Kitty Facts

You have probably heard many interesting facts about cats like they have more bones than humans; they can feel with their whiskers, their urine glows in the dark, etc. Here are a few more interesting facts about your cool felines.

• What’s in a name: A group of cats is called a Clowder, a male cat is called a Tom, a female cat is called a Molly or Queen while young cats are called Kittens and a group of kittens is called a Kindle.


• Snoozing beauties: If you love to sleep for extended hours, here’s competition. Cats conserve energy by sleeping for an average of 13 to14 hours a day. At this rate, a 15 years old cat must have slept for 10 years!


• Sounds for you: A cat rarely meows at another cat…she uses this ability for communicating with humans.


• No sweats: Cats cannot sweat because they do not have sweat glands.


• Dining etiquettes: Ever wondered why your cat eats from clean bowl only? Cats are very meticulous…they like routine…a quiet spot, same time, same place to eat and the bowl clean without any traces of previous meal.


• Not just nose to smell: Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson’s organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.


• No trails behind: Even Sherlock Holmes would be left behind with his head scratching! Cats can be lethal hunters and very sneaky. They can walk their back paws step almost exactly in the same place as the front paws, which keeps noise to a minimum and limits visible tracks.


• Natural pain killers: Cats have an amazing tolerance for pain because they are blessed with endorphins or pain killers.


• Cat with a family: Lion is the only social cat who lives in groups, called prides and has a family life, just like you and me!


• Pseudo-hunting pleasure: Have you ever seen your kitty looking at the bird and then chattering her teeth? This is because she is doing the vacuum activity, where she is performing the killing bite, even though the prey is not in her mouth.

Is your kitty suffering from Separation anxiety

Do you often come home to shredded couch and tattered cushions? Do you find your kitty going berserk when you are about to leave home? Does your feline friend greet you with frantic joy when you return home after a long day at work? If you have been observing these and many other signs in your feline friend, don’t take the matter lightly. Your kitty could be suffering from what is known as the separation anxiety. Here’s how to handle it.

Cats suffer from separation anxiety, recent studies conducted by animal behaviour specialists have shown that our feline friends also crave for constant companionship and get flustered when they don’t find their pet parents around. Unlike dogs who howl loudly and get uncontrollably aggressive, cats are more subtle when it comes to displaying signs of separation anxiety.

You have got to have a keen eye to understand what your kitty is trying to tell you. Here are few signs to look out for, to find out if your cat is suffering from separation anxiety:

Extreme attachment: Is your kitty so attached to you that she follows you around the house? Does she mingle as freely with the other members in your family as she does with you? Cats suffering from separation anxiety show extreme attachment to their owners. Extreme dependency and clinginess could indicate separation anxiety in cats.

Pre-separation blues: When you are leaving home, do you find your cat displaying unusual behaviour like incessant meowing, hiding, sulking, etc. These behaviour changes indicate the pre-separation blues your cat is going through when you are about to leave home and the ways she is trying to grab your attention to stop you from leaving.

Desolation distress: When left alone at home your cat would express her dismay by

• Meowing and moaning loudly.


• Refusing to eat food even if it is her favourite food in the feeding bowl.


• Displaying aggressiveness by scratching doors, walls and fighting with cushions.


• Urinating and defecating near the door, on your clothes and at other inappropriate places.


• Compulsive self-grooming and excessive licking to the point of developing bald spots on her skin.

Joy of companionship: Upon reaching home, do you find your kitty greeting you like you have been away for years? Chances are that she has been really missing you and is now overjoyed at your return. Now that you are sure that your feline friend is struggling with separation anxiety. Here are few things you can do to get hold of the situation:

Your attitude: Don’t pay attention to your cat when you are preparing to leave and for few minutes after you reach home. By not paying heed to her until she calms down and behaves normally, you can reinforce good behaviour in your cat.

Training to stay alone: Let your kitty get used to the idea of being alone. Start by leaving her alone in the house for few minutes on a regular basis and slowly increase the time span. That way she would get over her fear of being alone and become more independent.

Reinforcing positive things with being alone: Distract your kitty by bringing out her favourite toy or a treat filled toy when you are leaving. Remove these toys when you get back home so that your kitty gets to enjoy these toys only when she is all alone. This would cause her to associate positive experiences with being alone and she would begin to look forward to the alone time.

No boredom blues: Make the environment at home more comfortable and stimulating so that your kitty is entertained and distracted from the thoughts of loneliness. A comfortable couch near the window from where your curious kitty can enjoy a nice view, a nice toy to cuddle with, climbing structures to help her move around freely and some food dispensing toys can go a long way in staving off boredom and keeping your kitty engaged.

Make her a family cat: Acquaint your cat with all members in the family. Encourage others to take turns in feeding her, playing with her and grooming her. That way your cat will become more amiable and you can have others to take care of her when you are not around.

Seek vet’s advice: Discuss this problem with the veterinarian. Your vet would be able to analyse the underlying cause of separation anxiety and prescribe some medications if needed.

Conquering separation anxiety takes time. Be patient and supportive towards your cat and she would be able to boost her confidence and become more comfortable with the idea of being alone.

