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]

Ever wondered what promises you cat may want to keep? Here are a few ideas…

The new year may already be starting to feel a bit old, but this list of New Year’s Resolution for cats was just too funny not to pass on. Enjoy!

• I will not slurp fish food from the surface of the aquarium.

• I must not help myself to Q-tips, and I must certainly not proceed to stuff them down the sink’s drain.

• I will not eat large numbers of assorted bugs, then come home and puke them up so the humans can see I’m getting plenty of roughage.

• I will not use the bathtub to store live mice for late-night snacks.

• I will not perch on my human’s chest in the middle of the night and stare into her eyes until she wakes up.

• Screaming at the can of food will not make it open itself.

• I cannot leap through closed windows to catch birds outside. If I forget this and bonk my head on the window and fall behind the couch in my attempt, I will not get up and do the same thing again.

• I will not assume the patio door is open when I race outside to chase leaves.

• I will not complain that my bottom is wet and that I am thirsty after sitting in my water bowl.

• I will not intrude on my human’s candle-lit bubble bath and singe my bottom.

• I will not stick my paw into any container to see if there is something in it. If I do, I will not hiss and scratch when my human has to shave me to get the rubber cement out of my fur.

• If I bite the cactus, it will bite back.

• When I am chasing my tail and catch my back leg instead, I will not bite down on my foot. This hurts – and my scream scares my human.

• When it rains, it will be raining on all sides of the house. It is not necessary to check every door.

• Birds do not come from the bird feeder. I will not knock it down and try to open it up to get the birds out.

• I will not stuff my rather large self into the rather small bird feeder (with my tail hanging out one side) and expect the birds to just fly in.

• The dog can see me coming when I stalk her. She can see me and will move out of the way when I pounce, letting me smash into floors and walls. That does not mean I should take it as a personal insult when my humans sit there and laugh.

• Yes, there are still two very large dogs in the backyard. There have been for several years. I don’t have to act as if I’ve just discovered the Demon Horror of the Universe each time one of them appears in my window.

• I will not play ‘dead cat on the stairs’ while people are trying to bring in groceries or laundry – or else one of these days it will really come true!

• When the humans play darts, I will not leap into the air and attempt to catch them.

• I will not swat my human’s head repeatedly when she’s on the bedroom floor trying to do sit-ups.

• When my human is typing at the computer, her forearms are not a hammock.

• Computer and TV screens do not exist to backlight my lovely tail.

• I am a walking static generator. My human doesn’t need my help installing a new board in her computer.

• I will not speed dial the overseas numbers.

• I will not walk on the keyboard when my human is writing important emiognaioerp ga3qi4 taija3tgv aa35 a.

• I will not watch the guinea pig constantly as the guinea pig likes to sleep once in a while.

• The goldfish likes living in water and should be allowed to remain in its bowl.

• I will not drag the magnets (and the papers they are holding) off the fridge and then bat them underneath it so that they adhere to the underside.

• I will learn to relax at the vet’s so they will start writing things in my records like ‘Good kitty’ and ‘Sweet kitty’ instead of ‘MEAN!’ ‘BITER!!’ and ‘GET HELP!!!’

• I will not be miffed at my human all day and then kiss her on the nose at 2am to tell her that she is forgiven and can now pet me.

• If I must give a present to my human’s overnight guests, my toy mouse is much more socially acceptable than a big live cockroach… even if it isn’t as tasty!

Images sourced from: Mauriceo and Catfood Recipes Online

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

The recent heavy rainfall hasn’t just caused flooding issues in some parts of the country. For pet owners, it also means this is set to be one of the worst tick seasons on record.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) reports that ticks are thriving thanks to this year’s mild winter and the current wet weather. Plus the AVA warns that the previous years of drought means there is not enough antivenom (a natural product that can only be made during tick season) in stock to cope with this year’s onslaught.

Protect your pet

The recent Advantix Protect the One You Love pet owner survey conducted by Bayer Animal Health has shown that around 30 per cent of pet owners are unaware of paralysis ticks and the risks they pose to their pets.

Cat Diaries is therefore urging pet owners across the east coast of Australia, where paralysis ticks are found, to talk to their vet about the best way to guard against ticks.

