JSPCA
CAT FACT SHEET
History and Biology
Cats have been associated with man since the Ancient
Egyptians first domesticated them, approximately 5000 years ago. The Ancient Egyptians regarded the cat as sacred and
attributed the animal with all kinds of magical powers.
It was often illustrated in Egyptian paintings and worshipped in
temples.
In later years domestic cats were also recorded in
India, China and Japan before being brought to Britain, most probably by
the Romans. Throughout the
Middle Ages, however, superstition and witchcraft led to the persecution of
domestic cats and their owners, resulting in a substantial drop in the
number of cats kept as household pets.
It was not until the 18th Century
that the cat regained its popularity in Britain when it was used to help
control the rapid spread of the brown rat from Eastern Europe.
The earliest domestic cats were usually described as spotted or striped tabbies, but over the years a much wider variety of longhaired and shorthaired breeds have developed.
Responsibility
Keeping a cat is a big responsibility. It is important
to be completely aware of the extra responsibilities that owning a cat will
involve, such as obtaining veterinary treatment for the animal if it
becomes sick or injured and arranging for it to be properly cared for while
you are away from home.
Every year rescue organisations have to deal with thousands of stray or abandoned cats and kittens. This problem could be reduced if more cat owners accepted their responsibilities and helped to prevent unwanted pregnancies by having their cats neutered as soon as possible.
Diet and Husbandry
The cat is a true carnivore and requires a high
protein, meat based diet in order to remain healthy.
Only meat contains the nutrients essential for a cat’s normal
development and therefore it is NOT possible to maintain a cat or kitten on
a vegetarian diet.
A kitten over the age of eight weeks will require four
well balanced meals a day. Many
pet food manufacturers now produce specially formulated kitten foods which
are both convenient and economical to use and will provide a varied and
balanced diet for your kitten.
The manufacturer’s instructions will usually
indicate how much food a cat or kitten will need each day.
This may need to be adapted slightly, according to the animal’s
appetite. Feeding cats a
complete and balanced dry food can help keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Most cats are unable to digest the lactose in cow’s
milk. If you wish to give milk
to your cat, feed a lactose-reduced milk such as the specially formulated
cat milks that have been produced by pet food manufacturers.
The cat or kitten should always be fed from its own
food bowl and any uneaten food removed before it goes stale.
Fresh water must be available at all times and should be provided in
a separate dish. Healthy cats
may drink little water if fed wet food, such as tinned food, and more water
when fed dry food. Both the
food and water bowls should be washed regularly after every meal.
Obesity is commonly seen in cats.
Cats should not be overfed. Overweight
cats lead short lives.
Until a cat or kitten has completed its vaccination
course it will need to remain in the home and will therefore require a
litter tray. Cats which are
kept indoors most or all of the time will also need to be provided with a
clean litter tray. The tray
should be left in a suitable place for the kitten or cat to use, but away
from the cat’s own food and water bowls.
A variety of commercial cat litters are available. The litter should
be changed when soiled and the tray washed regularly, using a mild
disinfectant, and thoroughly rinsed.
Pregnant women should be particularly careful when
cleaning cat litter trays. Cats
can carry the disease toxoplasmosis which can affect people as well as
other animals and can be a cause of certain birth defects. Therefore, if
pregnant, ALWAYS use gloves when handling the litter tray and ensure your
hands are thoroughly washed afterwards.
Cats can spend a large proportion of the day sleeping,
so a cat bed is needed. A
cardboard box with a door and a blanket inside offers a good bed for a cat
and can be easily replaced. Alternatively,
there are a variety of cat beds commercially available.
Cats will scratch at posts to help sharpen their
claws, but it is also a method of transferring the cat’s scent to the
scratched area, as there are glands in between the soft pads of the feet.
To deter your cat from scratching furniture, it is important to
provide the cat with a scratching post.
In addition to stretching on scratching posts, cats like to play
‘hunting’ and ‘stalking’ games as a means of exercise.
By providing cat toys, it will help your cat to exercise by using
its natural talents.
Potential hazards for cats within the home should be
considered. Kitchen
waste, particularly old food and empty tin cans can be dangerous if not
kept out of a cat’s reach. Detergents,
disinfectant, polishes, bleach and other chemicals can be poisonous to
animals and therefore must be kept out of reach.
Electrical appliances are also a serious potential hazard,
especially for kittens. Some house plants are toxic to cats so take care to
remove houseplants out of the cat's reach.
Grooming
Both pedigree and crossbreed cats can be either long
or short haired. Although cats
are very clean animals, extra grooming is essential, particularly for
longhaired breeds. Regular
grooming helps to keep the cat in good condition by removing loose hairs,
dirt and flakes of dead skin as well as improving the overall appearance.
