The beautiful Iriomote Cat resides only on the Iriomote island of Japan, situated nearly two hundred kilometers off the coast of Taiwan. It has lived for millennia on this small island (less than three hundred square kilometers) and has evolved to suit the habitat and environment of this particular place. Owing to similarities in appearance, for some time the Iriomote Cat was considered a subspecie of the Leopard Cat. Recent evidence however indicated that the Iriomote Cat separated from the Leopard Cat in evolution couple of million years ago. A small wild cat, the Iriomote Cat weighs around twelve pounds and is around one a half to two feet long (excluding tail). Males are slightly larger.
Fur is brownish with a number of dark brown spots that coalesce to form stripes which run along the body length. Legs are short in comparison to body size and tail is bushy. Toes are slightly webbed and claws lack a complete sheath, helping the cat in its aquatic pursuits of prey. Ears are short and rounded indicating that the Iriomote Cat primarily uses sight in its movement and hunting.
A variety of prey is taken by the Iriomote Cat. Its small body size enables it to move quickly through the underbrush and successfully hunt small mammals, birds, insects and fish. It is a solitary and territorial feline that frequently marks its territory (larger in case of males) and is primarily nocturnal, particularly in summer. Mating season is twice an year and pregnancy lasts two months after which a litter of one to four kittens is born.
Prionailurus Iriomotensis, the Iriomote Cat is critically endangered. Less than one hundred remain in the wild. Plus they appear to be breeding with feral cats, leading to dilution of their gene pool. Despite preservation of their territory on the island, the cats frequently stray out of the reserve area and are often hunted by humans.
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on iriomote cat.
by Ailurophile
Sand Cat
Sand cat is a beautiful desert cat ranging from Sahara in North Africa to the arid regions of Iran and Pakistan in West and South Asia. A little cat, it weighs nearly six pounds and is around one and a half to two feet long, excluding its one foot long tail.
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
by Ailurophile
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
by Ailurophile
The Wild Cat Jaguarundi
Jaguarundi is an interesting feline. It is unlike any other cat in its appearance, resembling an otter, with its small head, short rounded ear, elongated body and tail supported by small legs. Rightly, it has often been called 'Otter cat'. It may weigh from six to twenty pounds and is around forty inches long - excluding a twenty inch tail.
Unlike most other felines, the Jaguarundi, Puma Yaguarondi, has a completely uniformly colored coat. Cubs are spotted at birth like those of lions, but with time the spots disappear to give a coloration ranging from grayish brown to red. Previously the color variations were attributed to unique species of this cat - but now it is understood that they are a normal trait of the Jaguarundi - with different colored cubs found in the same litter. Genetically the Jaguarundi resembles the Jaguar and the Cougar, with a similar chromosomal number.
Though highly adaptable, the natural habitat of this wild cat is dense forest and shrub area. It is an adept fish hunter and is usually found near water courses. Birds are frequently preyed upon, as are rodents, small reptiles, frog and domestic poultry - something that often brings conflict with farmers. It's a good tree climber and a diurnal hunter. The predatory profile varies according to habitat as does its color - with paler variations found more in dry open areas and darker color seen in cats living in thickly forested parts.
Predominantly found in Mexico and South America, Jaguarundi has been seen in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. Various subspecies are recognized - based upon geographical distribution.
Puma Yaguarondi Armeghinoi - Chile and Argentina
Puma Yaguarondi Cacomitli - Mexico and Texas
Puma Yaguarondi Eyra - Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
Puma Yaguarondi Fossata - Honduras and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Melantho - Brazil and Peru
Puma Yaguarondi Panamensis - Ecuador and Nicaragua
Puma Yaguarondi Tolteca - Arizona and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Yaguarondi - Guyana and the Amazon
Predominantly a solitary predator, Jaguarundi may be seen to travel in pairs or come together in bringing up of the young. The average litter size is one to four, born after a pregnancy lasting for nearly two and a half months. The young are introduced to regular food at six weeks and gain maturity at around two years. In captivity Jaguarundi has been known to live for up to fifteen years. In the wild the Jaguarundi is seldom sought for its fur - something that's fortunately not in high demand amongst traders. The primary danger to this unique wild cat is through deforestation and habitat destruction - largely due to human intervention in nature!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on jaguarundi.
