Cat Q&A

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If your cat knowledge is limited to the essentials, at best, the process of choosing which breed of cat you want to add to your family can become quite a chore! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Below is a list of the top breeds of cat. Each breed has different personality types and grooming responsibilities that will be pointed out in this article.

The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed tendds to develop very deep bonds with its family, and is very loyal and bright. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.

One of the most popular cat breeds for a family is the American Shorthair. The American shorthair originally was a breed known for its hunting skills, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.

The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with extensive, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. They are content with receiving affection when you’re willing to give it.

If you’re looking for a very loving, snuggly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they appear to have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. Extra care may be required to keep a cat of this breed nice and toasty, as the lack of a furry coat allows them to become too cold.

The Ragdoll breed got its name due to its tendency to fully relax when picked up–similar to a floppy ragdoll. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very gentle when playing, keeping teeth and claw use to a minimum.

{Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, cat breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa. Hopefully you have a better understanding of which type of cat would be best for you. Just keep in mind the requirements that each breed can demand, and be sure that whichever cat you choose, you are up to maintaining it. The best rule of thumb to go by is to choose a cat whose activity levels and lifestyle best match your own.}

If you are getting a new cat, one of the most important first decisions you will make is which cat food to feed them. Your cat food selection should be made carefully since it has a lot to do with your cat’s health and longevity. It can be overwhelming to make a cat food selection since there are literally hundreds of options on the market today.

What To Look For In Cat Food

When it comes to dry cat food, it is important that you choose one to meet your cat’s specific life stage. If you have just adopted or purchased a kitten then you should only purchase kitten food. When a cat reaches the adult stage then you should use a regular dry food. Once your cat is in the senior stage a food specifically formulated for their age can go a long way to helping them age gracefully.

When selecting your dry food always check the package and make sure it is AAFCO approved. This means it will have a seal on the package showing the contents are approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. This means the food conforms to the minimal diet standards that the association has set up to guarantee good cat food.

Finally, you should consider what your veterinarian recommends. No one knows better than your cat’s doctor does what food is best for his or her needs. If you do not have a veterinarian recommendation then you should look for food that has high quality and consistent ingredients on the label.

What To Take Into Consideration

The most important aspect of your cat’s health is good nutrition, which as a major affect. This statement is especially true of kittens that are still growing. If possible, you should feed them the highest quality food you can afford without cutting back on your own food.

Before you choose which cat food to purchase you should consider several things. Included in this is your specific cat breed, their age, size and health. It is also a good idea to keep in mind where you will be feeding your cat and how much you are willing to spend on cat food. By carefully considering all these aspects, you will be able to select a cat food that is appropriate and beneficial to your cat, which will help it to lead a long and healthy life.

If you are planing for your first pet cat or you have several earlier you still might get surprised by the breed options you have. With all of cat breeds out there to choose from how can you be sure that you are getting the right one for you and your family. There are three steps to consider when selecting your cat breed to make sure you are getting a cat that will match with your household.

Noisy Or Quiet?

The first step to considering a cat breed is whether you want one that is vocal or one that will be quiet most of the time. There are some cat breeds that are extremely vocal so you should consider if you can handle this before getting one of these cats. Even if you feel that you can handle a vocal cat you should consider your situation, if you live in an apartment then perhaps your neighbors wouldn’t be so happy with you getting a cat that is extremely vocal.

If you prefer a vocal cat then probably you should go for the following breeds: the Korkat, the Siamese or the Burmese.  For those who are looking for a quieter cat breed you should consider one of the following: the Scottish Fold, Somali or the American Curl.

Friendly Or Distant?

The second thing to consider when choosing a cat breed is the attitude of the cat. There are some cat breeds that thrive on human contact while others would prefer to have nothing to do with their human counterparts except for food. For those who don’t have a lot of time to spend cuddling their cat then perhaps a more independent cat breed would be a better choice .However, for those who are looking for a good family cat then perhaps an affectionate cat breed would be the better option.

If you are looking for a cat that will cuddle then you should consider the following: the Snowshoes, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese and the Himalayan Persian. For those who want a more independent cat you should consider the following breeds: the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung and the Russian Shorthair. Or perhaps you want a cat that is a bit of both and will spend the hours in between your cuddling entertaining themselves. These breeds would be the Sphynx, Siamese, Rex, Balinese and British Angora.

Long Or Short Hair?

