Animal Science I

1. Animal Science I Cats

2. Objectives • Identify the external parts and describe the physiology of a cat. • Compare and contrast the short-haired and long-haired classes and identify some major breeds of cats. • Determine the facilities and equipment required for the proper care of cats. • Analyze the factors to consider when selecting a cat.

3. Objectives • Describe the nutritional requirements for cats, analyze the components of cat food, and recognize appropriate feeding practices for cats. • Identify common diseases for cats and determine appropriate prevention and treatment methods (including vaccination schedules).

4. Terms • complete proteins • fat-soluble vitamins • free feeding • grooming • taurine • vaccination • water-soluble vitamins • rabies • companion animal • declawing • hairballs • kitten • litter • neutering • queen • spaying • tomcat

5. Facts • Cats are very common in the United States. • Around 60 million are used as companion animals. • A companion animal is any domestic animal kept for enjoyment and companionship by humans. • There are many facts to learn about the biology and anatomy of cats. • Knowing proper cat terminology is also helpful. • Cats can live up to 30 years, but most live only 12 to 18.

6. Terminology • A mature male cat is a tomcat. • A mature female cat is a queen. • A baby cat of either sex is a kitten. • A group of kittens born to the same parents at the same time is a litter. • Typically, a cat weighs between 6 and 15 pounds at maturity.

7. Skeletal System • The cat has about 500 muscles and a very complex skeleton comprising approximately 250 bones.

8. Physiology of a Cat • The life processes of cats are similar to those of other mammals. • Although most cats are fed cat food designed especially for their needs, by nature they are carnivores that can feed on mice and rats. • Cats differ from other animals because they have extra-sensitive ears, noses, and paws. • They also have extra taste organs and can therefore distinguish between foods. • Cats have three-dimensional vision, and their whiskers are attached to nerves that help the animals to find their way in the dark.

9. Physiology of a Cat • Other animals in the cat family include lions and tigers. • Cats are similar to these wild animals because their foot structures are much the same. • Claws are important tools for helping a cat catch prey. • Since cats are domesticated, often their owners have the animals declawed so they don’t damage carpeting, furniture, and curtains. • Declawing is the surgical removal of a cat’s claws by a veterinarian. • Keeping declawed cats inside is essential because they no longer have their most important defense mechanism.

10. Breeds • One must choose either a purebred cat or the common house cat that is not purebred. • The two classes of purebred cats are short haired and long haired. • Thirty-six breeds are found in the United States.

11. Short-haired • Short-haired breeds are popular because they are less work than long-haired breeds. • They require little to no brushing and have less hair to shed. • Some major breeds are: • 1. Rex • 2. Siamese • 3. American Shorthair • 4. Japanese • 5. Burmese

12. Short-haired • 6. Japanese Bobtail • 7. Manx • 8. Russian Blue • 9. Korat • 10. Egyptian Mau

13. Long-haired • Long-haired breeds require more work because they need to be brushed frequently. • They often get hairballs because they lick themselves. • Hairballs are wads of hair that collect inside the digestive tract and block the digestion of food. • Some major breeds are: • 1. Turkish Angora • 2. Himalayan • 3. Persian • 4. Balinese • 5. Maine Coon

14. Article Jigsaw • In your groups, you are to read the articles and write the following on a piece of paper: • Summary of what you read • AT LEAST 3 important points • What you found interesting • Then you will present to the class.

15. Proper Care of Cats • Properly managing, training, and grooming a cat to fit one’s personal needs is important. • The cat and the owner will both be much happier if they are well suited to each other. • A. Management • 1. The cat selected should be healthy and alert. • Finding out what medical attention the animal has had and if vaccinations have been given is important.

16. Proper Care of Cats • 2. A cat should always be handled with care to make sure it feels secure. • 3. Patience is needed to allow plenty of time for a cat to adjust to its new home. • The new owner should not expect that the cat is going to arrive trained to his or her liking. • 4. A cat should be shown that it is cared about by proper bathing and grooming.

