WildPets!

When does a cat reach full size? The answer to this question depends on the breed of the kitten.

A general guideline for the maturity of domestic shorthair kittens, including American shorthair, is that they reach full size within the first three years, but often within the first two years. Some cat breeds mature much faster or slower than this.

A Singapura kitten is one of the fastest maturing cat breeds. Singapura kittens reach full size when they are between fifteen and twenty-four months old.

A Somali kitten reaches full adult size by the time it is eighteen months old. Chartreux kittens are about three years old when they reach adult size.

Savannah kittens often reach full size in two to three years. Most resources state that Bengal kittens reach full size in two to three years but some Bengal kittens may take slightly longer.

American Bobtail cats may be three years old before they reach full size. A hybrid of domestic cats and jungle cats known as Chausie cats can take two to three years to reach adult size.

It is possible for a Ragdoll kitten to take up to five years to reach full size. Most Ragdoll kittens reach full size in three to four years.

Like Ragdoll kittens, Turkish Van kittens can take three to five years to mature. Most Maine Coon kittens reach full size in three to four years, but may take up to five years.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a slow-maturing cat breed. The kittens often take four to five years to reach full adult size. Siberian cats can also take up to five years to reach full size.

Some cat breeds go through other physical changes besides size while they are kittens. Egyptian Mau kittens may be born with amber eyes, but the eyes turn green by the time the kitten is about eighteen months old. Many cat breeds experience changes in their coats and coloring as they mature.

Neutering or spaying a kitten does not need to wait until the kitten reaches full size. Undesirable consequences can occur if spaying or neutering is delayed. Waiting to spay a female kitten increases its risk of mammary cancer. Male cats are more likely to develop spraying behavior if not neutered while young.

Feline acne is usually a mild skin condition that is fairly common. The faces of cats are most commonly affected. The acne that affects cats is similar to acne in humans.

This condition often appears as blackheads on the cat’s chin. The chin may appear dirty instead of the presence of blackheads being clearly noticeable.

Severe cases of feline acne can cause open sores, skin irritation, hair loss, swelling, and infection though most cases of feline acne are minor. If the cat is scratching the area, the risk of these complications increases.

Poor grooming, stress, allergic reactions, and food or dirt cause in skin creases are common causes of feline acne. Overactive oil glands of the cat’s skin can cause this condition.

Mange, ringworm, yeast infections of the skin, and bacterial infections can be mistaken for cat acne. The skin pigmentation changes that light-colored cats can undergo can cause black dots on the chin that resembles this condition.

The acne should be examined by a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis since these and other skin conditions can resemble feline acne. When diagnosing feline acne, the veterinarian may do a skin scraping or other diagnostic tests.

The veterinarian may prescribe a special shampoo, mild soap, or wet compresses with an Epsom salt solution. A topical ointment, fatty acid supplements, or antibiotics may be prescribed. Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used for the treatment of this condition.

The cat owner may be able to help prevent feline acne. The cat owner may need to pay more attention to keeping the cat’s face clean. If the cat is getting feline acne on its chin, the cat owner might help this condition by cleaning the cat’s chin after the cat eats.

Plastic food bowls can sometimes be responsible for triggering feline acne due to allergies. Switching to ceramic, glass, or stainless steel water and food bowls may prevent these breakouts.

The cat owner should refrain from squeezing the blackheads which could make the cat’s skin susceptible to infection. If the cat acne does not clear up with treatment, the cat should be examined by the veterinarian again. Another type of treatment may be needed.

Cancer is a significant concern for many cat owners. Cat cancer can significantly shorten the life of a cat. Since not all tumors are cancerous, a cat owner should not panic at the sight of a tumor. However, the cat owner should have a cat with a tumor or any signs of cancer examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Approximately fifty percent of pet deaths are related to cancer. Unfortunately, the causes of cancer are not well understood.

The signs and symptoms of cat cancer can also be caused by other diseases. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of cat cancer offers the best prognosis for the cat.

Weight loss and persistent or abnormal swelling like a tumor are common signs of cat cancer. Cats with cancer may also have stiffness or lameness, a wound that will not heal or has discharge, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing, swallowing, urinating, or defecating.

There are several different types of cat cancer. Skin cancer can be caused by frequent or severe sunburns especially for white cats. Bone cancer, lymphoma, and mammary cancer are examples of other types of cat cancer.

Cancer at the site where the cat received vaccinations has gotten more attention recently. Cancer from vaccines is referred to as Vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS). If a lump develops anywhere on the cat including where the cat was injected with vaccines, the cat should be examined by a veterinarian.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that is more common in cats than in dogs. Cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are at high risk for developing feline lymphoma, but not all cats with lymphoma have feline leukemia.

