Cats And Ferrets Flashcards
Pure Bred Breeds
A cat whose ancestors are all the same Breed
Mixed
A cat whose ancestors are different breeds
Hoe many cats are recognized by the CFA
Over 40
How many cats are recognized by other groups
30 or more aside from the 40 recognized by CFA
Which cats are not recognized by CFA
Bengal and Himalayan
Why are certain cats not recognized by CFA
Still considered to have wild blood
10 most common breeds of cats
Persian Maine Coon Exotic Siamese Abyssinian Ragdoll Birman American Shorthair Oriental Sphynx
Bengal
Not recognized by CFA
4 generations until they are considered suitable for household (F4/F5)
Very active, intelligent
Domestic cat with Asian leopard (wild cat)
Himalayan
Not recognized by CFA
Subdivision of Persian
Pointed colour, blue eyes
Siamese crossed with Persian
Where are Persian cats from?
From Persia / Iran
How long is a Persian cats hair
Long
How often do you need to groom a Persians hair coat
Daily
Problems in Persian
Brachycephalic
Persian temperament
Sweet /Gentle
Where are Siamese cats from
Thailand
Siamese temperament
Vocal
Affectionate
Intelligent
How long is Siamese hairs
Short hair
Colors on Siamese
Point
Interesting fact about Abyssinian Cats
They are one of the oldest cat breeds
Where are Abyssinian cats from
Egypt
Temperament of Abyssinian
Loyal/intelligent
Hair length of Abyssinian
Short hair
Birman
Medium sized, sturdy cat
No undercoat
Birman grooming
Minimal
Birman temperament
Social
Playful
Quiet
Sphynx
Hairless
Born as mutation in 1966 to DSH
Grooming of sphynx
They need baths.
Sphynx temperament
Lots of energy
Mischevious
Intelligent
Manx
Genetic mutation
Short/no tail
Manx build
Robust, round kitten
Rump higher than shoulders
Exotic
Like a Persian
Except with short dense plush hair coat
Similar personality to Persians
“Lazy mans Persian”
Diluted tortoiseshell
Black (brown/Grey)
Red(cream/orange)
Solid
All one colour
Ragdoll cat
Large Laid back Semi-longed haired Blue eyes Pointed breed
Ragdoll with other cats
More interested in humans than other cats
Ragdoll temperament and orgin
Gentle , playful
Breeder in California
American Shorthair
Easy going, affectionate
Good with people/pets
American Shorthair orgin
Originated from cats following settlers from Europe to north America
Oriental
Foundation of the Siamese breed
Curious, intelligent, playful
Cornish Rex
Curly, very short hair coat
Bat like ears
Angular face
Bridged nose
Cornish Rex temperament
Very active
People oriented
Devin Rex (king)
Over sized ears, face more rounded
Curly to very short coat “suede like”
Devin Rex temperament
Food hounds
LOVE people
Scottish Fold
Ears that fold forward and down to the head
Genetic mutation
Medium sized
Sturdy cats, short hair
Other facts about folds in Scottish folds
May not have folds
Skeletal formations are horn ozy gous recessive
Scottish fold temperament
Quiet
Undemanding
Manx
Genetic mutation
Short or no tail
Robust, round cat with rump higher than shoulders
What else can Manx have
Skeletal formations
Russian Blue
Short hair
Silver - blue coat
Green eyes
Medium sized
Russian blue personality
Shy with strangers
Intelligent
Quiet except for meal times
DSH
Short hair overall
American short hair
DMH
Long tail hair, slightly shorter body hair
Bengal
Abyssinian
DLH
Not many, long hair overall, recessive gene
Prone to matting so need lots of grooming
Persian
Maine Coon
Ragdoll
House cat
Domestic cat
Especially one kept as a household pet
Domestic cat
Any cat that has been tamed and made fit for human environment
Alley Cat
A cat that lives wild in a town
Moggie
One that does not have a pedigree (record of descent of an animal)
Unremarkable
Hemingway
Considered domestic cat
Confused as a breed
Can’t be registered
How the hemington cat got its name
Poly dactyl cat given to hemington
Usually 6 toes or more
Believed to be good luck
“Mitten cats”
Three basic cat colours
Black
Red
White
What can the colour red also be called?
