Submitted by Iro
Funny, smart, and known to ride around on your shoulders, Ocicats have a similar look to their wild cousins the Ocelot, but actually originate from a mixture of Siamese and Abyssinians, with a little American Shorthair thrown in for good measure.
The Ocicat came about totally by accident back in 1964, when Virginia Daly of Berkeley, MI, bred a Ruddy Abyssinian to a Seal Point Siamese in an attempt to get an Aby-pointed Siamese. The resulting first generations were phenotypically Abyssinian. It wasn't until one of those first generation cats was again crossed with a Siamese that the desired result of an Aby-pointed Siamese was produced, but the litter also bore another surprise, a spotted cat. Daly's daughter dubbed that cat, which was named Tonga, an Ocicat, because of its resemblance to the wild Ocelot. Subsequent breedings, with American Shorthairs added to the mix to enhance size and boning, led to placement of spots and introduced the silver color, which forms the Ocicat that you see today.
The Ocicat is distinctively different in its spotting pattern from other breeds of spotted cats. It has thumbprint-shaped spots that are inside a bulls-eye pattern. Compare that to an Egyptian Mau, for instance, which has several bands of color that fall together to form a thumbprint shaped spot.
Like other domestic breeds of cats that resemble their wilder cousins, the Ocicat looks wild and it has all of the characteristics typically found in exotic jungle cats, but their temperament is truly that of a pussycat. While dog-like in its devotion to the people who own it, the Ocicat is not a cat that is clinging or demanding, but they do love to shadow their humans closely. They don't know the meaning of the word stranger, but simply look upon them as yet another lap to curl up in for a quick catnap. Another endearing quality is that Ocicats love to ride around on your shoulders and will quite literally allow you to ferry them all over the house. Ocicats also love new playmates and are often a source of comical antics, but when they tire out, they search for the nearest person's lap for a nice long round of purring.
These are very smart animals capable of opening latches and doors, playing fetch and in at least one case, an Ocicat was known to wave 'bye-bye' to its owners. That is truly a picture that would be worth a thousand words. An Ocicat is a superb hunter, lying about in a lion-like pose, seemingly unaware until the prey comes into view. Then like lightening, they will do whatever necessary, even leaping higher than you would think they could to catch the object of their attention, then simply go back to their reclining position giving the impression that they somehow never even moved.
As with any purebred animal, responsible breeding helps to keep the Ocicat healthy and free of genetic defects. They enjoy a long life, and have been known to live for as long as eighteen years.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author For more specific information on Ocicats, click here Ocicats, for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site The Feline Cart
The Snowshoe Cat: a Rare Breed
Submitted by Iro
The white mitted version of a Siamese, which denotes half of their ancestry, Snowshoe cats have distinctive white markings and a bandit's mask that will steal your heart.
The Snowshoe is another breed of cat that came late on the scene, originally cross-bred between a Siamese and American Shorthairs during the 1960s in the United States. While they come in all of the familiar colors of the Siamese, chocolate, blue, seal and lilac, they can also be mitted and bicolor. However, unlike Siamese, these cats, which look so much like their Siamese ancestors, have very distinctive white mitted paws, something you've never seen in a true Siamese. The first kittens of this breed came about when two Siamese cats owned by Dorothy Hinds Daugherty of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gave birth to three kittens that had absolutely striking white feet. It was this trait that gave the cats their name Snowshoes. They have become increasingly popular in the United States as well as the world over.
These adorable animals have been labeled with a plethora of adjectives, all of them good, and make wonderfully delightful, social companions. Because they haven't been bred to meet any extreme demands, nor been plagued with inbreeding, which is often done to produce certain traits in animals, they remain healthy with no inherent health problems that can spring up later, aside from the typical diseases that you would normally guard your cat against.
Vigorous, intelligent cats, should you decide to adopt a Snowshoe cat, if there isn't someone home most of the time with them, you should probably adopt two, or have another pet with them, so that they have someone to play with throughout the day. Snowshoes don't like being left alone for long periods of time. But don't mistake being highly active and alert for being high strung, because Snowshoes are not. They get along wonderfully well with other animals so you wouldn't have to worry about bringing them into your home if you already have a pet or two.
