Where do pet kittens come from? Shelters, breeders, and feral environments are the three major sources of feline pets in today’s U.S. households. As recently as 28 years ago, statistically as many as 17% to over 30% of cat owners obtained their pets as strays. Today, cats are also likely to come from shelter adoptions or are purchased from recognized, knowledgeable breeders. However, many first-time cat owners may not understand why organizations such as the Cat Fanciers’ Association advocate waiting until the kitten is 16 weeks, or at the very least, 12 weeks, before it goes to a new home. Shelters, which may be pressed for space/time/services, sometimes encourage the earliest possible adoption and place kittens as soon their first inoculations are safely in place.
For first-time cat buyers, the breeder should give every available bit of advice and help. But it begins with selecting the right cat or kitten, and most people want young kittens without having the knowledge of how young is good for both kitten and owner. The views of conscientious breeders are discussed below, in conjunction with reasons CFA requires kittens to be 16 weeks old before they can enter a show hall, whether for exhibit, competition, or sale.
Proper Socialization vs. “Survival”
A properly raised, well-socialized kitten will be at ease with people and other cats or pets. It will be able to tolerate noises and distractions in a normal home. Older kittens are generally better with young children in inverse proportion—the younger the child, the older the kitten/cat; the older the child, the younger the kitten that can safely be introduced to the household. Both situations should be tempered, however, with observation of the child’s awareness and empathy for a small animal.1
Bu hikaye Cat Talk dergisinin April 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Cat Talk dergisinin April 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.
Kittens Are Special...
...and so are some of the show rules for them:
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Most new pet owners can hardly wait to get their new kitten home. How to explain why most breeders wait until the kitten is older? | Let's take a look at WHY breeders delay, and why new owners will be happier in the long run that they did.
Who's That Kitten?
Your queen has successfully delivered her litter!
Kittens & Worms
You have settled in for the evening with your soft, sleepy kitten. As you rub her, you notice that her belly is large, round, and squishy.
GESTATION What Is Normal & What Influences Gestation.?
About 46.5 million households in the United States report owning cats in 2024.
Preparing Kittens For the Show Hall
Socializing kittens and making sure they are confident for their new family is only a part of the job description for a show breeder.
Library Cats felis cattus bibliotheca
Introduction - The Middle Ages, sometimes referred to as “The Dark Ages,” spanned approximately one thousand years, between 479 AD and 1450 AD. This time period is not generally considered to have been friendly to anyone, human nor animal, but it was especially hostile toward felines. Ignorance of knowledge and science was rampant among the majority of the population, with the ability to read limited to clerics and the wealthy. Myths, legends, and galliard songs spread widely throughout Europe as people migrated from place to place, searching for food and a safe habitat. Fear of the unknown and the unexplainable, particularly of witches and their cat familiars, was spread not only by the stories and songs, but by the Popes themselves. Without touching on the atrocities of medieval times, let us just say it was not the best time to be a cat.
