Cat Care

The three different sleeps for the cat

Cats sleep an average of 16 hours a day. That is twice as much as a human sleeps. Cats sleep in many shorter periods.

There are typically three different kinds of sleep for the cat. First of all there is the short nap.

This kind of nap has given us the expression “the catnap”.

The second kind of sleep is the light sleep. The light sleep may last for about half an hour.

It will then drift into the deep sleep for about 5-10 minutes. It is during this deep sleep that the cat will dream.

Your cat may roll over to its side during the deep sleep. During this deep sleep the cat may be seen twitching and also may utter different sounds.

After a short period of deep sleep, the cat returns to the state of light sleep again.

This interaction between light and deep sleep will continue until the cat wakes up completely.

Cat Beds

Considering the amount of time your cat spends sleeping, it should be in your best interest to provide a comfortable and safe place for your cat to sleep.

Cat beds come in all shapes and qualities. Some may use a simple solution as cardboard box and a blanket.

This will be unsatisfactory for many in the long run.

A time will come when you would like to invest in a special bed for your cherished cat. You can find cat beds in almost any shape and form.

Heated cat beds as well as cat beds in cat houses have started to gain popularity.

Whether you choose a tradition cat bed or luxury cat there are certain things you may want to consider.Cats simply hate draft. Be careful to choose a cat bed which will protect your cat from any draft.

All cats will naturally seek warm and comfortable places to rest.

If you live in a cold climate, you may want to choose a cat bed with higher sides than regular cat beds.

This will keep your cat free from any sneaky drafts. Cats love cozy and warm places.

Cats need to feel safe. Be careful where you put the cat bed. It should be a quiet place with little “traffic”.

Make a note of where your cat normally likes to take a nap. Place the new cat bed in the same area.

Before purchasing a new cat bed read a few reviews from other customers.

You want to make sure the cat bed is easy to clean.

Preferably there should be removable material that is machine washable. Alternatively you could place a cotton towel on top for easy cleaning. Find out if the cat bed will keep its original shape after being cleaned. The cat bed needs to be sturdy enough to last for years to come.

Heated Cat Beds

Lately heated cat beds have gained popularity. Heated cat beds should use regular household electricity.

No more than 4 watts are really needed to give your cat that warm and cozy feeling. The 4 watts will heat the cat bed to the same temperature as the body temperature of your cat and will keep your cat happy and cozy through the cold winter months.

Most heated cat beds are for indoor use only.

Cat Bed Size

One issue that has been a concern for many cat owners is the size of the cat beds. It seems that many of the cat beds for sale are actually very small.

Sure, your cat loves to snuggle up, but your cat will also enjoy a good stretch. If you feel uncertain what size to get, the larger size would be a better choice.

Cats need and deserve to feel safe, warm and loved.

Your cat deserves that very special place to rest. Having a comfortable and warm bed will not only make your cat satisfied, but will also contribute to keeping your cat healthy.

How old is your cat in human years?

It is a well-known fact that cat years differ from human years. The average lifespan of domestic cats are somewhere between 9 and 15 years.

This chart shows the conversion of cat years to human years.

This can only be viewed approximately.

The first year is equivalent to 15 human years.

The second year is equivalent to another 9 human years.

After the cat is two years old, each additional cat year is equivalent to four human years.

Cat Years	Human Years
1	15
2	24
3	28
4	32
5	36
6	40
7	44
8	48
9	52
10	56
11	60
12	64
13	68
14	72
15	76
16	80
17	84
18	88
19	92
20	96
21	100

There are quite a few stories of cats growing really old.

Reports like a Tabby cat named Ma that became 34 years old.

Creme Puff (1967 –2005) was a female cat who died at age 38 years.

She was the oldest cat according to the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records.

The cat owner was Jack Perry from Texas.

Neutered cats live on average three years longer than unneutered cats.

This may be because neutered cats do not get into as many fights and are not equally exposed to infections.

Grooming is caring

Kittens start grooming themselves when they are about three weeks old. Grooming is exceedingly important for a cat.

Cat grooming helps improve vitamin D intake from the sun’s rays. Cat grooming helps to keep the fur free of dirt and foreign particles.

Grooming your cat is very important, as its biggest threat is hairballs.  A lot of cats have trouble removing hairballs.

Normally a cat will vomit the hairballs.