One of the things that make a Snowshoe cat even more different from your ordinary feline is that they love running water. Turn on a faucet when most other cats are standing nearby and you are likely to see them scampering off in a big hurry to get away from the water. They have a soft, melodic voice and can be talkers. They just love to be around people and are perfect people companions. Like most cats, you should keep your Snowshoe Cat indoors to keep it safe from urban dangers and to help keep it free of parasites such as fleas, ticks and other pests that can literally sap the life out of your beloved pet. It only makes sense that as pet owners, we should take the utmost care to keep our cats and other pets safe from unnecessary dangers.
Snowshoes not only have distinctive white paws, but also have white markings on their stomach, chest, and face, and bright blue eyes that set off their adorable Lone Ranger mask that will steal your heart away.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author For more specific information on Snowshoe Cats, click here Snowshoe Cats, for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site The Feline Cart
The white mitted version of a Siamese, which denotes half of their ancestry, Snowshoe cats have distinctive white markings and a bandit's mask that will steal your heart.
The Snowshoe is another breed of cat that came late on the scene, originally cross-bred between a Siamese and American Shorthairs during the 1960s in the United States. While they come in all of the familiar colors of the Siamese, chocolate, blue, seal and lilac, they can also be mitted and bicolor. However, unlike Siamese, these cats, which look so much like their Siamese ancestors, have very distinctive white mitted paws, something you've never seen in a true Siamese. The first kittens of this breed came about when two Siamese cats owned by Dorothy Hinds Daugherty of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gave birth to three kittens that had absolutely striking white feet. It was this trait that gave the cats their name Snowshoes. They have become increasingly popular in the United States as well as the world over.
These adorable animals have been labeled with a plethora of adjectives, all of them good, and make wonderfully delightful, social companions. Because they haven't been bred to meet any extreme demands, nor been plagued with inbreeding, which is often done to produce certain traits in animals, they remain healthy with no inherent health problems that can spring up later, aside from the typical diseases that you would normally guard your cat against.
Vigorous, intelligent cats, should you decide to adopt a Snowshoe cat, if there isn't someone home most of the time with them, you should probably adopt two, or have another pet with them, so that they have someone to play with throughout the day. Snowshoes don't like being left alone for long periods of time. But don't mistake being highly active and alert for being high strung, because Snowshoes are not. They get along wonderfully well with other animals so you wouldn't have to worry about bringing them into your home if you already have a pet or two.
One of the things that make a Snowshoe cat even more different from your ordinary feline is that they love running water. Turn on a faucet when most other cats are standing nearby and you are likely to see them scampering off in a big hurry to get away from the water. They have a soft, melodic voice and can be talkers. They just love to be around people and are perfect people companions. Like most cats, you should keep your Snowshoe Cat indoors to keep it safe from urban dangers and to help keep it free of parasites such as fleas, ticks and other pests that can literally sap the life out of your beloved pet. It only makes sense that as pet owners, we should take the utmost care to keep our cats and other pets safe from unnecessary dangers.
Snowshoes not only have distinctive white paws, but also have white markings on their stomach, chest, and face, and bright blue eyes that set off their adorable Lone Ranger mask that will steal your heart away.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author For more specific information on Snowshoe Cats, click here Snowshoe Cats, for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site The Feline Cart
The Sphynx, Not an Egyptian Cat
Submitted by Iro
Sphynx cats are bald, but surprisingly they are not totally hairless, so that people who otherwise would be allergic to cats have a much easier time tolerating them.
If you were playing a word game and someone mentioned the word Sphynx, you would most likely think of pyramids, pharaohs, the Nile, Egypt, and slender, elegant cats. But believe it or not, you wouldn't actually be talking about the Sphynx cat, as they didn't come from Egypt but originated in a place thousands of miles away from that country. The Sphynx is basically a bald cat, and the first one to show up was actually born to an otherwise normal furred litter in Toronto, Canada, back in 1966. The Sphynx is completely Mother Nature's creation; humans just went one step further to insure that there are more of them around.
