Cat enclosures allow house cats to get sunshine and fresh air without the dangers that outdoor cats face. Some cat owners purchase cat enclosures, but many make them themselves. A sturdy frame constructed with two by four boards and covered with chicken wire is a common construction. The cat enclosure is often attached to the home with a pet door leading to the enclosure.

There are a few things that a cat enclosure should have. The cat should have easy access to and from the enclosure. Protection from direct sunlight is important, especially for white cats that are at risk of developing skin cancer. The top of the enclosure can be covered with plywood or other cover. A cat owner may decide to only cover the top of the cat enclosure that is over cat perches. The sides of the cat enclosures are usually left open to allow air flow and indirect sunlight.

Many enclosures contain ramps and perches for the house cats. A cat owner may decide to construct a ramp leading to a catwalk along the inside perimeter of the enclosure. Some cat owners have a branch mounted in the enclosure to give the cat something to climb. Cat enclosures often have a floor surface or cat-safe mulch to prevent the floor from being muddy.

The cat owner should make sure that none of the plants near the cat enclosure are poisonous to cats. If the home is in an area of strong winds, the cat owner may want to either cover a portion of that side of the cat enclosure as protection from strong wind or plant a shrub or hedge near the side of the cat enclosure that is susceptible to wind.

Cats should not be locked into enclosures without the ability to return indoors. If a cat is to be kept in the enclosure temporarily, the cat owner must take special precautions for the safety of the house cat. Food, water, and litter should be readily available.

The owner should not use any over-the-counter pain relievers made for human consumption for cat pain relief without discussing it with a veterinarian first. Some over-the-counter pain relievers are toxic to cats or make the cat susceptible to overdose. Instead of trying to find a pain reliever for cats on their own, cat owners would be wise to discuss cat pain relief options with the veterinarian.

There are medications that are similar to pain relievers for humans that are made specifically for cats. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used after surgery or to treat persistent pain related to conditions such as arthritis. If these fail to provide pain relief, the veterinarian may prescribe something stronger. Typically, stronger medications are preferred for short-term use rather than as a long-term solution. Steroid medication, like cortisone, is sometimes used, but only on a short-term basis.

Herbal supplements for cat pain relief may be recommended. If the cat owner wants to use a natural remedy, the cat owner should discuss this option with the veterinarian. The problem with many natural and herbal treatments is the lack of scientific evidence to support their use. Many of the herbal remedies for cats have not been scientifically tested for safety and effectiveness. Cat owners should not medicate their cats with herbal remedies before seeking the opinion of a veterinarian since some herbal remedies can be dangerous.

The cat owner may want to consider other alternative treatments for cat pain. Acupuncture and chiropractic care are sometimes used to treat cat pain. If the veterinarian is not willing to discuss these options or is not knowledgeable about alternative treatments for cat pain, the cat owner may want to consult a veterinarian who specializes in holistic or alternative medicine for pets. Alternative treatments are sometimes used in conjunction with traditional medications. Many times, alternative treatments reduce the need for cat pain medication.

Taking care of a new kitten while the kitten is with its mother is more as concerned observer than primary care giver. The kitten owner should make sure that the kitten is suckling and growing. The queen and her kittens should not be in a drafty place. If warmth is a concern, some cat breeders use a heating pad under a blanket or towels to help keep the kittens warm.

Once a kitten is weaned from its mother, it should be eating cat food designed for kittens. When the kitten owner receives the kitten, the new kitten owner is wise to try to provide the same food to avoid stomach upset caused by abruptly switching kitten food. If the kitten owner must switch kitten food, the change should be gradual by feeding the kitten both foods and gradually increasing the amount of the food to which the kitten is being switched.

When introducing a kitten to a new home, the kitten should be allowed to slowly grow accustomed to its new surroundings. Opening the cat crate and allowing the kitten to emerge and explore on its own is one method. Another method of gradual adjustment is to keep the kitten in one room at first. If there are more cats already in the household, keep the kitten and all the items the kitten needs in one room first, then move the kitten to another room after a few days. Allow the other cats into the room where the kitten was so that they can adjust to the kitten’s scent before putting them together.

The home should be kitten-proofed to prevent accidental injury. Kitten-proofing a home is an ongoing process of checking for things that could harm the kitten then removing the danger. Kittens could find small objects to swallow or cords to chew on if the home is not kitten-proof. Kitten owners should contact their veterinarians and get information on the suggested schedule for vaccines and spaying or neutering.

Some attempts have been made to generate hypoallergenic cats by selectively breeding cats with low levels of this protein. At least one company has specialized in providing cats with low allergen levels. They breed cats that have low levels of the allergen as indicated by scientific testing. The offspring of these cats are also tested to ensure that allergen levels are low and can therefore be sold as hypoallergenic kittens. These cats are typically sold for thousands of dollars. The validity of the claims of some such companies has been disputed. A person with a cat allergy looking to purchase a hypoallergenic cat from a company should do research on the company first.

