February 6, 2012

How To Tame A Wild Cat

Dr. Gary S. Goodman asked:




I didn’t grow up with pets, so when I came of age, it was one of my first priorities to get a dog.

And I’ve adopted lots of them from rescue organizations, mostly Dobermans and Bearded Collies, one of which I have now.

While I’ve enjoyed playing with cats, and especially talking with them and having them respond, I never had one I could call my own, until now.

Cleopa was born a feral, or wild cat, nearby my urban home. Somewhere, nestled between yards and parking lots, she arrived on the scene with at least two sisters and a couple of brothers.

About six months ago, I started leaving some food out for these teeny creatures, and I took a liking to Cleopa, who is snow white with beautiful black and red markings, mostly on her head and tail.

I resolved to adopt her, to tame her, and here’s how I did it.

(1) I talked to her, every chance I got. Having a door that opens out onto a front terrace made this fairly easy to do. Before too long, she spoke back.

(2) I tried to pet her, but she bit me. Next, I decided to hand-feed her some food, which she was wary of, but couldn’t resist.

(3) Petting her back while feeding her came next.

(4) Next, I placed a bowl of food inside my door, moving it closer and closer to the kitchen with subsequent feedings. Finally, it came to rest next to the stove, where I feed her now.

(5) Before long, she allowed me to pet her without food, and then she jumped on my lap for petting, and finally she meowed to get in to be petted, without any promise of food.

Now, she’s like a regular house cat, and she doesn’t want very much to go out.

What happened to her brothers and sisters? The boys split long ago, but the sisters, Marquesa and Nochka are still hanging around, and I feed them outdoors.

For some reason, they resisted my efforts to civilize them!

Create a video blog

Abyssinian talking to the birds

di0519 asked:


Abyssinian saying good morning to the birdies.

Kansieo.com

Cat Breed – Abyssinian

David Braybrooke asked:




The Abyssinian cat is commonly believed to date back to the 1860s, originating in Ethiopia, yet some people claim that the breed can be traced back to the ancient cats of Abyssinia, now called Egypt.

It is one of the oldest known breeds, the first one being brought to England in 1868. The Abyssinian was officially recognized as a distinct breed in 1882.

They are known for their sharp intelligence, litheness and a refined, pleasant demeanor, often becoming very attached to their owners. Abyssinians are extroverted and willful with a curious and adventurous nature being the norm; they are active, playful and inquisitive!

This cat has a medium length body with well-developed muscles, and short, silky, fine, close-lying coats; their faces have round, almond-shaped eyes, green, hazel or amber in color. They have legs of moderate length; size-wise they tend to weigh between 4-7.5kg (9-16lb).

The tail is fairly long, broad at the base and tapering to a point. Abyssinian’s have fine bone structures and their paws are small and oval-shaped.

The cat’s ears are alert and relatively large, broad and cupped at the base; they have an M-shaped marking found in fur on the forehead.

The Abyssinian has a “ticked” coat, meaning that each hair, light in color, has several dark bands which are evenly spaced. This coloring results in an ideal camouflage for the dry desert lands of North Africa.

These days, the Abyssinian comes in a range of different colors. Anything from red through fawn, lilac, cinnamon, cream and chocolate, amongst others.

They are a popular cat breed and are generally healthy except for occasional blindness, especially an inherited form called retinal atrophy. Although making good companions they can be suspicious of strangers.

Abys, the term used fondly by owners, are hardy and adaptable as pets and are a popular breed for showing; a good choice for any prospective cat owner!

Create a video blog

Abyssinian Kittens For Sale: Guide to Prospective Buyers

Odessa Flores-Lemence asked:




Finding the perfect Abyssinian kittens for sale means locating responsible Abyssinian cat breeders. This article will help you find the best Abyssinian kittens, caring for an Aby, and all about this kitten breed.

All About Abys

The origin of Abyssinians is a bit hard to verify. One research suggested that the domestic cat first lived with humans about 130,000 years ago in the Middle East. Some implied to be a descendant from a cat called Zula which was brought by a certain Capt. Barrett Leonard from the Abyssinian wars in 1860′s to England. Others believed that the Abys may be descendants from the colonies of cats survived the Roman evacuation of Britain. While still others thought it came from the coast of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

However, it is just as possible that the Abyssinian breed was developed in England from tabby cats carrying the agouti gene. So the truth to the origins are still beyond dispute.

