Pet Gazette

Usually cats are good mothers but there are occasions when you will need to step in and rAise the kittens yourself.  This could happen, for example if the mother cat is sick after giving birth, or If she rejects some or all of her litter for some reason.  Should this happen, there are four main things that you need to specifically monitor on the newborn kittens.

1. Maintain their body heat
2. Provide adequate and appropriate nutrition
3. Monitor their body weight – it must go up, not down
4. Keep the kittens clean

Keeping the kittens warm isn’t so difficult during the first two weeks because they can’t really move anywhere under their own steam.  So keep them in a ventilated but draught free area with blankets to snuggle against.  You should also ensure that they can’t get tangled up in the blankets or lost beneath them as they could easily suffocate in that kind of situation.

If the mother cat is refusing (or unable) to feed them herself, your local veterinary centre will be able to recommend/supply a substitute formula that you can use to feed the kittens with the help of a dropper or syringe.  This will need to be done frequently throughout the day/night so you may need to enlist the help of someone else so you can take shifts to ensure the feeding schedule is maintained.

The kittens need to be weighed regularly.  You can use your kitchen scales but make sure that you place them somewhere safe so that the kittens can’t fall if they manage to slide off the scale.  If they do lose weight you should speak to your veterinary practice as soon as possible.

Make sure that the kittens are clean by using a clean damp cloth - pay particular attention to their eyes especially once they begin to open, their ears and their anal areas.

Fuss over the mother cat and let her See you caring for the kittens.  Try to slowly meld the family together by fussing her whilst you place one kitten beside her.  Don’t ignore her whilst tending them or she will feel resentment towards them and won’t be encouraged to take an interest.  Once she regains her health, or no longer sees them as a threat to her territory, she should start to accept them - but by the time this occurs the mother’s milk may not be enough to feed the kittens, so you may still need to feed them.

When Pregnant Cats Deliver

As with pregnant women, there are signs that a pregnant cat is about to give birth.  Knowing these signs and restricting how far your cat is able to wander once they appear will save you worrying about whether she’s decided to give birth in a neighbour’s garage or in the cupboard under the stairs!

1. It’s getting very close to the date you marked as “due date” on your calendar
2. Your cat starts “nesting” and acting a little strange
3. Your cat starts to “talk” more
4. Physically she’s more active, with heavier breathing and/or her nipples large and abdomen drops.By watching her closely around the time she’s due to have her kittens, you’ll hopefully ensure that she’s in a location that’s convenient to you as well as her when the time comes!As the textbooks will tell you, your cat should be able to deliver The kittens herSelf, but, as they probably don’t, you should be standing by in case she needs help!  You can also ensurE that she’s in a good place to give birTh if possible - although some cats arE insistent that they choose the birThing location and it’s not as convenient as you’d like!  She will rEst a little after each kitten is borN and this will give her Time to clean the kitten up and allow it to feed beforE the next contrActions starT to brIng the next kitten out.

   Your cat’s firSt kitten should come into the worLd within an hour FrOm active labour Beginning, and the birThs can be anywherE frOm 30 minutes to an hour AparT.  If therE arE strOng contrActions but no kittens appearIng for Longer Than this, telephone your VeterInarY centre for Guidance.  Even in the healthiest of cats complications can happen, such as the following:

   Less placentas than kittens.  Each kitten ought to have its own placenta.  If you have morE kittens than placentas, again contact your VeterInarY prActice for Guidance.

   Kitten stuck in the birThing canal.  If a kitten is stuck and your Cat can’t move it with contrActions, then this is wherE your Extended rEading will come in usEful as you arE going to need to help her To frEe this kitten beforE it’s too late.  

   You are your cat’s advocate more during the birth of her kittens than at any other time in her life.  Ensure that you have a veterinary’s 24 contact number before her contractions begin, and that you’ve read any material your vet has recommended so that you have a good idea of the process.  The reality may be a little different to what the books say, but at least you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect!

The Abyssinian Cat is a domesticated cat breed that originated from the infamous Egyptian female kitten called Zula. Zula was taken by a British soldier from a port in Alexandria, Egypt, and brought to

The Abyssinian should have large almond-shaped green or gold eyes that show a fine dark line around them. Her ears are usually very large in appearance. The coat shows a warm golden color most of the time, but they can also be fawn or blue or cinnamon and red, even silver, gray and cream.

Abyssinians are known to be friendly and playful. Their high energy level makes them almost appear like a dog.

If you want alap cat, the Abby is not for you. Due to the high energy level, the cat is constantly occupied with physical activies such as playing, chasing, and exploring. But once they do settle down in your lap, they are the most loveable cats out there!

You can’t turn an outdoor cat into an indoor cat

Of course you can. I have done it numerous times. As long as they are entertained enough and don’t get bored, it is not difficult at all.