Some cat breeds may be less likely to trigger allergies due to lower levels of allergens. Siberian cats and Siamese cats are thought to be two such hypoallergenic cat breeds. Generally, cats with shorthair coats are considered to be less likely to trigger cat allergies since long hair means more hair that is coated in the allergen. A cat with a very short coat such as the Devon Rex or Cornish Rex may be beneficial.

Prospective cat owners with allergies should spend time with the cats prior to purchase to judge the effect of the cat on the buyers’ allergies. The cat owner can take measures to reduce the amount of allergens in the house. The allergic cat owner can keep the house and laundry clean to help limit exposure to any allergens. Wipes are sold to wipe the cat’s fur to clean it. Allergic cat owners can also seek advice from their physicians to treat the allergy medically.

A cat that appears hairless is not necessarily truly hairless. Some hairless cats have a fine, downy coat that is often compared to peach fuzz. Some cats of hairless cat breeds have sparse, fine coats. Hairless cats are not a cat breed, but rather a characteristic of some cat breeds. Peterbald cats, Elf cats, and Sphinx cats are examples of hairless cat breeds.

Prospective cat owners who are considering the purchase of a hairless cat should know that having a hairless cat does not mean that they will not experience any cat allergy symptoms. Hairless cats are not completely hypoallergenic. Some people may still have problems with allergies from pet dander. If a prospective cat owner is allergic to cats, they may want to spend time with some hairless cats to see if the cats will trigger an allergic reaction.

Hairless cats often require less grooming than cats with hair. Cat owners should understand that even hairless cats benefit from some grooming. For cats with coats, hair helps keep the skin oil distributed and from being excessive. Hairless cats need care to remove the oils from the skin. Hairless cats should be wiped with a cloth to remove excess skin oil and dirt. Regular bathing is often recommended.

Some cat owners cherish the hairless cats’ unique appearance. Cats without hair can have some loose, wrinkled skin and the appearance of a smiling facial expression. Many hairless cats are described as active and independent yet affectionate. Hairless cats do not have the benefit of thick coats to keep them warm. Many hairless cats will seek sources of warmth such as lying on computers. Some cat owners dress their hairless cats in cat sweaters or other cat outfits to help the cat stay warm.

Some symptoms require immediate veterinary care. Vomiting, paralysis, inability to urinate, excessive bleeding, loss of consciousness, refusal to eat, or any drastic changes in behavior should be considered a veterinary emergency. Drastic changes in behavior, such as a docile cat becoming extremely agitated and not allowing physical contact could be a sign of serious injury. In cases when there are changes in the cat’s movement, behavior, or temperament, the cat owner should seek veterinary care to diagnose a sick cat.

If a cat is limping or not moving like it usually would, the cat owner should look for any signs of injury. Cat owners can use a first aid kit to treat a small flesh wound that is not deep or bleeding. Even if a cat owner notices and treats a wound, the cat owner should take the cat to the veterinarian in case there are any internal injuries that are not readily apparent. Also, the cat owner should be aware of the risk of infection and take the cat to the veterinarian if there is any redness, discharge, fever, or any other signs of infection.

Cat owners should avoid the temptation to diagnose a sick cat. Even if the symptoms seem to point to one cause, this conclusion could be wrong. Many symptoms can be part of numerous diseases or conditions. For example, a cat owner may translate a lack of ability of a cat to urinate as sign of a urinary tract infection.

While this condition can be common for cats, the inability to urinate can be caused by several other conditions as well. Therefore, diagnosing a sick cat correctly is best left up to a professional veterinarian who has the ability to run the appropriate test and consider different possibilities. Diagnosing sick cats is just the first concern. The cat owner should seek veterinary treatment to provide the cat with the best possible chance of recovery.

The three main types of Siamese cats are Traditional Siamese, Classic Siamese, and Modern Siamese. The Traditional Siamese cat is considered the original type of Siamese cats to be exported from Siam, now known as Thailand. Traditional Siamese cats have heavy skeletal structure and round faces which are characteristics that most people do not associate with Siamese cats at all. Traditional Siamese cats are also known as Apple-Head Siamese cats. Applehead Siamese cats and Classic Siamese cats are sometimes considered the same type of Siamese cat and are labeled as Traditional, but this ignores the differences between the two types.

The Classic Siamese cat has a slight wedge-shape to its face. The Classic Siamese cats are also thought to have originated in Siam. Classic Siamese cats have substantial bone structure that is heavier that the fine-boned Modern Siamese cat, but not quite as heavily boned as the Traditional Siamese cat. The face of the Classic Siamese cat has a wide wedge shape.

