A-Z Breed List

• Abyssinian
• Australian Mist

• Balinese
• Bengal
• Birman
• Bombay
• British Shorthair
• Burmese
• Burmilla

• Cornish Rex

• Devon Rex

• Egyptian Mau
• Exotic Shorthair

• Japanese Bobtail

• Korat

• La Perms

• Maine Coon
• Manx

• Norwegian Forest

• Ocicat
• Oriental Shorthair

• Persian Longhair

• Ragdoll
• Russian Blue

• Scottish Fold
• Siamese
• Siberian Forest
• Singapura
• Snowshoe
• Somali
• Sphynx

• Tiffanie
• Tonkinese
• Turkish Van

A New Kitten!

 The arrival of a new kitten is a wonderful time, but we know it can be an anxious one too.
Keeping them safe and happy takes planning and patience for everyone in the household, but the effort will pay off, as your new pet grows into a confident, affectionate new family member who knows there's no place like home.
Remember, the more love and care you give your kitten, the happier and healthier they'll be!

Learn About Your Kitten
A new kitten can be a magical time for the whole family, but a pet is a big commitment that requires a lot of time, effort and love. The good news is you'll be repaid tenfold with a lifelong loving companion.


With this in mind, there's a lot to think about when you welcome a new kitten into your home. For starters, there's making sure you choose the best type of breed for your family. Then there's safety - checking that your house is safe for your kitten is an important first step.


Stepping into a new family can be a stressful situation for your kitten as well. New faces, new animals, and sometimes a new climate can take its toll. That's why it's important you consider the gradual introduction of your kitten to each of the elements of its new home.


But that's just the start. Read on, and discover a lot more about planning for the arrival of your new family member: everything from care to feeding, training and heath.

Kitten Care
Every pet owner wants to ensure that they're properly caring for their pet. It's a small price to pay for all the love and affection you'll receive from them. So it's good to keep these tips in mind for providing ongoing care for your kitten.


Grooming, of course, should be part of your day-to-day routine. And while cats naturally groom themselves, they also need a little help from you.

While caring for your kitten's appearance is important, it's also important to care for their emotional well-being. One of the most common behavior issues in kittens is separation anxiey. It can be frightening for a small kitten to be left alone, but there are some simple things you can do to help you kitten adjust to spending time on its own. But there can be other sources of stress for your kitten, too.   Even things you wouldn't think would affect them, like moving to a new house can impact on their health and social confidence. Don't miss our tips for caring for your kitten, to help make sure your kitten settles securely into life with its new family.

Feeding Kittens
It is important to develop a feed routine for your kitten, as their body is growing and developing so quickly. When feeding your kitten, you need to supply all the body building nutrients it requires to grow and develop. Just as babies need food that's designed to give them a healthy start in life, kittens need the right balance of vitamins and nutrients for them to thrive.


Our segment on feeding kittens explains what your kitten should and should not be eating, how much each day and how to present it. Some kittens are fussy eaters – not because they don't like their food, but for any number of reasons. So it's important to be able to know what to do if this problem arises.


Other topics like transitioning from kitten food to adult food may not seem like a big issue, but ensuring that you gradually transition your cat onto the correct adult formulation will make it easier for your kitten's stomach and taste buds to adjust to this change.

Kitten Training
Whilst kittens don't need training in how to be cute, they can need help when it comes to going to the toilet in the right place – and the sooner you start to train them the better. Surprisingly it's never too early to train your kitten. 

It's also important to keep your kitten active. Just as humans need to exercise to stay in shape, kittens need their exercise in order to stay physically and mentally stimulated. Playtime is a great time to enjoy your kitten and bond with it, too. It should be fun for both of you, because it's a great way to get to know your new friend better. 

Kitten Heath
A healthy kitten is a happy kitten, and every owner wants a happy pet. So it's important to understand your kitten's health and be able to recognize the tell tale signs that can be a sign of illness. Simple things like changes in body language, behavior or a sharp increase in water intake can be indicators that something may be amiss. It's important to be able to notice these signs at the earliest stage possible, in order to be able to have the best possible outcome, if your kitten is ill. 
 