Abyssinian kittens come from the oldest known breeds. The overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian has a balanced medium sized colorful cat. It has a lithe, muscular and strong body with a distinctly well-ticked close lying coat.

Although standard of points for the Aby cat varies, there is, like any other cats, a marked similarity between them. Abyssinian colors in the GCCF standard has recognized 28 colors, while the CFA standards only identifies 4 colours of equal show status, namely ruddy, red, blue and fawn.

Typically, an Aby looks like a miniature puma or lynx with bright, expressive eyes and large attentive ears. They are very much interested in everything and will spend long periods outdoors if allowed to. They are highly intelligent and independent felines. Although they are not lap cats, Abyssinians are extremely affectionate with a habit of “head-butting” the pet owners. An extremely active and sociable feline, an Aby bonds closely with their owners.

Finding An Aby

1. Find a responsible Abyssinian breeder. Be careful for so-called breeders that sells unregistered Abyissinian kittens. Abys are pedigreed cats that must come from registered parents.

2. Purebred registered Aby must leave home not below 12 weeks of age with good health.

3. Assess or ask for registration and medical records. An Aby should be wormed, vaccinated from feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.

4. Assume a range between $200-$500 for an Aby price tag.

5. Inspect any signs and symptoms of illness, as well as, kitten behavioral problems. Check for fleas, dry flaky skin, and discharges from eyes, ears and nose.

6. Obtain a written sales agreement from the breeder that includes the breeder’s health guarantee.

7. When purchasing any cat, take it immediately to the vet for further examination. You might even considered neutering or spaying it. The vet will also aid you in what to do being an owner.

Caffeinated Content

Using Flower Essences With Cats

Nedda Wittels asked:




Are you are trying to integrate a new cat into your feline family? Do your cats fight with each other? Is your new cat grieving its lost human companion who had to go into a nursing home? Flower remedies or essences are helpful in many situations. Choosing the right essences is facilitated by knowing what the animals are thinking and feeling. As an Animal Communicator, I can gather this information and choose appropriate remedies.

Flower remedies are the vibrational patterns of flowers in liquid form. Each flower’s unique energy pattern models specific healthy emotional vibrations. When the bio-electrical systems of the animal align with the model, not only may an animal’s emotional state and behaviors change, but sometimes even physical illnesses will be helped to resolve.
?
One client had six cats and had rescued a seventh. When she tried to integrate the new female, the cats fought and there was chaos. A new cat will cause a shifting about of everyone’s position in the group dynamic. In this instance, the new cat was fairly dominant. She was unwilling to come into the group at the bottom of the pecking order. The currently dominant cat wasn’t about to give up her position. The other five cats had their various relationships and ranks, but now all positions were fluctuating.

First, I explained to each feline what was going on and why the person wanted to keep the new cat. I also gathered information about how each cat felt about the new one and about their individual willingness to cooperate. I talked to the new cat to get her perspective as well. We all brainstormed for solutions that might help smooth out the process.

Then I chose flower essences. While continuing to use Rescue Remedy, I added Walnut to help each cat cope with a major life change; Quaking Grass, to help each cat’s vibrations find harmony and flexibility in the group energy; Chicory for the one cat who tended to be jealous and manipulative; and Tiger Lily to reduce aggressive behavior during the shift. In addition, I suggested that the client mist the house twice a day with some Rescue Remedy diluted in water, creating a calming atmosphere. The human agreed not to behave in ways that showed favoritism towards the new cat.

The cats began to settle down quickly once they were on the essences. Over a period of months, the new cat was integrated without anyone getting hurt.

Flower essences start working immediately, yet work gradually and gently. Sometimes behaviors change quickly, but the essences should be given for several months to assure a sustained transformation. Flower essences will not change someone’s personality, although they can take the edge off of an extreme behavior.

Another client had a male Abyssinian cat who told me he was “a God” and who was beating up on the female cat in the family, a American Short Hair, because he felt she didn’t “worship” him appropriately. His person was astonished. “Does he think my husband and I worship him?” she asked. The Abyssinian answered, “Yes.” He said that his people thought he was beautiful; they fed, petted and admired him as much as he wanted. The female cat was sweet, but not very self- confident, especially as the male would swat at her each time she walked past him.