by Ailurophile
Unlike most other felines, the Jaguarundi, Puma Yaguarondi, has a completely uniformly colored coat. Cubs are spotted at birth like those of lions, but with time the spots disappear to give a coloration ranging from grayish brown to red. Previously the color variations were attributed to unique species of this cat - but now it is understood that they are a normal trait of the Jaguarundi - with different colored cubs found in the same litter. Genetically the Jaguarundi resembles the Jaguar and the Cougar, with a similar chromosomal number.
Though highly adaptable, the natural habitat of this wild cat is dense forest and shrub area. It is an adept fish hunter and is usually found near water courses. Birds are frequently preyed upon, as are rodents, small reptiles, frog and domestic poultry - something that often brings conflict with farmers. It's a good tree climber and a diurnal hunter. The predatory profile varies according to habitat as does its color - with paler variations found more in dry open areas and darker color seen in cats living in thickly forested parts.
Predominantly found in Mexico and South America, Jaguarundi has been seen in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. Various subspecies are recognized - based upon geographical distribution.
Puma Yaguarondi Armeghinoi - Chile and Argentina
Puma Yaguarondi Cacomitli - Mexico and Texas
Puma Yaguarondi Eyra - Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
Puma Yaguarondi Fossata - Honduras and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Melantho - Brazil and Peru
Puma Yaguarondi Panamensis - Ecuador and Nicaragua
Puma Yaguarondi Tolteca - Arizona and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Yaguarondi - Guyana and the Amazon
Predominantly a solitary predator, Jaguarundi may be seen to travel in pairs or come together in bringing up of the young. The average litter size is one to four, born after a pregnancy lasting for nearly two and a half months. The young are introduced to regular food at six weeks and gain maturity at around two years. In captivity Jaguarundi has been known to live for up to fifteen years. In the wild the Jaguarundi is seldom sought for its fur - something that's fortunately not in high demand amongst traders. The primary danger to this unique wild cat is through deforestation and habitat destruction - largely due to human intervention in nature!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on jaguarundi.
by Ailurophile
Is Cat Declawing Right
Cat declawing in medical term is called onychectomy. This surgical procedure is very painful and complicated. This operation is performed on cats under anesthesia to remove the last bone of their fingers. It is the same as a man's fingers at the first knuckle. Cat declawing is an irreversible procedure and must be performed by a qualified veterinary doctor.
Cat declawing can at times create behavioral problems after the surgery. Some cats find it hard to grasp or stand firmly on their amputated feet. They feel a strong sense of loss in balance. There are cats are found to have changed personalities after the traumatic cat declawing operation. These cats feel that they have lost their means of protecting themselves and become paranoid. If the operation has gone wrong the cat could end up infected or injured beyond repair and could even die.
Very often cats that have been declawed stop using the litter box and urinate where and when they could. They do their markings not with claws but with urine. A declawed cat is a deformed feline and if the bones were not removed properly pain could linger on for a long time after the procedure and could lead to arthritis in the legs. Their feets hurt when they walk and it is cruel to give your pets so much pain in return for their love and loyalties.
On the other hand, there is the belief that most declawed cats continue to scratch without their claws. Many pet owners consider cat declawing a safe and affordable option to the destructive behavior of their cats indoors. There is some of the opinion that declawing seems to have no bad psychological effect on their cats. Their cats continue to show normal scratching behavior and their pets stayed active and healthy psychologically.
Since scratching is a natural instinct in cats, you will notice that your cat will continue to scratch even after being declawed. Many experts advise that instead of declawing your cat, purchase a scratching post and see if it does the trick. You should use declawing as the final draw. It can have such devastating effects that is should only be considered as the last choice.
