Cougar - The one with many names

Of all the different types of wild cats, Cougars claim the widest selection of popular aliases. Since they have lived in many habitats across North and South America, they have become known by many names, including Puma, Panther and Mountain Lion.

Cougars are very solitary animals that shun contact with other creatures. They will roam far and wide across the countryside, building dens in hidden spaces. While they may be spotted during the day or night, their primary active period falls during twilight, when they search for food. Once common across the Americas, Cougars have become increasingly rare due to habitat destruction and hunting.

Feral Facts

Scientific Name: Felis concolor

Size: Averaging about 3 1/2 to six feet in length with a two foot tail and weighing around 100 to 200 pounds.

Color and Coat Pattern: Yellow-brown, red-brown or gray coat with dark tail tips and green-gold eyes.

Diet: Deer, small mammals and birds.

Range: North, Central and South America.

Endangered Status: ENDANGERED

Fascinating Fact: Cougar kittens are born blind, and covered with fur.

Cheetah - The fast and furious

Of all the land animals In the world, the Cheetah holds the record for the fastest speed, often reaching nearly seventy miles per hour. These large cats use their speed, as well as rapid acceleration, to stalk and chase prey across the African plains. Unlike most wild cats, Cheetahs become active during the day, hunting in the early morning and late afternoon. Close relatives of the "Big Cats," Cheetahs probably descend from an ancient cross between Lions and Panthers.

Although their coat patterns provide camouflage, Cheetahs have been hunted nearly to extinction by people who desire their fur for clothing and display. Some varieties have already disappeared entirely.

Feral Facts

Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus

Size: Averaging live feet in length with a two to three foot tail and weighing 100 to 150 pounds.

Color and Coat Pattern: Light yellow to ochre with a white underbelly and dark brown or
black spots and rings.

Diet: Large and small mammals.

Range: Sub-saharan Africa.

Endangered Status: ENDANGERED

Fascinating Fact: Cheetah babies have long manes that shrink during the first year of life.

American Wirehair

The American Wirehair breed traces its origin to a single cat named Adam. Sired by American Shorthairs and born with a mutation that created a wiry coat, Adam was the only wirehaired survivor in a litter decimated by an opportunistic weasel. Discovered in upstate New York in 1966, he later mated with many other cats, including a female IKtermate, to continue the line.

Matings of two American Wirehairs rarely produce successful litters, therefore they are bred from a Wirehair and an American Shorthair. The tips of the hair are hooked, creating a texture that is unique. The same colors are accepted for Wirehairs as their Shorthair cousins, but solids remain the most common.

Ideal Breed Characteristic

Overall Appearance: Active cat with a balanced body and wiry coat.

Head: Medium-sized, tapered head with a gently rounded muzzle; round, large, bright, wide-set eyes; medium Sized, gently rounded, wide-set ears.

Body: Medium to large body with a level back and rounded torso.

Coat Texture: Coarse, thick, hard, springy, medium-length, weather-resistant; cat's predominant feature.

Tail: Long, tapered, rounded.

Disqualifications: Abnormal coat texture or tail, improper coat color.

American Shorthair

Before European settlers emigrated to North America, no native cats lived there. Perhaps brought to America on the original Mayflower passage, the early cats protected homes and food supplies by hunting a variety of rodents. They evolved without human interference during the 19th century, developing tough, sturdy bodies and protective coats.

Once known as Shorthairs and then Domestic Shorthairs, this breed became officially established in 1904 with the registration of "Buster Brown." Today, American Shorthairs exist in over thirty recognized colors, but tabby, solid and shaded patterns remain the most common.

Ideal Breed Characteristics

Overall Appearance: Strong, proportional, agile, fit cat.

Head: Large, full-faced head with a square muzzle (jowls in adult males); almond shaped, large, bright eyes; medium-sized, slightly rounded ears.

Body: Solid, strong, muscular, powerful, level body.

Coat Texture: Short, thick, hard and weather-resistant.

Tail: Thick, tapered, medium-length.

Disqualifications: Long, puffy coat, abnormal tail, white spots of color, too heavy or thin, bulging eyes.

Selecting an Abyssinian

Abyssinian is a beautiful looking cat. If you decide to get an Abyssinian cat as your pets, here are some points that you could help:

1. Find a responsible breeder who will guarantee that your Abyssinian is in good health and doesn't have feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).


2. Expect to pay $200 to $500 for your Aby.


3. Pick up and hold the cat or kitten to check for good muscle tone.


4. Make sure that the cat isn't sneezing or sniffling, that the eyes have no discharge and that the ears are clean and pink inside.


