Category: Cats

All cats are active hunters, and not passive. They will hunt different types of prey depending on the size and environment in which they are housed. The diet of these feral cats varies depending on the types of animals that share its vast territory. But its main prey is on rats and birds of various kinds. Larger feral cat species such as lions and tigers will hunt larger herbivores. Tigers usually chase large herbivores, such as deer and sometimes cattle.

 

Cats are opportunists, and they will tend to eat anything that can be caught, which may range from small insects to turtle types. Fish also form an important part of the diet of some species. But domestic cats will always be happy to eat the food provided. However, there are also fussy cats, and if their diets suddenly changes, they may face starvation even though the alternative foods they are given are of no difference in it source of nutriance. Similarly, if the food given is stale, it may be ignored by the cat.

 

All cats rely primarily on their sense of smell to determine whether to eat a particular food or not. They will sniff it carefully before deciding whether to taste it. In the case of a cat that has had a respiratory illness, persuading it to eat normally often proves to be very difficult, simply because its sense of smell may be affected.

 

While many owners now use prepared food or canned cat food for their pets, some still prefer to prepare fresh food. These need to be cooked and left to cool before being given to cats. Lungs, liver, and other types of organ meats are often used as cat food, but in the long run, these foods are deficient in nutrition.

 

Wild cats eat it whole, all of their prey, but domestic cats fed on organ meat will not have access to the skeleton, which contains most of the body’s calcium reserves. As a result, cats will experience skeletal weakness. This is especially true in the case of kittens, which are fast growing. It’s not just deficiencies that can be harmful. Even too many liver organs in a cat’s diet will lead to an excessive diet of vitamin A. This condition will cause an odd or abnormal cat skeleton. This can cause bone fusion in the cat’s painful shoulder.

 

Even fresh food can be used occasionally, especially to tempt a sick cat’s appetite. Don’t forget the importance of mixing these foods with appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements, after consulting your veterinarian. Especially if you intend to use this type of diet for your cat for a set period of time.

 

While there is a common myth that feeding raw meat to domestic cats can evoke aggressive habits, this is not true. But there are possible risks especially with the high number of animals processed in modern meat packing plants. Such foods can be contaminated by a variety of potentially harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella. It is also possible that your cat will get sick as a result, or may acquire parasites. Therefore cooking all meats is highly recommended in any situation as a safety measure.

 

The risk of such infections is much lower in the wild. This is simply due to the fact that the cat hunts and kills individual animals and eats them almost all at once. Thus, eliminating the risk of cross -infection at this time.

 

The sad fact for a domestic cat is the possibility of it catching a bird or a rat. The hunting instincts of domestic cats remain strong, but they can have trouble killing their prey. Cats will carry or drag their catch a long distances from where they are caught. This is an instinctive attempt to stop other predators from taking it.

Cats and boxes, the most suitable things like peanut butter and jelly. Like many strange things your cat has ever done, scientists also cannot completely solve the mystery of cats with box codes, but experts have found that there are certain advantages and reasons that boxes can give to cats. Because cats are predators who like to ambush, boxes provide a good hiding place for them to hunt prey. We do not often see cats exhibiting this behavior outside the home, but they still mimic this behavior indoors. Obviously something else is going on between the cat and the box.

 

A cat that ‘if I can fit, that’s where I’ll sit’. You have to know that cats are used to choosing an odd place to rest, some will wrap like a ball in the sink, some like to sleep by the shoes, bring a small chair and other space that looks small or confined. Sounds odd doesn’t it?

 

Curious why is that so? When we introduce these empty boxes to our cats, they will begin to investigate the objects carefully. They are already familiar with every square inch of their area, so when something new comes in, they are clearly very curious. When the curiosity is gone, the natural behavior continues to cause this cute ones to jump in to play inside.

 

Some even explain that the box that cats like to enter mimics the comfort or body temperature that the kitten mother gives to the kitten when the kitten is snugging its mother. In addition, while sitting in a box, there is also an explanation that the cat’s body will release endorphins which allows the effect of reducing stress for the cat. Put a blanket in a box about the right size for your cat and it will probably be one of his favorite places to sleep. Confined spaces always provide a sense of security, and boxes help them keep their body warm.

