Cats

Without good oral hygiene, your cat may be prone to a painful dental condition called gingivitis. Not only can this lead to painful tooth loss and bone infection, gingivitis can cause serious health issues in cats. Just as in people, regular dental care for your cat is important in maintaining optimal feline health. In this blog, we’ll discuss gingivitis, and how to treat it.

The Tonkinese is a cross between the Burmese and the Siamese cat breeds. Tonkin refers to a region of Indochina. This cat breed comes from Southeast Asia. Cat breeders wanted to breed a cat that had a medium body size, a less shrill voice, but with the same intelligence and loyalty as the Burmese and Siamese cat breeds.

The Siamese cat breed is an Asian cat breed that has lots of history. It became a popular cat breed in the U.S and Europe during the nineteenth century. The Wichienmaat (Siamese cat) was first noticed in very old manuscripts, called the Cat Book Poems during 1351- 1767 AD. The very first Siamese were medium-sized and long. They were also muscular, graceful, athletic and sleek. The Siamese were a spectacular breed. By the 1950’s and 1960’s, Siamese cat judges wanted a slenderer look, and a longer more refined Siamese cat breed resulted. The more refined Siamese also had a narrower head, long, thin tail, and slender legs. Today, the International Cat Association, (TICA) and the World Cat Federation(WCF) accepts breeds that are less refined.

The Himalayan cat breed, also known as the Himalayan Persian or the Colourpoint Persian in Europe, was bred by crossing the Siamese with the Persian cat breed to achieve the color points and blue eyes. By 1924, a Swedish geneticist crossed the Persian and the Siamese cat breeds. By 1931, cat breeders began breeding both cat breeds to see how the color point gene was passed on. That said, by 1935, the first Pattern Longhair was developed. It was determined that both the longhair gene and the color point pattern gene was recessive.

The Havana Brown came about when a Siamese, and a domestic black cat were bred together in the 1950’s. The offspring apparently were bred with a Russian Blue by early breeders. That said, it’s thought that no genes from the Russian Blue remain. The Havanna Brown is known as the Havana in Europe.

The Ragdoll originated during the 1960’s when Ann Baker bred a cat called Josephine, a domestic, longhaired, white female in California to a black and white male cat. The offspring from Josephine had fantastic temperaments, and were sweet and people- oriented. The Ragdoll breed comes from free-roaming cats that Ann bred Josephine to. This breed is known for becoming heavy like a ragdoll when picked up. It is a favorite among all family members throughout the world.

The American Shorthair is a domesticated cat breed that originated in Europe, and was brought over by early settlers. This cat breed was a ratter used to protect cargo on ships from mice. This is a pedigreed cat breed that is accepted by all North American cat registries.

The Egyptian Mau comes from Europe and North America, as per DNA analysis. That said, history shows that this breed comes from Egypt. This cat breed is related to the Maine Coon, Korat, and the American Turkish Angora cat breeds. This cat breed arrived in the U.S when the exiled Russian princess, Troubetskoy, imported three cats from Italy, which included two females and one male. Mau means cat in Egyptian.

The British Shorthair is an ancient cat breed that originated from the U.K. It is thought that this cat breed dates as far back as the first century AD. Historians believed that the Egyptians took domesticated Egyptians cats to the U.K, resulting in the interbreeding of these cats with the European wildcat population.

The Laperm originated in Oregon. This curly-haired cat breed came about in the 1980’s with breeder’s Richard ad Linda Koehl. This is a rex breed that started off in the U.S, and is popular worldwide today.

The Scottish Fold is a domestic cat that originated from Scotland. This cat breed has a natural gene mutation which causes its ears to fold back. The very first Scottish Fold cat was a barn cat called Susie from Scotland, in 1961.

Unfortunately, as cats get older, the aging process depletes the body’s antioxidants. With that, it’s important to examine a senior cat’s diet, and see whether it’s for the correct life stage. Geriatric cats may also be prone to certain illnesses and cancers. Routine health care is needed for all cats, but more so for older cats. This will include vaccinations, parasite control, and dental care; balanced nutrition, gentle grooming with the right grooming tools, and protection from larger pets, small children, and predatory animals. Here are some tips on how to take care of your older cat.