Are you aware that your cat’s beautiful fur was one of the major reasons they were persecuted by man centuries ago? The cat’s coat is designed to regulate their temperature, to keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. The different lengths of fur came into being due to the different environments the cat came to populate. In the warmer climates cats became short-haired as the long hair was a disadvantage. And the reverse was true for those cats living in the colder regions. However cats were also pursued for the density and marvellous colors in their fur. There can be anywhere up to 130,000 hairs per square inch in your cat’s beautiful coat. However the differing lengths and amazing diversity of stripes, blotches and spots were necessary for the cat to remain hidden while hunting for prey and closing in for the kill. The coat is actually a highly evolved camouflage that enables the cat to blend into the background. The coat is distinctly suited to the area the cat lives in, dappled for shade within trees or shrubs or plain and lighter colored for those hunting in the brown grasslands.
With the advances in gene technology, these colors and markings have become an area that man has been able to manipulate to produce new breeds such as the Toyger. The tabby cat that we see so often is the basic coat color of small wild cat species around the world. The color is actually known as ‘agouti’, a brownish brindle which comes from each hair strand having bands of differing colors from black to brown to sandy and grey. This helps tabby’s blend in well in many areas. The coat of the striking Silver Tabby occurs when parts of the coat don’t have the pale section of the strand.
Most cats have a top coat made up of what’s called ‘guard hairs’. These guard hairs are generally coarse and tough. There are secondary shorter hairs that can be as much as twenty five times more dense and these form the soft undercoat. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but these are the ones that have been engineers like the Orientals or the hairless varieties. The guard hairs are there to primarily provide a sense of touch with some waterproofing. It is these guard hairs that ‘fluff out’ to make your cat look larger when he is defensive or alarmed. The guard hairs also help regulate temperature. The denser undercoat acts as the main insulator and it can also be fluffed out in cold weather. This allows a layer of warm air to be trapped next to the skin.
Your cat’s skin is around 1/64th of an inch on the stomach and about 1/12th of an inch around the neck to protect the delicate muscles and blood vessels, especially during mating as the male grasps the neck of the female with his teeth. Cats have fewer sweat glands than you or I so it is important that the coat and skin be kept in top condition and for the cat cool to use saliva which evaporates to cool the skin. The cat’s sweat glands are used more to produce scent and as a way of communication. These glands are concentrated in areas such as the base of the tail or under the chin. Your cat will rub its chin on you to ‘mark you’ with his scent while another cat will sniff its tail to investigate. The ca can release sweat from special ‘ecerine’ sweat glands on the pads of its paws when it is hot. Cats will also pant to cool off blood passing through vessels in the mouth through the evaporation of saliva.
You will find most cats in a warm spot during those cold days or in a cool spot, preferably with a gentle breeze blowing in hot weather.
Your cat’s coat is not only beautiful, it is a temperature regulator and a way of making it appear larger to enemies. It is also beautifully soft and feels absolutely wonderful to stroke.
Cats can get sick and vomit, ust like us.
Many people have questions about their cat’s health and what to look out for with regard to cat health issues. If your cat is vomiting you need to find out what the problem is.
Every cat owner will have to clean up cat vomit at some stage and you need to investigate just why your cat is vomiting. Not the most pleasant of subjects I know, but it is one that needs addressing. One possible reason for cats to vomit are hairballs lodged in their throat. If your cat seems to cough often then suddenly vomits up the last meal, it could be that a hairball or even strands of fur have been caught when grooming. Usually the cat will only vomit once as the offending item has been expelled.
If your cat keeps vomiting, then it is wise to investigate further. Have you changed pet foods? Could it be a reaction to that? Have you just put on a flea collar? This can cause nausea for a day or two. Make sure that no-one has put out any poisons to catch rats or mice. If your cat has access to outdoors, are there any snail pellets around, or has the garden been sprayed to eliminate weeds. If you are able to answer yes to any of these questions, a trip, or at least a phone call, to the vet will be necessary. Your vet may be able to suggest treatment that you can carry out at home. If you are unsure about any of the above, I would advise taking your cat to the vet immediately.
If your cat has been vomiting, I suggest you stop feeding for 24 hours, just as you would with children. You cat’s stomach will be sore and inflamed and will need to recover. Give your cat small amounts of water for 24 hours then introduce some bland foods such as cooked white rice or similar. The following day mix some bland food with a little cat food to see how they tolerate it. Don’t give your cat milk as this will cause further vomiting. Keep an eye on how your cat looks and how well it is tolerating the food before going back to normal feeding.
It might not look nice but cat vomit is telling you there is a problem.
Understanding your cat and being aware of what is happening with it will help you keep it in top condition and health. By forming a bond with your cat early, not only will you notice when something is wrong, your cat will come to you for help.
A number of years ago my cat Tikki was due to give birth and decided to snuggle into bed with me one night. I woke the next morning feeling wet as her waters had broken. She lay between by stomach and bent legs and gave birth to five beautiful kittens. I had been paying special attention to her when she was pregnant and she understood that being with me was safe. I had also helped her with previous births when she was in trouble.
When she was due to give birth for her final litter she disappeared for a day. This didn’t worry me unduly as I was sure she was nesting and would let me know when she was ready. When I went for my morning cup of coffee the next day, she was lying in the entrance to the kitchen, in great distress. I rang the vet and he arranged to me me at his surgery immediately. Apparently her uterus had twisted around completely, cutting off all food and nutrients to the kittens which had died and were therefore poisoning her. She was saved but unfortunately none of the kittens made it. The point of this story is that if your cat knows she can trust you and that you will help her, she will let you know when there is a problem, just as Tikki did.
It doesn’t have to be as drastic as what happened with Tikki. Other cat health symptoms can include being off her food, dull eyes, lethargy, vomiting, problems with using the litter box, or suddenly lashing out when stroked or petted.
It is important for you to know what is wrong as soon as possible. Questions you need to ask yourself must include how long has she been ill and is a trip to the vet necessary.
Try to serve your cat’s food at room temperature. Food taken straight from the fridge can also cause your cat to vomit. If time is short or you have forgotten, just give it a few seconds in the microwave to bring it back to room temperature.
Remember, cats will eat grass to induce vomiting, often to help them get rid of fur that has lodged when they are grooming. Grooming your cat regularly can help eliminate hairballs.
Cat care and cats health go hand in hand. Caring for your cat will make you more aware of any health problems as they arise. This will increase the bond between you and give you a much richer relationship. Healthy cats are likely to live longer as well, another added bonus.
A book I strongly recommend investing in is *Veterinary Secrets Revealed, which has been written by a vet who has practiced Veterinary Medicine for over a decade. I’m sure it will soon become a valuable resource that could end up saving you a good deal of money.