This kitten, appropriately named Prune, his mother, and a few other cats that had the bald mutations became the forebears of the Sphynx breed. However, most of today's Sphynx cats originated from two females rescued from the streets of Toronto, who were then sent to a Dr. Hugo Hernandez in Holland back in 1980. Not having a Sphynx male to use for stud in Holland, Hernandez used a white Devon Rex male and the offspring were sold in both Holland and France.
Some people may be totally turned off by a bald cat. Just remember the old adage, "Bald is Beautiful." This applies to cats as well as men. There are some distinct advantages to owning a hairless Sphynx. For one thing, since they don't shake off their dander as furred cats do, it remains on their skin and has to be washed off. This means that they are not hypoallergenic, so people who have allergies and could not tolerate a furred cat have no allergic reactions to the Sphynx. But a Sphynx is not always completely bald. Some of these cats have a fine down, making the animal feel like a warm fuzzy peach, and light hair can often be found on the toes, tail, and nose.
People say that the texture of their skin is similar to a heated chamois, a hot water bottle, or even similar to suede. They come in a variety of colors, which shows up in the small amount of hair they do have as well as in the pigmentation of their skin. Naturally, if you are cold, a hairless cat will be, too. So don't be surprised to find yours curled up beside you or your other pets for warmth. They also like to get under the covers in your bed.
A robust cat with few genetic or health problems, the Sphynx are social, loving, and devoted pets who love to play with children, are a delight to watch, and make a great attentive companion.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author For more specific information on Sphynx Cats, click here Sphynx Cats, for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site The Feline Cart
Sphynx cats are bald, but surprisingly they are not totally hairless, so that people who otherwise would be allergic to cats have a much easier time tolerating them.
If you were playing a word game and someone mentioned the word Sphynx, you would most likely think of pyramids, pharaohs, the Nile, Egypt, and slender, elegant cats. But believe it or not, you wouldn't actually be talking about the Sphynx cat, as they didn't come from Egypt but originated in a place thousands of miles away from that country. The Sphynx is basically a bald cat, and the first one to show up was actually born to an otherwise normal furred litter in Toronto, Canada, back in 1966. The Sphynx is completely Mother Nature's creation; humans just went one step further to insure that there are more of them around.
This kitten, appropriately named Prune, his mother, and a few other cats that had the bald mutations became the forebears of the Sphynx breed. However, most of today's Sphynx cats originated from two females rescued from the streets of Toronto, who were then sent to a Dr. Hugo Hernandez in Holland back in 1980. Not having a Sphynx male to use for stud in Holland, Hernandez used a white Devon Rex male and the offspring were sold in both Holland and France.
Some people may be totally turned off by a bald cat. Just remember the old adage, "Bald is Beautiful." This applies to cats as well as men. There are some distinct advantages to owning a hairless Sphynx. For one thing, since they don't shake off their dander as furred cats do, it remains on their skin and has to be washed off. This means that they are not hypoallergenic, so people who have allergies and could not tolerate a furred cat have no allergic reactions to the Sphynx. But a Sphynx is not always completely bald. Some of these cats have a fine down, making the animal feel like a warm fuzzy peach, and light hair can often be found on the toes, tail, and nose.
People say that the texture of their skin is similar to a heated chamois, a hot water bottle, or even similar to suede. They come in a variety of colors, which shows up in the small amount of hair they do have as well as in the pigmentation of their skin. Naturally, if you are cold, a hairless cat will be, too. So don't be surprised to find yours curled up beside you or your other pets for warmth. They also like to get under the covers in your bed.
A robust cat with few genetic or health problems, the Sphynx are social, loving, and devoted pets who love to play with children, are a delight to watch, and make a great attentive companion.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author For more specific information on Sphynx Cats, click here Sphynx Cats, for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site The Feline Cart
Cat Health Insurance: Care For Your Feline Friends With Extra Care ..
Cats are an inseparable part and parcel of our life. The creature is highly liked for its soft and abiding nature and can give the human life a new meaning. In fact, a new study says that terminally ill patients are healed faster with the help of pets. The mere presence of pets instills a sense of calm and provides compassion to the patients in the most painful phase of their life. Besides this, in our mundane lives too, we don’t seem to live without them. Yet it is a fact, that cats and other pets do fall ill due to some reason or other. Cat health insurance is the answer to most of your problems related to the health of your pet. With the help of this policy, you can provide your provide your cat with the best possible health care.
