Transcript Cats

Cats
Felis Catus
History
• First cat appeared 35 million years ago.
• Cats were domesticated about 4000 years
ago. Much later than dogs!
• This is probably due to its independent and
solitary nature.
• All modern cats can be traced to one of these
types of cats.
– African Wild Cat
– Jungle Cat
– European Wild Cat
Skeleton and Muscles
• Skeleton developed for speed and flexibility.
• Their skeleton contains 244 bones
– 40 more than humans
– Extras found in spine and tail
• 500 separate muscles, largest in rear for
running and jumping.
– 150 less than humans
– 30 in ears
– Large muscles found in hind legs
• Ears for hunting and are much more sensitive
than a humans.
• Cochlea-is an organ within the ear that allows
the cat to detect and locate sounds very
efficiently.
• Nose is especially sensitive, used to
investigate food, water, or unfamiliar objects.
• Nose receptor- located in the lining of the
nose- lets them pick up smell of airborne
items.
• Olfactory mucosa- this area is almost twice
the size of humans.
Eyes
• Cats have 3 dimensional vision
• THREE eyelids!
– Nictating Membrane- it moves diagonally across
eye under eyelid to help lubricate cornea.
•Kittens’ eyes stay closed for
about 10-12 days after birth!
•But it takes about 3 months
for them to be fully
developed!
• Cats can be divided into two categories:
– Long haired
– Short haired
• The average cat lives around 12-18 years but
healthy, indoor cats are known to live as long as
30 years.
• The cat's front paw has 5 toes and the back paws
have 4.
Interesting Facts
• A cat's hearing is much more sensitive than
humans and dogs.
• The cat's tail is used to maintain balance.
• Cats see six times better in the dark and at
night than humans
• On average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
• A domestic cat can run at speeds of 30 mph.
Reproduction
• The female cat reaches sexual maturity at
around 6 to 10 months and the male cat
between 9 and 12 months.
• Cats are pregnant for about 63 days. They can
have multiple litters in a year.
• They typically have 2-6 kittens per litter but
can have more.
• Kittens nurse for about 6 weeks before being
weaned from their mother.
Nutrition
• Cats are carnivores- eat small birds, mice, and other
small prey.
• Average cat eats commercial mixed food that is
composed of animal and plant products.
• All cats need taurine in their diet to avoid blindness.
• Cats must also have fat in their diet as they are
unable to produce it on their own.
• Cats require about twice as much protein as dogs do.
• The best source of protein is found in animal
products
• Should feed a commercial cat food.
3 Types of Cat food
• Canned food
– More protein
– higher water content.
– Higher fat levels
• Semi-moist food
– less expensive
– only 30% water
– added chemicals added to
– keep from spoiling or drying out!
• Dry food
– 10% water less fat, but also less protein
– Cats on dry food need additional water all the
time!
– May develop bladder problems- due to not
enough water in diet
– Keeps teeth clean
Exercise/training
• Depends on breed and home life (apartment vs.
farm)
• Apartment cats may need “toys” to keep active
• Train cat to use scratch post instead of drapes/
furniture
• Toilet training is easier with cats because the
naturally cover up their urine and feces.
• Cats can be trained to do tricks, such as jumping
through hoops, sitting, begging, and others.
Grooming/Care
• Long - haired cats
– Need daily care or hair will get tangled and matted
– Equipment needed:
• Comb
• nail clippers
• grooming brush made with natural bristles
• grooming powder
• Comb all areas with a wide-toothed comb
– after coat is free of tangles use fine part of comb
– brush fur out in opposite direction hair grows
– Sprinkle grooming powder in while brushing
• Short-haired cats
– grooming not necessary every day
– Equipment includes:
• fine toothed or flea comb
• rubber grooming brush
• Grooming
– comb through hair gently watching for burs, mats, or other
foreign objects
– avoid over brushing
• Ears
– check for mites (dark, crumbly residue in
ear). This can be treated with ear drops
from a vet.
• Eyes
– should be bright and clear, if staining
occurs, gently wash
• Teeth and Gums
– check for soreness, tartar build up must
be treated by a vet
• Claws
– require trimming, careful not to trim to
the pink area as this will cause pain and
bleeding.
– Cats using a scratching post don’t need
trimming very often.
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Independent and self-sufficient.
Make excellent companions.
Less care than dogs.
Fit well in most apartment settings.
Total cost is less, compared to a dog! (vet,
feed, etc.)
• They are clean, very
little house training!
• Be alert for signs of illness:
– Gums should be pale pink.
– Eyes bright and clear.
– Clean and shiny coat.
• Purchase kittens at
8-12 weeks of age.
Breeds
American Shorthair
• American Shorthair
• Brought to U.S. from England
• Affectionate, great lap cat,
easily disciplined and trained
• Very large cat, 14 lbs
• 34 recognized color patterns
Abyssinian
• One of the oldest breeds
known
• Descendant of Egypt and
worshiped as sacred
• Extremely affectionate,
quiet, highly intelligent,
and alert.
• Very active and can be
taught to retrieve!
Bombay
• Cross between Burmese and
American Short-hair
• graceful, charming, gets along
well with others
• Medium size
• Jet black with copper colored
eyes
Burmese
• Originated in the U.S.- 1930’s by crossing a
Siamese and Burma
• sweet disposition, stubborn, bossy. Like to be
held
• Upper respiratory diseases are common in
kittens especially if inbred
Devon Rex
• Crossed domestic cat with a feral
(wild)
• medium size
• wide based ears are set low; very
characteristic of breed
• likes people and can be taught to
retrieve
• Excellent climber
Japanese Bobtail
• Japanese origin; sign of good
luck
• affectionate, sweet, and loves
people
• medium to large size
• distinctive “short” (bob) tail is
kinked and hair forms a “pom”
• Care must be taken not to
hurt the sensitive tail area.
Maine Coon
• Origin unknown- possibly descendents of
Marie Antoinette’s Turkish Angoras
• Very large and long. Bushy tail, often tufts of
fur on ear-tips.
• Long hair, helps in Northeastern climate
• Prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis
• Above average intelligence, affectionate, easy
to train
Oriental Shorthair
• Multiple colors
• vocal, intelligent, witty,
elegant, dependent upon
people, playful
• medium size, can be
mistaken for Siamese
• Good health, except some
respiratory problems
Persian
• Oldest and most popular breed
• well-mannered, easygoing, quiet,
excellent apartment cats
• divided into 6 groups for showing
purposes, depending on eye and
coat color
• Some white are born deaf if blue
eyed or odd eyed (one blue/one
green)
• Require daily grooming, often
experience breathing problems
and clogged tear ducts
Ragdoll
• Originated in U.S. in 1960’s
• Named for its floppy posture when handled
• They have little fear or pain, docile, quiet, and
composed
• Large and heavy breed
Siamese
• One person cat, even within a
family
• vocal, loyal, fearless, unpredictable
• medium size, very long, refined
• very little pigmentation; mask, ear,
foot and tail tips
• Always has blue eyes
• Sensitive to vaccinations
Turkish Angora
• Polite, intelligent, and very responsive.
• Prefers a clean, almost spotless environment
• small to medium size
• use to be only white, now many colors
• Persian cousin
Scottish Fold
• Ears are folded downward
and forward- Natural
Mutation
• Excellent family cat, gets
along well with other cats or
dogs
• medium size
Sphynx
• Canadian origination- 1960’s
• Hairless, indoor cat
• Very dependent upon people for survival
• Constant purr, affectionate, body contact
• Needs to eat frequent meals because of its
lack to store body fat
• Body temperature is higher than normal