This choice can be almost as important as selecting temperament. A short haired cat breed is a good choice for those who may not be able to spend a lot of time caring for their cat. Long haired cats may be cute but you should always consider the amount of time that is involved in grooming them. If you are negligent in taking care of long haired cat coat then it can tangle quickly forcing you to get the entire cat shaved.

One of the most desirable cat breeds today is the Persian cat and it is no wonder since they have such a majestic and exotic appearance. The Persian cat is excellent for those who want a companion who is affectionate, laid back and very devoted. However, before selecting a Persian for your household you should be aware of the care that is involved in having a Persian cat.

Their History

The Persian cat was present at the very first cat show held in London in 1871 and was extremely popular in the United Kingdom by the early 1900s. However, the first reference to Persians was found in the history of the Romans when they were brought on the caravans arriving from Persia, which is now modern day Iran. These primitive cats came somewhat during the fifteenth century and are now currently referred as Angora and Persian breeds.

In the late 1800s, the Persian breed found its way to the United States where it quickly became one of the most popular cats. Throughout the years, the Persian was changed by breeding into the cat we currently see with the extreme face, long coat and short ears.

Their Appearance

The long soft fur of the Persian cat is perhaps the most notable feature. Additionally, the perfect persian breed of cats exhibits a plethora of patterns and colors from which you can easily find the perfect one for your house. Persian cats genetically posses a better muscle tone when compare to others cat breeds in addition to its elegant appearance.

The Persian cat has two different types of faces, the extreme and traditional. The difference in these two types is that the extreme face has a very snub-nosed appearance. The face is typically almost completely flat with the nose almost as high up at the eyes. However, the Persian with a traditional face will not have a flat appearance. The extreme face type has gained most of the popularity due to its appearance at many award shows.

Their Personality

For those who prefer a cat breed that is laid back and doesn’t show much energy then the Persian cat would be an excellent companion to add to your household. Persians would much rather lounge around all day then chasing after toys. However, Persians are also an extremely affectionate breed and need human interaction and affection. A Persian cat needs proper caring and affection in order to make them your life time dedicated companion.

While Persians prefer attention, they are not to demanding of it as some breeds are. They are also very responsive to the moods of their owners. They are also a quiet breed, which makes them ideal for apartment living conditions so the neighbors won’t be disturbed by constant vocalization. A Persian cat is a good option for those who want to be comforted and soothed by their pet companion.

Caring For Your Persian

Persian cats require long periods of grooming care otherwise their soft long coat will turn into painful mats that will need to be shaved off by a veterinarian. Each day you should be prepared to spend about ten to fifteen minutes grooming your Persian and more during shedding months.

To remove oil buildup you will also have to bath your Persian often, every two weeks is a good recommendation. You have to clean the face of Persians as tear staining is a regular problem with them.

Contrary to what you may be thinking, a Bengal cat is actually a good pet. This cross breed between a leopard cat and domestic cats happens to be one of the best pets that you can have. A Bengal cat loves people and could be a very good companion. Although the Bengal cat is very alert and curious, they are not really hyper active. If you happen to be one of those people who love to have some peace and quite in the house and do not want to have a very active kitten running around and toppling things over, the Bengal cat would be good for you.

Origins Of The Bengal Cat

As mentioned before, this type of catis a cross breed of a leopard cat specifically the Asia leopard cat (ALC) and some domestic cats especially that of Egyptian origins such as the Egyptian Mau. Bengal cats have also been produced through cross breeding of other domestic cats with leopard cats. Cross breeds of Bengal Cat are available with short hair, the Abyssinian, the Ocicat and many more. Some say that there are no longer any authentic or pure breed Bengal cat nowadays since it has been crossbreed for many generations already. However, there are many people who maintain that there are still many pure breed Bengal cats all over the world since there are many second-generation male cats, which have been breed to preserve the Bengal cat breed.

These cats have genetically evolved from the leopards and are residents of the wild forests of Asia, their crossbreed with domestic varieties produced domesticable varieties. Nevertheless, this type of cat still has some of its strong and really independent streak so your should make sure that you know your cat well for you to be able to take care of it better.

How Does The Bengal Cat Look Like?

A Bengal cat is a medium size cat with muscular built. This particular breed of cats carry an aura of wilderness that they have inherited from their wild ancestors. Its coat the spots, rosetted or marbles pattern which it had inherited from its leopard cat ancestors. The most common colors of this type of are the black or very dark brown pattern with sandy beige background. There are also some, which have the silver coat with black patterns and those with dark brown pattern on beige background.