 

Is box only for domesticated cats? When asked, “Why do cats like boxes?” You may also be wondering, “Do their big cousins ​​like the tigers also like boxes?” Domestic cats are not the only ones who enjoy the box. Big cats are also his fans. The only difference is the bigger the cat, the bigger the box! Laugh when people tells you that this is real truth.

 

The type of box you should and should not give to your cat. One of the things to consider when contemplating, “Why do cats love boxes?” is the type of box you sholud provide for your cat. Setting up a box is a great way to create a better environment. A small box that can be placed on a toy tree is the most popular box for some cats while some cats prefer box which is used as a hiding place close to the floor. Try out with your cat which one it likes best. Sooner or later you will get the right one for your pet cat.

 

If you are using a recycling box for your cat, make sure the box is safe to use. Safety precaution you should keep in mind is to inspect all hazardous parts of the box such as staples, handles, tape and so on. It should not result in any way which may suffocate or may be fatal if swallowed. Do not cover your cat in a box and leave it inside. Cats do not like to feel trapped and that is the feelings that your cat is not looking forward to.

 

The power of the box is already very clear. Cats provided with a box to hide and holed up are said to recover faster in their new environment than cats without a box to shield. In short, the hiding box is one of the most important things in a cat’s life. It is like a sanctuary.

Cats are often considered less intelligent than dogs, probably because they do not respond to training and the command such as “sit” and will rarely do tricks. It is questionable whether extraordinary action performance is necessarily equal to high intelligence tendencies. Or maybe the cat is better at channeling its brain power into different behaviors, such as living techniques and adapting to environmental changes. And is it possible that cats are considered smarter than dogs to the question of reasoning behind its maneuvering, or obeying orders?

 

Young cats begin to show predatory behavior at the age of six weeks. In the wild, mother cats will carry prey to kittens. In domestic conditions, a mother cat carries small pieces of meat to the kitten box, making a special encouraging sound to attract the attention of her kitten. Mother cats often pat the meat, teaching kittens to pounce on it. In their developmental stages, kittens begin to practice hunting, bowing, robbing, and making derogatory attacks on their mates. The mother cat waved its tail, teasing her children to pounce and catch it.

 

Adult cats prefer to hunt on their own within their own area. Some cats roam the distance from home to visit their favorite hunting areas, and, sometimes, cats from the same family learn to hunt collaboratively. Acute vision and excellent vision in low light allow cats to be effective as well as stealth hunters. Cats often lie in ambush, infinite patience for their prey to emerge from their shelter. The cat attack projection is in a curved jump, grips an elongated claw, and kills with a deadly bite on the creature’s neck. Hungry cats will kill their prey relatively quickly, while well-fed cats, strongly stimulated by the passion for chasing and catching, often play with prey for some time before finally killing the prey.

 

Playing with prey provides cats with the opportunity to practice their trapping techniques. Although for centuries cats have been domesticated, most cats will hunt if given the chance. If you keep your pet cats entirely indoors, you should compensate for the loss of their hunting opportunities by providing plenty of toys, and encourage them to play catch, hit and catch games. Such stimulation and exercise keep them healthy, prevent them from becoming overweight, and can help to ensure their survival if they get lost.

 

Throughout the life of the cat, its behavior is controlled by natural patterns inherited from its wild ancestors. We will always see our beloved cats play hunting with toys and other cats. They play the action of killing the victim and usually among the kittens themselves. Cats are very curious creatures. They will explore and play with anything that moves. So don’t forget to give them lots of toys if you have pet cats.

 

Would you believe me if I tell you that the cat’s waking period is very short. Even felines rest such a great amount of time that when a feline is 9 years of age, it has just been wakeful for only 3 years of its life. One-third of the cat’s wake time is usually used for self-cleaning. Cats will sleep for 16 hours a day. So don’t be alarmed when you see your cat sleeping most of the time.

Did you know that your cat’s sleeping position can reveal its personality. Let us explore the following four positions that can tell us how and why our cats display them. Wouldn’t it be fascinating?

