This Russian Blue is named (very creatively) “Blue.” He’s our foundling. Five years ago, he was living in the bushes at our condo complex, and nobody knew where he came from. I tried to find his owner, put up signs all over town, but nobody claimed him and well… I couldn’t let him go to a shelter. So, he became a member of our family, too.

Both of our cats are very special to us.

But I tell you… If I could I’d adopt all of the little animals needing homes, I totally would. I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you would, too.

We have always had cats that found us. When we lived in California, some 25 years ago, we had an orange tabby, a calico mix, a black Bombay cat, and a blue-point Siamese — all foundlings, who had total control of our house and our hearts.

If you’re thinking of getting a pet, cats are awesome! They’re not like dogs that need walked and picked up after, and they’re not quite as needy as dogs. They’re more independent, and self-sufficient, too.

I’ve had dogs, too, but to tell the truth, I don’t think I’d ever have another. I still love them, but they require way more work. Sure, they’re worth it, too, but I’m a cat person now and getting older. Cats, for me at least, are a much better choice.

Regardless of what pet you choose, find a shelter and pick a dog or cat that needs a home. You can still get kittens or puppies, but adult animals are just as great and just as needy — even more so in some cases because they’re used to being cared for. All of a sudden, they’re on their own. They really could use friends.

Find the animal shelter in your hometown. Many places have pictures of the animals they have on hand these days, and you may even be able to choose the pet you want before you leave home.

You should consider having some cat grass available for your cat to eat as they need to swallow it at times to help regurgitate hair that they have ingested while grooming themselves.

You can get this cat grass from pet stores and grow it in a specific area of your property where you know that it will be free from poisons and chemicals.

If the cat gets into the habit of using this grass rather than any other plants on the property to help regurgitate these hairballs, then this reduces the chance of it eating something that could be poisonous and cause it to become ill.

It is cheap and easy to grow, and can even be grown in a sunny spot on the deck if you’re living in an apartment.
It is also a good idea to grow a little catnip, as cats love to nibble on this as well.

It is quite a good idea to get your cat accustomed to eating a little bit of greens while they are still young and you can do this by putting spinach or similar vegetables in a food processor or blender and mix it up fine enough to be added to tinned cat food.

This will assist with their digestion and satisfy the need for some greens in their diet.
These little bits of extra vegetables that you can add to the diet will help to balance any missing nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the rest of the food they eat.

As can be expected from a cat, they will from time to time decide not to eat anything at all with vegetables in it, so you need to add a little bit of variety occasionally to ensure that they are getting good all around nutrition.

Baby vegetables that are sold for children are also suitable for feeding to your cat provided of course that there is no garlic or onions in the ingredients as these are detrimental to a cat’s health.

Also try not to get baby vegetable formulas that have corn in them as they can cause a spike in your cats blood glucose levels and can over the long-term cause diabetes.

We have lived in the same condo for 11 years. For the entire time, Blue has been going outside during the day and staying inside with me at night. He’s just an outdoor boy. We found him, couldn’t find his owner, and he was already a year old.  Do you know what it’s like trying to keep an outside cat in? Impossible. And it’s impossible to train them to a leash when they haven’t been trained as kittens.

Well, things were just fine here. In fact, everyone in the neighborhood loves Blue and many invite him into their homes to hang out because they enjoy his company. They also feed him, which we discourage, but he’s a real charmer and we can’t blame folks for wanting to please him.

In January, our board elected a new president. You see, the board elects the president, not the people. The problem is that this man admittedly hates cats and has been saying so for the past 10 years since we’ve known him. He’s been a friend. I’ve helped him numerous times with computer issues, and even tried to help him sell a book that he self published. I mean, what’s happening is unbelievable!

The first thing he did was to put up a notice on the bulletin board that cats had to be kept on a leash or indoors. Well… it wasn’t in the rules, so he had to take it down. Then, he had new rules written, informed the members of the association, and nobody votes. We’re just told what the new rules are.

Well… with Blue, keeping him inside or on a leash  just isn’t going to happen.

We went to the board meeting to try and straighten this out, but they were all stony. I tried to explain that Blue is a member of my family. I’m amazed at how officious this guy became.  He said it’s a “county law” that cats be leashed and wouldn’t budge.

So, we called the county and they told us yes, it is, but they don’t enforce it and they don’t want to be involved in a community issue. However, if there are complaints, they have to act on them. They don’t really care, and there were NO complaints at that time and there never have been for 11 years.

Neither were there any complaints with our property manager. In fact, NO ONE was complaining, except this man. He’s being totally unreasonable and Blue remains a free cat. Yet, they have sent us two letters warning us about what they’re going to do… call the county and have the cat removed.

