A kitten is not totally independent until about 6 months old. In the wild it would remain with its mother until then, if not longer. A kitten can be fully weaned at about 8 weeks old. It should not leave its mother until then. Pedigree kittens suckle for two weeks longer than non-pedigrees and are not fully weaned until 12 weeks old.

EYES

A kitten’s eyes will open from 8 days old onwards, although, some take up to 3 weeks. All kittens are born with blue eyes, as they grow the eyes change colour. The final colour will be evident at 12 weeks old.

When it comes to our pets, it would be fantastic if we could train them how to do exactly what we want them to do. Training is only usually associated with dogs, but the fact is that all animals can be trained in some way and cats are certainly no exception.

The Basics of Cat Training

One of the most aquatic of all cats, the Flat Headed Cat shares many attributes with the fishing cat, and yet is one of the most unique of all felids. A small wild cat, the Flat Headed Cat is nearly two feet in length and weighs around six pounds. The distinguishing feature is the flattened head owing to the unusual skull morphology in this member of the cat family.

Welcome to the daily event in my household known as cat racing. I have three cats but, two of them are highly competitive and have evolved into speed demons. I should have named them after race car drivers. They take chances. They are daring. I could sell tickets. These cats can be fast and love to see who is the fastest.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your cat had kittens? Just the thought of having so many kittens underfoot would be enough reason for true cat lovers to swoon.

If your cat is pregnant, here are a few important facts that you should know:

- The average length of pregnancy for cats is 63 to 65 days long. However, it may appear to be a shorter period, because your cat will probably have already been pregnant for 3 to 4 weeks before you first notice the changes to her physique.

You’ve decided your cat would be better off eating a high-quality canned food to prevent feline diabetes, obesity, bladder infections, kidney problems, and other health problems associated with commercial dry food. But she turns her nose up at it! How do you get her to eat it? Your kitty is a creature of habit, and she doesn’t like changes, especially in what she eats. She’s used to the crunchy texture of dry food. If she’s never eaten canned food before, she may not even recognize the stuff sitting in her dish as something edible.

Chronic renal failure, also known as kidney failure, is one of the most common conditions affecting older cats. In fact one out of every five cats over fifteen years of age suffers from it. The disease is essentially characterized by a gradual decrease in the ability of kidneys to purify the blood and remove waste products from it. The disease usually has a slow insidious course and is usually irreversible unless a specific cause for the kidney failure is identified and treated (that often include tumors, infections and polycystic disease of the kidneys). In most cases though a cause is not identified and the usual course of the ailment is a slow terminal progression.

Obesity is the most common health problem for cats. A cat is considered obese if it weighs 20% more than its optimal weight and if the extra weight is a result of the accumulation of fat. If a cat is anywhere from 1 to 19% heavier than its ideal body weight, then it is considered overweight and not obese. In order for a cat to maintain good health and have a long and happy life, the cat must maintain a healthy weight.

Determining If A Cat Is Overweight Or Obese

If your cat’s ears are bothering her, there can be many reasons. Don’t ignore her if she’s scratching her ears more often than normal, or if she shakes her head a lot. She may have ear mites, which can lead to more serious conditions.

What are ear mites? They’re small parasites that live in your furry friend’s ears. Their bites cause intense itching, which can just about drive her (and you) crazy. If you suspect your kitty has mites, look in her ears. If you see dark brown waxy stuff in there that looks like coffee grounds, your buddy probably has them.

Having a disabled cat is far from uncommon and is certainly not a reason to have them put to sleep. Most disabled cats can lead a full and happy life if given a chance, it just takes a little more consideration and time on the owner’s part.