Sleeping Position: Worm Curl
Meaning: Don’t play with my feet when I am sleeping.
Do you like someone playing with your feet while you are sleeping? There are some very interesting things about the way a cat sleeps. Not only are our furry friends that are sometimes hard to predict, their stomachs are also the weakest part of them.
Although they love to be touched and petted, but like human beings, sleeping in a ‘curled worm’ position can give them the greatest comfort and security. So when they are sleeping like that, we should be careful not to go for their feet. As we learn and understand our pet more in depth, we will know how to respond and act on it. With this understanding, cats and their owners will live more harmoniously.

Sleep Position: Covering its face with its paws
Meaning: I like a dark bedding.
When a cat covers its face with its soft, small paws during its sleep, this shows that the cat likes to sleep in a room or around the room that is dark with minimum lightings.
This type of sleep also shows that the cat does not like his feet to be meddled during its sleep. When we know what it represents, then we can act accordingly. Do not turn on the light or bright light. Sometimes cats don’t like to be touched when they are in this position.

Sleep Position: Stomach exposed
Meaning: I trust you completely.
The stomach is the weakest part of the cat and because cats are animals known to be from the tiger family, they have a natural ability to protect themselves from any threat.
So, if your cat cuddles up and sleeps with her stomach exposed, this means that your furry friend trusts you completely and puts her safety in your hands. At the same time, it may also be testing your confidence.
While this may give their owners a chance to play with the fur on their stomachs, you need to be careful of stray cats when you touch them. It is due to them not recognizing you and one wrong step may lead to them scratching or stabbing you with their claws.

Sleep Position: Hugging each other
Meaning: We love each other more than you.
If your home has more than one cat and they always hug each other during their sleep, this shows that the cat is more trustworthy than its owner. Cats that spend most of their time with other cats will have less interaction between the cat and its owner. This means that your cat is less social, especially with you.
When you look at this position, you should try to spend more time with your beloved cat. Therefore, the cat owner should make sure that such behaviour should be stopped and not encouraged. This means your cat is more comfortable with the other cat than you. It is not good. It can also mean that your cat is unhappy. Therefore, try to improve this situation.

Cats have become one of the earliest domesticated animals in human history. Historically, cats have been domesticated over 9,500 years ago, around 7500 BC. They have many positive features and uses including their cuteness and minature size making it one of the best pets to raise.

It is believed that many people have read or heard many stories that cats came from Egypt. Actually cats come from many corners of the globe. However, it is believed that cats were originally raised in Egypt. Cats were greatly respected in Egypt in ancient times and even pharaohs “worshiped” cats. History has shown that there are numerous cat statues found in the Egyptian court confirming that the cat had a place in the royal family.

It is well known that cats have many purposes and are of great help to humans, which is why their popularities are growing. Cats live and stay besidehumans while carrying out their jobs together. During that time he has also became a farmer’s friend. Farmers will raise cats to get rid of mice and small animals from their fields as well as grain storage homes. Not only cats kill mice but other pests that destroy the farm. Cats are also used to drive away birds who come to eat the produce of farmers.

In addition to using cats to work on farms and in grain storage houses, cats also act as protectors of the family of farmers and from wild animals. Usually during farming, there are many dangerous wildlife and pests including reptiles. Farmers will usually have many cats to deter wildlife and especially so to eliminate “enemies” such as snakes.

Cats have limble, flexible body, yet having a strong body. The cat’s reflex is so fast that it can catch a bird flying over its head. It has sharp teeth and retractable nails that have been customized to kill small animals. Cats have excellent vision in the animal kingdom and can see in the almost zero darkness. Their sense of smell is much better than human. Cats can hear very high pitched sounds outside the range of human hearing as well as very low noise.

It has been noted that most female cats favor the “right” hand (paw), and most male cats favor the “left” hand. However, cats can be left or right, just like humans. Studies have shown that more than eighty percent of cats are left or right, leaving the rest smart cats with both hands equally dominant.

Cats naturally come with short or long hair types. But there are also breeds known as Sphynx cats that do not have fur. This breed is created through selective breeding. Usually the life spand of a cat is between 12 and 18 years.

If you have a pet cat, you will wonder why your cat sleeps almost all day. Is it boredom without chasing after your mouse or cat? Or maybe cats are the kind of animals that are active at night? You may be surprised by this fact; cats sleep for 16 hours every day. This means cats are awake only one-third of the day. Are you impressed by the facts above?