17. Proper Care of Cats • 5. A cat must never be left without fresh water and clean bedding. • 6. Since a cat needs plenty of exercise, it must have enough space to move about properly. • House cats are not meant for cages and prefer to move about the house when they please. • 7. Having a cat spayed or neutered will prevent unintentional litters of kittens.

18. What are the facilities and equipment required for the proper care of cats? • 8. Keeping a cat healthy and comfortable is important. • If something that does not seem normal is noticed, a veterinarian should be contacted for professional advice.

19. Training • B. Training • 1. Training a cat requires knowledge of the animal’s habits and a good idea of what the owner wants training to accomplish. • 2. The most common type of training is toilet training. • Training a cat to use a litter box is generally easy.

20. Litter Training • a. A litter box and some cat litter should be purchased and put in an area to which the cat will always have access. • It is best to choose a spot that is out of sight! • b. The cat should be placed in the litter box and shown how to scratch its front paws in the litter.

21. Litter Training • c. The cat should be watched for signs that it is looking for a place to urinate or defecate and then be placed in the litter box. • d. Rewarding the cat with a treat is a great way to reinforce a positive behavior.

22. Grooming • C. Grooming • 1. Grooming can be a wonderful opportunity for the owner and the cat to bond. • Although cats groom themselves often, they can benefit from help. • a. A cat’s hair coat should be brushed daily with a small, soft brush. • b. A cat may need a bath occasionally.

23. Nail trimming • c. Nails need to be trimmed unless a scratching post has kept them short. • They should always be trimmed with a special cat clipper and file and never clipped below the nail bed. • Clipping nails too short will cause bleeding. • An owner who feels unsure about nail trimming should take the cat to a groomer or veterinary clinic to have the procedure done.

24. Grooming • 2. When a cat is being groomed, its ears should be checked for mites and ticks. • The animal should be treated carefully if any are present. • 3. When a cat is being groomed, its eyes should be monitored for discharge, which may indicate an infection. • 4. Proper foods can encourage clean teeth. • Plaque and tarter should be removed by a veterinarian.

25. What factors should be considered when selecting a cat? • Cats are wonderful pets that don’t require as much care and space as other animals. • Cats also tend to be independent and affordable. • There are four main things to consider when selecting a cat. • They are age, gender, breed, and medical needs.

26. Age • Age is important to consider because kittens are much more work than older cats. • Kittens may be cute and cuddly, but they require special attention to their feeding and training. • Adult cats tend to be more stressed when moved to a new situation and may come with old habits.

27. Gender • Gender is important, especially if kittens are wanted. • If the animals are not fixed, males may urinate frequently to mark their territory, and females will go through reproductive cycles and become annoying when they are in heat.

28. Fixing • Spaying is removing the ovaries and uterus of a queen to prevent the animal from breeding. • Neutering is altering a tomcat sexually to prevent it from breeding.

29. Breeds and Medical Needs • Choosing between purebred and non-purebred depends on how much money one wants to invest. • Buying a cat with a pedigree is way more expensive. • Medical needs must be considered before selecting a cat to ensure the animal fits within the potential owner’s budget. • Declawing, spaying, and neutering are just three of the costs one needs to consider before purchasing a cat.

30. Nutrition • Like any animal, your cat needs six basic classes of nutrients to live, grow, and reproduce normally. • These nutrients are water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. • In the correct proportion, these nutrients will provide everything that a cat needs to live a healthy life.

31. Water, Water, Everywhere…. • Water—Water is the most important nutrient needed by cats. • Water is used in a variety of ways in a cat’s body, from temperature regulation and blood formation to metabolism. • An unlimited source of fresh, clean water is absolutely critical for every cat.

32. Protein • Proteins—Proteins are required in larger amounts by cats than any other domestic animal. • Proteins, more specifically the amino acids that make up protein, are essential for tissue and organ formation and maintenance. • 1. One amino acid in particular, taurine, is especially needed by cats for good eye and heart formation. • 2. Complete proteins, like those found in animal-based proteins, contain all the amino acids that cats need in their diet.

33. Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates—Carbohydrates are needed by cats for energy and proper intestinal functioning. • A food source with carbohydrates supplies cats with energy throughout the day and enables them to have regular bowel movements.