Diet for your senior kitty

As our cats get older, it is very important to provide them with a good and healthy diet. Here are a few tips to choose the best diet for your ageing kitty.

• Good feeding plan. Setting a good feeding plan throughout their lives is the best way to maintain a happy and healthy cat who lives a happy and fit old age.


• Choose high quality food designed for senior cats. As cats get older they are far less active and their energy decreases so they do not require the same amount of food that they needed when they were younger. Some fat is needed in the diet but this should be reduced although not totally cut out. Senior cat food takes this into consideration and provides them with the vitamins, nutrients and fat that they require.


• Always choose food that your cat eats and enjoys. As they get older cats often lose some of their teeth and their gums may not be quite as strong and healthy as when they were younger. So, choose a diet which they can eat properly.


• Give protein to maintain their muscle tone and immune system. Beef, poultry, fish or lamb is preferable and better than protein from sources such as wheat or corn. A cat's system can use meat-based protein far better than plant-based protein. Approximately one-thirds of the diet should be made up of meat-based food and therefore also provide about one-thirds of their required calories.


• Provide two or three small meals a day for a senior cat than one large meal. If you are using canned food, always remove the uneaten portion after 30 minutes to prevent the food from spoiling. Some cats, who are not inclined to be obese, can be given a little food to nibble on during the day. If you have younger cats in the house it might be wise to feed your senior animals away so that the younger animals cannot reach it.


• No to treats and table scraps. It is not a good idea to give your cat, of any age, table scraps or regular treats.


• Provide your cat with fresh water at all times – especially cats who may have kidney problems.


• Watch the litter tray. It is important to watch their litter tray to make sure that their waste is not too loose as there may be insufficient fibre in the diet. If this continues for any length of time, always consult your veterinarian who will give your cat a full examination and make suggestions regarding a suitable diet to maintain good health.

(Joan Henderson is based in Australia and she has judged furry felines in many other countries including USA, Bermuda, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines and New Zealand)

Do’s and Don’ts for your kitty treats

Like humans, your kittens may like a different treat. Here are a few treats you can give to your feline friends:

• You may give upto a quarter cup of milk at a time, but more may cause diarrhoea.


• You can give yogurt for calcium and digestion.


• You may mix yoghurt with a small dash of taurine powder, a flavour the cats like and is good for them.


• Protein-based meat, poultry and fish are good for your cat. Just make sure there are no fish bones.


• Treats should not form more than half the diet.


• Avoid garlic and onion seasonings as these are toxic for cats.


• You can give Dental Chews or Greenies for cats in the recommended quantities.

(Kit Humphrey, featured columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a retired physician from Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US.)

Kitty etiquettes -Jan 10

A well-behaved cat is simply a darling! Here are a few common behavioural problems and the ways to tackle them.

Toilet training…

Though it is not a common problem for a cat owner but in some cases it may be quite serious. Housebreaking means that cat always goes outside for urination or defecation or uses the litter box for this purpose. Feral cats defecate or urinate at the same places to mark their territory. These cats do not scratch dirt over their faeces or urine like domestic cats and leave the faecal matter exposed. Toms are prone to spay urine over objects within their territory, whenever they sense a female cats in estrous. These cats scatter the faecal material in the nearby areas of original deposits. This behaviour is used as a form of communication by cats. If a domestic cat goes outdoors to defecate or urinate, he may use this material to mark his territory and to make sexual communication.

Tips to follow: (a) Litter box – Indoor cats, who do not have access to outside, should be provided with a litter box. It should be cleaned everyday as cats are clean in nature and they prefer clean areas for defecation and urination. It is recommended that a litter box should be available for each cat and boxes should be kept in the same place in a consistent manner. Boxes should be placed in those areas where cats can have their privacy. The area should be disinfected on a regular basis. Choose from different types of boxes and litter available in the market.

b) Diet scheduling- Diet and timing for meals should be kept consistent as frequent change in diet will result in upset stomach. Sudden change from dry food to canned food will result in indigestion and the consistency of faecal matter. The diet should be changed gradually to avoid the drastic change in the timing of defecation. Fresh water should be available for your cat, specifically if she is on dry food. Discuss this with your veterinarian to develop a diet schedule for your cat.

The bedlam…

Another very common problems pet parents experience is the howling, meowing, crying or screeching of cats. The cat may cry even in the absence of pet parents and it sometimes becomes a nuisance for neighbours.

Tips to follow: Crying behaviour is often a sign of frustration and is an attention seeking behaviour. In such cases, you may take your cat on a lap or pet your cat. It is a highly reinforcing situation for your cat and he may exhibit this behaviour quiet often. In such conditions, you should try to ignore your cat that is don’t look at him, touch him or talk to him.

Heat periods...

During estrous, the female cats may cry or wail all day and night. Likely the toms are equally obnoxious as he will spray urine all over the place to mark his scent.

Tips to follow: Neutering will solve problem of crying and is also a good tool for birth control programme as so many unwanted kittens are born every year.