Cancer in cats is diagnosed with physical exams, ultrasound, blood tests, x-rays, and biopsies. The veterinarian will recommend the best treatment for the cat cancer based on the type of cancer and its severity.

Treatment for cat cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. A cat with cancer often needs pain management as well. Some preventative measures have been identified for some types of cat cancer. Spaying a cat while it is young can help prevent mammary cancer. Too much sun exposure and sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer.

When a person comes the owner of a kitten, deciding on a name is one of the first responsibilities that they face. While some kitten owners relax and enjoy this process, many owners may feel somewhat stressed over deciding on a name.

The cat owner will need to live with their decision for a long time, a cat owner will want to be comfortable with the name chosen. Cat owners should not be too stressed about selecting the right name. There are several resources to help kitten owners choose a name. Kitten names and meanings are available on many websites.

The appearance of the cat including the color of the cat’s fur is often used to choose a name. Shadow, Ebony, Charcoal, Inky, Blackie, and Raven are common names for black cats. White cats may be named Snowflake and Snowball.

Sometimes, the cat’s fur color is used in a more abstract way to create a name. Purity is associated with the color white, so this could be a good name for a white kitten. Black cats may be named Goth, Vampira, Wizard, Styx, or Hades.

The name of the kitten may reflect the origin of the cats breed. Japanese and Chinese names are often used for kittens of Siamese or Oriental cat breeds. A kitten owner may want to give a Persian cat a Persian name. Lists of kitten names and meanings found on the Internet often include the geographic origin of the names.

The kitten’s name may reflect the kitten’s personality or behavior. Rocket could be a good kitten name for a kitten that runs all over the house. A kitten owner may want to name a shy kitten Shy or Timid.

Some kitten owners will give the kitten a name of a favorite fictional cat. Garfield and Felix are two cartoon cats for which many kittens are named.

Kitten owners may decide to name their cat after their favorite author or historical figure. The kitten owner already has positive feelings about the names of their favorite historical figures, so they are less likely to become unhappy with the kitten’s name.

The kitten’s name does not need to be decided upon immediately. The kitten owner may want to consider different possibilities and observe the kitten for a few days before deciding on a kitten name.

Just like in people, a cat’s body changes as the cat ages. Normal aging involves gradual changes, but some senior cats develop age-related illness. Caring for senior cats involves identifying normal age-related changes, caring for the aging cats special needs, and consult the veterinarian about any drastic changes or questions about the aging cat.

A cat’s aging body normally goes through gradual changes. Cats may lose their sensitivity to thirst drive as they age. If the cat does not drink, dehydration can occur. Aging cats may become more sensitive taking or cold because they cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as they used to.

Many senior cats lose acuity of their senses. A senior cat may not be able to see or hear as well as it used to when it was young. Even though gradual changes in the cat’s senses are normal, any sudden or drastic changes should be checked by a veterinarian since they can be signs of disease or illness.

Infection and certain cat diseases can be partially caused by the advanced age of the cats. Older cats may develop inflammation of the joints which is known as arthritis. Arthritis can be a painful condition which may require veterinary treatment and may be treated with pain relief medication, diet, and exercise.

The mouths of aging cats undergo certain changes that can cause problems for the cat’s dental health. Tooth loss, dental disease, and mouth ulcers are common problems for aging cats.

Many cat owners of senior cats are concerned about cancer. Sores that won’t heal and growths or bumps can be signs of cat cancer. A cat should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible if the cat owner notices any possible signs of cat cancer.

Advanced age calls for some changes in the cat care. As a cat becomes less active with age, the cat may require a diet that is lower in calories to prevent the cat from gaining weight.

Aging cats need to be taken to the veterinarian more frequently for regular checkups. This is important because it allows the veterinarian to screen for age-related cat diseases.

Active playing is important for senior cats even though they are often less interested in playing as they age. Active play can help maintain the cat’s muscle strength and provides exercise. Cat owners of senior cats should initiate play frequently to encourage the cat to get exercise.

Moses Wright is a big lover of cats. He set up this site to help fellow cat lovers with their cat health questions and provide more info on common cat illnesses symptoms.

The stages of kitten development show the remarkable growth of kittens in their first weeks of life. All kittens pass through typical stages of development.

It is hard to believe that the helpless, tiny newborn kittens experience so much growth during their first several weeks. Sleeping and nursing are the primary activities of newborn kittens during the first week. The newborn kittens umbilical cord falls off within the first two or three days.

Newborn kittens will often double their weight within the first week. Newborn kittens spend all of their time nursing and sleeping. It is considered detrimental to the newborn kitten’s ability to learn and socialization skills for the kitten to be separated from the mother at this time.

Though the kittens eyes open in the second week, their sense of sight is not fully developed until the fifth week. Kittens have blue eyes until their true eye color emerges after several weeks.

