Inside Cats and Outside Cats

Further Reading: Cats

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Cat ... Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey... As crepuscular predators, cats use their acute hearing and ability to see in near darkness to locate prey... Not only can cats hear sounds too faint for human ears, they can also hear sounds higher in frequency than humans can perceive...

Feline Vaccination ... Available vaccines Vaccines against the following diseases are available: Core Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is an upper respiratory infection of cats caused by feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), of the family Herpesviridae... All members of the Felidae (cat) family are susceptible to FVR, Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a virus of the family Caliciviridae that causes disease in cats... Rabies in cats is a fatal disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mammal, such as a dog, raccoon, bat, or another cat...

Cat Health ... Some common and preventable forms of zoonosis are as follows: Toxoplasmosis Giardia Cat-scratch disease Rabies Ringworm Diet and nutrition Further information: cat food See also: pet food Veterinarians commonly recommend commercial cat foods that are formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats although an increasing number of owners are opting for home-prepared cooked or raw diets... Although cats are obligate carnivores, vegetarian and vegan cat food are preferred by owners uncomfortable with feeding animal products to their pets... Although meat protein can be substituted with vegetable proteins, vegetable proteins don't require sufficient amino acids which are vital for a cats body to function...

Dog ... The present lineage of dogs was domesticated from gray wolves about 15,000 years ago. Remains of domesticated dogs have been found in Siberia and Belgium from about 33,000 years ago...

Cultural Depictions Of Cats ... Black cats are generally held to be unlucky in the United States and Europe, and to portend good luck in the United Kingdom... White cats, bearing the colour of ghosts, are conversely held to be unlucky in the United Kingdom, while tortoiseshell cats are lucky... Cats were seen as good luck charms by actors, and the cats often helped cure the actors' stage fright...

Neutering ... This is especially significant in male cats due to the extreme undesirability of male cat sexual behavior for many pet owners... Prevention of mammary tumors: Female cats and dogs are about seven times less likely to develop mammary tumors if they are spayed before their first heat cycle... In one study the risk of anesthetic-related death (not limited to neutering procedures) was estimated at 0.05% for healthy dogs and 0.11% for healthy cats...

Purebred ... The term purebred is occasionally confused with the proper noun Thoroughbred, which refers exclusively to a specific breed of horse, one of the first breeds for which a written national stud book was created since the 18th century. Thus a purebred animal should never be called a "thoroughbred" unless the animal actually is a registered Thoroughbred horse...

Cat Behavior ... Though cats sit happily on a hard surface, they only knead a soft or pliant surface, although some cats reflexively "march" on hard surfaces instead of kneading them... Typically, cats avoid contact when they feel threatened, although they can resort to varying degrees of aggression when they feel cornered, or when escape is impossible... Most commonly, cats pant in response to environmental changes, such as anxiety, fear, excitement, or heat...

Dog Meat ... In contemporary times, some cultures view the consumption of dog meat to be a part of their traditional cuisine, while others consider consumption of dog to be inappropriate and offensive. In response to criticisms, proponents of dog meat have argued that distinctions between livestock and pets is subjective, and that there is no difference with eating the meat of different animals, while countering that those critical of dog meat consumption are guilty of cultural supremacy, if not racism...

Cat Play And Toys ... Cats often play with toys that behave more like fearful prey trying to escape than toys that mimic a more confrontational prey... Cats claws and mouth can contain bacteria that can lead to infection, so it is wise to clean and treat any wounds with an antiseptic solution and seek professional medical services if there is belief that the wound has become infected...

List Of Extinct Birds ... Currently there are approximately 10,000 species of birds, with an estimated 1,200 considered to be under threat of extinction. Island species in general, and flightless island species in particular are most at risk...

Mercury In Fish ... The presence of mercury in fish can be a health issue, particularly for women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children. Biomagnification Mercury and methylmercury is present in only very small concentrations in seawater...

Canine Reproduction ... In domesticated species one of the first and strongest effects seen from selective breeding is selection for cooperation with the breeding process as directed by humans. One of the behaviors noted is the abolition of the pair bond seen in wild canines...

Animal Worship ... The origins of animal worship have been the subject of many theories. The classical author Diodorus explained the origin of animal-worship by recalling the myth in which the gods, supposedly threatened by giants, hid under the guise of animals...

Pica (disorder) ... Pica is more commonly seen in women and children, where it affects people of all ages in these subgroups. Particularly it is seen in pregnant women, small children, and those with developmental disabilities such as autism...

Feral Cat ... In many parts of the world, feral cats are descendants of domestic cats that were left behind by travelers... Because cats are not native to all parts of the world, feral cats can cause harm to local environments by preying on local species... This is especially true on islands where feral cats have sometimes had a substantial and deleterious effect on the local fauna...

List Of Cat Breeds ... The domestic shorthair and domestic longhair are not breeds but terms used in cat fancy to describe cats that do not belong to a particular breed...

Pet ... In many locations, animals that are considered pets by their owners but are legally classified as livestock, including horses, pigs, camelids, and fowl may be banned from being kept within the city limits or restricted to property of a certain larger size. The cities of Berkeley, California, and Boulder, Colorado, have passed laws stating that people who have pets do not "own" them; rather, they are the pet's "guardian."...

Bird ... Modern birds are characterised by feathers, a beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a lightweight but strong skeleton. All living species of birds have wings—the now extinct flightless moa of New Zealand were the only exception...

Cat Senses ... Many cats have a visual field of view estimated at 200°, versus 180° in humans, with a binocular field (overlap in the images from each eye) narrower than that of humans... Instead of the fovea, which gives humans sharp central vision, cats have a central band known as the visual streak... Cats can see some colors, and can tell the difference between red, blue and yellow lights, as well as between red and green lights...

Overpopulation In Companion Animals ... Recognizing the high demand for purebred animals, some people choose to engage in backyard breeding or operate puppy mills, practices where people breed purebred animals for profit, often without concern for the health or welfare of any of the animals involved. These animals may be sold through pet stores or directly from the breeders themselves...

Animal Shelter ... The goal of today's animal shelter is to provide a safe and caring environment until the animal is either reclaimed by its owner, placed in a new home, or placed with another organization. Many shelters temperament test animals before they are put up for adoption to determine the appropriate home environment...

Bird Conservation ... See Late Quaternary prehistoric birds for birds which disappeared in prehistoric and early historic times, usually due to human activity (i.e., starting with the Upper Paleolithic Revolution). For birds having gone extinct in modern times (since 1500), see Extinct birds...

Fishkeeping ... Many fishkeepers create freshwater aquascapes where the focus is on aquatic plants as well as fish. These aquaria include "Dutch Aquaria", named for European aquarists who designed them...