Orange
Ginger
Marmalade
What do black and red become when diluted
Orange/Red = cream Black = Grey
Tabby Cat
Stripes Grey (diluted black) Black Brown Orange/Red Cream(diluted red) Silver -very common
Tuxedo cat
Black and white
White usually feet and chest/belly
Pointed cats
Cats with dark extremities
Face, ears, tail, feet, legs
What is the body colour on pointed cats associated with
Temperature
Outside cats tend to get darker colours
Colours of pointed
Seal point (Grey/brown) Chocolate point (cream /brown)
Pointed cat breeds
Himalayan
Siamese
Ragdoll
Bi colours
50/50
Usually black and white
Tortoiseshell
Not a breed
Usually a combination of black/red
Predominantly female
Calico
Pre dominantly white
With patches of two other colours
Orange/black
Why are tortoiseshells and calico predominantly female
The gene that codes for coloration is found on the x chromosome
X chromosome determine black or orange
Pros of kittens
Easier to bring home (especially with other cats)
Less health issues
Cons of kittens
Not great for children to handle
Super high energy, fragile
Pros of adult cats
Lots at rescues
Usually spayed/neutered and microchipped
Usually liter trained
Giving an adult cat a second chance
Cons of adult cats
Miss the kitten phase
May have more health problems
Harder to adjust to New environments
Sometimes not great to be introduced with other animals
Pros of mixed breeds
Often can be healthier
More need homes in shelters
Not supporting breeders
More affordable
Pure bred
You can usually get to know family
Research on breeds
Fancy cats
However, more likely to inherit recessive genes
Cattery pros
Have all needs met for cat while you are away
Cattery cons
Hard for cat to adjust
Don’t know whose watching
May get sick from other cats
Rescue pros
Giving a cat a second chance
Not supporting breeders
Cheaper
May be already liter trained if older cat
Rescue cons
Probably don’t know dogs history
May not know breed
May have behavioural problems
Home breeder pros
You get to know the breeds history
Generally a Safe/stimulating environment
Generally socialized
Good advice from breeders
Home breeder cons
Expensive
Have to find a reputable breeder
Sometimes long waiting list
Pet store cons
Sometimes scam
May not be breed as advertised
Puppy mills
Behavioural problems
Pet store pros
Convenience
Kijiji pros
Convenience, inexpensive
Kijiji cons
Sometimes stolen animals,
Don’t know breeds sometimes
Don’t often get to know owner
Resources available to owners
Veterinarians Websites -CFA Breeders Calgary humane society Pet stores
Selective breeding
Breeders do genetic tests on cats to see if they have any genetic faults
Also look at physical appearance, any issues with pregnancy
Then they breed the healthier offspring to ensure healthier liters
Genetic testing for cats
Dna tests Polysistic kidney disease Metabolic defects Spinal muscular atrophy Cardiac disease Hip dysplasia
Breed spinal muscular atrophy common in
Maine Coons
Breeds cardiac disease common in
Bengals
Persian
Rag doll
Breeds hip dysplasia common in
Maine Coon
Persian
Siamese
Pro estrous
1-2 days
Period of time before mating occurs
Estrous (4-10days)
Heat
What does estrus go into
Interestrous
Or
Anestrus
Interestrous
No more mating
Anestrus
Reproductive rest
Nov - Feb
What happens after anestrus
Pro estrous starts again
What happens after inestrous
Pseudo pregnancy
Pregnancy
Or
Not pregnant
How long does pseudo pregnancy last
36 days
How long does pregnancy last
63 days plus or minus 2 days
What happens after either one of the three pregnancies
Pro estrous starts again
Mating behaviour beginning
Queen gets familiar with Tom when ready to mate. They will start grooming/licking each other until aroused
How will they position themselves
Queen crouches down and raise back of body
Tom holds onto queens neck and is on top of queen until he ejaculates
Why can mating become violent
If queen is not ready to be mounted
Pseuodopregnancy
False pregnancy
Usually due to hormonal imbalance
Unwanted pregnancy
When owner doesn’t spay and she manages to get out and pregnant.
Prevention of pregnancy
Spaying / neutering
Keeping cat indoors / not around other cats
Ensuring you watch that the cat doesn’t get out when you open front door
