Golden Rules For Better Communication - Learn From Cats!

By Eri Hariono

If animals could speak the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow, but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much. ~ Mark Twain Every creature living on planet earth has its own unique way of expressing themselves, i.e., to communicate. Communication in a broader sense is the art of delivering messages to each other and vice versa by signals, behavior, body language, gestures, writing and speech. Let's see the interesting way cats convey their wants and needs to us humans. Domestic cats have their own way of communicating with humans. Research has shown that wild cats in Africa - which later evolved into domestic cats - don't have this special skill. However, regarding the domestic cat's ancestor, a recent study said:

The domestic house cat is descended from the Middle Eastern Wild cat, uncovering proof of how and when cats first came to supervise so many homes for humans. The DNA of 979 cats throughout the world were analyzed and found that all feral and domestic cats today have a common ancestor: the Near Eastern Felis silvestris. Cats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, an area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and then cats were transported around the world by humans. The earliest archaeological evidence for cats and people living together was found in Cyprus, dating to 9,500 years ago.

Domestic cats have a long relationship with humans, traced all the way back to when farmers began growing grain 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Farmers recognized that cats would prey on rodents who ate their crop, and through this situation there developed a mutually beneficial relationship between our two species. You see, cats and people have been communicating pretty well now for 10,000 years.

In 2002, a psychologist from Cornell University, Nicholas Nicastro, compared hundreds of "meow" vocalizations from domestic cats (Felis catus) to African wild cats (Felis silvetris lybica) and his research proved that the difference between their vocalizations were in accordance to whether they were trying to communicate with humans. For instance, when cats demand to be fed, they express a different "meow" then when they are in an angry mood. Thus, based on my own experience at being a longtime cat-lover, I can tell their moods not only from their different meows, but also by a wide range of kitty lexicon including their body language and gestures - headbutts, how they wag their tails, et al. - right on down to the different ways they purr.

The samples of this communication forms, we can see it clearly on YouTube video showing two cats talking in their own language and its translation into human language.

The research showed that there are indeed significant differences in the two different types of cats' abilities to communicate and it all centered on their exposure to humans. The African wild cats were only capable of expressing the unpleasant meow vocal range. They don't produce the soft swaying meows like domestic cats. Furthermore, cats love to observe and study how we - humans - express our emotions and communicate our feelings to each other and with other creatures. And the clever little devils are taking notes because our cats really know how to push our buttons to get what they want. They have been learning from us all this time. The proof of this statement is available in the YouTube video below.

"Cats are domesticated animals that have learned what levers to push, what sounds to make to manage our emotions," Nicastro says. "And when we respond, we too are domesticated animals."

Eri Hariono loves to share her deep concern and thoughts on the spiritual connections between cats and people in http://felinesophy.blogspot.com Feel free to use and copy my article here as long as my full name as the original author and my homepage URL remain intact with the article.

Burmese Cats - American and European Breeds

By Elsa Albro

Burmese cats are compact and muscular, with medium length legs and tail, and a short, fine, glossy coat. The American breed has a more rounded shape, while the European breed is more angular. The original Burmese temple cats came from Siam. In the early 1900's the Americans started breeding their own version known as the American Burmese. The European breed started in England after 1945 when soldiers returning from Burma brought home Burmese cats.

Characteristics

Burmese means: fortunate, beautiful and splendid appearance in the Thai language. Originally, this breed of cats were exclusively brown, but recently due to years of selective breeding the American Burmese cats come in a wide variety of colors; Sable, Blue, Champagne, Sable Tortie, Cinnamon and Platinum. And the European Burmese cats come in six additional colors; Red, Cream, Seal Tortie, Blue Tortie, Chocolate Tortie, and Lilac Tortie.

Although the American and European breeds are very similar there are subtle differences. The American Burmese cats are more rounded and compact with forward tilting ears and golden eyes. The rounded shape was a later development that sometimes resulted in an inherited deformity of the skull that can be lethal. The European Burmese cats are angular and more muscular with a wedge shaped head, upright ears and yellow to amber eyes that are slightly slanted.

Temperament

In temperament, both breeds are intelligent, affectionate, loyal and friendly, and they enjoy human company. They make ideal household pets and require little grooming.

History

Burmese cats originated in Siam, now Thailand, and were not known outside of that region until the Burmese invaded Siam. In 1871 a pair of Siamese Cats was displayed at a cat show held at the Crystal Palace. These cats closely resembled the American Burmese cats but had the characteristic Siamese markings. The first Burmese cats in England were considered Chocolate Siamese, then in 1955, the first blue Burmese was born, followed by red, cream and tortoiseshell kittens over the next decade. In America the primary color was brown (aka champagne) then the first lilac kitten was born in 1971 and during the 1980's platinum and blues were accepted for registration.