34. Fats • Fats—Fatty acids are needed by cats for skin and coat health, blood clotting, and decreased swelling of tissues. • Cats cannot synthesize, or create, their own fatty acids and therefore must consume them in their diet. • Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are especially important for cats.

35. Vitamins • Vitamins—Vitamins are very important for a cat’s health. • They help control enzyme action, which affects a wide variety of body functions. • 1. Fat-soluble vitamins, those that can be dissolved by fat, help maintain the immune system and body structure of cats. • Vitamins A, D, and E are fat-soluble vitamins.

36. Vitamins • 2. Water-soluble vitamins, those that can be dissolved by water in the body, are used to aid in metabolism and cellular functions. • The major water-soluble vitamin is B. • 3. Vitamin supplements are usually not necessary for cats, provided they are fed a well-balanced diet.

37. Minerals • Minerals—Minerals are generally needed in small amounts by cats. • Minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, help build strong bones and teeth while also aiding in metabolism. • Like vitamins, mineral supplements are rarely needed if the animal is fed a balanced diet.

38. Feeding • Appropriate feeding for cats is generally based on the age and reproductive phase of the cat. • 1. Kittens require a slightly different food than adult cats, and adult cats require a different food than aging cats. • A pregnant cat has different diet requirements to meet her changing body’s needs.

39. Feeding • 2. Canned food is preferred over “soft-moist” food or dry food, because canned food contains more moisture. • If feeding canned food, follow the label recommendations for the type of cat you own and never feed more than the cat can eat in 20 to 30 minutes.

40. Feeding • 3. Feeding twice a day is fine, provided that it is accounted for in the total daily calories for the cat. • Free feeding, or allowing a cat to eat whenever and however much it desires, is not recommended and can lead to a variety of health issues, including obesity.

41. Disease • Regardless of how carefully we care for our cats, diseases that require treatment will sometimes develop. • One should remember that prevention, including a vaccination schedule, will always be less expensive than treatment. • Cats can be affected by many diseases with a variety of causes, but the four most common are:

42. Distemper- FVRCP • Distemper—Feline distemper is caused by a viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. • Affected cats develop diarrhea and dehydration, among other symptoms, and normally die, as there is no treatment for this disease. • Distemper is highly contagious, but very effective vaccines have been developed to protect cats.

43. FVRCP • Upper respiratory disease—This disease is very similar to a “cold” that affects humans. • Cats with upper respiratory disease show symptoms of watery eyes, excessive mucus, trouble drinking or swallowing, general agitation, and difficulty breathing. • Although treatment is available, it is normally not successful, and the disease often ends in death. • Once again, a vaccine is available and very effective at controlling this disease.

44. Rabies • Rabies—Possibly the most well known of animal diseases, rabies, a viral infection of the brain, is always fatal in cats. • Rabies is highly contagious and can be spread through the saliva of an animal by a scratch or bite. • Most states require a rabies vaccination by law, but there are many animals born in homes that are never vaccinated and are therefore still threatened by this disease.

45. Feline Infectious Leukemia • D. Feline leukemia—Feline leukemia is a highly contagious disease that causes a “wasting away” of a cat. • Symptoms can vary, but excessive weight and energy loss are always present. • There is no treatment for feline leukemia, and many states require vaccinations by law. • Also known as FIV/FELV.

46. Vaccines • Vaccinations are very effective at prohibiting many of the diseases that would otherwise take a cat’s life. • 1. A vaccination is an injection of the killed form of a virus that allows the body to build up an internal immunity to the actual virus. • 2. Vaccinations should be carried out in a timely fashion and not disregarded. • Kittens should begin vaccinations at about eight weeks of age, followed by the recommendations of a veterinarian. • Most adult cats require yearly boosters of vaccines.

47. Review • What are the external parts, and what is the physiology of a cat? • What are the differences between the short-haired and long-haired classes, and what are some major breeds of cats?

48. Review • What are the facilities and equipment required for the proper care of cats? • What factors should be considered when selecting a cat?