"How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Your Guide to Cat Diseases and Conditions, and How to Cure Them"Written by NS Kennedy
Even with best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes this means a simple "kitty cold," at other times disease might have a more lasting or even fatal result. The following are some of more common causes of serious illness in cats. An upper respiratory infection (URI) is medical term for what many cat lovers call a "kitty cold." Indeed, symptoms match those of a human cold, sneezing and discharge from nose. While they seem similar, human and cat version of this infection are different, and one species cannot be infected by other. However, URI is highly contagious among cats. If you have a multi-cat household and notice URI symptoms, isolate cat immediately. The best treatment for URI is time and loving care. Use a warm, moist cloth to keep your cat's eyes and nose free of discharge. You might need to warm her food to enhance smell to encourage your cat to eat. URI symptoms, which include a decreased appetite, can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Watch your cat carefully; not eating or drinking can lead to dehydration. Also, if your cat becomes extremely lethargic, it may mean URI has turned into something more serious. The symptoms of URI may last a few days to several weeks. Cats with URI may also be lethargic and have a decreased appetite. Monitor cat carefully; a growing lack of appetite and fever can lead to dehydration. Not eating can lead to liver problems. Lethargy can mean a minor URI has become a more serious problem, such as pneumonia. If you notice this occurring, or if discharge becomes very thick and yellowish-green, contact your veterinarian. Severe URIs may need to be treated with antibiotics. Chlamydia is a type of bacteria that has many variations. Usually, each variant is species specific; feline Chlamydia is not transmitted to humans. In cats, bacteria usually infects eye, causing conjunctivitis. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of Feline Chlamydia * Anorexia (loss of appetite; may occur as disease progresses) * Coughing * Difficulty breathing * Fever (may occur as disease progresses) * Pneumonia (in young kittens 2 to 4 weeks old, which could be fatal) * Runny nose (rhinitis) * Sneezing * Watery eyes due to conjunctivitis (either one or both eyes)
| | "Your Guide to Cat Breeds"Written by NS Kennedy
For first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans, cats pretty much took care of their own breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for that. More than 100 years ago, however, we began systematically breeding cats to appeal to our aesthetic tastes. Hair length, color, coat pattern, as well as head and leg proportions contribute to "look" of specific breeds. Look at enough cat bodies and faces, and you'll see two distinctly different types. Faces are either triangular or rounded. Bodies that are lean and slender belong to lithe oriental, or foreign breeds. Short legs supporting a broad, compact body are characteristic of a "cobby." Mixed breeds usually have an "in between" body type. There are more than 70 distinct breeds of cats that are recognized by formal cat registries. Some registries recognize only about 40 breeds, because they exclude those such as Bengals which are hybrids of domestic and wild cats. Some "breeds" are simply variations of primary types. For example, a Balinese cat is a longer haired type of Siamese cat. Some breeds have roots that go far back in history. The Japanese Bobtail, distinguished by a short, rabbit-like tail, can be traced more than 1,000 years. The Egyptian Mau cat retains physical characteristics of ancient Egyptian cats found in ancient paintings. With an elegant body that is randomly spotted, banded legs and tail, communicative eyes and an ellegant cheetah-like stride, it is no wonder that Mau attracts such a tremendous amount of attention at shows. Other breeds reflect new aesthetics. Ocicats and Savannah cats are wild-hybrids -- result of breeding wild cats with domestic cats - which fill a desire for some cat lovers to have a "wild" pet. The Cornish Rex, with its soft, wavy coat and curled whiskers, is a dramatic, visual contrast to typical smooth-coated cat. Likewise, "hairless" Sphynx cat is a breed for esoteric cat fancier.
|