Care and grooming of Burmese Cats ought to be kept up as any with other housecat; good nutrition, regular play and veterinary visits. For more information on the care and feeding of our favorite furry pets, visit: lovefatcats.com

http://www.lovefatcats.com

Bengal Cats

By Elsa Albro

Bengal cats are a new breed, cross-bred with a wildcat. Their spotted or marbled coat is soft and thick, they have a large, sleek muscular build, rounded slighted long face, oval eyes and thick tail. They have an enviable, exotic appearance without the wild temperament of their much larger untamed ancestors.

Characteristics

Bengal came from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cats (ALC) and not from the more widely known Bengal Tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal Cats ancestry. These cats have a series of horizontal stripes on their faces, known as mascara, which extend along the eye to the back of the neck. Their back and sides are marked with spots like those of a jaguar, and the rest of the body, legs and tail, are marked with symmetrical stripes. The spots sometimes have a marbled appearance and are generally made up of two colors. The following colors and patterns are recognized as Bengal Cats and therefore eligible for competition; Brown Spotted Tabby, Brown Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby, Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Spotted Lynx Point, and Seal Marbled Lynx Point. These pets are the only variety that sometimes have a pearl or gold dusting, sometimes called glitter, and the texture of their fur is rich and silky-smooth. Bengal Cats even have a different sound in their voice and tend to be very vocal.

Temperament

Originally some of the Bengal Cats inherited the unpredictable temperament of the wildcat, but breeding programs concentrated on breeding a gentler nature. The domestic feline is very lively and active, but also quite self-contained and quiet.

Brief History

As the story goes, Jean Sugden Mills, around 1982 bred a domestic cat with a feral Indian Mau. At about the same time, Greg and Elizabeth Kent started their own breed of Bengal Cats using an Egyptian Mau. Both Jean Mills the Kents worked hard to popularize the this breed, and in 1986, The International Cat Association adopted the first written breed standard. Today Bengal Cats are the most popular registered cat breed.

Care and grooming of Bengal Cats ought to be kept up as any other housecat; frequent combing of fur, good nutrition, regular play and veterinary visits. For more information on the care and feeding of our favorite furry pets, visit: http://lovefatcats.com

Literary Cat Names

By Claudia Escobar

Naming a cat is no easy feat. T.S. Elliot said that "The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter" (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). Certainly, you cannot give your cat any ordinary name. The name you choose must capture the essence of your cat's nature. And of course, you and your cat must like the name.

So how do you find that special name that will make justice to your cat's true nature, personality and beauty? You do have to consider your cat's physical traits and temperament. Beyond these basics, you can also consider other sources. Indeed, there are many sources of inspiration: People names (Leo, Sophie), animal names (Bear, Tiger), names of gods and goddesses (Jupiter, Venus) just to name a few.

If you long for a unique even sophisticated name, then consider literature as a source of inspiration. Contemplate the names of both human and feline characters that appear on famous literary works. Indeed, cats have appeared on many novels, poems and short stories. You can also consider the names of famous authors. Below you will find several literary-inspired cat names to get your creative juices flowing.

This is a sample of cat names that appear on T.S. Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats: Alonzo, Bustopher Jones, Coricopat, Jellylorum, Mungojerrie, and Quaxo.

From The Tale of Tom Kitten by the beloved author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, here are three fun names: Tabitha, Moppet and Mittens.

Still need more inspiration? Here are other famous literary cat names for your consideration:

• Crookshanks (Hermione Granger's cat, which appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling)
• Dinah (Alice's pet cat in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll)
• Puss (Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault)
• Thomasina (The Three Lives of Thomasina by Paul Gallico)

You can also consider human characters, such as: Darcy (one of the main characters in the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen), Hamlet (title character, Hamlet by William Shakespeare), Heathcliff (the brooding hero of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte), Oliver (from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens), Delicia (The Murder of Delicia by Marie Corelli), Lara (the heroine of Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak), Ophelia (Hamlet by William Shakespeare), and Thelma (Thelma by Marie Corelli).

Also consider these names of authors: Ernest (Hemingway), Dickens (Charles Dickens), Henrik (Ibsen), Hugo (Victor Hugo), Marie (Corelli), and Gertrude (Stein).

Hopefully, these literary names have inspired you. This is just a tiny sample. Have fun choosing the perfect name for your kitty.

ฉ Claudia Escobar is a cat lover who loves anything cat-related. For more cat names and gift ideas for cat lovers visit her site at http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com If you would like to reproduce this article please feel free to do so, provided that you publish the article in its entirety and include this resource box.

Warm Weather Tips For You and Your Long Haired Cat

By Chris L. Jensen

No, cats don't like water, so rule number one - don't strap a life jacket on the cat and set it afloat in the pool, it's just going to make the cat mad! My beautiful long haired boy cat can become very lethargic when the temperature goes way up. His sister, an American short hair does not seem to mind as much, but she also becomes a bit quieter when the mercury passes ninety degrees.

My boy is a Norwegian Forrest Cat and he is definitely designed for cold weather. He has a lot of thick fur that forms an undercoat for his long fur, and that provides insulation against the warm as well as against the cold. So rule number two- don't try to shave the cat. It doesn't help them at all and it could end in serious injury for you! Any creature can suffer from dehydration. In warm weather cats need to drink more water than normal, just like us humans.