‘The holiday season is approaching and many pet owners will be travelling to coastal regions with their pets where paralysis ticks are common. We love our pets and wouldn’t want anything terrible to happen to them, and whilst laboratories are working hard to produce enough antivenom to alleviate the shortage in the next few weeks, it is important to understand the risks and symptoms of tick paralysis and how to prevent your pets falling victim to these dangerous parasites,’ says Dr Bob Rees, Bayer Animal Health Technical Services Veterinarian.

What should you do during tick season?

1.      Prevention is better than cure – repelling ticks before they bite is the key to prevention, so talk to your vet about the best course of action.

2.      Check your pet every day for ticks – the best way is to feel, not look, for ticks. Start in the common places such as the head and neck, but make sure you search everywhere, including the ears, around the eyes, under the collar, between toes, etc. Your pet is also bound to enjoy the extra attention!

3.      Look out for the telltale signs:

• Weakness in the hind legs or staggering, which may be followed by paralysis;
• Vomiting or regurgitation;
• Change in you cat’s meow due to paralysis of the throat and voice box;
• Laboured breathing, which may include a ‘grunting’ sound.

4.      If you are travelling with your pet – check with your vet if you will be travelling to an area where there are paralysis ticks. If so, make sure your pet is treated every two weeks and checked for ticks daily.

5.      If you notice any of the warning signs, take your pet to your vet immediately.

Take the time to protect the one you love!

Image sourced from: about.com

Make sure the WHOLE family remembers this festive season for the right reasons…

The festive season is full of reasons to celebrate – the weather’s warm, the kids are on school holidays, the family gets together and Christmas and New Year provide party opportunities like no other.

Unfortunately, the Christmas period can pose additional threats to the four-legged members of your family, with a whole range of health and safety issues to watch out for. So this Christmas, make sure you take extra precautions and watch your pets closely, to avoid a holiday tragedy and keep the good times rolling!

Overheating

Unlike the white Christmas the carols tell us about, we all know that Australia is anything but snowy and cold at Christmas! In fact, this time of year features some of the hottest temperatures and the added activity of parties, barbecues and long nights out mean your pet could be out of sight more often than usual.

Be mindful that hot temperatures can adversely affect cats very quickly, so make sure your cat has an accessible and constant supply of water and a shady, cool place to rest, and that he is not left unattended for too long. Signs of overheating may include panting, fatigue, inflamed or red gums, general weakness and diarrhoea.

Pay close attention to your pets in hot weather and if they display any of these signs, seek veterinary advice immediately and try to bring down their temperature with cool water.

Ticks

In many parts of the country, summer is the worst time for parasites like fleas and mites – and with all the commotion around Christmas and New Year, they can easily go undiscovered on your kitty until they has done serious damage. Check your cat regularly and remember that prevention is your best bet.

Overeating, choking and poisoning

We all know that the inside of a house around Christmas resembles a gourmet grocery store, with treats and tasty morsels as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, a lot of the food items – such as chocolate, nuts, cooked bones or other human food – can be dangerous for cats.

The potential influx of people in your home will mean your cat might get away with begging treats from others, so make sure you let everyone know that feeding your pet could be harmful. Don’t leave food where your pets can access it – the smell is often too tempting for humans to resist a pick and nibble, never mind the effect it will have on your drooling cat!

In order to keep the celebrations happy and stress-free this Christmas, keep in mind that your pets may require a bit of extra attention over the holidays. You’ll be glad you did!

Image sourced from: Associated Content , Catster and  2Funny Cats

‘Funny’ cat behaviour can be a sign that something is seriously wrong

Similar to the ‘fainting goat’ phenomenon that swept YouTube a while back, a new video has recently gone viral, but this time it’s kittens that are doing the fainting. While it seems adorable, the reason for the fainting is actually far more serious. Both kittens suffered from a rare disease, as explained by their owner…

‘[They suffer from] myotonia congenita, otherwise known as ‘fainting goat syndrome’. At the slightest sound or movement, the kittens respond by collapsing and falling into a rigid paralysis that lasts for anything up to a minute before they return to normal. If a pin drops, so do they.’

The condition has hardly ever been diagnosed in cats and is similarly rare in dogs, but is not uncommon in goats (hence the alternative name.) In this instance, the kittens are able to walk, but, said the owner, ‘they cannot run or jump. Aside from this they are normal.’