We set this goal: to boost the female’s confidence while lowering the male’s aggressive tendencies. For the male I chose Vine, for being domineering, inflexible, and a bully, combined with Beech, for intolerance, and Tiger Lily, for aggression. For the female I chose Larch, to build self-confidence, combined with Centaury, for allowing oneself to be bullied. As a result of the essences, the male cat stopped his aggressive behavior while the female no longer ran madly past him. The situation resolved quickly because the right flower essences were used. The male’s beliefs about himself did not change; his concern about the female cat and his behaviors towards her did.

Flower essences can be used with most species, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. They are non-invasive and do not conflict with prescribed medications. If you are having a behavioral or emotional problem with an animal and you would like to try a holistic approach, consider using flower essences. With the assistance of an Animal Communicator, you are more likely to hit on just the right combination, with the added benefit of understanding your animals’ perspectives. This helps achieve the desired results.

Caffeinated Content

Different Cat Breeds – Which One To Chose?

Kevin Lampard asked:




While you are looking for the right cat breed, don’t be too caught up in these personality features. Personalities will differ in the breeds as well and will have a lot to do with the environment that the cat grew up in or is going to grow up in. One of the most important features to consider is whether you want a short hair or a longhaired breed. People who don’t have a lot of time to spend on grooming will want to go with short. Grooming adult longhaired cats can be time consuming, although the cats will be beautiful. If you neglect the long hair, however, it will definitely become a tangled and matted mess. This means that you may have to have the cat shaven and start all over with their long hair.

Once you have considered these different features and personality traits, then you can begin looking at the different breeds and begin to search for the one that sounds like it will fit your style.

Abyssinian: These cats are incredibly personable and affectionate. They love to interact with families as well.

American Bobtail: These cats are friendly and gain their name from their short tail. These cats are available as both shorthair and longhair.

American Curl: These breeds are interesting, as they do not have ears that back toward the of their heads.

For more information on more different cat breeds visit http://www.thecatguide.co.uk

Create a video blog…instantly.

Abyssinian cat & kittens #02

screenshot asked:


The Abyssinian is a breed of domesticated cat with a distinctive ticked coat. Its origins are uncertain, the name ‘Abyssinian’ refers to Ethiopia, but most of the stories about the origins of Abyssinians refer to Egypt. The Abyssinian has become one of the most popular breeds of shorthair cat in the USA. Abyssinian Abyssinieren Abessinierkatze Abisinio L’abyssin bunny Cat Gatto Abissino Abessijn Abissínios Abyssinar Broadcast format available at: http://www.stockshot.nl – Music title Investigations by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0″

Caffeinated Content

Persian Cat Information And Cat And Kitten Types Are Described

Martin Marks asked:




Most people have a liking for pet animals and for them cats are no exceptions. People may find a variety of cats depending on their body types. It is easy to spot the difference between the stocky Persian and the long, lean, Abyssinian cat. To see how well they differ, it is best to see these cats in action.

Different Body Types:

Given below is the information of body types of different cats:

1. Traditional Applehead:
Traditional Applehead cat is big-boned, more stocky and heavier of the three Siamese cats. The cat has a large bone structure. Head of the traditional applehead cat is similar to the shape of an apple. Nose of the cat has a dip, which can be seen when the head turns on its side.

2. Traditional:
Traditional Siamese cat has a medium-sized bone structure. The head is oval which tilts vertically. Traditional cat has an elongated face as compared to the Applehead cat. It is athletic in appearance. Body coat of all three traditional Siamese cats are dense and short. The coat is also springy and soft to touch.

3. Traditional Classic:
Traditional classic cat has a muscular, elegant, an athletic shaped body. The cat is as healthy as the traditional and traditional applehead cat. The cat has light feet and a slightly elongated shape to its head. It has an elongated body, tail and legs. The cat does not have a dip at its nose.

4. Wedge Siamese:
The wedge Siamese is extreme in body type and elongated. It has the head like the shape of a wedge or a triangle, very pointed and sharp. In addition, the head is delineated and the chin is aligned. The head appears wedge-shaped from the tip of the cat’s nose to the corner extending to large ears. The cat has slanted eyes of almond shape. Remaining part of the cat’s body is thinner, longer, svelte looking and tubular. The cat has a wider nose as compared to the traditional cat.

