I keep returning to this subject, but only because it is so important. If you do not feed you cat correctly you run the risk of doing serious damage to its health. I realise that to regular reader it must appear that I’m on some sort of campaign here, but only because the need of a cat for meat is so fundamental to its nature – and not merely a “psychology” but its physical and metabolic makeup.

Today I came across the following article, and as it expresses the facts so clearly decided to put up a link here.

Difference Between Dog and Cat Food | Difference Between

Dog vs Cat Food Most pet owners think that a dog and a cat’s food is the same. People believe that they can feed their dogs with cat food and vice versa. … dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores. …

I recently came across a breed of cat which surprised me. I’d never seen one, and don’t recall spotting any reference to it in books or magazines (probably due to going around with half-closed eyes!). It was the Sphynx, a breed which is hairless due a mutated gene, and was named after the ancient monument in Egypt. As one writer put it, if you ever wanted to see what a cat looked like naked, then now you know.

Now that I’ve opened my eyes and looked around I find that The Sphynx is not alone as a hairless breed. To my mind (and I’m sure I’m bound to annoy more than one person here) the other two I’ve come across – the Peterbald and the Donskoy – are even stranger, the latter being extremely wizened. And yet, like all breeds each has its enthusiasts. Each to his or her own, say I.

It seems that the Sphynx breed probably originated in the 1960 when a shorthaired domestic cat in Canada had a male kitten which was hairless. The younger male then mated with his mother and so a new hairless breed was born. It took until the 1990s for the Sphynx to be recognised officially and not until 2002 could it be widely shown.

Sphynx cats are friendly, loyal companions, who delight in a lot of personal attention and purr happily when a favorite person is nearby. They are athletic athletic and enjoy tree climbing. The Sphynx have strong personalities and don’t enjoy being lonely. Another cat companion, not neceassarily another Sphynx, will help to keep a Sphynx happy and occupied while the owner is away from the house.

As implied in my opening comments these unusual cats are not to everyone’s liking. But with its unique appearance and bubbly personality you might just decide that one would make a great new companion.

I have a friend who I often described as “her with two kids, two cats and a dog”.  The dog is a golden retriever; the cats defy description in terms of breed.  The great thing, though, is how well they get on together. Like human brothers and sisters they sometimes tantalise one another, they sometimes argue, but they don’t like being apart – as is seen very clearly when the dog is away being looked after by friends for a few days; the reunion is something to be seen.

This made me think about specific cat breeds, and I started to do some reading.  As is often the case I don’t claim this to be thoroughly researched, but from my reading so far I’ve put Burmese, Siamese and Ragdolls on my initial list of cat breeds likely to live in harmonious coexistence with a dog.

I suppose, though, that peaceful cat-dog coexistence will depend also on the breed of dog. That’s something I haven’t yet researched.

Portrait photographs of cats and dogs is subject that has exercised my mind quite a bit recently.  I still have not tried taking cat portraits but it’s very much on my agenda for the next few weeks.

In addition to this blog about cats I have several others, mostly on subjects about which I have been enthusiastic for many years.  Having come to the end of a career which demanded a great deal of international travel I’m now able to spend time closer to home and once again enjoy my hobbies as well as returning to a closer interest in pets.

My English travel blog, Around England and its associated site about the English Lake District require a lot more photographs.  So does the one under development about my wife’s and my favourite holiday destination, Madeira.  Recently, therefore I invested in a new camera and some clever lenses.  Landscape photography will be the big thing, and I’ve also tried doing a portrait of a friend’s Golden Retriever.  Cat pictures must come soon.

As I don’t yet have any expertise in the subject I’m not going to flannel my way through writing about cat photography but I did come across what seems to me like a very sensible approach to photographing the family pet.  It’s an interesting article on someone else’s blog.  Here it is: “Taking a Good Cat Picture“.  I hope you find helpful.

For a more extensive treatment of the subject in book form why not try Pet Photography NOW!: A Fresh Approach to Photographing Animal Companions by Paul Walker, or Pet Photography 101: Tips for taking better photos of your dog or cat by Andrew Darlow.

The links above are to Amazon.com.  To buy in the UK from Amazon.co.uk the links are as follows: Pet Photography Now! and Pet Photography 101

The Ragdoll breed was initially developed in California in the 1960s and went through a somewhat confrontational period as different breeder groups differed over the standards and administrative arrangements for the breed registration.  By the 1980s Ragdoll cats were being exported to other countries and after about ten years the breed was eventually recognised in the United Kingdom.  Since the early 1990s it popularity has increased around the world and in many major countries is now in the top ten.

