Let's Go For A Walk!

Why should dogs have all the fun? Many indoor cats would love to go outside and
enjoy the sun but it is often far too dangerous to let them simply wander about as they
please. Busy roads, large dogs and careless people are hazards many of us don't want our
cats exposed to. So why not teach him to walk on a leash?

    But cats don't walk on leashes! That's the sentiment many people have when the
idea is first introduced. It's true that some cats will absolutely have nothing to do with the
whole business. They apparently think it is entirely beneath them to be seen out of doors
on a leash. What would the neighbors think! Fortunately, there are other cats willing to
entertain the idea and some who actually come to like their walks. There really isn't any
way of knowing which way your cat will turn out unless you try. Let's get started.

    The first thing you will need is a properly fitting harness and a light weight leash.
It doesn't need to be fancy, just sturdy and well made. Trying to teach your cat with only
a collar is not a good idea. Pressure around their necks seems to make some cats freeze.
You want to teach him to move forward, not lock in place. The second thing you will
need is a bag of treats. Preferably something he really likes but doesn't often get. The
third thing you will need is lots and lots of patience.

    Begin training inside your home. Do not take him outside until he is walking
freely and comfortably along with you on his leash. Place the harness on your cat and let
him get accustomed to it. If your cat is particularly timid, you might want to leave the
harness where he can investigate it and get used to seeing it first before you put it on him.
Leave the harness on him for ten to fifteen minutes a day for the first few days. After that
the period can be raised to fifteen to twenty minutes. Give him one or two treats during
the time he is wearing the harness so that he associates it with good things. When he is
fully comfortable with the harness, add the leash in the same manner, allowing him to
drag it around for a slowly increasing period over several days. Don't forget the treats.

    By now, your cat is comfortable wearing both harness and leash. Pick up the end
of the leash and just hold it. Don't try to lead him anywhere. Follow him around if he
moves. Do this exercise for a few minutes a day until he is comfortable with it. Now
comes the big step, teaching him to follow where you lead. Place your cat to your left
side, your leash should be in your left hand. Let your arm hang relaxed at your side. Take
a treat in your right hand. Turn toward your cat and show him the treat. Now take a
couple of step forward, continuing to show the treat. If he follows you, take a couple of
more steps. If he follows to your new position, give him his treat and praise. If he is
reluctant to move forward, place the treat closer to him. Praise him if he takes a step
forward and give him the treat. If he doesn't want to move forward no matter what you
do, don't drag him. Pick him up and take him somewhere else to take his harness off. Do
not give him a treat since he didn't do as you asked. Here is where patience comes in.
Keep repeating the lesson every day, asking him to move farther each time.
   
    When your cat is walking freely on leash with you all over the house, take him
into your back yard and walk him around in it. If he freezes and refuses to move, don't
panic. Reassure him he is safe and take him back inside. Try again tomorrow. If he tries
to take off on his own you can easily check him with your leash. Once he is comfortable
in the yard you can start taking him farther. Before long you will be able to take nice
walks wherever you choose.

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Unusual Cat Breeds

The Munchkin

    When you think of the Munchkin, think of a cat that is built like a dachshund. A
cat built with a long body and short legs. Munchkins are a very recently developed breed.
They have only been established since 1983. The foundation cat was a female named
Blackberry who was rescued from dogs by school teacher Sandra Hochenedel.
Blackberry was a black cat with very short legs. Found pregnant, she passed on her
unusual body type to her kittens. Blackberry's son, Toulouse, was left unaltered and it
wasn't long before there were a good number of short legged cats living around his
owner's home. Strangely enough, Toulouse and his short legged sons had no trouble
competing with standard toms for females.

      In 1990 a study of the genetics of these short legged cats was conducted. The
study found that only one copy of the short legged gene to create more cats with the same
characteristic. The spines of these cats were also examined because there were fears that
they would have issues just like the low long bodies dog (e.g. dachshund) have. Though
nothing wrong was found at that time, judgment was reserved due to the extremely small
population that existed at that time.

      Munchkins were named for the little people in Wizard of Oz that Dorothy met
when she first arrived in Oz. Breeders became interested in the quirky little Munchkin
and began controlled breeding programs. The Munchkin was first introduced to the
public at the Madison Square Garden Cat Show. The breed has faced some opposition.
There are people who believe that deliberately breeding for a mutation, even one that
occurred naturally, is ethically wrong. The cats themselves seem unaware that they are in
any way different from there long legged cousins. They self-assured, outgoing and
curious in nature. Munchkins tend to be people-oriented and bond easily with their
people. Munchkins leap and play just like other cats. The only difference is they can't
jump as high due to their short back legs.
     
      The Sphynx
     
       If you ever wondered what a cat would look like naked, look no further. The
Sphynx is virtually hairless. Sebaceous oils secreted by the skin are normally transferred
to the fur in other breeds. The Sphynx requires regular wiping down to remove these oils
to prevent skin infections.
     
      This breed originated in 1975 as spontaneous mutation in a shorthaired litter. One
hairless kitten was born in that litter. She was named Epidermis. The following year a
hairless male was born. He was called Dermis. When bred to normal shorthaired cats,
Epidermis produced normal kittens. When Epidermis was bred to one of her sons, three
hairless kittens resulted. The hairless gene was a recessive. Both parents must carry it in
order for hairlessness to be expressed.
     
