Cat Fact Files

When used to descried cats, the term ‘blue’ refers to the lovely grey fur that can be found in many pedigree breeds.

British Blue short hair

This breed went into decline following the second word war, and even today the best and most striking individuals are in a small minority.

Long-haired blue

A cross between the Persian and the Angora, this cat came from Iran Korat. This is a short-haired blue, with a single coat rather than a double, and originates from a rare oriental color from present in Thailand.

Chartreux

This cat is the French equivalent of the British Blue short-hair-to which it is very similar-and is with it was associated. Like the British Blue short-hair, this rare cat is much broader-headed than the Korat. The breed almost became extinct during the 1940s and was re-established by outcrossing the remaining few with the British Blue short-hairs and blue long-hair. Record from Thailand (formerly Siam until 1939) and France from seven centuries ago reveal the Korat and the Chartreux to be two of the earliest cats associated with man outside of the ancient Egyptians.

Devon Rex

This breed is another british color version and a relative newcomer, originating in the 1960s.

Kittens and cats immediately begin to develop a mental territory map, as they begin to expand their explorations beyond the home boundaries. They also leave fresh scent marks with urine, faeces and from the scent glands on their head and paws. It would be rare for a kitten to brave a great distance from a known territory. However, explorations can become a feline adventure when an interesting fence, wall or group of trees is encountered. The excitement and fear is also heightened when another cat appears. If the other cat begins a chase in an effort to drive away a potential competitor, the kitten can quickly become territorially disorientated. If the kitten is chased back home, the experience is just part of a learning curve; if chased away from familiar territory, the consequences can be much more serious. With this in mind, it is always wise to supervise the early outdoor explorations of a young cat and keep in contact with it by using food treats, interaction and affection to keep it safe and close to home.

Cats and kittens that are up for adoption often have an unknown past. This means that they could have suffered abuse or experienced a dysfunctional or feral background. Sometimes cats have been considered abandoned or lost and have simply been handed in at a rescue centre. Cats in both categories can be more vulnerable but, conversely, they can also be tough and more adaptable than the cat that has led a comfortable life. There is always an element of luck in obtaining a rescue cat as often you only have your instinct to go by. However, the rewards can be great: you may gain a feline friend that enriches the lives of all who encounter it.

The colour of a cats coat is thought to have an effect on individuals who may be allergic to them. One research study showed that whether a cat was kept in or out of the bedroom proved not to influence the allergic reaction in their owners. But, perhaps rather surprisingly those people keeping a dark-haired cat were 75 percent more likely to display allergic symptoms than those with a light-haired cat. Although the real reason for this discrepancy is currently unknown, it is probably related to the thickness or composition of the hairs.

There are a number of signs to look for. The following will tell you whether or not you have a happy cat:

• At some times of day you will not know that you have a cat, because it is snoozing in a favorite cupboard or sunning itself in the window.
• Your cat will use the litter tray or the garden at all times.
• It will wander in and out of the home apparently without a care in the world.
• Your happy cat will stroll around the home, brushing up against a leg and sitting happily on the top edge of the sofa back without needing to jump into your lap every five minutes.
• It will eat regularly.
• A contented cat is a joy to keep-but it takes all types of personalities to make the feline world go round.

 

Unfortunately, no. The idea behind an artificial pheromone spray is that it replace at cat’s natural facial scent-marking and is sprayed onto a target for inappropriate feline ‘marking’. This could be an electrical plug curtain or furniture. The principle on which this product is based is that the cat will not mark a target it believes it has been found that the use of this spray usually just redirect the cat to mark another target-and it is not practical to spray the entire house.

In the most desirable tortoiseshell cats, the dominance of black is infiltrated with a fairly even spread of red and cream.

The true tortoiseshell-patterned cat is quite rare and the incredibly high price for a pedigree reflects the rarity of its coloration.

True tortoiseshell-patterned cats are almost all females, as the coloration is linked to the lack of an X chromosome. The few males that carry this beautiful coloration are often sterile, which causes problems for breeders wishing to develop the tortoiseshell cat.

Installing a cat run will both protect a cat and prevent straying. Some adventurous cats will find the restrictions of the run frustrating, but the safety and health protection factors vastly outweigh the lack of freedom.

The most striking tabby cat has distinctive vertical stripes, know as a ‘mackerel’ pattern, on its flanks. There are several tabby pattern variations in which the stripes can be replaced by:

• Blotches
• Spots
• Light or dark ticks known as ‘agouti’

The African wild cat, the wild forest cat and the jungle cat all display typical tabby markings.

A number of recognized breeds such as the Persian, British short-hair, American short-hair and Siamese carry the marmalade pattern. The pattern is extremely variable and represents a combination of tabby and tortoiseshell-patterned cats display even markings and are usually sturdy males.