The Ragdoll is one of the larger breeds of cat, with long soft hair.  It requires grooming to keep the coat in good condition but is less prone to severe matting than some other breeds such as the Persian.  They tend to be very “laid back” in temperament, are often cuddly with humans, relax when picked up, and are sometimes said to be rather dog-like in their behaviour.  Their docile behaviour is probably inherited from Persian and Birman ancestry; in fact they are usually so docile that some breeders have been coming to feel that this relaxed manner is too much to be good for them

On the whole this breed is likely to inflict little claw damage on furniture as they do not get stressed very easily.  A Ragdoll will usually live peaceably with another cat, but generally prefers human family company.  Kittens are born white but adult colouring varies widely.

For several decades the breed name Ragdoll was a privately owned trademark controlled by an individual breeder, and only since 2005 when the trademark was not renewed has it been possible to use it widely.  As a result the name Ragamuffin started to become widely used, and there now are cat fancy societies with this breed name, such as the UK RagaMuffin Cat Society and the US-based RagaMuffin Associated Group (RAG).  Specialist breeders have focused on producing subtly different characteristics from the Ragdoll although the average owner would find it very difficult to tell the two breeds apart.

Ragdoll Cats – further information:
The British Ragdoll Cat Club
The Cat Fanciers Association (USA) Breed Profile

Video: The Ragdoll Cats of Crack O’ Noon!
The following video captured out attention on YouTube. We have no commercial connection with Crack O’ Noon Ragdolls but couldn’t resist showing their video.

Photographs of the beautiful and humorous cats and kittens of Crack O’ Noon Ragdolls, Colorado

This article is being written at the end of December.  At this time of year many families take on a new pet.  Children clamour for a pet as a Christmas gift and all too often kittens are bought without adequate thought as to the long-term consquences.  If that has already happened in your house then some of what I’m about to write might come too late, but here goes anyway. (And the points below apply whatever the time of year)

Think before you buy. Never buy a kitten or adopt a cat on an impulse without thinking through the implications.  To take on the care of a dependent animal is a heavy commitment. Don’t do it lightly.  There’s going to be far more to deal with than those cuddly moments with a gentle furry friend.

Give attention to training. Give close attention to the training of your new pet.  It needs to know what are the boundaries of its behaviour. Invest time and patience in teaching it standards of conduct that will make your companionship a truly happy experience.

Feed your cat well – without over-feeding. Learn the principles of cat nutrition. Ensure that your pet is properly nourished so as to keep it healthy and full of vitality. Be very careful, though, to avoid over-feeding; far too many pet cats become obese with long-term damage to their health.

Neuter your cat. Unless you have a well-considered plan for deliberate breeding from your cat, have it neutered, whether male or female.  Unwanted litter with a female and tom-cat behaviour with a male can make life very difficult.

Keep your cat clean. Hygeine is one of the principal responsibilities of a cat owner.  Two areas stand out as of special importance – grooming and the litter box.  Short-haired cats will need less human grooming attention. Training in the use of the litter tray is important for cats; training in regular cleaning out of the litter tray is essential for humans.

Consider cat safety. Most cats are allowed outdoors unattended without problems.  I’ve noticed in recent months, however, that especially in the United States (in line with an increasingly zero-risk approach to life) there appears to be a movement toward being more protective and keeping cats indoors.  Personally I don’t agree with this, except possibly in highly urban environments where there is serious risk from intensive road traffic or with very expensive breeds where there is a significant risk of theft. In such cases the use of a leash or an outdoor pen might be advisable.  Generally, though, cats are very capable of taking care of themselves and don’t need pampering.

Don’t skimp on the Vet’s Fees. Most certainly it is a good thing to learn the basics of cat health, animal first aid and DIY treatments for minor ailments, but don’t skimp on veterinary fees.  And don’t delay treatment for serious conditions or the pain both to your pet and to your bank account could get much worse.

As is indicated by its name the Burmese cat originated in Burma (often known today as Myanmar) and was brought to the West in the years immediately before the 2nd World War. After the war the look of the breed diverged on opposite sides of the Atlantic so that now there are European Burmese and American Burmese cats. Although the ordinary cat lover might often be hard pressed to tell the difference the expert breeders and show judges have long debated the merits and demerits of the two.

The breed is good around people and enjoys being in a home with more than one cat.  The following YouTube video clip shows the playfulness of Burmese kittens.  I liked this when I saw it but have so far been unable to identify its producer or I would give them credit.

A Burmese cat is sleek and smooth which from the point of view of the owner is extremely convenient as its glossy coat needs little or no grooming by human hand. The Burmese has been described as the ultimate low maintenance cat. Although sleek and medium-sized people are often surprised at the weight of a Burmese as they tend to be very muscular. Colour varies from platinum and champagne to chocolate brown, and the eyes are often bright yellow or gold.

