Abyssinian Cat Facts

Abyssinian Cats (also known as Abyss cats - no link whatsoever with the professional wrestler) are a breed of domesticated cats that is believed to come from one female kitten called Zula, which was taken from a port in Alexandria and brought to England by a British Soldier. It was in England that the Abyssinian breed was developed through breeding Zula with an English tabby and then another breeding with the pet's mother. As time passed this cat breed became one of the most popular shorthair breed in the USA and people believe that there are still wild Abyssinians present in North Africa.

The Abyssinian cat presents a characteristic tawny, ticked coat. Tabby markings might be present on the paws and tail but none will be found on the body. Its eyes are of an almond shape and can be green or gold, with a fine dark line present around them. Large ears and a warm golden coat are also characteristic of the Abyssinian. Color variations of the coat include fawn, cinnamon, red and blue with a rare Silver Abyssinian cat variant also present.

These cats are quite active and friendly. They are not really lap cats because of their active nature that makes them want to play and explore. If there is a lack of attention and daily activity the Abyssinian cat can easily become depressed. This breed is characterized by high intelligence and the long haired version of it is called the Somali. When thinking about the Abyssinian we are linked with a medium sized cat that is powerful but graceful at the same time.

Keeping your Cat Healthy and Cool in Summer

Heat and sun are not two elements that cats love. A lot of people know that heatstrokes can happen with dogs but so many know that cats can also suffer from such a condition. Dehydration and sun burn can also affect your cat during summer so we need to know how to keep your cat healthy and cool in summer!

First off, when the weather is warm try to keep your cat indoor. Cats are prone to developing skin cancer so you must always pay attention to sun exposure. Now turn your attention towards your home. The cat surely has a special place where he likes sitting. You should try and make it as cool as possible. Fans and air conditioners are just two of the many ideas you can deploy. Replace the blanket in the cat's bed with a sheet and an icepack beneath the blanket will keep her cool while the sun is doing damage on the outside.

Always keep enough water bowls available for your cat. Analyze them and make sure they are always full, especially if you have more than one cat. Put ice cubes in the water bowl. This move will keep the water colder than usual and immediately the cat's temperature lower.

Now problems might appear when the cat loves the outdoor environment. In such a case you should not restrict it from what she likes but instead make sure that there is always fresh water outside your door or window. If you have a garden make sure that you put in some shady plants in order to help the cat in retreating from the heat.

One of the worse problems that can happen is a heat stroke. This is why we must be aware of the symptoms of heat strokes in cats. Cats are usually secretive about illness and they rarely pant. The early symptoms of cat heat stroke will include: anxiety, increased heart rate, panting, hyperventilation, dark red gums, increased temperature, lethargy and respiratory distress. A healthy cat shows a temperature of between 100° and 102° F. If you see that the temperature goes over 104° you should take it as a warning sign. In such a case you need to take the cat in a cool room and give him a rub with a towel that is dampened in water. A cold compress needs to be placed under the cat's neck and if the cat resists you helping her you will have to wrap ice or frozen peas in a towel and place it in the cat's favorite nap spot. This will cool the cat and allow her to heal.

Keep in mind that dehydration can always happen. This means that you will need to have plenty of fresh water around. In some cases cats that will suffer from dehydration will refuse to drink. If this is your case use an eye dropper or your finger in order to get water in your cat's mouth through rubbing it on her lips.

Giving your Cat Eye Drops

Some of us are lucky and if we need to give our cats eye drops they will simply stay in our laps patiently and all is over. On the other hand, most cats do not like it when anything is put in their eyes. To make it even worse, there are situations in which you might even have to restrain your cat if she wants to scratch, bite or simply fights you when giving eye drops. All eye medication for cats will come in liquid drops or ointment form and in most cases liquid versions have to be given more often. Now let us get to the topic at hand and see how you can give your cat eye drops with the least effort for yourself and discomfort for the pet!

Whenever you give your cat eye drops you have to hold the pet on your lap. If the cat tries to get away you can wrap him in a towel right before you actually place him on your lap. By doing this you will prevent scratches and you will notice that it is easier to hold as he can not raise those paws to attack you for wanting his best. Use one hand to hold the head of the cat and the thumb of it to easily pull down the lower eye lid. By doing this you will have a pouch right under the cat's eye to hold the eye drops. Now we need to put the tip of the applicator right next to that pouch but pay extreme attention to not touch the cat's eye. The hand must be steady and all done easily so that you do not poke your pet in the eye. Needless to say that would hurt the cat a lot. Squeeze the bottle of the applicator gently and number the drops you need to give the cat (by prescription orders) and let them fall into that pouch.

After you give your cat the eye drops you will need to keep him on your lap as they quickly disperse on the eye and you should never rub them in! If you let go of the cat immediately after the application of the cat eye drops he might rub it out and it will not help him at all!

The Basics of Caring for Your Cat

So many people end up thinking about cats as dogs and this is not correct since there are considerable differences between these two types of pets. Cats are great companions and they can be very fun but they do have special requirements and will need special treatment so it is always important to discuss at least the basics of caring for a cat, especially if you recently got one and you did not deal with taking care of one in the past.

First off, you need to pay attention to always hold the cat correctly as they do enjoy being supported well and will hate it when you do not do that. Then, you have to put them down gently and do not throw them on the floor. It is true that cats always land on their feet but that does not mean that they enjoy being thrown around.

Cats are always clean animals so maintaining a clean litter box is highly important. More than that, if you have more than one cat you need to have one litter box for each one. Always remember that keeping toxic plants out of the home is crucial and this involves holly, cactus and others. Never forget to play with the cat, praise it and act as a friend and not as an owner. This is highly important for cats!

Giving Cats Pills

Giving pills to cats can be necessary at times but it is quite difficult to do if the cat is unresponsive and simply does not enjoy taking pills. In this case you will need to think about how you can make it easier for the cat to take the pills and in most cases you will need to trick her into doing so. The best way is to hide the medicine in cat treats, something they love and will not suspect.

You need to look for special cat treats that are moist and that do not break apart when you put in the pills. Place them in the treats and on a plate. Decoy treats can also be utilized but only if you are sure that your cat will eat more than one. You might end up with the cat eating the wrong one. Stay near the cat when you give her the treat on a plate and watch if she eats it completely. If not, you just have to find another treat and try to trick the cat again.