5. Siamese Mix Oriental:
Cat of this type has an elongated slender body, long nose, large ears and almond-shaped eyes.

Other Body Types:

Below mentioned are some other popular body types of cats:

1. Cobby:
Cobby cat has a muscular, short and compact build. It has short nose, small ears and roundish eyes. Persian cat is one good example of cobby cat.

2. Persian Cat:
Persian cat has a round, broad head. It has large eyes, full cheeks and short nose. The cat has round-tipped ears that tilt forwards and has ear tufts. Neck of the cat is short and thick. The cat has a solid body with broad chest across the shoulders. It has large paws. Body coat is silky, wavy and shiny. It has a short tail.

3. Turkish Van:

This cat has a thick, strong body. It has round, large, slanted eyes. The cat has a long bushy tail. Its large ears rest on the top of its head. The cat’s body coat is pure white.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

Abyssinian Red Ensete Banana Tree

tytynursery1 asked:


The Abyssinian Red Ensete Banana Tree or Ensete ventricosum has a beautiful red color you could not miss from your garden. The Ensete ventricosum will light up the darkes part of your garden and make it shine with the red and green colors. Orders your own Red Abyssinian Banana Tree today at Ty Ty Nursery or order online at http://www.tytyga.com

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

Buying a Guinea Pig – Breeds

Gwen Garrett asked:




How much to spend:

- When buying a guinea pig you should first look into how much you will need to spend. The average guinea pig bought from a pet store could range anywhere from $5 to $15 per guinea pig. Buying a guinea pig from a breeder you should expect to spend up to $45 or more.

- A cage for your little friend will cost from $30 to $60 if you go to a supply store. If you choose to make your own cage, it could be done for as little as $35.

- Don’t forget to groom your piggy! Grooming tools may cost up to $15. Don’t forget brushes, nail-clippers, and other tools you may need, especially if you are planning on buying a long-haired guinea.

- Vegetables and pellets for feeding will be around $10 per bag.

- Hay and other bedding aren’t particularly expensive, about $5-10 per bag.

How many Guinea Pigs Should I get?

Typically since you are first starting out, get just one to be certain you can take care of a second and/or third.

What type of Piggy?

There are many different breeds of Guinea Pigs. It can be difficult to know exactly which one you are looking for. So I will list a few for you to help you get a better idea of who you want.

American (English Cavy)
The American Guinea Pig has a smooth short coat that lies flat to his body. He is the most popularly and commonly seen.

Abyssinian
The Abyssinian has a very distinctive appearance. He is very fuzzy and his coat is made up of swirl-like patterns called rosettes. The fur is very coarse and rough.

Peruvian
The Peruvian Guinea Pig has a smooth and straight coat. Their coats can grow to several inches in length. The hair tends to grow over their head as well as their body. The thick, soft Peruvian’s coat requires much attention and grooming. Many owners tend to trim the hair to keep it from becoming too unmanageable.

Silkie (Sheltie)
The Silkie has a very long, silky coat. Unlike the Peruvian, the Silkie’s coat grows backwards from the head.

Crested (American Crested, English Crested)
The Crested Guinea Pig has a single rosette on his forehead. There are two types of Crested Guinea Pigs. The White Crested, also known as the American Crested, who has a white crest on his forehead. Then there is the Self Crested, also called English Crested, who’s crest is the same color as the rest of his coat.

Teddy
The Teddy is a short haired guinea pig characterized by his short, thick coat with kinked hair that makes the coat look fuzzy, like a teddy bear.

Texel
The Texel Guinea Pig is highly uncommon and has a very distinctive long and curly coat. The Texel requires a lot of grooming and maintenance.

Coronet
The Coronet is yet another long haired piggy, but this one has a single rosette in the center of its forehead, like the Crested. Like all long-haired guineas, this one will need a lot of grooming.

Other Breeds
There are other less recognized breeds of guinea pigs, such as the hairless guineas and others. Keep Looking! There are many! I’ve posted pictures of each breed on my blog come on over and have a look.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress