【新手篇】Cat Myths - Separate Fact From Fiction (5/5)

【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之新手篇】 >> 【貓貓有趣小常識】

Devon Rexes, Cornish Rexes & Sphyx's are hypoallergenic

In truth, a rex cat is no different from any other cat and produces allergen like all other cats. They are not hypoallergenic by any means, as claimed by some. Then why do some people seem to have no allergic reaction to rex cats? There is no simple answer to this question at this time, and more research is required to get the answers needed. One possible hypothesis is that as rex cats have less hair to shed, they simply deposit less allergen-laced hair around the home. But, whatever the reasons some allergic people seem to tolerate them. From personal studies and observations by Margaret Lawrence in the UK, she found that around 10% of people allergic to cats tolerate rex cats. Please, before you race out and look for a rex cat, remember you should always test your allergies by visiting home or catteries that only own rex cats, and test continuously over several weeks or months. As you don't want the poor little kitten to be re-homed if you find out you are allergic to him or her. Don't let your new cat become another statistic at a shelter.

Indoor cats cannot get diseases/parasites

Many viral/bacterial infections are airborne & can be carried into your house  through the air or on a person's clothing. Fleas & other parasites can also be brought in via a person's clothing.

Pregnant women shouldn't own cats

If a woman hasn't had prior exposure to Toxoplasmosis & becomes infected during pregnancy, it can harm her unborn baby. Cats are the natural host for Toxoplasmosis, however Toxoplasmosis can also be acquired from eating undercooked meat, improperly washed vegetables or gardening. I was tested for Toxoplasmosis throughout my recent pregnancy & remained negative even though I was living with 9 cats, one of whom had tested positive for Toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women should take precautions such as avoiding cleaning the litter tray, ensuring their meat is thoroughly cooked, washing vegetables properly & wearing gloves while gardening. There is no need to get rid of your cat just because you're pregnant.

Putting bells on a cat's collar will stop it catching mice & birds

This theory has been around for hundreds of years. I used to put bells on my cat's collars, in fact Eliot, who was my best hunter had three bells on her collar at one point & it did absolutely nothing to stop her catching the wildlife. In fact, there is new research to indicate that cats who have had bells put on their collars are better at catching prey. This is because they learn to move without  the bell making a sound & therefore they are stealthier.

For further information on putting bells on cat's collars, read this article. Cats Indoors.

All cats hate water

Most cats hate water but not all. Turkish Van's are known to be fond of water & enjoy swimming. My Bengal also likes to play with water, although I can't imagine him ever wanting to go swimming in it. I've known of other Bengal cats who enjoy playing with water also.

Siamese cats are mean

This myth came about in part from the movie The Lady & the Tramp where the Siamese cat is portrayed in less than a glowing light. In my opinion, temperament is a result of genetics & socialisation. If a cat is raised in a loving environment, the chances are they will grow up into well adjusted & loving pets. If the myth were true that Siamese cats are mean, I'm sure they wouldn't be one of the world's most popular breeds of cat. 

Original Website: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-myths

【新聞類】紐約酒店「貓公關」 被法令限制行動

【貓貓資料分類】 >> 【新聞資料類】

美國紐約市的阿爾岡大飯店(Algonquin Hotel)，70年來都有「貓公關」坐鎮，在飯店內四處巡視、在櫃台跟客人交際，已成為一個可愛的傳統。不過礙於衛生署法令規定，現在第三代公關貓必須被限制行動，只能栓在櫃台旁的沙發床，好在牠的適應力良好，不排斥牽繩。

貓公關「瑪提達三世(Matilda III)」被限制行動，
所幸牠適應良好。(圖／達志影像)

阿爾岡飯店是紐約市的著名地標之一，遊客提到它，都會聯想到它們可愛的「貓公關」傳統！飯店跟貓的緣分是從70年前 (西元1930年) 起，有一隻飢腸轆轆的小貓跑進去找食物，老闆Frank Case沒有將牠趕走，反而十分歡迎這隻「小小貓旅客」留下來，供牠吃住，還替牠取名叫「瑪提達(Matilda)」。

沒想到「瑪提達」受到許多旅客喜愛，儼然成了飯店的招牌「公關貓」。直到牠過世後，很快地又有一隻貓旅客「瑪提達二世 (Matilda II)」住進來，一樣受到客人的熱愛！

貓公關「瑪提達二世」 (Matilda II) 行動自由。
(圖／美聯社／達志影像)

飯店發言人表示，它們還特地開一個「瑪提達」專屬的電子信箱，總是收滿從世界各地粉絲寄來的信。而每次來住房的旅客，總是要向櫃檯人員打聽「瑪提達」的蹤跡，看牠是去大廳溜達了；還是跑到廚房了。

然而現在的「瑪提達三世(Matilda III)」就沒那麼自由了！礙於當地衛生署的最新規定，任何有供應食品的營業場所，不得有「動物」進出。所以飯店現在只好將「瑪提達三世」拴起來，並為牠準備一個沙發床，現在牠只能在櫃台邊出沒。

旅客現在可以在櫃台看見貓公關三世。
(圖／Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com)

第三代貓公關現在只能在櫃台出沒，迎接客人Check im。
(圖／Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com) 

原文網址: 紐約酒店「貓公關」　被法令限制行動 |ETtoday寵物動物新聞 | ETtoday 新聞雲 

：這份工作好像挺不錯的，我也想當「貓公關」耶，不知道是否有人想聘請我呢？

【新手篇】Cat Myths - Separate Fact From Fiction (4/5)

【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之新手篇】 >> 【貓貓有趣小常識】

Calico males are worth a lot of money

While it is true that calico males are rare, they are not valuable in financial terms.

All orange cats are male

No, it is possible to have an orange female. Unlike the orange male,  who only needs one copy of the O gene to produce an orange coat, the female requires the O to be on both chromosomes. If she has only one O, the resulting coat colour will be calico.

If you no longer want your pet cat, it is OK to release it into the wild because cats can fend for themselves.

It's a shame I am even having to reply to this myth, but sadly there are still some people who tire of their pet cat & leave the cat outdoors, justifying their behaviour by telling themselves that cats can fend for themselves. This is NOT the case. Pet cats who find themselves turfed out will most likely die of either starvation, injuries caused by fights with other animals, disease or be hit by a car. If you no longer want your cat then do the right thing & either find it a new home or take it to a shelter.

All male cats spray

Not all male cats spray. Entire male cats are much more likely to spray than desexed ones, which is another good reason to desex your cats. Female cats (especially entire ones) can also spray, although it's less common for an entire female to spray than an entire male.

You can't turn an indoor/outdoor cat into an indoor only cat

Yes you can, and my cats are a great example of this. They were all indoor/outdoor but reverted to indoor only (with access to an outdoor enclosure) with very little difficulty. It is easy to do as long as you ensure the cat(s) have enough mental stimulation.

Cats are independent & the ideal pet for somebody with a busy lifestyle

This is entirely dependant on the individual cat. Some cats are more independent than others but generally ALL cats need some companionship.  If you lead a busy lifestyle & spend long hours working it is advisable you have two cats, so they can keep each other company while you are out.

Cats smother babies

While extremely rare  it can happen. I have heard of two cases, one resulting in a fatality, the other resulting in a near miss. [1] However, there are several cases of parents accidentally smothering babies in their sleep. Care should always be taken to ensure a cat does not have access to a sleeping baby. 

References: 

[1] British Medical Journal

Original Website: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-myths

【疾病篇】煩死人的貓咪耳疥蟲症

【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之疾病篇】 >> 【貓貓皮膚疾病類】

最近阿貓跟家貓的耳朵不約而同出現了過多的耳屎，清理後隔一天又不正常快速增生耳屎，而且這些耳垢還黑黑髒髒的，加上貓咪們頻頻搔耳、一副很癢的樣子，我就知道……那煩人的貓咪「耳疥蟲」病又來報到了！

「耳疥蟲」症是一種耳疥蟲（某種寄生蟲）寄生在貓耳內的病，會讓貓咪的耳朵感到奇癢無比，症狀是：貓咪會不斷用後腳抓耳朵，或是耳朵不斷磨蹭物體。初期只有這些症狀時，說實在主人還不是很容易發現貓咪得病，直到一段時間，寄生蟲讓貓耳出現很多黑黑髒髒的耳垢，貓咪會很癢，一直胡亂甩頭和抓耳朵，有時你還可以在牠們身上或週邊發現被甩出的髒耳垢，觀看及清耳朵時則有耳垢不是全乾的症狀，似乎有些分泌物。

等這些明顯的症狀出現時，貓罹患耳疥蟲疾病的可能性幾乎就八九不離十了，不過最好是在觀察到貓咪有疑似症狀時，就帶去讓醫生檢查一下會比較準確（醫生會用一個東西看貓耳朵裡面，確定有無耳疥蟲），也讓貓咪少受些耳朵搔癢之苦。

耳疥蟲是跟跳蚤差不多，屬於接觸傳染，所以一旦家中有一隻貓得了這病，很可能會傳染給其他貓咪，讓大家一起耳朵「癢不停」。而且耳疥蟲非常容易復發，要是主人沒耐心，沒好好幫貓咪滴藥清耳到完全治癒，耳疥蟲症沒多久就復發加傳染給其他貓咪給你看，是個超級討人厭的疾病。我起碼幫貓弄4-5次了，現在家裡的貓咪醫藥箱裡還有全套的清耳鉗（止血鉗）、清耳液、耳疥蟲藥呢！

好在耳疥蟲症的治療並不困難，只要不是拖延不理到引起耳炎、併發症等嚴重的程度，主人只要有耐心地幫貓清耳及滴藥，就可以慢慢把病治好。完全治好大約需要三個星期到一個月的時間，我記得是因為耳疥蟲卵不怕藥劑，所以為確保萬一，必須滴到所有不同週期的蟲卵全變成蟲且被清除為止，需要三星期以上的時間。但如果是嚴重的症狀，記得一定要帶貓去看獸醫，接受打針吃藥及徹底的治療。

 對了，為了避免從貓耳甩出的蟲卵藏在貓用品、地毯、毛巾等處，後來又不小心傳到其他貓身上，治療耳疥蟲期間還得進行環境大掃除，最好是用吸塵器把全家大大小小死角處都吸一遍，在炎熱的夏天中，這樣做不但可以有效防止耳疥蟲，也可以防跳蚤呢！

說了這麼多，最重要的是清耳的工作。因為貓咪得病時耳朵會非常癢，耳垢又多，所以常讓人看了受不了，恨不得把貓耳朵徹底清除乾淨，況且滴耳藥前也的確得先清好耳朵才行。但可別粗魯地就拿棉花棒往貓耳掏阿掏的，這是很容易傷到貓耳朵又把髒東西往裡面推的行為，弄不好反而會引起嚴重的後遺症。

貓主人可以做的，其實就只是清理眼睛可以看得見的「耳殼」部分而已。

（清耳乳液以及耳疥蟲滴藥）	（止血鉗、棉花、棉花棒、酒精棉片）

清貓耳有分兩種方式：

一、先在貓耳朵裡滴入幾滴清耳液或清耳乳，輕揉耳根後放開，讓貓自行甩去耳裡的髒東西後（這時要用東西擋一下，免得甩得你滿臉都是），再用乾淨的衛生紙或棉花棒輕擦去耳殼上殘留的污垢即可，不可以深入耳朵猛掏。

二、如果可見之處仍然有無法清乾淨的耳垢，建議準備一支前頭微彎的止血鉗，撕下一小片棉花，讓止血鉗夾住棉花片頭，旋轉止血鉗讓其餘棉花完全包裹住止血鉗頭，在棉花頭處滴幾滴清耳液，輕輕地擦拭貓耳殼的死角，還是不能深入掏挖喔！

我以前是用棉花棒，不過後來發現棉花棒有多項缺點，一般的棉花棒棉絮都太薄 ，你用棉花棒刮看看你的皮膚就知道，稍微用力就碰到硬硬的，容易弄傷貓耳朵或把牠們弄不舒服，也不容易沾清耳液擦拭。如果要用就要用棉花頭比較厚的那種，可是又擔心萬一棉花絮掉在貓耳裡怎麼辦？而且棉花棒全是直的，又有以上缺點，怎樣都沒有頭部微彎的止血鉗來得好用啊～～XD

