems are caught, the better the chance of recovery. If you are in any doubt about taking your cat to the vet it is ALWAYS better to err on the side of caution & seek help. Never wait & see because delaying medical attention may prolong suffering & mean that a sickness or injury is all the harder to treat.
Anorexia (refusal to eat):
It may not seem a big deal if your cat refuses food, after all he will eat if he becomes hungry enough, right? No, this is not the case. When a cat loses his appetite it can lead to a serious condition known as hepatic lipidosis (or fatty liver disease) which is life threatening. Loss of appetite can also just be a vague sign that your cat is not well. Some medical conditions which may cause your cat to lose his appetite include;
Tick paralysis
Poisoning
Abscess
Addison's disease
Anemia
Bacterial infection (Bordetella)
Certain medications
Coccidiosis
Dental or mouth pain (gingivitis, tooth abscess, stomatitis)
Feline diatetes
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Gastrointestinal disease
Glomerulonephritis
Haemobartonellosis (Feline Infectious Anemia)
Heartworm
Hypercalcemia
Inflammation
Injury or trauma
Intestinal obstruction
Ingestion of poison
Kidney failure
Neoplasia (abnormal cell growth)
New or unpalatable diet
Pancreatitis
Portosystemic shunt
Pyometra

As you can see, there is quite an extensive list of possible causes & this is by no means a complete list.
Ataxia:
Unsteady, wobbly gait, walking in circles. This can have many possible causes including:
Tick paralysis
Poisoning
Middle ear problems
Spinal injury
Nervous system disorders
Muscular skeletal damage
Weakness & anemia
Head trauma
Thiamine deficiency
Cryptococcosis

Bad breath:
Bad breath is a sign there is a dental problem. Any dental problems need veterinary attention before they progress to something worse. Possible causes include;
Kidney disease
Diabetes mellitus
Liver disease
Tooth abscess
Periodontal disease
Intestinal problems
Cancers of the mouth

Bleeding:
Bleeding of any sort should be checked out.
Breathing:
Seek veterinary care if you notice panting, wheezing, coughing, suffering shortness of breath. There are many causes of breathing difficulty including;
Burns:
No matter how mild, any burns should be checked.
Change in toileting habits:
Changes such as urinating more or less often, straining to go to the toilet, toileting in inappropriate places. There are many reasons why your cat's toileting habits may have changed, all warranting investigation by your veterinarian. Some causes are fairly benign such as dirty litter tray, others have more serious causes, some reasons include;
Urinary tract infection
Diabetes
FLUTD
Kidney disease


Coughing:
Coughing isn't seen as often in cats as it is in dogs but it always warrants further investigation. Possible causes include;
Heartworm
Lungworm
Roundworm migration
Asthma
Chylothorax
Hairballs
Lung tumours
Nasopharyngeal polyps
Fungal infection
Feline Bordetella

Diarrhea:
Diarrhea lasting more than 12 hours or if it is blood or mucous tinged or accompanied by other signs of sickness.
Diarrhea in kittens is especially worrysome as they can become dehydrated so quickly. Urgent veterinary attention is necessary.
Electric shock:
Even if your cat appears to be well after the incident, you should still seek veterinary attention.
Excessive scratching:
Scratching may not appear to be a serious problem but it needs to be seen to. Possible causes of scratching include;
Fleas
Mites
Allergy
Intolerance

Increased thirst:
Another indicator that there is a potential problem is if your cat begins to drink more. There are many possible causes for this including;
Cystitis
Diabetes
Kidney problems
Pyometra

Ingestion of toxic substance (including plants, medications, poisons):
Your cat may look okay, but the toxin could be causing irreversible damage, so veterinary attention is urgent.

Lameness & Limping:
May not appear to be serious but there are many causes of lameness & limping in cats.

Sudden weight loss or gain:
There are too many possible causes of weight loss & gain to list fully. Some more common causes include;
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes
Anorexia
Pregnancy & lactation

Eyes:
Any eye changes need to be seen by a veterinarian. These include minor or serious injury, change in eye colour, discharge, weeping, redness. Any eye problems are serious & could lead to blindness if not treated promptly.
Nose:
Bleeding from the nose
Ulcers
Scabbing
Any discharge from the nose

Poisoning:
If you notice or suspect your cat has ingested something toxic medical attention should be sought immediately.
Seizures:
Fortunately these are relatively uncommon in cats but if you suspect your cat has had a seizure veterinary attention is vital.
Sneezing:
This is something else you may notice from time to time, and the occasional sneeze is relatively harmless, but if your cat is sneezing frequently, it is accompanied by mucus or your cat displays other signs of sickness, seek veterinary care immediately.
Possible causes include;
Upper respiratory infection (either caused by a virus or bacteria). This is the most common cause of sneezing in cats.
Allergies
Irritants (cigarette smoke, dust etc)
Foreign object (grass seed etc)
Dental abscess
Nasal polyps
Nasal cancer
Fungal infection