To help your cat from damaging your furniture provide your pet scratching surfaces to modify and correct its scratching behavior to an appropriate location. You could get a chunky piece of log for your pet to scratch on. Another alternative is to trim the claws and nails of your pet regularly and then there is no need to resort to cat declawing.
One of the alternatives to cat declawing is - the vinyl nail caps. These caps are glued on to your cat's claws to make the nails blunt and harmless. They are introduced by a veterinarian and could last four to five times longer then a nail trim. There are other options such as applying odors, citrus oil, deodorant soap, or booby traps to areas the cats likely to scratch.
Declawing your cat is a form of torture. It may even cause your cat to distrust you and the vet who does the procedure. It is inhumane, and if you can find a different method of training your cat, you should use it. You would not chop your child's finger off if he or she took a cookie, you should not declaw your cat for the same reason. Your cat is part of your family, and you should look upon him or her as another child. He or she depends on you for everything, and it is up to you to protect them as much as you would your own children.
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on the pros and cons of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing
by Paulina Jenkins
Cat declawing can at times create behavioral problems after the surgery. Some cats find it hard to grasp or stand firmly on their amputated feet. They feel a strong sense of loss in balance. There are cats are found to have changed personalities after the traumatic cat declawing operation. These cats feel that they have lost their means of protecting themselves and become paranoid. If the operation has gone wrong the cat could end up infected or injured beyond repair and could even die.
Very often cats that have been declawed stop using the litter box and urinate where and when they could. They do their markings not with claws but with urine. A declawed cat is a deformed feline and if the bones were not removed properly pain could linger on for a long time after the procedure and could lead to arthritis in the legs. Their feets hurt when they walk and it is cruel to give your pets so much pain in return for their love and loyalties.
On the other hand, there is the belief that most declawed cats continue to scratch without their claws. Many pet owners consider cat declawing a safe and affordable option to the destructive behavior of their cats indoors. There is some of the opinion that declawing seems to have no bad psychological effect on their cats. Their cats continue to show normal scratching behavior and their pets stayed active and healthy psychologically.
Since scratching is a natural instinct in cats, you will notice that your cat will continue to scratch even after being declawed. Many experts advise that instead of declawing your cat, purchase a scratching post and see if it does the trick. You should use declawing as the final draw. It can have such devastating effects that is should only be considered as the last choice.
To help your cat from damaging your furniture provide your pet scratching surfaces to modify and correct its scratching behavior to an appropriate location. You could get a chunky piece of log for your pet to scratch on. Another alternative is to trim the claws and nails of your pet regularly and then there is no need to resort to cat declawing.
One of the alternatives to cat declawing is - the vinyl nail caps. These caps are glued on to your cat's claws to make the nails blunt and harmless. They are introduced by a veterinarian and could last four to five times longer then a nail trim. There are other options such as applying odors, citrus oil, deodorant soap, or booby traps to areas the cats likely to scratch.
Declawing your cat is a form of torture. It may even cause your cat to distrust you and the vet who does the procedure. It is inhumane, and if you can find a different method of training your cat, you should use it. You would not chop your child's finger off if he or she took a cookie, you should not declaw your cat for the same reason. Your cat is part of your family, and you should look upon him or her as another child. He or she depends on you for everything, and it is up to you to protect them as much as you would your own children.
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on the pros and cons of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing
by Paulina Jenkins
What You Should Know About Poisonous Foods for Cats
Cats can be just like our buddies. It may be all right to share some couch space or even your bed with your cat. You are not being a good friend however if you start sharing your food with her. It is definitely tempting to let your cat share your table food both to show your affection and to save a bit on expensive cat food. Some food items however may poison and cause death to your cat.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that are fatal to your cat. It is obvious that chemical stimulants affect the nervous system and cause increased heart rates and cardiac problems that may lead to coma or death. Keep your kitty away not just from chocolate bars but also from cups, spoons and utensils that you may have used to for a chocolate drink.