The kitten becomes more aware of its environment during the third week. The kitten’s sense of smell develops and their ability to hear improves. Between the second and seventh weeks of life, the kitten’s socialization skills are largely established.

Kittens begin to explore their environments during the fourth week. Kittens often attempt to walk during the third or fourth week. Usually, the kittens first steps are wobbly.

In the kitten’s fifth week, the kitten becomes more socially interactive with its siblings and people. Many kittens learn to use the litter box beginning during the fifth week.

At around eight weeks of age, kittens are often weaned from their mother. The seventh through the fourteenth week is a time of the kitten’s most active play.

At around six months of age, a sense of status and ranking emerges among the kittens. Kittens may try to dominate their siblings, other pets, and even the people in the household. This process of establishing a rank or status may continue until the kitten is about eighteen months old.

The age at which a kitten reaches maturity can vary by cat breed. Most kittens are mature by the time they are eighteen months old. Kittens of some cat breeds do not reach full size until they are three to five years old.

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on The Stages Of Kitten Development
• Kitten Development From Birth To 12 Weeks Of Age

Ear mites are microscopic parasites that commonly infest the ear canals of cats and dogs. Canker ear is a name that refers to having ear mites. Infestations of ear mites are highly contagious among pets.

Ear mite infestations can also affect rabbits and some other pets. All pets in the household that could get ear mites should be treated for ear mites if one pet gets ear mites. Otherwise, the ear mite infestation may be passed back and forth among the household pets.

Even though ear mites live in the ear canal of the dog or cat, but ear mites may also be present in the pet’s environment. The ear mites can be spread to other cats and dogs in the household from sharing the same environment or through direct contact.

Signs of ear mite infestation include shaking of the head and scratching the ears. Even though some cats do not show behavioral signs of having ear mites, the discharge associated with ear mites can often be seen in the effected ears of the cat.

Ear mites can be diagnosed by a veterinarian by the characteristics of the discharge from the infected ear. The ear discharge caused by ear mites is often described as resembling coffee grounds. The ear mites themselves are microscopic and burrow into the skin inside the pet’s ear, so they cannot be easily seen.

While cleaning the dog’s and cat’s ears can be helpful in preventing ear infections, it is ineffective for treating an ear mite infestation. The veterinarian is likely to prescribe an anti-parasitic, topical medication to be applied to the inside of the dog’s or cat’s ears. The medication kills the ear mites and helps prevent a reinfestation of ear mites.

The medication typically needs to be administered for up to ten days. After the course of the medication, the veterinarian may want to re-examine the cat or dog to determine if treatment was successful. Some veterinarians may want to examine the pet again after several weeks to check for a reinfestation of the ear mites.

Some dogs and cats sustained minor cuts on their ears due to their scratching. These small cuts may be treated with antibiotic ointment.

If the ear mite infestation is not treated, the infestation can lead to ear infection or skin disease. An ear mite infestation can also cause a ruptured eardrum.

Maine Coon cats are a large, sturdy cat breed. Maine Coon cats are Maines native longhaired cat breed. Maine Coon cats have brush-like, bushy tails.

Native to the state of Maine, the Maine Coon cat breed was prized for its mousing ability in Colonial times. There are many legends that describe origins of this cat breed like the belief that the Maine Coon is offspring from mating between domestic cats and raccoons, which is scientifically impossible.

The physical characteristics of the Maine Coon cats seem well adapted to the winters of Maine. Maine Coon cats have thick, long coats and tufted toes that have been compared to snowshoes.

Maine Coon cats have rectangular bodies. They have large, round eyes. Maine Coon cats can be either copper, green, gold, green-gold, blue, or odd-eyes. Blue eyes and odd-eyes are only acceptable for white or bi-colored Maine Coons.

The large, heavily-tufted ears are set wide on the Maine Coons medium-sized head. Maine Coon cats may have a frontal ruff which is considered a desirable characteristic by breed standards.

Solid-colored Maine Coons can be white, black, blue, cream, or red. Other possible colorings are calico, tabby, bi-colored, tortoiseshell, shaded, and smoke.

The development of a Maine Coon kitten is slower than most cat breeds. Maine Coon kittens only reach adult size when they are three to five years old. Other cat breeds often reach maturity by the time the kittens are two years old.

The average weight range for a Maine Coon cat is twelve to twenty pounds with the females weighing less than the males. They are heavy-boned and broad chested. They are considered to be medium to large sized cats.

For the purchase of a Maine Coon kitten, the prospective cat owner should consult a reputable Maine Coon breeder. A cat breeder should be able to answer questions about Maine Coon cats.

Cats may become homeless if the circumstances of their families change. If a family moves to a residence that does not allow cats or has a financial setback, the family may need to surrender the cat to an animal shelter or cat rescue home.