（止血鉗夾住棉花片頭）

（旋轉止血鉗讓其餘棉花往上包裹）

（清完後用70%的酒精消毒止血鉗）

清完貓耳就要點耳疥蟲滴藥了。一般的耳疥蟲滴藥都會在包裝上寫好用法用量，醫生給藥時也會說清楚。我是建議還不清楚這病或沒把握的主人，不要怕花錢，一定要帶去看獸醫，讓他教你清耳、滴藥等衛教知識，並視狀況開藥打針比較好。如果你的貓咪老是復發或是對這病已很有經驗，才可以自己買耳疥蟲藥來滴。

滴藥最重要的步驟是滴進貓耳時，一定要讓藥流進耳朵裡，可以輕揉耳根最好，藥流進去幾秒後再讓貓甩耳就ok，但如果藥才滴一半，貓就急著甩耳把藥都甩出去，就比較沒用了喔！而且甩完藥劑的貓耳一定要擦拭乾淨。

我家貓咪第一次生這病時，我什麼都不知道，還以為只是耳朵髒，直到當時三隻全生病且耳垢超多猛抓時，才驚覺不對勁。當時帶著四隻貓跑醫院，醫生說已有輕微發炎，打針吃藥加自己每天清貓耳差不多一個月，花了許多金錢、時間和體力，現在想起來就累！不過，至少已得到一個教訓跟經驗，希望大家不要跟我一樣才好。

原文網址：http://mao4.com/?p=3090

：媽咪經常有幫我們清潔耳朵，所以我們的耳朵都很健康～

【新手篇】Cat Myths - Separate Fact From Fiction (3/5)

【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之新手篇】 >> 【貓貓有趣小常識】

Declawing won't hurt my cat.

Declawing is  more than simply removing the cat's claws, the last bone on the cat's claw is amputated. This is an excruciatingly painful procedure & one which not all cats will fully recover from. Many declawed cats are surrendered to shelters because of behavioural problems they developed after being declawed including biting & refusal to use their litter tray.

Cats by nature walk on their toes, so after they've been declawed, walking often becomes extremely painful to them.

If you are worried about your cat scratching the furniture (or your family) you can try trimming your cat's claws or you could put Soft Paws on it.

Can I feed my cat dog food?

Feeding your cat dog food is extremely dangerous. Dog food is missing essential the essential nutrients taurine & arachidonic acid. Taurine deficiency can lead to blindness & arachidonic acid can lead to dry, scaly skin. Cats require a higher protein & fat content in their diet.

Cat fur causes allergies

The primary cause of allergic reactions to cats is caused by allergens found in the cat sebaceous glands in the cat's skin, such as the allergenic glycoprotein called Fel D1(short for "Felis domesticus"), it is also secreted via saliva in lesser quantities. When cats lick themselves, they spread this protein, which is rather sticky, and glues itself onto dust particles, the home, your clothing and their fur; whether it's long, short, straight, curly, or absent. As all cats have sebaceous glands, all cat breeds can potentially cause allergies. Allergic allergens are also found in the faeces, serum, urine, mucous, dander, and hair roots of the cat.

A cat purrs because it's happy

Well yes, cats do purr when they're happy but they will sometimes purr when they are in pain. Cats have been known to purr when they are giving birth & they will sometimes purr when they are dying. Purring is more an expression of an emotion than an expression of happiness.

Cats will not mate with their siblings/parents/offspring

Cats do not share the same taboos about incest as humans do. If left entire, closely related cats including brother & sister, parent to offspring will mate. It is advisable to desex your cats before 6 months to prevent this from happening.

All calico (tortoiseshell) cats are female

No, while the vast majority of calico cats are female, there is the occasional male. However, virtually all of these males are sterile. the calico colour is sex linked. For a cat to be calico it must have two X chromosomes ergo the cat is female. In rare instances however a male calico will be produced. This usually happens because the cat has an extra chromosome. So, instead of him being XY, he is XXY. These cats are known as Kleinfelter males.

Approximately 1-3,000 calico's are male & out of those only 1-10,000 are fertile.