Indoor Cats are safe from Diseases and Parasites

Most of common infections are airborne and can be brought into your house by a wind gust through the open door or window, a guest’s clothing or even yourself or your pet. The same way also works for parasites such as fleas and ticks. Always groom your pet before letting it inside and brush yourself and your clothing as well.

Momma Cats smother their Babies

This too is a myth. I have not found a single verified case of such incident, but there have incidences of a momma cat accidentally smothering babies while sleeping.

Cats hate Water

I believe that it is not the water that cats fear, but the noise it makes. Every single I have raised has enjoyed being bathed and purred up a storm afterwards. The trick lies in introducing the water to the kitten for the first time. If the first time is traumatic, and unfortunately this is the case most of the time, the cat will dislike the water.

Are all Siamese cats mean and feisty? No way! This myth actually originated from the movie “The Lady and the Tramp” where the Siamese cat is portrayed as a somewhat mean creature.

In real life however, temperament is the result of a mix of how the cat is raised, if she was raised with other cats or just with humans, how she was treated, what she has been through, if she has experienced any trauma, etc.. If a cat is brought up in a loving household chances are that she will grow up into well adjusted and loving cat. If this myth, that all Siamese cats are mean, had any truth to it, the Siamese cat breed would not be one of the world’s most popular breeds on the planet.

I don’t know how often I heard the claim that ALL calicos are female. This is not the case. While most calico cats are female, there is the occasional male. Fact is that the majority of those calico males are sterile, because the color is linked to the sex.

Calicos require two X chromosomes which means the cat is a female. On some rare occasions however, a male calico will be born. The cause is usually an extra chromosome; instead of him having XY, he has XXY. About 1 - 3000 calico cats turn out to be a male and out of those males only 1-10,000 are fertile. 

I also heard the myth that all orange cats are male

That can’t be true, because right at this moment I am looking at 2 orange kittens that I have raised a male and a female; brother and sister. The reason is that the orange male needs one copy of the O gene to produce an orange coat where the female requires the O to be on both chromosomes. If she has only one O she would turn out a Calico. 

The cat saliva which contains an allergen that causes allergic reaction in humans. Once a cat grooms herself, saliva is deposited on her fur which dries into dust and turns into dander or dandruff. These particles then are released into the air when a cat only moves about and especially when she is grooming or scratching herself. Brushing your cat doesn’t really help it either.

Word is getting loud that some research labs are attempting to produce cats that are free of the dandruff that causes allergies in people. They will try to use RNA interference to eliminate that particular gene in cats that produces the irritant, which is excreted through saliva and the skin.

So far, all cats produce the protein that will cause the allergic reactions in humans, even the hairless cat breeds.

Follow these Tips:

1. Gather the tools. The list is below.
2. Don’t do it alone, have another person help you..
3. Take the tweezers and grab the tick by the head, as close to the cat’s body as possible. Do not grab the tick’s body!
4. Slowly but firmly pull outward. Do NOT twist or jerk.
5. Once the tick came loose, drop it into the glass with alcohol where it will be killed and desinfected.
6. Apply hydrocortisone spray to the bite wound.
7. Thoroughly wash and desinfect your own hands and safely dispose of the dead tick.

Myths:

It is an urban legend to use vaseline, kerosene, nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol to either suffocate the tick or force it to come out on it’s own. All this action will do is irritate the skin around the bite more and cause infection.

Keep treating the bite wound with hydrocortisone spray until it scabs over.

Tool List

Tweezers
Rubbing Alcohol in a glass
Disinfectant
Hydrocortisone Spray

Declawing is the surgical amputation of the first joint of the cat’s toes which includes the nail. It is illegal and considered cruel and inhumane in many European countries unless the declawing surgery has a medical benefit.

The surgery itself is performed using a guillotine-type blade and the cat will be under general anesthesia. Post-operative pain will be severe therefore pain control medication is often prescribed. Another procedure called tendonectomy involves the severing of the ligaments behind each of the cat’s toe, which then prevents the claws from being extended.

Cats were born with claws for a reason and that reason is to defend themselves and to hunt their prey. Depriving the cats of their basic form of defense as well as their tools for exercise and mobility is cruel and inhumane.

Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

There is only one way to find out if you cat will tolerate to have her teeth brushed: go for it! Use a toothbrush and toothpaste for cats. Human toothpaste is NOT safe for cats. Simply open your cat’s mouth by lifting his lip at the sides of his mouth and start brushing carefully. Regular checkups at the vet’s should include a dental examination and regular cleanings.

Cleaning Your Cat’s Ears

You can use a Q-Tip, but be careful. Moisten it first with some water. Carefully wipe the exterior areas of your cat’s ears. Never insert the Q-Tip directly into the ears; the eardrum is very sensitive and easily destroyed. You can use a table spoon of Peroxide and let it drip into the ear. The cat will shake his head and get rid of the gunk that way himself.