Burmese Cat Calendar from Amazon.com

Burmese Cats 2011 Square 12X12 Wall Calendar (Multilingual Edition) $11.69 Known to shadow their owners wherever they go, Burmese Cats relish the attention and affection people give them and they return the favor generously. A Burmese is truly an extrovert. Fans of this fabulous breed will cherish this Burmese Cats wall calendar...

UK visitors to our site can find Burmese cat calendarson Amazon.co.uk.

I came acros this excellent article on care for a mother cat and its kittens, published yesterday on vetinfo.com.  I hope you find it useful.

Helping Mother Cats Take Care of Kittens
Vetinfo.com, 15 Dec 2009
“Most mother cats have the natural instinct to care for their kittens after birth. However, while the mother cat means well, sometimes she cannot handle all of her kittens or she is at a loss for how best to do it. …..”

Today, with pet beds on my mind, I thought that instead of a lengthy piece from myself I’d put together one or two links to useful cat bed articles written by others. Oh, but first I’ll add in a short video that might generate some good ideas.

Finally, as we’re in the thick of the gift-buying season, I thought you might want to treat your pet to a special bed. You can of course go to either our UK or USA cat store and see wide selections but for convenience I’m going to add a few possibilities from Amazon at the foot of this post.

And here’s the You Tube video I promised: How to Keep Your Cat Healthy : Determine which Cat Bed is Right for Your Cat

Understand the three types of cat beds: the cat tree house, soft bed and the cat tree in thisfree video. Expert: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan Bio: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan graduated from veterinary school at North Carolina State University in 1993, and now owns the Camp Verde Veterinary Clinic in Camp Verde, Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

In my first paragraph I said I’d put up links to some articles by other people. On looking through the ones that I had listed, however, I realised that most of them said very little that was useful – more ads than ideas. Here, however, is a recent piece that is worth reading, especially for the points made in its second and third paragraphs:

Cat Beds and Other Cat Necessities
From a blog by Caroline Stephenson, 3 Dec 2009
….. don’t undermine the tastes of your cat if they don’t sleep on it often at first, or even if they don’t sleep on it at all. Don’t worry – they will find out what is comfortable for them …..

Finally, as promised, I’m putting below a few suggestions taken from our Amazon.com data-feed. Apologies to our non-American visitors as shipping outside the US might be difficult or expensive. However, don’t forget that we have two online stores on this site: CatStore UK and CatStore USA. In both of them payment and delivery is serviced by Amazon – from their facilities on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Coolaroo Elevated Pet Bed Replacement Cover, Green The original Coolaroo Pet Bed replacement cover for large beds 51.5" x 31.5"....

Sentry HC Good Behavior Pheromone Cat Collar 15-Inch $9.00 Sentry HC Good Behavior Pheromone Collar for Cats Stress can cause inappropriate behaviors in anybody. If you’re a cat, this translates to excessive meowing, destructive behavior, and marking where those “marks” don’t belong. The Sentry® HC Good Behavior™ Pheromone Collar for Cats releases calming pheromones, similar to those released by a mother cat to comfort her kitt...

Slumber Pet Thermal Cat Mat - 22 L x 18 1/2 W - GRAY $9.99 Our Thermal Cat Mat keeps cats warm and comfortable without the use of electricity. This is also a perfect size for puppies and small dogs. This cozy mat features a lightweight core that actually reflects pets own body heat back to the animal. Provides soothing comfort to cats, kittens,puppies, aging pets, nursing females, or animals recovering from illness or injury. Machine-washable pad features...

For many families a kitten from the litter born next door, of no particular breed, is quite enough.  Other people like to have a cat of known breed, often because a friend or relative has one and they’ve been won over by its appearance and/or personality.

There is vast range of breeds and families of breeds to choose from. Information on these is not difficult to come by.  Many breeds have societies devoted to them; many have extensive single-breed web sites; and the number of books is legion.

There are many books to help you in your search to find what breed of cat will best suit your personality, and your purse.  A convenient “Kitten Buyers’ Guide” for the UK is published periodically in “Your Cat” magazine, the November 2009 issue being the latest.

An excellent book that I bought recently is Encyclopedia Of Catsby Candida Frith-Macdonald. It is available from Amazon.com by clicking the link above. Described as a “comprehensive guide to all world breeds”, and with more than a 1,000 photographic images, this 384-page book published in 2008 is highly informative and easy to read.

(UK visitors: As of the date of writing this post the British edition of this book appears to be out of print. However, here is a range of alternative cat encyclopediasavailable from Amazon.co.uk).