(Dr Geeta Sharma is MVSc (Surgery and Radiology) and MBA. She has been acclaimed by the ‘Limca Book of Records 2008’ for being the youngest female veterinarian to do the ovariohysterectomy (spraying) in female dogs in shortest span of time. She got training from Australian society ‘Vets Beyond Borders’. She can be contacted at geetasharmavet@gmail.comor 9711144506).

Grooming the lil' kitty

A large part of a cat’s day is spent on grooming in order to keep her coat in pristine condition. However, we as a per parent play a large part in keeping our cat clean and healthy and this must never be forgotten if we want a happy and contented cat.

Start early

Make your kitten accustomed to grooming tools right from day one. Little kittens do not need much grooming care, but when they have been introduced to grooming while young, they will not struggle against it when they mature.

Brushing

Brushing should be done regularly and should be a pleasurable experience for both the cat and you. Regular coat care keeps the fur free of ticks and fleas, prevents the coat from matting and being tangled which is very painful for the cat and helps to remove dandruff flakes that develop.

Twice yearly, when preparing for the summer and winter, your cat will thin or fill out her coat. This is less noticeable in cats who are kept indoors than those who live outside, but it nevertheless occurs. Brushing will remove the excess fur and at these times should be done daily; to prevent formation of hairballs in the cat’s stomach when she swallows hair while self- grooming. This can cause very serious health problems and this is why brushing is so important.

Nail clipping

The front claws should be clipped as needed. There are several types of nail clippers available; be sure to get one suited especially for cats. The thin red line in the nail, the quick, is where the vein begins. Do not cut into this as it will be very painful for your pet and will bleed. If you have not yet learned how to trim properly or if you are afraid of hurting your cat, just trim off the very tip where the nail is most pointed. You can use an emery board (nail file) to smooth the tip down so it is not rough and can scratch you. You can also take your cat to a professional groomer or a veterinarian.

Ears

It is very important that you take great care of a cat’s ears. They should be wiped out with cotton occasionally. Mites can accumulate in the ears and the brown matter that you see is generally caused by mites which really need to be eradicated immediately. Your veterinarian can also show you the correct way to do this but you must be very careful and not push the cotton too deep into the ear drum. Never put anything into the ear canal. Cats’ ears are very sensitive, and you can do permanent damage or injury to your pet if you are careless about ear care.

Eyes

Cat’s eyes are generally kept clean by the cat herself unless they have an infection or disease which needs to be attended to. The matter that appears daily in the corners of the eye is usually cleaned by the cat but keep a watch to make sure that this does not build up and create a problem. Some cats are quite lazy about eye care and you need to help them to keep their eyes clean at all times.
Bathing

The best rule about bathing a cat is to do so only when the cat needs it. Show cats become used to this very early in their life but household pets keep their coat clean themselves. Use a shampoo, especially made for cats. Wash your cat in warm water, using as little shampoo as possible, and make sure that you completely rinse the shampoo out. If too much shampoo is left on the coat, then the skin oils dry out and the cat scratches a lot. Make sure you towel dry the cat thoroughly so that she does not remain damp and catch a cold. It is best to bathe her inside in a warm room and keep her confined until totally dry.

Grooming tips for longhairs

• Longhair cats need combing and brushing daily to keep their coats clean and sparkling.


• After bathing it takes some time to GENTLY comb out any tangles from the coat and then carefully brush the cat until she is completely dry and comfortable.


• Longhairs need more bathing than the shorthaired cats do as they can pick up bits of rubbish and dust in their coat which becomes tangled and uncomfortable.

Always remember that a cute, fluffy kitten with a reasonably short coat, will grow into an adult with a long coat that needs a great deal more care than a shorthaired cat. Persians and all longhair cats make very affectionate companions, but they do need to be groomed daily or you will be facing an unhappy cat with a matted and tangled coat.

It is one of the major responsibilities of a cat owner that they keep their cats clean, healthy and with sparkling, shiny coats. Think about tangles in your own hair and consider how uncomfortable this is for a cat.

Well! I ain't regular kitty

Muffin, my pet kitty is different...for all the good reasons, for sure. She is our loving furry friend. She came as a small ball of fur to us, when she was just one and half month old. One look at her, and we all fell for her and her cuddly cute antics further made us go crazy about her. We have two pet dogs also and they all share a wonderful rapport, in fact they all are inseparable. Cleo - my pet dog is Muffin’s better buddy and they roam, crawl and glide pawing each other from one room to another. She takes all the pride in drinking water from the dog’s bowl...their camaraderie is unmatched... true partners in mischief. Muffin, like a shadow follows him everywhere...even in the bathroom and they both have developed a habit of sleeping in the bathroom.

Muffin loves water; she skips our eyes and sits under running water, bathing to her heart’s content. Once, she just left us with fits of laughter, when she rushed to the bathroom and got herself completely drenched. Her curiosity is so strong that once she ended up in the toilet pot, luckily it was recently flushed and my brother saw and rescued her. Jokes apart! Our fun loving feline is a well-mannered cat, she sleeps in her basket, knows where the litter basket is and meows when she wants attention...she is a wonderful darling. We are glad to have her in our life.