Straining to go to the toilet:
Straining to go to the toilet can be mistaken for constipation, but a far more serious cause is FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease), which can lead to the cat becoming completely blocked & unable to urinate. Straining in the litter tray is always cause for concern & urgent veterinary attention necessary.
Vaginal discharge:
Any discharge from the vagina is abnormal & must be attended to immediately. Possible causes include;
Acute Metritis
Cancer
Foreign body
Miscarriage
Pyometra
Vaginitis

Vomiting:
All cats vomit from time to time & generally this is normal. You should seek medical attention if your cat vomits several times within an hour, the vomit contains blood, mucus or if your cat is also displaying other signs of sickness.
Vomiting in kittens should be investigated immediately.
Birth & post natal problems:
Prolonged labour
Difficulty delivering
Fever after the birth
Suddenly neglecting the kittens
Vaginal discharge

Because summer is approaching from: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanageme...heatstroke.htm

Heatstroke

You know the drill: the sun is blinding, relentlessly beating down reminiscent of a Stephen King novel. If you don't have air conditioning, you seek out shady spots and sigh in relief from the slightest breeze, otherwise you huddle inside. Your thirsty body craves fluids, and the beverage of choice suddenly becomes water. If you stay in the sun too long you may become dizzy, have heart palpitations, and increased internal temperature, all signs of impending heat exhaustion.

Consider this: before you ever reach that point, your cat may also be showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Although heat stroke is more commonly discussed in dogs, because of people's propensity to leave them in parked cars, cats can be affected too. Cats can't always tell you they're not feeling up to par, but they sure can show you. Early symptoms of heat stroke and the accompanying dehydration are:

Panting
Anxiety, possibly demonstrated by pacing
Increased heartbeat
Respiratory distress or hyperventilation (Breeds with flat noses may exhibit this earlier because of compromised airways.)
Dark red gums
Lethargy
Increased internal body temperature Your cat's internal temperature should be between 100.5° and 101.5° F. A temperature of 104° or more is a definite warning sign. Here's how to take kitty's temperature.
How to Help Your Cat Avoid Heatstroke

You can help your cat survive extremely hot weather by keeping him indoors in a cool interior room. Rubbing him down with a damp towel will help; so will immersing his feet in a tub of cool water. Wrapping a cold compress under the cat's neck will also help cool him off. He may fight at first, but most likely will appreciate it once he gets used to the idea. Try wrapping a plastic bag of frozen peas in a towel, and placing in in his bed for a cool spot to lie. The peas will rearrange themselves to fit his contours and he'll have a "custom spa" for cooling off.

Make sure he has several bowls of cool water available. It doesn't hurt to drop an ice cube in once in awhile, not only to cool the water, but to pique kitty's interest in drinking. Strangely enough, cats affected by external heat may refuse to drink water, exacerbating the problem of dehydration, so you may want to "force" water by using an eyedropper or syringe. Be careful not to shoot the water down his throat as it can enter his lungs and/or cause choking. Just dribble a drop or two at a time in the corner of his mouth, which will help hydrate him and draw his interest to drinking on his own.

If your cat exhibits any of the signs above that lead you to think he is suffering heat exhaustion, cool him down as quickly as possible by immersing him in cool water, and then wrapping him with wet towels. Then get him to the veterinarian immediately. This is a serious, potentially fatal condition.

Sunburn

White cats, or cats with white ears and faces, are particularly susceptible to sunburn. Over a period of time, exposure to the sun can cause squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer found most often on the tips of the ears and nose. Early signs are a sore that does not heal, or that bleeds. My own introduction to squamous cell carcinoma was with our beloved little white cat, Arthur, who died of it at 18 years. Because of her age, we were reluctant to allow either surgery or chemotherapy, the two treatments of choice, and she passed on about three months after being diagnosed.

White cats should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible, and if they must be in the sun, you can help them prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen on their ears and noses. Your veterinarian can recommend one which will not be harmful if ingested.

The sun is a powerful giver of life and still worshipped by people all over the world, but it is not always your cat's best friend. Be aware of his condition on sweltering summer days, and if you have any doubts at all, get him to the veterinarian immediately. You are the only defense he has.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Last edited by 14+kitties; May 15th, 2010 at 01:15 PM. Reason: added a part
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Old May 13th, 2010, 01:56 PM
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Excellent post!!!

I currently have a foster cat that was found and never re-claimed - slated for euthanasia.

She was flea ridden, malnurished, rhino and yes...pregnant. She is proof that cats cannot sustain the outdoor elements without human intervention. They do rely on us for their survival.

This cat WILL live, though her babies to be will not. She must endure surgery to spare any further animals that she carries any pain and suffering in the future.