I know it seems like a petty deal, and in the scheme of things it is. But why should we or our cat (after 11 years)  be sanctioned because of one person? It’s not fair. So, I’ve gone around and collected signatures from most of the folks living here now. (In the summer it’s kind of dead because the snowbirds are up north. I live in Florida.)

Nothing has happened yet. We’re keeping an eye out for the county so we can show them Blue’s shots and license. But this is totally unfair, and it’s not affecting Blue only. There’s another man that has two cats that you hardly ever see, but that also go outside. No complaints about them, either. They mind their business, and well… they don’t bark, for cryin’ out loud!

This is ludicrous! Blue has captured more vermin than I can tell you about, and last winter, the dope caught a coral snake (see the video). At least, it looked like one. Luckily we saw Blue tugging at it before he got it all the way out of the ground and dealt with it, but he really does help the neighborhood. That snake was right beside our front door!

So, what do you think? Is this fair? Should we force the little guy to stay indoors all the time? Is it fair to him?

Please give me your comments! If you’re on my side, I’ll print them out and take them to the board meeting next week. I have 40+ signatures on a petition. I have minutes from 2001 showing that cats weren’t to be restrcited to leashes. And…

I have evidence that every single member of the board is or has been breaking the rules themselves until this issue came up and it’s tearing our community apart. I keep hoping that the other board members will see that and make this old curmudgeon to back off, but it’s hope at this point.  They all stick together because they’re a little clique. I’m livid and concerned that they’ll carry out their threats.

Any lawyers? Any legal advice? What should I do? We have been in these condos since the day they were built, even before anyone on the board. I ran the board for 7 years, and it seems to me that we have the right to continue leaving Blue out as long as he’s not a nuisance. If he was, believe me, I wouldn’t be typing this. But there have been absolutely NO complaints about him.

Any advice would be welcome.

They certainly have the ability to get most of what they want from their owners (guilty as charged), and that is why it is often said that the cat rules the house and the humans are the servants.  And still, when we call the cat it is just as likely to turn around with its tail in the air and wander off. It is this independent nature that appeals so much to so many people and that’s why cats are one of the most loved pets in the world.

Cats are also extremely good at communicating with one another and once again with humans, by their body language.  Cat owners who are tuned in to their cat’s behavior can communicate extremely well, and this also makes it a lot easier for the owner to train a cat to do particular things or to behave better.

It also allows the opportunity to become a lot more aware of when the cat is not feeling well and when a trip to the vet might be necessary.
Fortunately that is not too often if the cat has been well cared for and given good nutrition because they are extremely resilient and even the process of purring can help to stimulate healing properties within the cat.

If your cat is making a sound and it is directed towards you then you know it is trying to communicate with you and usually it is not too hard to work out what it wants.

History

They were kept and allowed to breed by the early settlers for the same reason, to protect food supplies. Originally they lived mostly as working farm cats, highly valued for their hunting abilities.

In the early 20th century, other breeds of cat began to be imported to the USA as pets. They mixed with the working cats and so kittens were born with different coat lengths and temperaments. At this time, breeders who wished to preserve the original breed began to identify fine examples of what was then called the Domestic Shorthair and breed from them.  These breeders have concentrated on maintaining the beauty and affectionate nature of these cats while perfecting their coat patterns and colors. The name was changed to American Shorthair in the 1960s.

Appearance

The American Shorthair is a medium sized to large cat, with strong hind legs and paws. The muzzle is wider than many other breeds, giving a square look to the face. Males have a pronounced jowl. They are full grown at three or four years old. The coat is thick although a little thinner than the coat of the British shorthair. It thickens in winter and sheds in spring.

There are over 100 recognized varieties of color including black, white, silver, cream, red, brown, blue, tabby, calico or tortoiseshell, and bi-colored cats. Their eyes are round. Eye color, nose and pad depend on the color of the coat. Some varieties may have each eye a different color. The silver tabby is the most popular.

The tail must taper to a blunt tip without any kinks.

The American Shorthair is a gentle, affectionate cat that makes a marvelous pet. They get on well with children and most other pets, being even-tempered and quiet. For that reason they are always one of the most popular breeds of cat. They are easy to train and are also the most popular choice for film and advertising directors when they need a feline star.

American Shorthairs are happy to be either an indoor or an outdoor cat. If allowed outdoors they will indulge their hunting instincts and often bring home their prey.

They are a healthy, long-lived breed with an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. However, the American Shorthair cat easily gains weight and owners have to be careful not to allow this to endanger their pet’s health or happiness.

from djcodrin

Aging cats are going to take a little more maintenance and visits to the vet should become more regular to ensure that any problems are dealt with before they become a bigger worry.

