77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat. Susan Ewing M.
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Название: 77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat
Автор: Susan Ewing M.
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Биология
isbn: 9781620082928
isbn:
Exotic Shorthair
The Exotic Shorthair is basically a Persian with shorter hair. Developed by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs, with a dash of Burmese and Russian Blue, the Exotic has a thick, plush coat that doesn’t mat or tangle and requires much less grooming than a Persian’s long coat. Exotic Shorthairs come in all of the many colors of Persians, so you can have the added bonus of a cat in a color you prefer. An Exotic may be a bit more playful than a Persian, but if you love the sweet, round look and gentle, affectionate temperament of the Persian but don’t want the chore of daily grooming, the Exotic is the cat for you.
Exotics have a lifespan of eight to fifteen years and weigh between 7 and 12 pounds (3.2–5.4 kg). Since Exotics may inherit polycystic kidney disease, ask the breeder if your prospective kitten’s parents have been checked for cysts on the kidney.
Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon is the official cat of the state of Maine, where the breed’s long coat, tufted ears, and large, well-furred paws make it well adapted to New England winters. This is a large, solidly built cat that weighs between 9 and 18 pounds (4.1–8.2 kg).
Devon Rex
Exotic Shorthair kitten
Maine Coon Cats are playful, affectionate, and social. They want to be where their people are. They also enjoy playing in water, so don’t be surprised if you find a catnip mouse floating in your Maine Coon’s water bowl.
Health issues include HCM, hip dysplasia, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The Maine Coon Cat is the only cat breed affected by SMA, a disease caused by the death of spinal cord neurons, leading to muscle weakness and degeneration. Kittens with SMA have difficulty jumping and have a swaying gait, but they are not in pain and can live happy lives. Fortunately, there is a DNA test for this condition. There’s also a test for the genetic mutation that causes HCM, so make sure that the breeder has tested both parents.
Persian
Persians are perfectly happy to play, but they aren’t as into climbing and jumping as some other breeds. These affectionate cats enjoy being petted, and because their long, gorgeous fur makes people want to pet them, it’s a win-win situation.
HIMALAYAN
The Himalayan is a colorpoint cat that is considered a color division of the Persian by the Cat Fanciers Association and as a separate breed by The International Cat Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association.
The drawback to that lovely coat is that Persians require daily grooming, particularly in the areas that are hard for a cat to reach when it self-grooms, such as the base of the ears and where the legs join the body.
These longhaired beauties come in more than eighty different color combinations and can live up to twenty years. There are two types of Persian: the traditional, or Doll Face, and the show Persian. While their coats and personalities are the same, the traditional
Maine Coon
Persian has a longer nose while the show Persian has a flat nose. Because of the flat nose, show Persians may have sinus problems or have trouble breathing, especially in hot weather. If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, you should give your Persian a cool area to rest, even if it’s just a cool tile floor.
Health problems in the breed can include polycystic kidney disease, progressive retinal atrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, bladder stones, bladder infections, and liver shunts.
Ragdoll
If you’d like a laid-back cat with no interest in climbing your bookcases or jumping onto your countertops, the Ragdoll may be just the cat for you. Developed in the 1960s by California breeder Ann Baker, the Ragdoll is a large cat (males can weigh up to 20 pounds [9.1 kg]) that makes a gentle companion. Ragdolls typically play without extending their claws, and they enjoy being around people. Ragdolls come in three color patterns: mitted, bicolor, and colorpoint, the latter of which allows for no white.
The Ragdoll matures slowly, taking about four years to reach full size. Because Ragdoll kittens can have rapid growth spurts, owners must make sure that they have plenty of food. If your young Ragdoll licks his plate clean, you should offer a little more food until he is full. Once your cat has stopped growing, you should determine a measured amount of food to keep him healthy but not fat.
Persian kitten
Ragdoll
Life expectancy for a Ragdoll is twelve to seventeen years. Health concerns include bladder stones and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). There is a test to check for the genetic mutation that causes HCM, so make sure the breeder has tested both parents.
Scottish Fold
The first known Scottish Fold cat was a white barn cat named Susie, found in a litter in 1961 by William Ross, who went on to develop the breed. Susie’s ears folded forward and down, and this trait, along with large, round eyes and a short nose, gives the Scottish Fold a look that somewhat resembles a cuddly owl. The Scottish Fold has a short, dense coat and, in temperament, is as sweet as he looks.
Kittens are born with upright ears that either stay straight or fold over around one month of age. Cats whose ears remain upright are known as Scottish Shorthairs. A longhaired variety is known as the Highland Fold.
Although the sweet look of a Scottish Fold is endearing, the upright-eared cats are essential to the health of the breed. When Folds are bred to Folds, the kittens may develop osteochondrodystrophy, a crippling and painful skeletal abnormality. A kitten with stiff legs or a short, thick tail may have osteochondrodystrophy.
Scottish Folds weigh between 8 and 13 pounds (3.6–5.9 kg) and have a lifespan of between eleven and fourteen years.
Siamese
Siamese cats are descended from the sacred temple cats of Siam (now Thailand). The first one in the United States arrived in 1878 when Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy, received one as a gift from the American Consul in Bangkok.
Siamese СКАЧАТЬ