Onions and Garlic
More toxic than garlics are onions. Both however contain N-propyl disulphide in different amounts. This substance can ruin your cat's red blood cells which will lead to a form of cat anemia. Other than obvious dishes that may contain bits and pieces of onion and garlic, make sure that you also keep your cat away from sauces like gravy and spaghetti sauce which may contain powdered onion and garlic.
Tomatoes
Humans can definitely find health benefits in tomatoes. To cats however, the bitter alkaloid Glycoalkaloid solanine in tomatoes can be dangerous. Your cat could suffer form gastrointestinal problems if they ingest tomatoes.
Milk
Milk is not toxic to cats. What you should be warned against though is that milk cause gastrointestinal discomfort since a lot of adult cats cannot tolerate lactose. You may wonder at this especially since we often stereotypically imagine cats enjoying saucers filled with milk. Milk may eventually cause gas build up and stomach cramps and upsets in your cat. The key is to keep your milk loving pet at bay with very occasional treats of cream. You can also opt to buy lactose free milk products in the market that have been especially formulated for cats.
Dog Food
Your cat is not your dog. This means that they also have different nutritional requirements. Feeding your cat dog food can lead to malnutrition, heart ailments and other serious diseases.
Raw Fish
It's not surprising to find your cat ravishing his share of fish. Raw fish however is not good for cats if this is the only thing they eat and they eat this regularly. Cats can suffer from thiamine deficiency by eating raw fish. This could lead to seizures and loss of appetite.
Spoiled Food
Spoiled human food is dangerous for humans and it is equally so for cats. Cats however may not just get poisoned by chewing on a suspicious meatloaf but also by foraging through an open and accessible trash bin. It is best to keep your garbage cans covered with tight lids and stored under the kitchen sink.
Are you raising a healthy cat? Understand more concerning poisonous foods for cats and make sure you are providing your pet the best nutrition.
by Angie Allen
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that are fatal to your cat. It is obvious that chemical stimulants affect the nervous system and cause increased heart rates and cardiac problems that may lead to coma or death. Keep your kitty away not just from chocolate bars but also from cups, spoons and utensils that you may have used to for a chocolate drink.
Onions and Garlic
More toxic than garlics are onions. Both however contain N-propyl disulphide in different amounts. This substance can ruin your cat's red blood cells which will lead to a form of cat anemia. Other than obvious dishes that may contain bits and pieces of onion and garlic, make sure that you also keep your cat away from sauces like gravy and spaghetti sauce which may contain powdered onion and garlic.
Tomatoes
Humans can definitely find health benefits in tomatoes. To cats however, the bitter alkaloid Glycoalkaloid solanine in tomatoes can be dangerous. Your cat could suffer form gastrointestinal problems if they ingest tomatoes.
Milk
Milk is not toxic to cats. What you should be warned against though is that milk cause gastrointestinal discomfort since a lot of adult cats cannot tolerate lactose. You may wonder at this especially since we often stereotypically imagine cats enjoying saucers filled with milk. Milk may eventually cause gas build up and stomach cramps and upsets in your cat. The key is to keep your milk loving pet at bay with very occasional treats of cream. You can also opt to buy lactose free milk products in the market that have been especially formulated for cats.
Dog Food
Your cat is not your dog. This means that they also have different nutritional requirements. Feeding your cat dog food can lead to malnutrition, heart ailments and other serious diseases.
Raw Fish
It's not surprising to find your cat ravishing his share of fish. Raw fish however is not good for cats if this is the only thing they eat and they eat this regularly. Cats can suffer from thiamine deficiency by eating raw fish. This could lead to seizures and loss of appetite.
Spoiled Food
Spoiled human food is dangerous for humans and it is equally so for cats. Cats however may not just get poisoned by chewing on a suspicious meatloaf but also by foraging through an open and accessible trash bin. It is best to keep your garbage cans covered with tight lids and stored under the kitchen sink.
Are you raising a healthy cat? Understand more concerning poisonous foods for cats and make sure you are providing your pet the best nutrition.
by Angie Allen