Older cats will need a little more comfort as they are not as limber as they once were and giving them a nice soft surface to sleep on, away from drafts and in the warmth, will ensure that they remain in good health for longer.

Quite often cats will find a favorite place to sleep and as they are very clean animals, this place will need to be cleaned on regular basis or they will tend to move to other sleeping areas after a while.

There are some excellent cat beds available on the market designed to be very comfortable.
They are relatively cheap and most of them are designed to wrap around the cat as they lie in their natural curled up sleeping position.

This gives the cat support and also a sense of security and the good beds are made of materials that can be easily washed and dried to help maintain cleanliness and ensure that your cat stays in that same place most of the time.

One of the biggest problems that you need to consider as your cat ages is to have its teeth checked on a regular basis as teeth problems are one of the biggest causes of ill health in older cats.

In fact it is often said that cats that live longest are those that don’t have any teeth left.

They can get a buildup of plaque on the teeth and this can cause gum problems.
These gum problems can cause infections that lead to the deterioration of their internal organs and reduction in the quality of life and the length of their life so try to get your cat’s teeth checked at least once every six months as they get older.

Some breeds of cats and more prone to teeth problems than others and a lot of this depends upon the type of food you are feeding them and also the way that they eat as some cats like to chew more than others. Chewing helps to clean plague off the teeth.

History

The Egyptian Mau cat is the only naturally spotted breed. Its spots are believed to have come from natural interbreeding with wild cats many centuries ago. Spotted cats are shown in many ancient Egyptian wall paintings and may have had special privileges. Cats were highly valued in ancient Egypt, sometimes even worshipped as deities, and were often mummified like people upon their death.

The first Egyptian Mau is believed to have come to the West with the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy in the 1950s.  The Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskoy, living in exile in Italy, was charmed by the Ambassador’s distinctive spotted pet and persuaded him to get several similar cats for her, which she began to breed.

The name ‘mau’ comes from the Egyptian word for cat.

Appearance

The Egyptian Mau’s characteristic spots are not only on the hairs of the coat but are also visible in the skin pigmentation if the cat is shaved.  Bengals and other spotted breeds have been crossed with wild cats or selectively bred to achieve their coat.

Egyptian Maus carry a distinctive M or scarab beetle shaped mark on the forehead. They also have some anatomical differences which cause some people to consider them to be biologically distinct from other cats, possibly forming an evolutionary link between wild cats and other modern domestic breeds.

Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, giving them more acceleration and power when running than most cats. They also have a loose flap of skin on the abdomen which helps them stretch out further with each stride in the way that a cheetah does. This flap also contributes to their amazing speed. They have been recorded running over 30 miles per hour.

Acceptable colors are silver, bronze and smoke. Black and blue/pewter coats also occur but are not recognized. Eyes must be green, although some kittens are born with an amber shade to their eyes which becomes more green as they develop. The eyes are large and slightly slanted. Ears are medium sized and may be tufted.

Temperament

Maus can have very musical voices, making different sounds that can sound like chirping or almost singing.

They are very sensitive to temperature and like to live in a warm environment.

Some Maus also have a habit of wiggling their tail, moving the hind legs up and down as if spraying to mark territory, without actually releasing urine. This is a sign of a happy cat.

They are fond of their owners and very loyal, but can play rough with scratching and biting. In the fall of 2007, the very popular series of Mean Kitty videos by Cory Williams of SMP Films appeared on You Tube featuring his Egyptian Mau cat named Sparta.

Blue

There will be times when you might need to consider putting your cat in a cattery or pet boarding center.

If you are going on an overseas holiday or even a local holiday for a period of time and you are unable to find somebody to care for your cat at your own home, then the safest solution would be to take your cat to a cat boarding home.

If you know that this is something that will be required in the future then you should take the time to do some research and find out how well these cat boarding homes are run.

You should talk to people who you know and trust and who have already put their cat in a boarding home, and ask them how they felt their cat handled the stay and how it behaved when they brought it back home.

Also, you should ask them if they saw any change in the condition of their cat after coming home from the cattery.

Once you have done a bit of research and found recommendations from other people, it is worth taking the time to visit these boarding homes to see how they are run, and to look at the conditions that your cat will be living in for the period that it will be staying there.

Try to get a boarding home that is close to your house so there is less travel to and from the boarding home for your cat, which will relieve some of its stress.

Also, make sure that your cat will not come into contact with other animals. That could result in health problems.

If your cat is on any special diet or medication, talk to the staff at the boarding home to make sure that they are happy to give your cat the specific diet that it requires, or the medication that it needs to remain healthy.

If you do your research well, your cat will enjoy its holiday as much as you enjoy yours.

