Everyone looks great in designer jeans. In the case of the Oriental Shorthair, though, it is designer genes that make it such an eye-catching and popular cat – and as Cat Diaries discovered, it is a relatively new breed with an ancient history.

Origins
Officially recognised as a breed in the 1950s, the Oriental Shorthair has its roots in the Siamese breed originating in Siam (which is now Thailand). British breeders who liked the look of the Siamese but wanted a greater variety of colours began cross-breeding the Siamese with domestic shorthairs such as the Russian Blue, Abyssinian and British Shorthair. The result was a cat that was Siamese in body shape and facial features, but with such a wide variation of colours that it earned the nickname ‘Ornamental’.

Appearance
While the Oriental Shorthair is similar in appearance to the Siamese, it can come in over 300 colour and pattern variations. The Oriental Shorthair has a medium build and triangular face and head with large ears and slanted almond eyes. The hair is much softer and thicker than on many other shorthaired breeds, although it remains close to the body.

Temperament
Like the Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair is a brilliant family pet, as it is both people-oriented and affectionate. The Oriental Shorthair craves attention and is both loyal and vocal about its love for humans, often ‘calling’ to owners throughout the house and having ‘conversations’ when spoken to. Many Oriental Shorthair owners report them as being almost doglike in their loyalty and need for company.

The Oriental Shorthair is both aesthetically pleasing and social, making it a wonderful addition to any family. Be prepared to lavish affection on it, however, as the Oriental Shorthair is notorious for loving a good cuddle on the couch!

[IMAGE SOURCE www.pictures-of-cats.org; www.mainecoonbreeders.com]

Remember, cats can climb
Cats are naturally curious animals. They’re going to look in every nook and cranny of their new home and will probably test out anything that isn’t secure. Make sure everything that might fall and break, or make a mess, is either safely secured or put away.

Make sure you tie up window blind cords. If your cat gets tangled, they may accidentally choke themselves.

Make some areas off limits
If you don’t want to have to shut every door just to keep your cat contained, you can spray bitter apple or lemon scented sprays around areas where you don’t want your kitty to go. Cats can’t stand the scent or taste of these flavours. Just do a spot test first to make sure it doesn’t stain.

Put toys away
You might look around your house or apartment and not see any toys. But look again through cat’s eyes. Is there anything they might be able to play with, or ingest? Craft items such as needlework, glue and threads should be put away. Any hair ties, rubber bands, ribbons or ties should be kept somewhere off limits so your cat can’t swallow them.

Lid down
Make sure you keep the toilet lid down. A constant supply of water can look very inviting to a thirsty cat, but a small kitten may drown. If your toilet has an automatic cleaning block in it, this could react unfavourably with your cat’s stomach and make your kitty quite sick!

Houseplants outside
If you have any houseplants, check that they aren’t toxic to cats. Ingestion of certain flowers such as lilies or geraniums could prove life threatening for your cat. You can find a list of toxic plants here.

Do you have any tips on cat proofing your home?

Sources and further reading:

How to cat-proof your home: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/catproof.htm
Kitten proofing your house: http://www.cat-world.com.au/KittenProofing.htm
Cat proofing you home: http://maxshouse.com/cat_proofing_your_home.htm

[IMAGE SOURCE www.scienceblogs.com; www.animal-photography.com]

History
Although there is conjecture – and even a touch of controversy – surrounding the breed’s origins, the most compelling theory suggests that the Dragon Li cat came about through the natural self-domestication of wild descendents of mountain cats. Self-domestication is the adaptation of wild animals to human presence, and there is evidence to suggest this is exactly what has happened as China’s human population grew.

Appearance
Looking at a Dragon Li, it’s not difficult to see the correlations with its wild relatives. The Dragon Li has a distinctive ‘hunter’s’ gate, with more severely almond-shaped eyes and a thick, well-muscled body. Its head is rounded and large, and it features distinctive tipping on the ears.

Temperament
What sets this breed apart is its incredible intelligence and uncanny adaptability. The Dragon Li is said to have a highly instinctual understanding and awareness of its surroundings, and remains calm and oriented in any location. Because of this, along with a love of playing and exploring, the Dragon Li is a well-adjusted family pet and rarely becomes distressed or needy.
With the confidence of the wild in its past and a sharp awareness of its present, the Dragon Li is a brave, happy and content addition to any household.

[IMAGE SOURCE www.cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.org]

Here are some of the most important things about toilet training a kitten:

• Don’t move the litter box drastically. If you want to move the litter box to a different room or outside, do it gradually over a number of weeks. This will prevent your kitten from becoming confused and not knowing where the litter box is. Move it a few centimetres each day until it is where you want it to end up.
• If you want your cat to go in the garden or outside, and it has been taught to use a litter box, use the same process. When the litter box is outside you can begin training the kitten to go places in the garden.
• Keep the litter box clean. Just like our toilets, a kitty litter should be kept clean so change the litter frequently. If your kitten goes somewhere it shouldn’t, be sure to clean it up as quickly as possible. The smell may attract the kitten to go in the same place again.
• Don’t give the kitten access to the whole house at once. Try keeping the kitten in one or two rooms while it’s still learning to use the litter box. That way it’ll be easier for both you and the kitten. The kitten will know the room where its litter tray is and you can watch for signs if it needs to go.