5. Examine the cat's fur, which should be short and thick and have no bald patches or signs of dry or flaky skin.


6. Check for fleas behind the ears and at the base of the tail - flea dirt, which looks like black sand, is a sure sign.


7. Get a written sales agreement from the breeder that provides the breeder's health guarantee.


8. Take your Aby to your veterinarian as soon as possible to confirm that the cat is healthy.


9. Take home a kitten no younger than 12 weeks of age.


10. Plan to keep your Abyssinian inside and to have the cat neutered or spayed. Vets say it's the best way to keep cats happy and disease-free.

Also, keep in mind that..

• Abyssinians love people, but if you're looking for cat to cuddle and to sit on your lap, the Abyssinian is not the ideal cat for you. They remain playful even as they get older. They like to be in the same room as you, but usually in a high place, such as the top of a bookcase or the refrigerator.


• Abyssinians love water. You're likely to find yours in the sink under a dripping faucet.


• A kidney disease called renal amyloidosis is found in Abys, but contrary to popular belief, it's not exclusive to the breed.


• Like many other cats, Abyssinians can be prone to gingivitis. Red gums and bad breath are symptoms. Weekly toothbrushings can prevent it.

What You Should Do Before Moving When You Have Cat

When you’re moving to a new place, obviously adjustments need to be made not only for you or your kids alone but your cat also. So, here are a few basic things that you shouldn’t forget to do before you move.

• You should obtain a copy of your cat's veterinary records to give to the vet in the new area.


• Call the state veterinarian in the capital of the state you're moving to. Find out if you need to provide any paperwork to bring your cat into the state.


• Call the town or village hall in the new locale. Ask about licensing requirements.


• Make arrangements for your cat to travel with you in a car or by air. Don’t forget, cats are not allowed on trains or buses. And i f your cat will travel by air, purchase a carrier for her to travel in.


• Get a health certificate from your vet. Some states require that this be presented at the border before entering the state, even if you're just passing through.


• And most importantly, take time to reassure and love your cat. The move may cause some depression or nervousness.

During your moving day, you should:

• Feed your cat five to six hours before you move. Let her drink two hours before you leave the house. Give the cat medication if she gets overly excited or nervous while traveling. Talk to your vet before you move about medication to calm the cat.


• Bring food and water. Make frequent stops to exercise your cat and let her drink.

Finally, when you're at your new place, you should follow this tips:

• Keep your cat confined while you move in. Release her when all doors and windows are closed so she can't escape. Take time to help her become used to the new house.


• Use the same food and water bowls, bedding, litter box and toys, and put them in a location similar to where they used to be.


• Take your cat out on a leash until she's familiar with the yard and neighborhood. After your cat is used to the area, release her for short periods of time and call her and reward her with a treat when she comes. This will teach your cat not to run away. Confine your cat to the house if she roams for too long.


• Make an appointment with a local vet and take in your cat's records.

American Curl

A 1981 litter in California (United States) contained kittens that eventually developed an unusual curl on their ears. This dominant mutation passed from one of these cats to its offspring, proving that the trait would reproduce. Today, an entire litter of kittens will be born with traditional ears and over the next six months half of those cats will develop the distinctive curl. Cats that possess this trait are now called American Curls.

The breed exists in both long and shorthaired varieties, although the curled ear trait originally developed in longhaired cats. The coat can be a combination of colors, but solid, particolor and tabby patterns are the most common.

Ideal Breed Characteristic

Although the American Curl is considered a pedigreed cat by many international organizations, it has been extremely difficult to standardize the breed. As the only pedigreed cat that must mate (be outcrossed") with non-pedigreed cats, American Curls have been unable to establish or maintain a rigid set of physical traits.

Every American Curl must have the uniquely shaped ears that distinguish the breed and result from a spontaneous mutation. Aside from the curled ears, a medium body shape and long tail, overall breed characteristics remain nearly impossible to specify.

Abyssinian

AIthough the origin of the Abyssinian remains obscure, the cat bears a very strong resemblance to the ancient Sacred Cat of Egypt. Certainly a very old breed and perhaps a native of the Nile River communities, the cats first came to Europe with soldiers returning from the Abyssinian War in 1868. In Britain, they were crossed with British Shorthairs to create the modern version and quickly became recognized as a competitive breed.

Ticked hairs with two or more bands of color comprise the coat. The overall color Is usually ruddy, but recent crosses have also created red and blue varieties. Italian breeders have developed a similar breed called the Wild Abyssinian.


Ideal Breed Characteristic

Overall Appearance: Muscular, firm, agile, active cat with a ticked coat.

Head: Rounded, wedge-shaped head with a gently pointed muzzle; almond shaped, large eyes; large, mildly pointed, broad ears.

Body: Medium-sized, proportional, muscular, lean and long.

Coat Texture: Thick, soft, fine, silky, shiny, medium-length.

Tail: Thick, long and tapered.

Disqualifications: White color (except on the face), abnormal tail, gray undercoat or black hairs.

Sleppy Kitty

Here's an adorable sleepy kitten video that never fails to make me smile!