Kittens may be surrendered due to their families lack of desire to care for them or inability to be responsible for multiple cats. Sometimes, a family member is allergic to cats and therefore can longer have a cat in the home.

In most cases, the cats in cat rescue homes and shelters have been placed there due to problems with the family and not a problem with the cats behavior or health. Despite this fact, many people are reluctant to adopt cats and other pets from shelters due to the assumption that there must be something wrong with the pet.

A cat rescue home can be a small rescue group that shelters the cats in homes or people who choose to foster cats who are currently without permanent homes. Some cat rescue homes are dedicated to fostering a particular cat breed, though breed-specific rescue homes are more common with dogs than cats.

Some animal shelters get help from volunteer fosterers to care for cats in their homes. This helps reduce the strain on the shelter. The fosterer provides a more normal home life experience for the cat than if the cat was in a shelter.

Being a fosterer can be a very positive experience. The fosterer can take pride in contributing to animal rescue efforts. The fostered pets often show affection and provide companionship.

Some people would like to become fosterers but have concerns over the costs of caring for the animals. Some animal shelters cover many of the costs of fostering cats including veterinary care, litter, and cat food.

People interested in becoming fosterers should contact their local animal shelters for information. The animal shelters have requirements to ensure that the fostered animals will be well cared for. Sometimes, animal shelters will help an interested, sincere individual meet the requirements for becoming a fosterer.

Here’s a common complaint: Your pet is sick and the vet can’t figure out why! They are trained to treat the symptoms from something that is likely to be transient; They are ill-equipped to treat a constant health threat, like cleaning and air freshening products. Yes, the very products you use to clean your home and freshen the air can be making your pets sick! Think about it: Store bought cleaning products and air-fresheners are made with chemicals, or combinations of chemicals. Most of the labels tell us they are harmful if swallowed, or if they get in your eye, open cuts Granted that is not likely to happen, but what about constant exposure… How much is too much?

I hope that you have never experienced any of the afore mentioned symptoms, but what about your pets? Remember one of our years is the equivalent of 5-7 of theirs! Their exposure is 5-7 times greater than your own. While it is very important that the areas your pets roam are clean and disinfected, it is also important that you know what you are using to do so. Chemical cleaners can be very toxic, even when properly diluted, but the tendency is to use a more concentrated cleaner for the areas your pet frequents to protect your pet and your family. People who are unable to clean and disinfect regularly, often place air-fresheners near the bedding and resting places. And when they do get to clean, they are likely to use more concentrated products. Unfortunately, your pet can’t say “Hey,this is burning my eyes, nose, my mouth, or my paws!”

The chemicals used in cleaners, disinfectants, and air-fresheners can burn your lungs, and eyes. They can cause the pads of your pet’s feet to burn. In response, your pet licks their pads (often incessantly), and ingests the chemicals. This is often an unknown cause of diarrhea, vomiting, and numerous misdiagnoses. Now, imagine you are your pet. You spend most of your home life at floor level, inches from where fumes and germs are the most concentrated, and you are inhaling these fumes 5-7 times faster than the humans in your family.

The good news is that you can make your pet areas clean and germ-free without exposing your family or your pet to toxic chemicals. I personally use colloidal silver mixed with 3% hydrogen peroxide to disinfectant everything in that comes into my house, as well as the floors, bathroom walls, toilets… Susan Sumner, a food scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, developed a cleaning and sanitizing combination consisting of 3% hydrogen peroxide (available at the drug store), and vinegar. Fill one spray bottle with plain white vinegar to use as a cleaner ad the other with hydrogen peroxide. You can save money buying them in bulk. Gallon jugs of concentrated hydrogen peroxide are available from beauty supply stores, but must be handled with gloves, and carefully diluted with distilled water. Exact measurements are very important to achieve the proper 3% dilution. If you make a gallon at a time, you can use some to mop floors, clean food and water bowls, sponges, spray litter boxes, disinfect the air, bedding, walls, door handles, countertops, fruits and vegetables, cutting boards, remote controls, cell phones…

In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any commercially available kitchen cleaner. The best results came from using one mist right after the other- it is 10 times more effective than using either spray by itself and more effective than mixing the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one sprayer! When cleaning fruit; spray well with both the vinegar and the hydrogen peroxide, leave on for 1-2 minutes, and then rinse under running water, preferably filtered. You can spray either the vinegar or the hydrogen peroxide first. There is no after taste, or toxic residue.

The burning question (no pun intended) is “Why have we gotten away from basic, safe, yet effective cleaners and replaced them with potentially harmful off-the-shelf chemical cleaners and air-fresheners?” Clearly, Madison Avenue is very good at what they do, but at whose expense?