Grooming can also help to form a bond between cat and owner and will
accustom the cat to being handled. When
some cats get older, they can find it difficult to groom themselves as
effectively and may need some help. For
shorthaired breeds, grooming once or twice weekly is usually sufficient but
longhaired cats must be brushed and groomed at least once a day to prevent
their fur from becoming matted or tangled.
Cats that groom themselves frequently, especially
longhaired varieties, can ingest large amounts of hair, which accumulate in
the stomach to form fur balls. These
are usually regurgitated or passed through the intestine but can cause
constipation and loss of appetite. Regular
grooming, particularly when moulting, can reduce the occurrence of fur
balls, but if the animal appears unwell, always take your cat to the
veterinary surgery.
Some cats can be quite temperamental whilst being
groomed. This is seen
particularly if their coat has been allowed to knot, as it can be
uncomfortable, or if the cat is not used to regular grooming.
In these cases try to start grooming using a soft brush on the areas
which are least likely to cause discomfort, such as the head and back.
Talk to the cat to reassure it. Frequent short sessions are better than one long session.
When you are able to brush these areas without any real difficulty
start using a comb in the same areas, gradually progressing to the rest of
the body. The younger
that cat the easier it should be to introduce regular grooming to its daily
routine.
Identification
Always ensure your cat or kitten wears a collar and
identity disc, then anyone who finds your cat will be able to return it. A collar that will open if your cat snags itself on anything
is preferable. Often cat
collars have little bells on them in an attempt to warn wild birds that a
cat is approaching. Microchipping
is an ideal way of identifying cats as they can often loose their collars.
When a cat is microchipped, the microchip acts a permanent means of
identification. Each microchip
is registered with a central database and the owner’s contact details are
recorded, meaning that the owners of the cat can be quickly contacted if
the cat is found.
Neutering
Generally, most female cats come into season for the
first time the spring following their birth.
A female cat that is in season is usually referred to as
‘calling’, due to the loud cries she makes in order to attract a mate.
A cat’s behaviour is strongly controlled by its mating instinct
and besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, neutering also helps to
control other behaviours. Un-neutered
tom (male) cats are much more likely to roam away from home, fight with
other males in the neighbourhood and spray urine in the house in order to
attract females. Queens
(female cats) also exhibit more acceptable behaviour when they have been
neutered; they can no longer come into season and will not, therefore,
start calling for a mate. A
kitten can be neutered when it reaches five months of age, although the
actual timing of the operation should be discussed with your veterinary
surgeon.
Common Diseases and Ailments
Most cats will, at some time in their lives, require
veterinary care and although the cost of vaccinating and neutering can
normally be anticipated, your cat may become sick or injured and require
urgent veterinary treatment. Due
to their independent nature, cats are often the victims of road traffic
accidents and as a result may require extensive veterinary treatment.
By insuring your cat, some financial assistance would be available
towards the cost of unexpected veterinary fees.
Vaccination is essential for all cats and kittens and helps to protect them against common viruses that can be fatal. After an initial course of inoculations, cats require a booster vaccination each year.
Abscesses – these are caused by bacterial infections
and are painful swellings of pus that develop under the skin.
They are often the result of fighting and can develop if the animal
has been scratched or bitten. If
you think your cat may have an abscess, take it to the veterinary surgery
immediately.
Fractures – broken bones can occur when the cat has
been involved in a serious accident or from a fall and require immediate
veterinary attention.
Diarrhoea – this could be a symptom of a variety of
illnesses or may be related to diet. Always
contact your veterinary surgery for advice.
Constipation – this condition can be caused by a number of different factors, including diet, lack of exercise and the ingestion of large amounts of hair.
Internal parasites (endoparasites) – cats can suffer
from roundworms and tapeworms. Regular
de-worming is essential and your veterinary surgery will be happy to advise
how frequently your cat or kitten should be de-wormed.
External parasites (ectoparasites) – these can be a common problem for cats and kittens and require immediate treatment. Fleas, ticks and lice can be detected by thoroughly checking the coat and effective, regular preventative medications should be used.
Stings – bee and wasp stings produce swelling and can be very painful. Stings in the mouth or throat require urgent veterinary attention, as the swelling can be so severe as to cause death by suffocation.
For further information and advice, or if you have ANY reason for concern about your cat's health, always consult a veterinary surgeon.
JSPCA working to
“prevent cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged,
sick, lost and unwanted animals.”
Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(Inc.)
Founded 1868 – Incorporated 1936
89 St Saviour’s Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ
Tel: 01534 724331
Fax: 01534 871797
E-mail: info@jspca.org.je
Website: www.jspca.org.je
