1. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About A Cat

2. Kitty History Domesticated 4,000 years ago 2,500 years ago -Egyptians
Romans used cats for rodent control
cats were thought to carry the Bubonic plague - ordered to be killed.
first cat show in London
first cat show in US - New York

3. Cat Breeds 330 recognized breeds Shorthair group - 26 breeds
Longhair group - 13 breeds

4. Cat Factoids Independent and self-sufficient clean, self-grooming
don’t require a lot of house training
sleep hours a day
life span of 15 years
need to scratch front paws
bathing - minimum - they usually take care of this themselves!

5. Female cats like to live in groups
Male cats are territorial
Check for ear mites
Cats have sharp teeth and claws - 2nd dirtiest mouth.

6. Don’t feed my kitty… Toxic Plants -Poinsettias -Lilies -Begonias
-Philodendrons
Chemicals
-Tylenol (acetaminophen)
-Advil (ibuprofen)
-Anti-freeze
-Chocolate

7. Cat Colors
4 Solid Colors - color evenly distributed the entire length of hair shaft.
-Black -Dark Brown
-Orange -Light Brown
4 Dilute Colors
-Gray/blue -Cream
-Lilac/lavender -Fawn

8. Tabby is the natural hair coat pattern of cats.
Calico cats have 3 colors: black, white, and orange or red.
-almost all calico cats are female
-genetic trait

9. Tortoiseshell cats are black and red
-usually female
White cats have genes that mask
all color.
-All white cats have blue
or green eyes

10. Pointed cats
-color pattern of dark markings on “points” of the cat.

11. What are you trying to tell me? Cat Communication
3 ways
-vocal
-body language
-visual and scent markings
V OCAL
meowing - vowel sounds
purring - caused by repeated rapid opening and closing of vocal folds.

12. Hissing - a sign to stay away
BODY LANGUAGE
Tail up - “I am happy”
kneading - “I am trying to get comfortable”
front paws wrapped - “I am comfortable”
ears back - “I am not happy - watch out”

13. VISUAL AND SCENT MARKING
Scratch marking
Scent marking
-feces uncovered
-urine spraying
-head rubbing (sebaceous glands around head)