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2012年8月11日 星期六

【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. 

2012年8月10日 星期五

【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) 

: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?

2012年8月9日 星期四

【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: 

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