Thank you for such a powerful and educating post. It could not come at a better time.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 02:58 PM
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Thank you 14+ for the valuable information. Even those of us with many kitties under our belts can still learn.
On a personal note though....there are many cats who will never be mousers, and it definately should never be believed all cats can do it, especially those with generations of domestication. I have 3 Maine Coons which according to the so called printed literature regarding the breed have been bred in generations past as excellent mousers. A few years ago my daughter carried a mouse into the house in her backpack....these proud mousers sat outside her door looking into the room, too afraid to go in for 2 days before I clued in to what was going on. Long story short....I had to catch the mouse and I have not been bred for mousing!
I think mama cat taught them the fine art of chasing toy mice because they are champions at that!
Thank you again for the wonderful informative post.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 03:43 PM
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If anyone wants to add more info please do.
Just a short add on - It was mentioned in a thread a while ago that male cats will not mate with their female siblings. I have to say that is so terribly wrong. Male cats do not care if the female is a sister or mother. If she is in heat the male will mate with her. It is instinct to do so. A female in heat will mate with as many male cats as are in the vicinity. A male cat can impregnate as many female cats as are available in a night.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Last edited by 14+kitties; May 15th, 2010 at 05:00 PM. Reason: grammar
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Old May 13th, 2010, 03:46 PM
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I vote for this to be a sticky
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Old May 13th, 2010, 04:23 PM
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Great informative post 14+
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Old May 13th, 2010, 05:11 PM
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Awesome post, I love it! Thanks for putting such valuable info all in one spot.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
It was mentioned in a thread a while ago that male cats will not mate with their female siblings.
Someone seriously said that? Wow, that's incredibly naive. They clearly don't know cats very well.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
Just a short add on - It was mentioned in a thread a while ago that male cats will not mate with their female siblings. I have to say that is so terribly wrong. Male cats do not care if the female is a sister or mother. If she is in heat the male will mate with her. It is instinct to do so. A female in heat will mate with as many male cats as are in the vicinity when she is in heat. A male cat can impregnate as many female cats as are available in a night.
This is how kitty mills operate.....one of my guys rescued from a mill is really
very interbred and has the physical problems to prove it can go so wrong.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 05:30 PM
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Quote:
'Males are friendlier'.

If the cat is desexed, its gender makes no difference. It's how you treat a cat that makes the difference. Some are naturally friendlier than others, regardless of gender.

LIESSS!! hehehehe. we all know I favor the male cats


Thank you for all the great information though! I will be using it as a reference for the stupid questions I get on a daily basis
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  #11  
Old May 13th, 2010, 09:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kathryn View Post

LIESSS!! hehehehe. we all know I favor the male cats

Thank you for all the great information though! I will be using it as a reference for the stupid questions I get on a daily basis
Yep, we know how much you love your males Kathryn.
I have some females who are a little more standoffish than others. But I also have a few males who are also not cuddlers. My wildest ones are all males. I truly do believe it is the way they are treated from the start.
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Old May 13th, 2010, 10:02 PM
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Wow what a great post, so much information, this is the second time I've read it since I've seen it.

Thank you
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  #13  
Old May 14th, 2010, 06:38 AM
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Another wonderful post by 14+kitties . I agree this should be a sticky!
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Old May 14th, 2010, 08:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
It was mentioned in a thread a while ago that male cats will not mate with their female siblings. I have to say that is so terribly wrong.
Yep, I know this for a fact. When I brought Kiska and Maks home, I scheduled them for their S&N. A week before Kiska went in, she went into heat, and Maks tried every opportunity to mate with her.

Excellent post with great information.
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Old May 14th, 2010, 08:30 AM
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Amazing post...the only thing I would add is a link to a site (s) which will teach me about a cat's nutritional needs, how to choose the best commercial food, with links to homemade/cooked etc.
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Old May 14th, 2010, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by mummummum View Post
Amazing post...the only thing I would add is a link to a site (s) which will teach me about a cat's nutritional needs, how to choose the best commercial food, with links to homemade/cooked etc.
Done - www.catinfo.org - Thanks to Sugarcatmom!!
And thank you MX3 for mentioning it.
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We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!
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  #17  
Old May 14th, 2010, 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
I have some females who are a little more standoffish than others.
I only had 2 females so far , Missy my calico , and now Coco the Tortie , Missy and Coco are very much alike = and I love that about them
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Old May 15th, 2010, 08:09 AM
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I only had 2 females so far , Missy my calico , and now Coco the Tortie , Missy and Coco are very much alike = and I love that about them
I watch my girls in the catuary playing these days. Mostly they chase each other around like loons. They hate it when the boys start chasing because the boys play too rough. Ms. MiniMo is a real $@@% disturber. She goes after most of the girls but won't go after the males. I think she has learned they don't back down much.
My boys are typical boys. They roll around, chase and play rough and love it! Jupiter is the only one most of them hesitate "playing" with just because he is so big. Duece and Tinker don't back away from him. They never manage to put him in his place though. He is just too big.
You are right Frenchy. Sometimes it's the in them that make them so lovable.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Last edited by 14+kitties; May 15th, 2010 at 12:27 PM. Reason: grammar
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  #19  
Old July 13th, 2010, 10:36 AM
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14+Kitties,
You are just a wonder!!! I for one am very grateful that you are willing to share so generously here. You brought up some really amazing points and I hope that all who come here read this valuble thread!
Thanks Again!
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  #20  
Old July 14th, 2010, 08:05 AM
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14+Kitties,
You are just a wonder!!! I for one am very grateful that you are willing to share so generously here. You brought up some really amazing points and I hope that all who come here read this valuble thread!
Thanks Again!
Thank you eturner.
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We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!
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  #21  
Old March 9th, 2011, 10:07 AM
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Goldfields Goldfields is offline
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14+, absolutely first rate post! I did laugh when I read this ....

