Cats
Cats are becoming more and more popular, especially pedigreed breeds. Cats are famous because of their gracefulness, independence, neat appearance, and subdued shows of devotion. Cats are often creatures of habit; while curious, they are not very adventurous, and abrupt changes in routine quickly agitate them. The perfect household cat was weaned between two and four months of age, lived in a hygienic environment, was shielded from sick animals, and had vaccinations against common infectious feline illnesses. Even though cats frequently like one other’s company, mainly when reared together from kitten hood, bringing a new cat into the home can lead to stress, aggression, and other behavioral issues. Dogs are likelier to welcome a new group member than cats, who are often less gregarious.
Selection
When selecting a cat, temperament and health are crucial factors. There is minimal difference in disposition between male and female cats. However, the temperaments of the various pedigreed kinds vary significantly; the Persian is calm and meticulous, while the Siamese is noisy and demanding. The mixed breed, sometimes known as the “alley cat,” is a diverse breed with an unclear pedigree, making it challenging to determine its temperament. If the mixed breed turns out to be healthier and happier than a pedigreed one, that is a chance. Conversely, the traits that the progeny of cats with a pedigree will have as adults are predicted by the behavior and energy of their immediate ancestors. However, the multiplication of pedigreed cats has led to a rise in genetic disorders, similar to the dissemination of purebred dogs. This is one of the main reasons why many people choose mongrels or mixed breeds.
Characteristics of cats
The Persian’s long, hairy coat is a straightforward unit character. Short hair is recessive to it. Although it is established that eye color is inherited, its mode of inheritance is not fully understood. Charles Darwin made a comment on the fact that blue-eyed white cats are typically deaf, suggesting that blue eye color is linked to dilution in coat color. Eye color asymmetry is inherited. The additional toe condition known as polydactylism is inherited and acts as a dominant trait in comparison to normal. One gene appears to be the cause. The thumb or inner side of the foot is where the extra toes are located.
Colors of cats
The three most popular coat colors are orange, black, and spotted tabby. The latter word describes the gene that expresses creams, yellows, gingers, and reds (this set of colors is also referred to by the terms “yellow” and “red”). The color solid white dominates all other colors. Tortoiseshell is a sex-linked feature produced when an orange color is crossed with a black, tabby, or other non-orange color. It is a piebald pattern. Male tortoiseshells have an aberrant XXY chromosomal pattern due to the additional X chromosome they carry, which is the orange gene. As a result, male tortoises rarely give birth and are typically infertile. In a similar vein, cats with brown and white coats, sometimes known as calicoes in North America, are virtually always female.
Genomic breads
Cats are not economically bred, and unless they are kept in total confinement, they can manage when they mate. The specifics of breed inheritance in cats are poorly understood because there has yet to be a lot of scientific cat breeding.
Due to their genetic plasticity, cats have yet to present breeders with the same chances as dogs. There is no comparable variation in head form and body proportions between dog breeds that have ever been seen among cats, nor is there a similar variation in size between dog breeds that exists in the domestic cat population. The color and texture of a cat’s coat determine most of the outward distinctions between breeds.
Common diseases in cats
Cat care was just an extension of dog care for a long time. However, research is now being done on cat disorders of the skin, eyes, ears, blood, circulatory, respiratory, urinary, digestive, nervous, and skeletal systems, infectious cat diseases, and internal and external parasites to develop appropriate preventions and treatments.
Many cats pass away from severe illnesses that develop before their overall health deteriorates to the point where symptoms become apparent. However, many symptoms used to diagnose feline diseases are not specific to any disorder. For instance, general symptoms like listlessness, loss of appetite, and a dull coat can indicate disease. A severe illness could cause diarrhea or be a sign of a shift in diet. Tearing of the eyes may be a sign of a cold or conjunctivitis, especially if it is followed by sneezing. But not all sneezing is a sign of disease because sneezing is a cat’s only way to blow its nose. Open sores, which are typically found on the toes, around the mouth, or at the base of the ear, can indicate ringworm infection, ear mite infestation, or animal conflict.
Parasite attacks
Numerous internal and exterior parasite species prey on cats. While they can affect adults, external parasites are primarily detected in kittens. While lice, ticks, and ear mites are less common, fleas are the most common parasites. The protozoan coccidia, roundworms, and tapeworms are examples of internal parasites. All of these are now simple to manage because of advancements in veterinary care.
Cats’ most well-known viral disease is panleucopenia, sometimes feline distemper. Young cats are most commonly affected, and it has a high fatality rate and is very contagious. Vaccinations work well as preventative measures. Though it is less common in cats than dogs, all cats that wander freely should be vaccinated against rabies. Additionally, vaccinations against additional feline illnesses such as feline leukemia, chlamydiosis pneumonitis, and viral rhinotracheitis