The Modern Siamese cat is also called the Extreme Wedge Siamese. The Modern Siamese cats have the slender bodies and wedge-shaped face that most people associate with Siamese cats. The Extreme Wedge Siamese was produced through selective breeding to obtain these characteristics.

The elongated, svelte body, narrow wedge face, and large ears of the Modern Siamese cat became part of the standard for the Siamese cat breed. The Traditional and Classic Siamese cats were largely forgotten and became rarer and less popular. Some people have worked to support and maintain the two original types of Siamese cats. Many people admire all types of Siamese cats and the reputable cat breeders of all three types, but some are biased against the Modern Siamese. The Modern Siamese cat is considered by some to be the product of irresponsible cat breeding practices.

A cat owner may name a cat related to the cats coloring. Naming a cat by its color can be based on words that name or describe the color or objects of the same color. For example, common black cat names that are words for black include Ebony, Dark, Blackie, and Jet or Jet Black. Cat names for black cats that reflect objects associated with the color black are Charcoal, Night, Inky, Ashes, Shadow, Pepper, Smoky, and Raven. Other black cat names consider words associated with a more literary definition of dark such as Goth, Wiccan, Wizard, Cheerless, Stygian, Hades, or Styx.

When choosing a cat name, a cat owner may want to consider the cat’s behavior. If the cat loves to explore, perhaps the name of a famous explorer would be appropriate. If the cat is shy, the cat owner may want to choose Timid or Shy as a cat name. If the cat is feisty, the cat owner may want to name the cat after a famous person who they feel has that quality or a word like Fire, Temper, or Tempest.

The cat’s breed may provide some interesting options. A cat owner of a Persian cat may want to look in a list of unique cat names for a name from Persia. A cat owner may like a Japanese, Vietnamese, or Chinese name for an Oriental or Siamese cat.

Another option is to name a cat based on a favorite cartoon or fictional cat. An appropriate orange cat name may be Garfield, especially if the cat also seems lazy, eats a lot, or has little patience with the family dog. A common black cat name is Felix. No matter what cat names are appealing, the cat owner should try to relax and enjoy the creative process of naming a cat.

Most domestic shorthair cats are full grown within the first three years. This can be used as a general guideline for domestic shorthairs. Kitten owners should know that there can be slight variations in how fast kittens grow even if they are the same breed. Just as not all humans grow at the same rate, kittens vary too. If the breed of the kitten is known, the cat owner may want to consult information on the kitten growth rate of that cat breed.

Several cat breeds take longer for the kittens to reach full size. Kittens of the Chartreux cat breed can take approximately three years to reach their adult size of seven to ten pounds. Faster than many cat breeds, the Singapura takes fifteen to twenty-four months to reach full size. Part of the reason could be that an adult Singapura weighs only five to eight pounds.

Kittens of some cat breeds are slower to mature. Ragdoll cats are slow to mature and typically take three to four years to reach full size, though some sources say it can take as long as five years. Norwegian Forrest cats often take five years to reach full size. Turkish Van kittens take three to five years to grow to adult size.

A kitten owner should not necessarily wait until the kitten is full grown to have it spayed or neutered. The veterinarian can give advice on when this is done. Spaying and neutering should not be done too early, but waiting too long has been linked to increased risk of some cat diseases. Delayed spaying and neutering can also cause undesirable behavior such as cat spraying in males and loud mewing from being in heat in females. In addition to growing to full size, the texture, thickness, curl, and coloring of the coat of a kitten may change depending on the breed.

Many websites feature funny kitten pictures. Some websites encourage users to share their photographs by uploading them to the website. A cat owner can also start a free Internet blog to display their cat pictures. In addition to showing off the pictures in website and blog photo albums, cat owners can use a photoshop computer program to crop the cat photograph to the right dimensions to use as an avatar for a messaging program or Internet forums.

Funny kitten pictures can add whimsical touches to items around the house. Craft stores sell kits that the cat owner could use to transfer the image from the photograph to a pillow, pillow case, apron, or other fabric item. Digital images can be printed on adhesive paper for use as stickers to add to other items. Printing the kitten photographs as decals is another option. To find specialty printer paper for stickers or decals, the cat owner can search on the Internet or ask at an office supply store.

There are other types of crafts that make use of photographs. An example of an easy craft kit for children is a clear, plastic mug with a paper liner inside. The child can color the liner and add a cat photograph before putting the liner back between the plastic of the mug. This way, the child has a customized mug that they designed.

Another craft option for using cute and funny cat pictures is scrapbooking. Many people find scrapbooking as a creative way to organize photographs, including cat photographs. Special touches for cat pages include stickers of paw prints, cat or paw print paper, and metal embellishments in the shape of cats or paw prints. Many craft stores have extensive collections of scrapbooks and scrapbooking supplies.