          The breed was named after the great Sphynx monument of Egypt. The
Sphynx cats are devoted, loyal companions, who love attention and will purr happily if
their favorite person is near them. They are very athletic and like to jump to high places
or hang upside down from their climbing trees. Sphynx have strong personalities and
don't like being left alone. A feline companion will help to keep a Sphynx happy and
occupied while you are gone.
     
    These very unusual cats are not everyone's' cup of tea. Give these very different
cats a closer look. Their unique appearances and lively personalities might just make a
great pet.  These cats may be exactly what you are looking for in a new companion.

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Understanding Your Cat’s Aggressive Behavior

Are you a cat owner?  If so, your cat may typically appear to be a calm, cool, and collected cat.  After all, many cats are content with lounging around all day with just a few hours of play.  Despite the fact that your cat may appear to be calm and mild mannered, there may come a point in time when you notice a change.  It is not uncommon for pet owners to report occasional aggressiveness with their cats.

If you have just witnessed your cat in an aggressive state, fear may be the first thought that enters into your mind.  Many cat owners have questions when they witness their cats attack.  Many owners want to know if something is wrong with their cat or if it is a danger to those around him or her.  In all honesty, you will find it depends.  Before deciding if you should contact your cat’s veterinarian, there are a number of important points you will first want to take into consideration.

First, it is important to know that cats, even domestic cats, can be considered predators.  The ancestors of your cat relied on hunting to survive.  This is not a trait or a characteristic that just disappears.  Your beloved cat will also have that need and desire to hunt.  This is one of the many reasons why cats occasionally display aggressive behavior. 

Concerning natural aggressive behavior, many pet owners are concerned, as they provide their cat with enough food.  It doesn’t matter how well fed your cat is, he or she will always occasionally feel the need to hunt.  For example, has your cat ever killed a bird, mouse, or another rodent?  If so, did they consume their kill?  Chances are not.  This is proof that cats don’t just attack for the sake of food.

As for how you can determine whether your pet cat is just exercising his need to hunt, look at the attack in question.  Did your cat try to attack your foot as you walked by?  If so, this a normal occurrence and not a sign of something serious.

Jumping at your feet as you walk by was sited as an example above.  This can lead to another cause of aggression in cats; overexcitement.  Some popular cat toys on the market are those where balls are attached to a string and your catch chases it.  These toys are nice, but they can also lead to some confusion, as your foot may appear similar in nature to your cat’s favorite toy.  It is also important to know that cats are sensitive and their mood easily changes.  Is this why playtime with your cat can end with you having a scratch or a bite mark.

Cats, as with many other pets, are territorial.  This is another leading cause of aggression in cats.  Is your cat the only pet in your home?  If so, they may react with aggression when another pet enters into their territory.  The same can be said for children.  Do you have children?  If not, when a child visits your home, your cat may be frustrated, fearful, or angry with the change, especially inside their territory.  The quick movements of small children can also cause a cat to act out.  As an important note, cats are typically safe around children.  With that in mind, all small children should be watched carefully when around any kind of pet.

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Understanding Your Cat’s 5 Senses

Are you a cat owner who is curious about your cat and how they function on a daily basis?  Of course, you cat likely cannot comfortably survive without the food and shelter you provide him or her with, but you may be curious about their senses.  Do you ever find yourself wondering how well your pet can see or what their tastes are like?  If so, please continue reading on.

As for your cat’s hearing, have you ever heard that your cat’s ears are similar to a satellite dish?  There are many pet owner and veterinarians who make this comparison.  What does this mean?  It means that your cat does have a relatively good sense of hearing.  You may notice your cat turn their head and move their ears when you start talking or when they hear a noise outside.  This provides cats with the ability to hunt mice and other small, quite rodents.

As for your cat’s sense of touch, all pets are just like humans.  They have a fine sense of touch.  Whether you touch your cat’s whiskers, her paws, or her tail, it is a movement that she can notice right away.  The most sensitive part of your cat’s body is their whiskers.  As a cat owner, you should already know how important a full set of whiskers are to a cat.  Your cat’s paws are also a sensitive area on their body.

As for your cat’s sight, he or she has good vision.  It has been claimed that cats see at 1/5th the intensity of humans.  Although cats cannot see perfectly in the dark, they are still able to make out distinctive shapes and movements.  Cats are also able to see movement quicker than humans are.  A movement that may appear as nothing to us, is a movement that a cat can notice.  However, during daylight humans do have a better sense of sight.

Depending on your cat and his or her eating habits, you may assume that cats have a sensitive sense of taste.  After all, many cat owners report their pets as being picky eaters.  Although it may appear as if your cat is a picky eater, they logically aren’t, at least for taste reasons.  In fact, cats are more likely to pick and choose their food based on smell, rather than taste.

Speaking of smell, this is the most heightened out of the five senses for your cat.  Cats have a much better sense of smell than humans do.  In fact, did you know that cats have about 200 million cells in and on their noses that are odor sensitive?  They do.  This is much more than us, humans, have.  In addition to using smell as a way to decide which food to eat, cats can also use smell to determine if an environment is safe to enter.  Smelling is also a method of communication for felines.  It has been said that cats can smell odors that humans can’t even detect.

Now that you know how your cat’s five main senses are, you may be able to better understand the behavior that your cat displays and the habits that they develop.  With that said, also be sure to use your best judgment.  If your cat is refusing to eat their food, it may be something more serious than them just not liking the smell of their cat food.  If your cat appears to lose or have problems with the above mentioned senses, you should consider scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian.

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