Cat Behavior

 "Many cats have an excess of energy. While cats spend up to 80% of their day asleep, when they are awake, they expect to be entertained."

A big part of owning a cat is understanding your cats moods and emotions. Just like humans, cats can develop behavioral problems based on their surroundings. So it's your responsibility, as a pet owner, to be aware of these issues and help your cat deal with them.

Cats are very intelligent animals and need to be stimulated mentally and physically. If they don't receive enough attention cats become bored. Bored cats tend to act restlessly and can become destructive. It's important for your cats to socialize with other animals and humans. It's no secret that cats and dogs do not always get along. But you can help your cat become more sociable and deal with situations where they encounter other animals or humans.

Some cats may have experienced an early negative experience that has left them afraid of certain situations or animals. Look at how to deal with a fearful cat, as well as touching their emotions and the best way to understand them.

Why Do Cats Attack?

Most owners have been on the receiving end of cat attack.Your cat may lie and wait for you to walk by and then pounce. Or when you pat them, one stroke to many means a full-scale, teeth and claws attack.
A cats weapons are painful and most owners try to avoid being bitten or scratched. Here are some of the reasons why cats attack, and a few tips on how to reduce your cats overly 'playful' behavior.

Playful
Many cats have an excess of energy. While cats spend up to 80% of their day asleep, when they are awake, they expect to be entertained. Kittens are generally willing to play at any time. Tip: Play with your cat often, when it suits you. When alone, leave them cat toy to play with. Introduce a new toy regularly and rotate toys on a daily basis to keep them interested.
 Make them hunt for their food, as this will occupy their minds.

Attention-Seeking
If your cat attacks while your occupied elsewhere, they could be attention seeking. This is common feline behavior with cats pouncing on you while your making phone calls, working on the computer or walking sleepily to bed.
Tip: Give your cat plenty of playtime and attention, when it suits you. Do not give your cat attention if it attacks.

Predators
Play is practice for real life and when your cats attacks you they may simply be hunting. This is instinctive behavior for a cat.
Tip: Encourage you cat to ‘hunt’ appropriate prey items like toys. Tie a string on your waistband with a toy attached and drag it around after yourself as you walk around your home. Your cat will enjoy the chase. 

Redirected Aggression
If your cat is feeling angry or fearful of a situation and you interrupt them, they may lash at you. The intention was not hurt you but to release a build-up of energy. This is common when cats are watching other cats or when they are being disturbed by dogs or children.
Tip: Be aware of the likelihood of this happening before you approach or pick up your cat. If needs be, wrap your cat in a towel so they can’t attack. Place your cat in a safe, quiet spot until they calm down.

Fear-biting
Scared-cats will often attack as a defense mechanism, when they can’t get away or they have nowhere to hide. 
Tip: Nervous cats need to be introduced to the situations that make them scared. This process needs to be done very gradually. Extremely nervous cats may benefit from veterinary medication too. Consult your vet.

Mating Behavior
Responsible pet owners desex their cats – but even so, remnants of instinctive sexual behavior remain. Males will naturally grab a female cat using mouth and paws to keep her still and to prevent himself being injured. Females retaliate to the mating with their jaws and claws. Our cats often react the same way when we hold and/or stroke them.
 Tip: Halve the number of strokes you give your cat, then gradually increase the pats by one every day. If your cat tolerates very little, you may like to offer them a food treat to help them enjoy the experience.

Medical Reasons
If your cat is not normally overly playful or aggressive, then an attack may be a sign they’re in pain or have a medical condition that needs to be investigated by a vet. Older cats may suffer from arthritis. Long-haired cats may develop knots in their coats, making it painful to be touched.
Tip: Aggression that’s out of character should always be investigated by a vet.

Welcome

Do you think you understand cats? Why they behave the way they do? Do you know all the different breeds? What sort of DNA makes a calico or tortoiseshell cat? If you don't, read here!!!
Welcome to The World of Cats, a blog on all you need to know about cats and their behavior! This website also provides information if your thinking of getting one!