'Altered/desexed cats get fat and lazy'.

Altering/desexing may keep cats from wandering far afield, but only bored, overfed cats get fat and lazy.

My outdoor desexed boys are getting old now but yesterday I saw Ginger charge to the top of a big callistemon(bottlebrush tree), look around hoping for some unsuspecting bird, then he came down just as fast and streaked off accross the garden with his tail high, having a grand old time. Both of them are well fed and have never been fat. Neither has Pheobe, a speyed female, who is a house cat.

I had to whizz through your post fast because I need to get to bed, but I'll take a thorough look at it tomorrow. Bravo though.
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  #22  
Old March 9th, 2011, 11:03 AM
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erykah1310 erykah1310 is offline
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If altered cats are supposed to get fat and lazy I'm going back to the vet.
I can hardly keep weight on my cats, they never stop running around the house as if there is a kitty nascar race going on and they eat eat eat and never seem to get any fatter.
They're not young either 10 and 8 actually (not talking about Orange cat or Fat cat as we so lovingly call him now, he has no problems with his weight and is a typical muscular fit cat with a bit of pudge)
I have no real suggestions or advice other than the great stuff that has been offered here already.
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Old March 9th, 2011, 12:15 PM
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Oth of my cats are spayed/neutred and none of them are fat or lazy...
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Old March 9th, 2011, 08:04 PM
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This was an interesting point.

'Hungry cats hunt better'

Some cats are kept as mousers and their owners believe that cats become 'soft' if fed. A hungry farm-cat hunts only enough to feed itself, while one that receives food hunts for 'sport' and catches prey more frequently.

We feed the outdoor 'mousers' the same as we feed Pheobe, the indoor Persian. They still top up their diet with mice but it makes sense that most of the hunting would be just 'sport' . That's okay though, mice are already coming in from the paddocks here, I see them in the garden and I'd rather they didn't get into the house.
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  #25  
Old June 9th, 2011, 09:55 PM
junkyarddog junkyarddog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
Yep, we know how much you love your males Kathryn.
I have some females who are a little more standoffish than others. But I also have a few males who are also not cuddlers. My wildest ones are all males. I truly do believe it is the way they are treated from the start.
How interesting! With my ferals it's the females that are the wildest. All my "boys" need to be touched. My females all "noodle" when I talk to them, but most will never let me touch them unless I were to trap them and "foster" them in one room of my house. It would be one on one time and I would be aggressive with them to bond... petting them even tho they tag me and then staying in the room but not touching them... reading my book just to get them familiar with close vicinity.
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  #26  
Old February 19th, 2012, 06:44 AM
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great post!

This post should be printed out/linked to every cat owner!

with your permission, i will forward it to my friends who have cats and may not yet know of this forum!

great info

sandyrivers
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  #27  
Old May 9th, 2012, 09:09 AM
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Great list, some of these facts were really interesting. For example I have never heard about Feline AIDS.
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  #28  
Old July 18th, 2012, 09:46 AM
Biscotto87 Biscotto87 is offline
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Smile

14+kitties this was an amazing post!
Interesting and useful, I will forward the link to my friends.
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  #29  
Old November 11th, 2013, 03:46 PM
ichabod'smom ichabod'smom is offline
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thank you! i agree!
my least favourite is 'cats need to go outside'.
that makes me want to smack someone with a shovel!
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  #30  
Old January 6th, 2014, 12:58 AM
williamlillis williamlillis is offline
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Facts and Fallacies about cats

Its a wonderful post!! I agree with you.

These are the genuine facts and fallacies about cats. This post gives us more interesting information regarding our cats and their behavior.

Last edited by williamlillis; January 6th, 2014 at 01:17 AM.
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