However, cats can be very fussy about their water supply. Cats like their water to be in the same spot, just where they like it. Cats tend to prefer water that is running and like to drink out of faucets, although I don't recommend it for them. What works better is a running fountain water bowl, available at almost any store that sells pet supplies. Make sure to change the water daily and clean the fountain once a week. To do this you have to take it apart, but hey, it's worth the trouble, you do love your cat right?

Another tip about water for the cats- they don't like odd or unknown things floating in the water, so rule number three- don't put ice cubes in the cat bowl, they just think there is something that does not belong in the water, and they won't drink at all!

Last but not least, provide a cool floor for the long haired cat to flop down on. If you have a tile entry or kitchen or maybe even bath, take the rugs up so there is a nice cool floor for the cat to enjoy. It's really the best place for a long haired cat in the heat of summer. They can stretch out with belly to the floor and enjoy that cool feeling.

If it's really hot, you can just sprawl out down there with them, but, rule number four- do not, I repeat do not wake them while they are napping! If you do, they are just going to get up and go find a spot away from you and it might not be so cool there!

Chris Jensen is a contributing author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and views visit Jetfly Pets & Animals Blog now. Also, for the best up-to-date related online products, check out Jetfly Cat Feeder Supplies Shop for todays current online deals.

Training Your Precious Cat

By Chris L. Jensen

However, they do need some attention and cat owners do have some responsibilities in keeping their baby happy and healthy. So the question is where to start the ball rolling when training your cat?

One of the biggest complaints about a cat is how it will scratch the furniture, carpet, or other items not meant for cat claws. You need to remember, cats intuitively scratch -- they don't mean to pick your expensive sofa or end table, they're just large, sturdy objects that cat's are drawn to for sharpening their nails. They can be trained to scratch in the right places though, usually with the aid of a scratch post that can be made at home with some wood and carpet, or purchased at any pet store.

Many kittens have issues with clawing (or we, as owners, have the issues). If you don't agree with the practice of declawing (some consider it harsh since it prevents the animal from fighting off enemies or climbing treea), with some patience you can teach a kitten or cat to use the scratch post mentioned earlier.

To teach a kitten how to properly scratch the heck out of the post and not your couch, demonstrate the action by moving his paws across the post as he would if doing it himself. It may be a while before he catches on, but he will get it with some time and patience.

The next biggest complaint with untrained cats is when they miss the litter box. Litter boxes come in all shapes, sizes and styles and some even clean themselves automatically. Consider the appropriate box for your cat and once you get it home you can start the training process.

Some cats may take a little getting used to the idea of kitty litter and a box, but again, he'll get it. Just keep watch over him while he's learning; simply move him to the box if he looks prepared to do his business somewhere else.

Pet stores and pet departments at local discounters and department stores carry a wide variety of pet care and pet entertainment products. Cats enjoy playing and getting exercise, so buy him plenty of toys and play things like stuffed mice, feathery objects on strings, balls, and squeaky toys. The retailers will also supply you with scoop-able kitty litter, litter boxes, cat food, cat treats, and if that accident happens, have cleaners and deodorizers for the mishaps inside your home.

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Pets & Animals Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Cat Supplies Shop for Todays Current Online Deals.

Tips For Dealing With Kitten Teething

By Chris L. Jensen

They actually become the main urge for your pet. During the teething phase their favorite objects to chew on are made out of wool. It is unclear why they prefer wool during this phase, but they get relief from sore gums when they chew on wool.

The first teething period begins when your cat is two or three weeks old, and similar to they way humans get their teeth, the canines and the incisors are the first to emerge. The whole teething period including the milk teeth and the adult teeth spans no more than seven months. This is the average age for teething in the animal kingdom.

Adult teething generally takes place between three and six months of age. This stage is very stressful for your pet. Therefore, you should not be stunned if your cat accidentally bites you. Giving your pet a firm object to chew on such as a plastic or rubber toy can help relieve the pressure. If using your children's toys doesn't do the trick, you can always try special teething toys designed for kittens.

Many cat owners report a wide range of dreadful symptoms during the teething phase. For instance, your cat may have difficulty swallowing or even refuse to eat food. Under these conditions it's best to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible. You should also apply a gel or powder on the cat's gums to provide comfort and relief from his or her symptoms.

Homeopathic granules can calm your pets and enable them to eat as comfortably as possible. This will also protect the objects in your house from chewing. There is a possibility that your pet will display strange behavior patterns during the entire teething period, but the behavior should return to normal when the skin on the gums breaks.

You can also make use of the teething period by training your cat in good oral hygiene. Many cats must be taken to the vet for their teeth to be cleaned. If you manage to get the cat accustomed to brushing during the teething period, there should be no problem turning it into a regular habit. Your cat will accept the brush more readily because it relieves pressure in gums due to the teeth eruption.

Hope these tips help you and your new found kitten during those challenging days of teething. Rest a sure these phase doesn't go on forever, but enjoy every minute.

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Pets & Animals Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Cat Supplies Shop for Today's Current Online Deals.