Cats good 4 the Heart

Feb. 21, 2008 (New Orleans) -- Your cat may bring you a lot more than unconditional love after a tough day.

A new study shows that cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases than people who have never had a pet cat.

The findings emerged from an analysis of data on nearly 4,500 men and women, ages 30 to 75, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. All were free of cardiovascular disease when they entered the study in the 1970s.
Over half, 55%, reported having a pet cat at some point in their lives.

Compared with cat owners, people who never had a pet cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack over the 20-year study period. They were also 30% more likely to die of any cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart failure, and chronic heart disease.

The results held true even after the researchers took into account other risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including age, gender, race, blood pressure, and smoking.
The researchers found no such link for people who had a pet dog.

The findings were presented here at the American Stroke Association's (ASA) International Stroke Conference.

Cat's Cloud

Daily Grooming

Unlike the shorthaired cat that uses his rough tongue to groom his coat, longhaired cats can't groom their coats themselves. Longhairs should be groomed, starting as a kitten, from 10 to 30 minutes a day. If not brushed or combed daily their coats become matted. Then you'll have to pay the vet or professional groomer a price for neglecting your longhaired companion. Special combs and brushes can be found at the pet store. Another plus of daily grooming is the fact that shedding of the coat will be reduced considerably. Daily combing because you will notice the amount of fleas on your animal during the grooming can reduce flea infestation.

Daily grooming also reduces the amount of hairballs your cat's digestive tract has to contend with. Cats usually shed their coat in cycles brought on by the length of daylight. If a cat is exposed to natural light only, he will shed in the spring and the fall. Other things that can cause a cat to shed its coat are fleas, an allergy, ringworm, or diet deficiencies. If an unusual amount of shedding is noticed, consult your veterinarian.

Bathing your cat is a no-no. If you frighten or make it nervous by trying to bathe it it can severely hurt its owner's face, hands, or eyes.

Cats have 5 toes on the forefeet and 4 on the handset. These need to be kept clipped or eventually you will find the cat using your furniture to wear down his claws. You can buy a scratching post or preferably get it a good size log with bark. Cats love to play with these and either item will keep the claws at a good length. Clipping can be tedious if you've never cut them before. Make sure that you don't cut the vein in the claw. If you do snip the vein don't expect your cat to let you clip them again. Vets and some pet shops will provide this service.

Toys are a big deal for a cat, so we'll consider toys an essential. Cats can be easily entertained if they want to play with you. Pet shops keep a large selection of toys on hand.

Mountain Climbing

Which Cats?

A cat's personality is more related to body shape than it is to breed.

The Siamese is the most active, curious, vocal, and intelligent of cats. Being a slim and elegant cat, it shares these traits with other breeds like the Cornish Rex, Oriental Shorthaired, Abyssinian, and Balinese.

The Persian is the easiest going of the breed cats. Others with this trait are the stocky breeds like the British Shorthaired, Exotic Shorthaired, and the Sacred Cat of Burma.

In the middle of the spectrum for body type and personality is the pedigreed American Shorthaired. It has a middle of the road personality.

Domestication of all the breeds will inhibit the development of the cat's behavior. They seem to never grow up. That is part of their appeal.

The domestic shorthaired, in other words, the alley cat; the mixed shorthaired or longhair breeds are usually free. These cats are not of show quality but they are every bit as adventurous and loving.

All cats are natural hunters. Don't try and change this trait, it's useless. It is instinctual and cannot be unlearned.

Cats usually are solitary animals. They could survive in the wild easily, as long as there is prey. Kittens are abandoned as soon as they are weaned. Half grown, they find themselves alone and on their own. In the wild this is a do-or-die situation and the kitten meets the challenge well.

Hunting is a three-step process for the cat, stalking, pouncing, and bites. The killing bite must be learned; the first two are instinct. The bite is learned by watching its mother kill prey and by having to kill a prey early. If the mother has not taught the kitten how and where to bite, it will complete the first two steps, then play with it then let it go. Both their hearing and their sight have developed for hunting. The cat's ears are tuned for ultrasound, able to hear the slight rustle of the grass where a mouse might be walking.

Lion's Cat

Things to Consider

The following are some things to look for when buying a kitten. Did the kitten seem alert when it was in a group of other kittens? Is the nose a little damp and cool, as it should be? Are the eyes shiny and clear? Is the area around the tail clean? If not it's probably a sign of diarrhea which may be a sign of bad health. Check its gums for signs of inflammation. The kitten with a warm nose or runny eyes should be avoided. Its ears should be clean and free of wax. Its fur smooth, shiny and soft with no patches of missing fur and absolutely no fleas. The skin should be scabless with no scratches. If there are scabs or baldness it could be ringworm. When buying a new kitten you should always get a money-back guarantee. At least a 5-day guarantee that way you'll have time to take the kitten to a veterinarian for a checkup. If the vet should find a serious problem you should be able to get a refund. Most cat breeders are reputable but you just might come across one that isn't, so get a money-back guarantee in writing. Many breeders will send a sales contract before shipping a kitten. Read it carefully. Always question any part of the contract you don't understand. If the kitten hasn't been registered yet you should get it in writing that the litter will be registered within 60 days and that you will receive the registration within that time. Never buy a kitten until it has been weaned. If you get a kitten that is not weaned you may very well have a lot of problems with it. So wait! The kitten should have at least one visit to the vet before you buy it. This is a precaution that should be high on your list. It will pay off in the long run. All kittens should have their vaccinations before the 3-month period.