This site has some great tips for toilet training your kitten. Overall it is very important to remember that a kitten is still learning and you need to be patient while they become accustomed to their new home.

Related Resources

Urine Stain Removal

It was with heavy hearts that the Cat Diaries team learned of the recent slaughter of over 100 sled-dogs in the Canadian skiing village of Whistler.

In an unimaginable horror to anyone with a heart – let alone a pet at home – 100 sled dogs were allegedly shot and knifed by an employee of the companies ‘Outdoor Adventures Whistler’ and ‘Howling Dogs’, both sled-tour providers.

While the details are still uncertain, what is known is that the killings came to light after the employee in question claimed compensation for post-traumatic stress syndrome because of the nature of the killings.

According to documents in the possession of the SPCA of British Columbia, dogs were tethered and had to witness hours of brutality before the gun was turned on them, with scenes of unmentionable horror being described.

Peter Fricker from the Vancouver Humane society said, ‘We think as the public finds out more of the details of this case that they are going to be completely outraged.’

The killings allegedly took place in April, after the business and tourism boom produced by the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics died down.

While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the SPCA are investigating the case, experts have warned that cruelty cases are often difficult to prosecute.

The case has shocked dog-lovers and animal rights groups around the world, and shone the spotlight on the sledding tourism industry itself.

‘We’d like to see the entire sled dog industry shut down,’ said Fricker. ‘Something like this can never happen again.’

Image sourced from: pups-seeking-homes.com and urbanitebaltimore.com

A few weeks ago, we posted an article containing some ideas for what to buy your cat for Christmas. Something that didn’t make the list (but might have been on yours) was the ever-popular iPad. With a special application called ‘Game for Cats’ (download it free here) the feline world doesn’t have to miss out on Apple-mania. Watch these two getting into it… who said a non-scratch screen wasn’t an important feature of the device?!

Thumbnail image from jeroenmirck.nl

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a special Happy New Year video featuring musical cats.

This week, we’re going one better by showcasing the Rockcats – a band of kittens who ‘play’ guitar, keyboards and drums. Some cynics have suggested that these cats are merely miming.

Cat Diaries says: if it’s good enough for Britney Spears, it’s good enough for our furry feline friends!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wondering what to give your cat this Christmas? We’ve got just the things…

We recently reported on the power of pets to boost the national economy after a study conducted by the Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC) found that last year alone, expenditure on domestic pets totalled $6.02 billion.

This Christmas, the economy looks set to receive another boost from the pet-care industry, with the study also revealing that many owners treat their pets as part of the family, spoiling them with Santa stockings and special treats at Christmas time.

In an interview with The Queensland Times, luxury online pet boutique owner, Clea Sandler, confirmed, ‘Christmas is by far our busiest time of year’. Her store, Snooty Paws, stocks a range of special-treat items to spoil your pet, and even has a Christmas – and Chanukah –line with costumes and themed products for your furry friend.

If you’re thinking of leaving something special under the tree for your four-legged family this Christmas, we’ve got a few tips to help you make the choice!

• Be careful when choosing edible treats. A lot of Christmas treats have ingredients that pets can’t easily digest, so make sure you confirm that your goodies are a pet product and that they have no nasty surprises that may harm your pet.
• If you’re buying a toy, why not buy one that is interactive? More than any toy, your pet desires and thrives on the attention of its family. So you may want to consider a Christmas-themed toy that involves the kids – a springy ball on a string will keep both parties entertained and ensure your cat gets good use out of it.
• Practicality is a good thing to keep in mind when buying your pet a gift. If your cat needs a new scratching post, use Christmas as an excuse to splurge a little and satisfy your needs (and your furniture’s needs) as well as your pet’s!
• Never give your cat leftovers from dinner as a special treat at Christmas. Cooked turkey is always a no-no and could lead to digestive problems or a punctured oesophagus.

Image sourced from: petcentric and missbimbo

How your cat can join in the festive food feast!

If you want to involve your furry friend in the festivities this Christmas but are at a loss as to how to spread the love, remember that the way to your cat’s heart is through her stomach! Here is a recipe for some Christmas-themed kitty treats that will have her attention firmly under the tree this year – and not on the decorations that she’ll attempt to destroy!

Ingredients

1 cup minced leftover turkey (no bones)

1 cup mashed pumpkin

1 tbsp Canola oil

1 tbsp kelp

Preparation

Simply mix together and roll into balls! Refrigerate until firm, then freeze excess balls. If you really want to give your kitty an extra-special Yuletide treat, use string to hang these little treats from an outside bush or mini-Christmas tree – she’ll have so much fun trying to get at them!

Recipe sourced from: Brighthub

Image Sourced from: Kitten Care Guide

What adventures does your cat get up to when you’re not around?
Don’t you wish you had a camera like this for your cat?