Food that is good for us is not always appropriate for our pets. Cats that are choosy with foods and at times foods that we think are good for them may endanger their health. In fact, you may be surprised at some of the common foods that should not be given to your cat.

Milk and dairy products. Although cats love drinking milk, it is not always good for them. Milk are not the nutrients that cats need and most cats cannot withstand the lactose that exists in milk. During kittens stage, are they introduced to lactose through feeding on their mother’s milk and that is only for several weeks. Their digestive system is often not made to regulate lactose. Lactose, which is a sugar that cannot be digested, will draw water into the cat’s intestines. Therefore, it can cause various diarrhea-related health problems.

Onions of all kinds. Garlic, red, powdered, raw, cooked, or leaves can break a cat’s red blood cells and cause anemia. Why? Because garlic contain sulphide and disulfide. Small quantities are not a problem but if they are consumed in large quantities, it can cause serious toxicity, damaging to health such as fatigue, significant weight loss and gastrointestinal problems.

Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, alcoholic beverages are not good for your cat. All drinks that affect humans, have the same effect on the cat’s heart and brain. Alcohol is highly toxic to cats because it can be absorbed into the body rapidly. The only difference between humans is that this drink destroys the cat’s system twice as fast as humans. Only two tablespoons of whiskey can cause serious harm to a cat weighing 2.2kg, and additional one teaspoon will probably kill the cat. You should not hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you suspect your cat may have been poisoned by alcohol.

Dog food. Share your dog food occasionally if there is no danger to your cat. Both cat and dog food have similar ingredients. However, cat food is a special food processed to meet the nutrients and vitamins a cat needs. Therefore, a dog food diet is not a helthy diet for your cat.

Wine and Raisins. Grapes and raisins are often used as rewards or treats for pets. But this practice is not a good idea. Although experts are still unclear why grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats or a small amount can make your cats sick, it is important to monitor these signs. Repeated vomiting and hyperactivity are the first signs.

Dough yeast. Before it bakes, the bread dough rise in expansinon and this condition will occur in your cat’s stomach if the cat eats it. The dough will expand in the cat’s stomach. It can swell in the stomach and cause severe pain. In addition, when yeast makes the dough rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Caffeine. The caffeine contained in tea, coffee can be very dangerous for your cat. In addition to tea and coffee, caffeine can be found in peanuts, stimulant drinks and children’s favorite foods, chocolate. Remember, there is no cure for this condition. A small amount of caffeine can cause anxiety, shortness of breath and fast heart rate pulses. However consuming too much is fatal.

Chocolate. The toxin that is in chocolate is theobromine and it is present in every kind of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and chocolate for baking. Eating chocolate can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures including death. It is also found in some cough and painkillers medicine. Can the theobromine content be removed from chocolate? The answer is no. A little chocolate will not kill a cat. Eating too much especially dark chocolate can continue to be a medical emergency. Baking chocolate for cake making is considered the worst and has very high theobromine content, followed by milk chocolate and white chocolate.

Fats and bone intake. Leftovers from the table often contains fats cut off from the flesh and bones. Both fats and bone may be harmful to cats. Fat, whether cooked or uncooked, can irritate the gut, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cats can choke on big bones or sharpen after being bitten, such as chicken feet. A bone splinters will become a hindrance or a blow to your cat’s intestines and digestive system.

Raw egg. There are two problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria such as salmonela or E coli. Raw eggs pose a risk of contamination. If your cat eats raw eggs that are contaminated by bacteria or the like, they can become very ill through food poisoning. The second is a rare problem where the protein in the raw egg white, avidin, can interfere with the absorption of biotin B vitamins. This can continue to cause skin problems as well as your cat’s fur.

Cats are carnivorous species that need meat as their basic food and keeping your cat healthy is the responsibility of every pet owner. Be sure to check the contents of each meal.

Cats has been one of the earliest animals to be domesticated in the history of humankind. According to history, cats were domesticated as far back as 9,500 years ago which should be around 7500 BC. It has a lot of positive features and usefulness including being cute and small size makes it one of the best animals to keep.