If the cat isn’t able to get a hairball out, it could cause in a blockage of the intestines and become a severe health problem.

Blockages are very serious, and can quickly become life threatening for your pet.

Grooming your cat starts with brushing, as brushing helps to keep the cats hair from becoming hairballs.

Brushing will do away with loose hair, and help prevent the risk of hairballs.

How to brush your cat

Cats that have long hair need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis.

For cats with short hair it is sufficient to be groomed on a weekly basis.

When you brush your cat, you should check for lumps in the coat and skin irritations.

Start brushing along the cat’s back, going from his head to his tail.

Do this a few times on one side, and then switch to the other.

Always brush in the direction of the way your cat’s hair is growing.

Do not brush a cat’s face or paws.

What if your cat doesn’t like being groomed?

If your cat doesn’t like to be brushed, you can try grooming him using another gizmo.

The grooming glove is a superb alternative to the brush, as most cats don’t mind it at all.

Start grooming your cat as early as possible, as it will get your cat used to brushing and grooming.

Cats that have experienced being groomed by humans when they were only kittens grow to love it, many of which often look forward to their grooming time.

Every time you groom your cat, you may try to go a bit further with your inspections.

If your cat doesn’t cooperate and starts to struggle, you shouldn’t fight with him, but instead let him go and try again later.

Once your cat gets used to grooming he will look forward to it and stay calm and relaxed while being groomed.

Why your cat starts grooming itself after you finshed grooming

Do not feel offended if your cat starts grooming itself right after you have finished grooming.  This is perfectly normal.

One reason may be that your cat needs to apply its own scent after being handled by humans. Odors are extremely important in the cat world.

During hot weather a cat may groom itself more often. This is because cats don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies as humans have.

Cats may lick their fur to leave as much saliva on its fur as possible. This works similar to our sweat glands with its function of cooling down the skin.

Make it a habit to groom your cat on a regular basis. Your cat will avoid ingesting a lot of loose hair. It will contribute to keeping your cat healthier and more content.

About Newborn Kittens

All cat lovers seem to agree that kittens are amazingly adorable. Kittens are simply extremely lovable. Now we need to look at a few facts about these delightful little creatures.

The average number of kittens in a litter is four.   The record for the largest cat litter is 19 kittens. A cat by the name Tarawood Antigone gave birth to one female, fourteen male and four stillborn. This happened on August 7, 1970 in England. The cat was owned by Valerie Gane.

The word “kitten” comes from the Turkish word for cat: keti/ kedi.

A cat is normally considered a kitten until it is nine months old.

At birth the kittens are around 5 inches (13 cm) long and weigh about 4 ounces (115 gram).

Kittens are born with their eyes closed. They will open their eyes when they are about one week old.

Cats are born with blue eyes. The color their eyes will have will not be obvious before they are three months old.

Newborn kittens are deaf when they are born. Their ear canals need a few weeks to clear and open. This is a gradual process.

Newborn cats do have a very strong sense of smell and are extremely sensitive to touch.

The teeth will start to break out when the kitten is about one month old. When they are about five months old, they will shed their milk teeth.

When they are around one month old the kittens will show the first signs of playing with each other. When they are two months old they will become very playful.

Cats are considered entirely independent when they are six months old.

How the Mother Cat Cares for her Newborns

During their first month their mother will provide warmth, safety and milk. Their mother will be the sole reason the kittens survive.

The mother cat will keep close watch over her newborns and examine them regularly. She will keep them clean and protect them.

The mother cat will also stimulate the gentiles of her babies frequently by licking and this will in turn help the kittens to discharge their excrement. They are in this matter dependent upon their mother.

If the mother cat does not see to it that the urination and defecation process is set in motion, the kittens would simply die.

The mother cat will eat/lick any excrement the kittens produce, keeping the place very clean. She will continue with this until her babies start eating solid food.

When does a kitten start eating solid food?

As they start their second month, the kittens may taste solid food for the first time. Do not feed them dry food.

The digestive system of the kitten is very sensitive. A kitten should never be fed cold food. The food needs to be warm.

As the kitten eats more solid food it will start to use the litter box. This will happen when the cat is about 6 weeks old.

Even though they have slowly started to eat solid food, they still need milk from their mother. The process of weaning is gradual.

The mother cat will continue to give her little ones milk until they are well into their third month. From this point the kittens will have to eat regular food and drink water on their own.