Original Website: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-myths

【新闻类】「多趾猫」有26根脚趾头（简体）

【貓貓資料分類】 >> 【新聞資料類】

一般猫咪有18根脚趾，而美国这只名叫「Daniel」 (丹尼尔) 的猫咪，竟然多达26根趾头！目前牠是一间动物救援中心的宣传大使，因为该中心被迫迁移，需要一笔庞大的建设费用，负责人急中生智，以「多趾猫」丹尼尔号召「每人捐赠26美元」，来帮助重建。

有26根趾头的猫咪丹尼尔
(图／Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center)

这间位在美国德莫尼(Des Moines, Iowa) 的「蜜儿瓦奇动物救援中心」(Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center)里，有一只差点被安乐死的「多趾猫」丹尼尔。正常情形下，猫咪前脚各有5根趾头，后脚各4趾，加起来一共也不过18趾；不过丹尼尔却多达26趾！收容中心的负责人艾咪罗薇(Amy Rowell) 当初救牠时，也非常惊讶。

有这么多趾头
不知道玩起逗猫棒是不是更灵活？
( (图／MARC)

然而这只特别的「多趾猫」，现在成为该中心「宣传大使」。原因是它们的收容所房租大涨，艾咪罗薇和其他人深思熟虑之后，决定迁移，而且要建立一间属于自己的收容救援中心，让动物们有更稳定、更理想的空间，不再被迫搬家。艾咪罗薇表示，自己的组织反对安乐死，但要是无法顺利搬迁，这些动物可能会被迫面临这样的下场；但她决心要全力以赴，绝对不让这种事情发生。

她们已经找到新的地方，也希望提升设备，让毛孩子们住得更舒服。不过头期款就需要高达40000美元(约新台币120万元)，要在2011年11月15日前交付。
艾咪罗薇急中生智，让「26趾猫Daniel」出来当宣传大使，号召「每个人捐款26美元」（约新台币780元），也就是为Daniel每一个脚趾头捐赠一元，盼望能在期限内达到第一波目标。

据外电报导，在媒体的助力下，截至2011年11月7日止已经顺利募得$37,966.38 美元。艾咪罗薇感动地说「我们从一开始就知道Daniel 是一只与众不同的猫，现在更感谢牠成为我们的支柱，带给大家非常多的鼓励。」

「多趾猫」，现在成为该中心「宣传大使」
( (图／MARC)

Daniel 的与众不同
为救援中心带来特别的力量
( (图／MARC)

原文網址：「多趾猫」有26根脚趾头　比一般猫咪多8根！ | ETtoday宠物动物新闻 | ETtoday 新闻云

【新手篇】Cat Myths - Separate Fact From Fiction (2/5)

【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之新手篇】 >> 【貓貓有趣小常識】

My cat will get fat & lazy if it is desexed.

By desexing your cat, you are preventing it from contributing to the very serious over population of kittens & cats. Entire male cats run the risk of testicular cancer, abscesses caused by fighting, being hit by a car while roaming, FIV (Feline Aids) & FeLV. Entire female cats have a greater risk of breast cancer & can develop pyometra (infection of the uterus), plus she can contract FIV & FeLV from an infected male, car accidents.

Some entire females will often go off their food when they are in heat, which happens several times a year. Entire males will roam the neighbourhood looking for a female to mate with. Both of these can cause cats to become underweight. When your cat has been desexed, it's mind is no longer on finding a partner. So, while a desexed cat won't gain weight as a result of the operation, an entire cat "may" lose weight because it has other things on it's mind.

If you find your cat is putting on weight, it is recommended that you seek advice from your vet, NEVER put your cat on a diet without veterinary supervision as this can lead to a life threatening condition called Hepatic Lipidosis. Regular exercise will also ensure your cat doesn't become overweight.

My female cat should have one litter before she is spayed

Not at all, in fact it is better to have her spayed before 6 months of age to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. 

Cats must be 6 months before they can be desexed.

With modern anaesthetics, cats can now be safely desexed as young as 8 weeks of age. For further information on early desexing, read this article. Early spay/neuter.

Cats always land on their feet.

Do cats always land on their feet? Well...it depends, if the cat falls a very short distance from the ground it doesn't have enough time to right itself. A cat will be seriously injured & quite possibly killed if it falls from a great height.  There is a new term coined by American veterinarians called "high rise syndrome". Due to the ever increasing human population, high rise apartments are becoming more the norm & vets are seeing many cats who have been injured falling out of high rise apartments.

Original Website: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-myths