Sadly, both kittens have since died, but this video and others like it serve as a tragic reminder that weird or ‘funny’ behaviour in animals can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Remember to consult your vet about any irregularities in your pet’s behaviour.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Aussie summer can be unforgiving – even humans usually find it trying at times and we’re not covered in a layer of fur! Here are a few tips to make sure your cat stays healthy and happy through the coming summer and to keep you aware of any changes that could signal a problem.

Watch for heatstroke

Although more common in dogs, heatstroke can also affect cats, so it’s vital to know the early warning signs. These include:

• Panting;
• Increased body temperature;
• Hyperventilation or breathing difficulties;
• Lethargy;
• Dark-red gums.

If you think your cat has heatstroke, contact your vet immediately – and in the meantime, help lower your cat’s temperature by rubbing her down with a damp cool towel, resting her feet in a tub of cold water and making sure she has plenty to drink.

It’s also important to make sure she is inside in a cool area and not directly in the sun. Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a towel and place it in her bed to create a cool resting spot – the temperature is the most immediate thing you need to change in order to prevent lasting damage.

Sunburn

White or fair-coloured cats are particularly prone to sunburn, but you need to be mindful of it no matter what your cat looks like. Extended exposure to the sun can cause carcinoma (a malignant tumour), especially on the ears and nose, so it’s a good idea to keep them out of the sun, especially during the most intense periods of the day (12-4pm).

Ticks

Ticks are especially bad in summer and can be difficult to detect on a cat, especially one with long hair. Give your cat a daily tick check by feeling around the ears and neck and underside in particular. A tick can be as small as a pinhead or as large as a pea, so be thorough – and keep your cat’s flea and tick treatments up to date.

Cats may be very clean, proud animals, but this doesn’t mean they don’t need your help every now and again in terms of grooming. This instructional video tells you everything you need to know about grooming your cat and making sure Moggie stays as gorgeous as ever!

Cats seem to do everything with a runway attitude, whether they’re presenting you with a dead mouse or eating a bowl of tuna. Here’s how to make your cat look even more regal.

As with a number of cat breeds, the Scottish Fold was a chance discovery that has since gone on to become enormously popular around the world. And with very good reason…

History

Perthshire in Scotland was the birthplace of this adorable breed, after a cat named Suzie with an odd fold in her ears delivered a litter bearing two kittens with similar ear folds. Enchanted by the sweet, kitten-like demeanour the look gave Suzie, a neighbouring farmer adopted one of the kittens as his own and decided to try to recreate the folds in future litters.

During the process of attempting to breed these folded-ear kittens, it was discovered that breeding two folds together would create thickness in the tail and limbs. As a result, only a cat with folded ears and a cat with ‘normal’ ears (usually a British or American Shorthair) can be bred together to produce an acceptable, healthy Scottish Fold.

Appearance

Apart from the distinctive folded ears that give the breed its name, the large, round, owl-eyed look of this cat is another distinguishing feature. With these gorgeous big peepers and lopped ears, the Scottish Fold maintains the ‘kitten look’ throughout its life, which makes them a popular choice for pets.

A medium-sized cat, the Scottish Fold can come in a variety of colours and patterns, and its eyes usually match its coat. There are long-haired and short-haired versions of the breed, but the coat should always be thick and resilient. The oddly shaped ears do not impair its hearing at all, and although they need to be cleaned regularly, they do not hamper the health of the Scottish Fold in any way.

Temperament

Along with its loveable appearance, the Scottish Fold’s temperament makes it an excellent choice as a family pet. Hardy and healthy, this breed has few health problems and an easy-going nature. They adapt well to other household pets and are not easily spooked. Another factor that many families appreciated about the Scottish Fold is its soft, seldom-used voice – the Scottish Fold is more likely to snuggle up quietly than roam the house ‘talking’. A very social breed, you may notice some very ‘un-cat-like’ behaviour from your Scottish Fold – such as sleeping on its back or craving the company of other animals!

Grooming

Regularly cleaning the Scottish Fold’s ears is important, as there are more opportunities for dirt and grime to accumulate. In addition, regular brushing will keep their coat looking shiny and healthy, and help get rid of moulting hair and dust that can sometimes become trapped in the breed’s thick fur. Otherwise, the Scottish Fold is a relatively low-maintenance breed, and one that is guaranteed to bring your family years of joy.

Image by: Catfacts