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The Domestic Cat

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The Lovable Cat

The domestic cat is a wonderful and mysterious, cuddly yet wicked creature. She can be a perfectly content lap warmer one minute; a hissing marathon runner the next. But, that is what makes them so lovable! This lens includes, among other things, news articles related to the cat; links to cool cat products; cat adoption links; and information for keeping your cat fit.

Quick Cat Facts

Did you know...

Blue-eyed, white cats are often deaf.
Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.
A cat can jump 5 times as high as it is tall.
The lifespan of an outdoor-only (feral and non-feral) is about 3-5 years; an indoor-only cat can live 15 years and longer.
It has been scientifically proven that stroking a cat can lower one's blood pressure. (True, but when a cat scratches your leather couch, there goes the blood pressure!)

Cats in the News

Here are some newsworthy kitties.

For Cats, a Big Gulp With a Touch of the Tongue: It has taken four highly qualified engineers and a bunch of integral equations to figure it out, but we now know how cats drink. The answer is: very elegantly, and not at all the way you might suppose.
Cat survives 70-foot jump off W. Wash. bridge: A high-flying cat is banged up after jumping off a bridge in Kelso but should make a full recovery thanks to several local veterinarians who have donated their services.
Domestic tabby in SC adopts abandoned bobcats: In just a few months, three baby bobcats found in South Carolina could be a danger to a gray tabby named Zoe. But these days, the fuzzy felines are just members of the family for the nursing mother.
The Mind of a Cat Could Be 'Feline Groovy': A new campaign from Friskies presents cats as possessing the most fertile imaginations this side of a Silicon Valley idea incubator or a Madison Avenue brainstorming session.
Cat alerts man, pregnant woman to WL house fire: The pet cat who alerted a sleeping couple to a fire in a Wonder Lake house early Monday was missing hours later.
Cats Do Control Humans, Study Discovers: If you have ever pondered who's in control, you or your cat, a new investigation points to your cat.
'Ugly' Cat Proves Looks Aren't Everything: A cat aptly named Ugly is attracting a lot of attention at an Exeter veterinarian, where clients say they can't take their eyes off his striking appearance.
Clever cat earns GED on the Internet: It was only a matter of time before a cat got an online GED. But here's the real reason the cat, who received mostly As, got a diploma: to help the Better Business Bureau's expose Internet diploma mills.
Vets reattach cat's face: Me-ouch! Veterinarians on Tuesday performed an unusual surgery to reattach the face of a cat they believe was injured by a car's fan belt, probably because she tried to stay warm under the hood.
Cat lost in Yellowstone returned to Texas family: A cat lost in Yellowstone National Park in August has been returned to her family in Houston with the help of some West Yellowstone residents.
Dying owner leaves 32 cats with Ala. vets: Dying owner leaves 32 cats with Ala. vets Healthy felines left in crates with detailed notes about their care. Five veterinary clinics in eastern Alabama received 32 surprises in the last week: Healthy cats in containers
World's largest domestic cat: A cat in Reno has broken the Guinness world record for world's longest domestic cat.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that a 5-year-old Maine Coon named Stewie was certified as the new record holder after measuring 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail bone. That's a little more than 4 feet long.

Cat Links

Information on cat breeds, care, rescue, and adoption.

Animal Planet: Here you will find a cat breed directory, along with breed characteristics.
Cat Channel: Breed profiles, breeder directory and other useuful information.
The Cat Fanciers' Association: This site has information on cat shows, cat care, and many other topics.
Cat Rescue Groups Across the World: Cat rescue around the world.
CatStuff: Information Library about Domestic Cats: Lots of information, from choosing a litter box to cat humor (and maybe litter box humor)?
Cats With No Name: Great site for finding shelter or rescue groups in California.
Pet Education: This site has a lot of useful, expert info about cats and other pets. I had a cat that suffered urinary crystals, and I found a lot of helpful information on this site.
Petfinder: A great place to find a new pet. This site also includes a message board, library and store.
PetPlace: This site offers a library of information on cats and other pets.
Purebred Cat Breed Rescue - Purebred Cat Adoption: A resource for finding a Purebred Cat Breed Rescue for purebred cat adoption. Rescues listed by breed, purebred cat email lists & photogalleries of available cats.

The (Fat) Indoor Cat

We've all seen it, or at least heard of it. You might see a glimpse of a paw or the curl of a tail, but what really catches your eye is the enormous belly.

I always hear that the best thing you can do for your cat, is keep it indoors. I do this with my two cats, and it keeps them clean and safe. I have seen many dead cats on the roads in the last few years, and it's just sad. But on the other hand, my older cat is fat and the younger one is on his way. They have toys, a climbing post, and each other, but that's not enough. They are fed small portions of food a couple times a day, but still they gain weight. What can be done? Here are a few things that you can do, although some depend on your space and budget.

(Update: the cat in the above picture has gone from almost 24lbs to 17lbs. It took a few years, but it FINALLY happened!)