I believe readers have read or heard a lot of stories that cat originated from Eygpt. Actually cats comes from mostly all parts of the world. However it is believed that cats were initially domesticated in Egypt. The cats were highly revered in Eygpt in the oldern days that even the pharaohs “worship” them. History has shown that there were a lot of cat statues found in the Egyptian palace verifying that cat has a place in the royal family.

As said before that cats has a lot of usefulness and of great help to humans, that is how they flourish. Cats were domesticated and live side by side with man working and may some time enjoying each other company. Farmers would keep cats to get rid of mice and small animals from their fields and the storage house. Not only do cat kills rats but other pests that destroy the farmers agriculture. They were also useful in chasing away birds that comes and eat their harvest.

Besides utilsing the cats to work in their fields and godowns, cats also acts as protector for the farmers animals and family. Usually when farming, there are a lot of dangerous wild animals and pests including reptiles. Farmers usually will have a lot of cats to keep wild animals away and notoriously to eliminate snakes.

Cats has a flexible and nimble body yet strong. Their refexes are so quick that they can even catch a bird flying over their head. They have sharp teeth and retractable claws that has been adapted to killing small prey. They have very good vision among animals and can see in near darkness. Their sense of smell is much more better than that of human. Cats can hear very high pitch sound beyond the hearing of human and very faint sound.

It has been observed that most female cats are right-pawed, and most male cats favour their left paws. However cats can be lefties and righties, just like us. Study has shown that more than eighty percent of them are either lefties and righties, leaving the rest as ambidextrous.

Cats naturally come with short or long hair. There is even a breed called Sphynx cat which do not have a coat. This breed is created or developed through selective breeding. The lifespan of a cat is usaully between 12 to 18 years.

If you have a pet cat, you would be wondering why your cat sleeps most of the day. Could it be that they have not mice to catch or not happy? Or is it that cats are noctornal? You will be surprised by this one fact that cat sleep 16 hours of any given day. This means that one third of cats’ time spent awake is usually spent cleaning themselves.

The not so “bright” sides of Cats
Statistics in the United States have shown that animals “putting to sleep” in shelters and animal control pounds were fairly high and is the main cause of death for domesticated cats. The number which was taken in year 2006 has shown that about 66% entering those facilities were killed. There were numbers indicating about 32% were adopted and 2% of it were reunited with their owners which were not encouraging.
Although the statistics were from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy Statistics Survey, it can be considered comprehensive as the survey was done annually on about 5,000 shelters. And there were recent studies done which were not so on a large scale as most of the shelters and pounds were “not so cooperative” since this is a sensitive issue. Indicators received and estimation from those involved demonstrated that the numbers were more or less the same.
Against domesticated cats, feral cats’ faith were much more pitiful as it was an almost 100% “death” rate for this category of cats in pounds and shelters. This has cause wild life advocates to pursue and demand for more transparency in dealing with this category of cats. With more and more pressure from this group of advocates, those people caught in this “cross-fire” are in a state of ambiguity.
As can be expected of this category of feral cats which do not mingle or socialized with humans, there is no possibility, no chance to be adopted as they will not fit into normal household dwellings. Even owners of these so-called “exotic pets” usually do not come forward to claim it bearing the consequences of the law. Therefore the only conclusion anyone can draw for these animals is death which has been a debate for quite some time.
Even though there were no actual numbers known for these feral cats, the numbers from related source has shown that the population of feral cats and domesticated cats were more or less the same which stood at 81 million.
Non-profit organizations and animal welfare group are of the same opinion and have always believed that the leading cause of death for cats has been in these animal pounds and shelters whether it is public or private funded ones. As there were not much publication on this matter, since not all the states impose the need to report the fate of the animals in the pounds and shelters. Those states that require reports from pounds and shelters usually do not make the reports accessible to the public. The collection of these crucial data and the process of studying this issue has been thinly scattered.
As this is a controversial issue, there is no sure-win solution or a “one-solution-for-all” since both sides has its “story” to tell. Therefore the alternative help to avoid “putting to sleep” especially domesticated cats, is to advocate adoption which in another way reduces the “unwanted” domesticated cats which were put to sleep. Educating the general public and it awareness has a huge positive effect as per the recent publication.