The Burmilla is a breed of domestic cat which originated in the United Kingdom in 1981. It is a cross between the Chinchilla Persian and Burmese breeds. Standards were produced in 1984, and the breed gained championship status in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. Burmillas are medium-sized with muscular bodies, round faces, short muzzles [...]
The Birman is a domestic cat breed. Also called the “Sacred Cat of Burma,” it is not to be confused with the Burmese, which is a separate and dissimilar breed. The Birman has medium-long hair, a pale colored body and darker points with deep blue eyes. Even though the cat is pointed, the paws have [...]
The American Shorthair (ASH) is a breed of cat believed to be descended from English domestic cats (the forebears of today’s British Shorthairs) brought to North America by early British settlers to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats. According to the Cat Fancier’s Association for 2006–2007, it is the 8th most popular breed of [...]
As a cat owner, it is natural to be slightly concerned when you hear your cat sneeze. Sneezing in humans is usually indicative of a respiratory condition, which is also true for cats. However, there are actually several different reasons why your cat may be sneezing. It’s important to understand why a cat sneezes, and [...]
Cat bites are a normal part of having a kitty, because cats mouth and paw objects to explore their world. You can’t stop it. But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of the bite and to use soft paws without claws. She won’t know that teeth and claws hurt, unless you explain to her [...]
We make plenty of mistakes feeding ourselves. We eat too much sugar and salt, we eat too little, then too much. With all the problems we have with our own diets, is it any wonder we make mistakes when feeding our cats? So what errors are we making and why? Our cats can’t tell us, [...]
During the first few weeks of life, a kitten’s primary concerns are feeding, keeping warm, developing social skills and learning how to excrete on his own. In most cases, humans will simply watch the mother cat perform her duties. However, if the kitten in your care has been separated from his mother or if the [...]
No one likes the smell of a dirty litter box. But can you imagine if you were the one that had to use that box? No wonder at least 10% of cats stop using their litter boxes reliably at some point. Of course there can be medical or behavioral reasons for the problems. But not [...]
Contrary to popular belief, mother cats do not teach their kittens to use the litter box. Kittens begin to dig in and use dirt and dry, loose material at about 4 weeks old without ever having observed their mothers doing so. This natural instinct is used in training kittens to use the litter box. Begin [...]
Cats are efficient groomers, but they need help maintaining a high standard of hygiene, health and beauty. The Supplies You Need These items can make cat grooming easier: Wire-and-bristle brush Two-sided metal comb Grooming mitt Cat shampoo Cat nail clippers Cat toothpaste and brush Ear-cleaning solution Cotton balls Bounty� paper towels Febreze� spray Swiffer� floor [...]