Keep your cat(s) food dish somewhere other than the floor. Make them jump up on a counter or table in order to get to their food. If you have a dog in the house, you probably already do this. If you have a two story home, keep the food on one story and the water on another. That way, they have to go up and down the stairs more. I started doing this in November 2009, and it has helped the Fat Cat above lose a little weight!
It's not enough to just leave cat toys on the floor for the cats to play with. You need to get involved in their playtime. My cats love the little furry mice that you can buy at most pet stores (or, plastic/rubber spiders)! I take some fishing line and sew it in to the mice so I can drag it around the house. (To make it even more fun for your cat, store the mouse in some catnip when you're not using it). You want your cats to jump as much as possible, so dragging the mouse along your bed (assuming your cat is allowed on your bed) and then on the floor and back up again is a good way for them to get a work out. If you have a cat tower, you can accomplish the same thing. Just make sure your cat doesn't run into the furniture while she's jumping! They get so excited sometimes, they don't look out for objects. Cats...just little kids with fur...
Some cats can be trained to walk on a leash. If you are lucky enough to have such a cat, you can place a harness and a leash on her and let her walk around the backyard, or take her for a walk. Just make sure you are quick enough to pick the cat up if danger is near.
If you have the budget and the space, you can buy an outdoor enclosure. These can consist of mesh tunnels connecting to a larger mesh play area, which you can purchase online. Or if you (or someone you know) have some carpentry skills, you can build your own using chicken wire, wood, bamboo, ect. You can create an enclosure that is connected to your house, with a cat door that lets the cat come in and out as she pleases. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you might want to place some type of material on the top to keep the cat dry. If you don't want your cat to have contact with the ground, you can build a floor or build it a few inches off the ground. And of course, add some potted catnip.

Ideas for Homemade Cat Toys

I've never been too impressed with the cat toys that are sold in pet stores. They are sometimes pricey, and if you have a cat that likes to chew they may not last long. Here are some ideas for making your own cat toys.

Rubber Band Rope
Both of my cats love rubber bands. I recently made a rope by tying some together. You can attach various objects to one end. The rubber bands are easy to replace if your cat breaks them, but make sure your cat doesn't eat them! (My younger cat likes to play with and eat rubber bands.)
Sock Toy
Place some catnip in a zipplock bag, and poke holes in it with a needle. Place this bag in an old sock. You can add a couple small bells or crinkly candy wrappers, if you want. When you're done adding the goodies, tie the end with string or sew it shut.
The Box Toy
Take a topless box and cut a hole in one side. Make sure the hole is big enough for your cat to fit through. Turn the box upside-down so that the bottom is now the top. Poke a couple small holes in the top. Attach some cat toys to some string, twine, ect., and place these inside the box with the other end of the string poking out of the holes. Tie knots at the end of the string, or tie it around a popsicle stick (this will prevent the string from being pulled through the hole).
The Attach-Just-About-Anything-to-Fishing-Line Toy
As the name suggests, you can attach just about any little piece of something to fishing line. I decided to attach a mouse tail (not from a real mouse, but from a cat toy!) to the end of my fishing line, and drag it across the floor. The cats go nuts! Of course, you have to be VERY careful and not get the fishing line wrapped around a paw. I usually make sure that my cats don't actually CATCH the item attached to the fishing line. You must be quicker than your cat in this sense.

The Domestic Cat Meets the Domestic Dog

When bringing home a cat that will live in the same household as a dog, it is a good idea to find a cat that has previously lived peacefully with a dog. My cat Tigger, had already lived with foster parents that had three dogs. He had no problem getting use to our dog. Of course, this all depends on the personality of the dogs and cats involved.

* It's a good idea to have the new cat and dog live in separate areas in the beginning (this also applies when you are introducing a new cat to an existing cat in your household). This can be anywhere from a few days to over a week.

* Introduce the cat and dog to each other's scent. Take a slightly damp washcloth or pet brush to accomplish this. You can leave this item in the room with the pet.

* If not much growling or hissing has gone on during the first few days, you can try letting the cat roam around the house while the dog is in another room. If things are looking good, try placing them in the same room while the dog is on a leash. This may not be necessary if the dog is not showing aggression towards the cat, but it never hurts to be safe!

Cat Products

Cat toys, enclosures, furniture, medicine, and more. Who says humans should have all the fun?

Cats-on-line: Cat-on-line manufactures high quality cat enclosures, cat pens, cages and metal fencing for your family and pet's security. Fence for pool enclosures, yards and much more.
Cat Claws: Shop online cat toys. Order cat products, cat furniture, and cat accessories for your home.
Cats Play: If you want to give your indoor cat his "heaven-on-earth", then you must at least browse this site. Oh my!
Doctors Foster & Smith: Cat supplies from Drs. Foster & Smith include products and supplies for kittens and adult cats.
Let Meow't: Window mounted cat patio and doors.
Metropawlis Pet Boutique: Metropawlis Pet Boutique: The Online Pet Boutique for the Uncommon Dog and Cat.
Soft Paws: Soft Paws are an alternative to declawing.
Wall Cats: Cat perches and cat ramps. A unique spin on cat furniture and cat trees.