The Abyssinian cat has warm earth colors of tan and browns in their coats, though there are some of the blue or silver varitey. Colors recognized for the breed are not the same in all countries, but in the United States, they include: fawn, red, ruddy, blue, lilac, and cream. But to qualify for a pedigree in the U. S. the animal may not have any remnant markings of the tabby.

Zula was the first Abyssian cat to land in the Western hemisphere. This was in the mid-19th century when the kitten was taken from her native home in Alexandria to England by a British officer, Captain Barrett Leonard, who crossed the indigenous Abyssinian with an orange tabby. He chose the most Abyssinian looking of the litter to portray the breed in the West. It wasn’t long before Abyissinians were lauded and applauded as a breed at the 1871 exhibition in London.

But Zula is only the first documented of her breed to have made the trip to England. After the Abyssinian War, many other soldiers probably brought these good-natured cats home with them, as well. Yet, it is believed that all registered Abyssinians are of the lineage of Zula. Yet, when the Abyssinian came to the United States, the gene pool was enhanced by some Abyssinians imported directly from Alexandria in North Africa, where some still exist in the wild. The breed is now one of the most popular shorthair breeds in the U.S.

People find Abyssinians most appealing because they’re an active breed. Their form is muscular, but they are friendly and quite affectionate. Though they make great pets, they aren’t usually lap cats. They prefer to be out on the hunt and playing instead of sitting, but they may adopt one member of the family to call their own, who may not be the cat’s true owner.

Abyssinians do not enjoy being shut up without activity. A small apartment really isn’t to their liking. In fact, they enjoy attention so much that they may become depressed if left alone too long. They love climbing, though, so don’t be surprised to come home and find them atop your prized antique bookcase or find them on your shoulder.

These cats are loyal, and enjoy being with people. Many Abyssinian owners love their cats so much that they insist they would never have another breed.

Fitz

Cat behavior problems are a lot more common than many people believe. Cats have that reputation for easy care, but when they get pissed, you may have more than you realize to deal with. I’ve had cats pee on my clothes, in my lap, and even on me at 3 a.m.! I’ve known cats that love to rip things to shreds. I know cats that attack! I mean, love bites are one thing, but some cats can be very aggressive, especially when they’re unhappy.

There is always a solution, but this can quite often take quite a lot of work, and the longer these behavioral problems are left alone, the harder they are to correct, so don’t ignore a behavior for days, weeks or months, and suddenly decide to change it. Nip that issue in the bud and you’ll be far better off!

Solving cat behavior problems takes consistent effort and the use of the right techniques to get your cat to behave as expected.  These behavioral problems can be anything from urinating inside the house to aggressive action towards you and other people, or to destroying your furniture or other personal possessions.

Knowing what to do will eliminate a lot of the frustration that is involved in trying to train or retrain a cat, and will ensure that you get the desired results as fast as possible.

Urinating and aggressive behavior can often be associated with your cat feeling insecure about itself and its surroundings. Lots of issues can pop up when your cat spies your suitcase, for example.  But there could be other insecurity issues that pop up. Consider whether there are other cats or threats to your pet and try to eliminate these first to see if they help to curb or cure the problem.

Sometimes when you eliminate the threats that your cat is feeling, your pet will be more comfortable with its surroundings and not feel that it is necessary to mark its territory or to be aggressive towards other pets, people, and things.

Sometimes cats can develop jealousy problems, especially when  there is more than one pet in the family. The cat with the problem feels like it is not getting enough attention.

We have this issue. We have a 11-year old male cat, and three years ago, moved in a foundling that was just about  a year old. Though they co-exist, the relationship is still not good, after all that time. Two male cats, unless they’re raised together from kittenhood, can be a total disaster. For a long time, we had to keep them separated completely, and it wasn’t fun for us or the cats.

Yet, what can you do? We took Blue (our Russian Blue cat) in because he was living on the street. We tried desperately to find his owners, but it  never happened. We couldn’t bear the idea that he could be destroyed, so he’s still with us. We couldn’t dream of parting with either cat now. Both of them are very close to our hearts.

Change of location can affect stress levels for people, and the same can happen to cats, too. Changes in environment can have a marked effect on the way that they act and time will need to be spent on them to ensure that they feel secure.

What you have to do is gently let the cat know that you’re displeased with the bad behavior. Don’t scream and yell at the cat. That does absolutely no good at all. Just show the cat you’re disappointed by showing an unhappy expression on your face and speaking  in a stern, yet nonthreatening tone. Cats understand English, after all, if you speak to them in a way they can handle. (Pride is a huge factor in a cat’s world.)

Never break their spirits or wound their pride. They’re much too precious, and if you maintain a consistent attitude when things aren’t going well… they’ll eventually catch on, but you have to make them think it’s all THEIR idea.