Getting a cat health insurance policy done for your cat, you are lessened of your worries related to taking care of your pets. You can cover all the expenses related to the cats as a daily routine and also go for the medical treatment in case your cat is unwell. Cats are the joy of our life. Since the creature is delicate and needs extra care, one should be free to get as much amount as is possible for its routine care and upkeep. An insurance policy is right thing to go for, since this is quite apt to provide your cat with exclusive medical and health care. Cat health insurance is a package designed for the pet lovers who wish to give that extra comfort for their pets. So go ahead with this policy, if you really care for your pet and wish its well being forever.
Pet insurance has existed in the western countries for long time now. The concept is similar to human health insurance policy and offers a safety net for your pets. It’s better to properly investigate about the nature of the insurance policy, before going ahead with it. Many of them don’t cover the expenses fro the treatment of chronic conditions, past injuries, flea control, dental and sterilization. Cat health insurance gives the pet owner a freedom to seek any kind of medical care from any veterinary clinic. In the pet insurance policy, mostly, 50% to 75% of the medical expenses are covered during a cat’s lifetime. Usually, this type of policy includes any sudden or possible expenses needed for the cat care and treatment. Besides, the cat insurance also depends upon the breed of cat you own and the insurance companies in this case, charge a higher rate.
The pet insurance package is usually large enough to cover sudden medical emergencies and the owners are able to save their pets from possible death due to the lack of medical care. Cat health insurance helps an owner to lower the costs of all medical expenses. Make a comparative study of the insurance providers before arriving for that final decision. A company should be selected for its years of proven expertise in the pet insurance cases and all the details should be properly understood. A reason why one should go for the pet insurance policy is the fact that it is after all such an affordable price to pay to for the quality medical care of your cat. As stitch on time saves the nine, the insurance policy also provides you with quality medical care on a timely basis.
By: Robert Scott
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Robert Scott is a veterinary doctor and through ages having been dealing in pet insurance. If you want to know more about Pet insurance,pet insurance online,cat health insurance,cat insurance,veterinary pet insurance. You can visit www.insuranceforpets.net
Getting a cat health insurance policy done for your cat, you are lessened of your worries related to taking care of your pets. You can cover all the expenses related to the cats as a daily routine and also go for the medical treatment in case your cat is unwell. Cats are the joy of our life. Since the creature is delicate and needs extra care, one should be free to get as much amount as is possible for its routine care and upkeep. An insurance policy is right thing to go for, since this is quite apt to provide your cat with exclusive medical and health care. Cat health insurance is a package designed for the pet lovers who wish to give that extra comfort for their pets. So go ahead with this policy, if you really care for your pet and wish its well being forever.
Pet insurance has existed in the western countries for long time now. The concept is similar to human health insurance policy and offers a safety net for your pets. It’s better to properly investigate about the nature of the insurance policy, before going ahead with it. Many of them don’t cover the expenses fro the treatment of chronic conditions, past injuries, flea control, dental and sterilization. Cat health insurance gives the pet owner a freedom to seek any kind of medical care from any veterinary clinic. In the pet insurance policy, mostly, 50% to 75% of the medical expenses are covered during a cat’s lifetime. Usually, this type of policy includes any sudden or possible expenses needed for the cat care and treatment. Besides, the cat insurance also depends upon the breed of cat you own and the insurance companies in this case, charge a higher rate.
The pet insurance package is usually large enough to cover sudden medical emergencies and the owners are able to save their pets from possible death due to the lack of medical care. Cat health insurance helps an owner to lower the costs of all medical expenses. Make a comparative study of the insurance providers before arriving for that final decision. A company should be selected for its years of proven expertise in the pet insurance cases and all the details should be properly understood. A reason why one should go for the pet insurance policy is the fact that it is after all such an affordable price to pay to for the quality medical care of your cat. As stitch on time saves the nine, the insurance policy also provides you with quality medical care on a timely basis.
By: Robert Scott
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Robert Scott is a veterinary doctor and through ages having been dealing in pet insurance. If you want to know more about Pet insurance,pet insurance online,cat health insurance,cat insurance,veterinary pet insurance. You can visit www.insuranceforpets.net