The Turkish Van Cat: the swimming cat
– by Joyce Ouderkerk
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Muscular long body, silky coat, amber eyes
– these sensational beauties are none
other than the Turkish Van Cat. They have
a passion for swimming, no doubt, these silky
coated beauties invade the hearts of all kitty
lovers.
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Journey down the lane...
The Turkish (semi) longhair cat is probably one of the oldest domesticated
cats. It is said that he is the ancestor of all other longhair breeds. There exist
images of cats with ring plumed tails on Urartu jewellery (Urartu Kingdom:
1000–585 BC) and on a Roman shield (occupation
Romans classic Armenia: 75–387 AD). Pictures have
also been noted in friezes on the walls of ancient
Armenian churches in the Lake Van area.
The silky coated beauties…
The Turkish Van is a solid built cat. He has a muscular
long body with full chest and shoulders. Males tend to
be much larger than females. Their head is broad, wide,
modified wedge with rounded contours and high
cheekbones. The ears are wide at the base and large in
size. The eyes are almond shaped and can be amber,
blue or odd eyed (one amber and one blue eye).
The coat is fine and silky and lies flat. There is no undercoat, but there are
seasonal differences. In summer, only the tail shows that he is a longhair
cat. The tail is thick and muscular.
There are Turkish Vans with and without a “Van pattern.” The first Vans
in the Cat Fancy had two coloured spots on their head and a coloured tail.
Small patches of colour on body and legs can also be seen. All registries
recognise the following colours for the Van pattern combined with white:
red, black, creme, blue, also as tabby, tortie and torbie. As seen in other
breeds, kittens can have some colour.
Sweet temperament…
Turkish Vans are intelligent,
energetic, loyal, and friendly.
They are very adroit at
opening doors, cupboards
and windows, especially if
it will lead to food. Many
play fetch and carry like
Retrievers. They love to race
around the house and like to
sit on heights and leap onto
your shoulders. They are
curious and like to investigate everything. They get along great with other
cats and dogs, but want to be the boss. They are people oriented and can
adjust to indoor living, but require periods of exercise to release pent-up
energy. Most Vans are fascinated by running
water, as in the fountain type drink well.
Easy upkeep…
Grooming a Van is simple. His coat requires only
a quick comb through every week and occasional
bath is needed. Because he has no woolly
undercoat, a Van’s coat does not mat.
He doesn’t need a special diet. You can give him
commercial wet and dry food, which can even be
combined with fresh meat or cooked fish or
chicken.
The birth of kittens is most of the time without
complications. The average litter exists of 4
kittens and they are usually
good doers. There are not
breed specific health
problems known.
(Joyce Ouderkerk is a
breeder of Turkish Van cats
since 1996. She is also a
member of TICA Turkish
Van breed committee; vicepresident
of Turkish Van Cat
Connection; and secretary of
Turkse Raskattenvereniging
Lokum –Dutch Turkish
breeds club.)
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Protecting Kitties from heat stroke..this Summer
- by Sudhersena
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Summer heat is on…it is the time to protect our furry
felines from getting a heat stroke. It could be life
threatening and require prompt treatment. Here’s how to
protect our kitties from scorching heat.
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Cats generally do not cope well with high temperatures
and try to cool off themselves by licking. Some cats are
more susceptible than others; these include short nosed
breeds such as Persians, exotics, young & old cats, obese
cats and cats with airway disease. A cat’s body temperature
is approximately 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or
38.2 to 39.2 degrees Celsius. If the outside temperature is
higher than your cat’s body temperature, heat stroke becomes a possibility.
Watch out…for symptoms
Heat stroke begins with noisy breathing. The other symptoms of heat
stroke are bright red tongue, dark red gums or pale gums, salivating (thick),
weakness, anxiety, dizziness, muscle tremors, lethargy, vomiting (possibly
with blood), diarrhoea (possibly with blood), bleeding from nose and
coma.
Treating heat-struck kitty
If the temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius, it is a
case of mild heatstroke. If the temperature is 105 degree Fahrenheit or
40.5 degrees Celsius, it is a severe case. When this happens, wrap the cat
in a wet blanket or immerse her in cold water. You can apply ice packs on
her head. Keep taking her rectal temperature every 5 minutes. If her body
temperature reaches 103 degree Fahrenheit, stop the cooling process and
take her to the veterinarian immediately.
Just a little care can easily protect our kitties…here’s wishing safe and
healthy summers to all our feline friends.
Quick tips
- Never leave your cat in a parked car even if it is parked in shade.
- While travelling, always carry your cat in a well-ventilated cat carrier.
- Avoid strenuous activities in high temperatures.
- Let your cat have access to clean and cool water at all times.
- Keep your cat in indoors when the weather is hot.
- Let your cat access cooler areas within the house.
- If yours is an outdoor cat, provide plenty of shade.
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I ain’t an ordinary Kitty!
Meet Inspector Lalya – a red cat, who loves to sit on the inspector’s
chair at Cuffe Parade, Mumbai police station. Well! Lalya came to
this place and fell madly in love with the people there that he even
refused to go back to his own home to be with
his parents.
He sits over the police officer’s chair, gets
angry if food is not served on time, tugs
on the trousers of policeman and
throws loads of attitude all around. He
ain’t an ordinary cat for sure!…after
having his meals, fresh tap water and
catching up a nap, he heads to the plush
lawns. He has actually started ruling their
hearts within just a few days.
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Ask the Expert..
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Dr. K. G. Umesh (MVSc, MSc (UK)) is a Postgraduate in Clinical
Medicine. He is working for WALTHAM as Regional Associate for
South Asia.
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Q: I have recently got 3 beautiful Persian kitties of 3 months of
age (2 females and 1 male). I don’t want to breed them. Do let
me know what I should do?
- Anjali, pune
Dr. K. G. Umesh: Sterilization (Neutering) of cats who are not
intended for breeding has become standard practice and is the best
option available at present. Several published papers demonstrate
that there are no long-term health risks associated with early neutering
of cats (6-7 months of age). Your veterinarian will advise you when
your cat will be mature enough to have the operation. Neutered cats
may actually enjoy some health benefits related to behavioural changes,
such as fewer fight wounds and abscesses.
Sterilization is a routine procedure because it is performed so
frequently. Nevertheless, it is major abdominal surgery and requires
general anaesthesia. General anaesthetics are best given when a pet
has an empty stomach. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions
carefully for withholding food and water before surgery. Your cat
should be kept indoors for a few days after operation and prevented
from excessive movements such as jumping to allow the wound to
heal without complications.
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Beware of bite wounds of the little angels
– by Joan Henderson
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Cats are mischievous little angels, their playfulness, wagging of tail,
soft meows, gentle touch are all welcome. But we should be careful
about cat bites because they may cause serious problems. Here’s
some valuable information about cat bites.
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Cats are mischievous little angels, their playfulness, wagging of tail,
soft meows, gentle touch are all welcome. But we should be careful
about cat bites because they may cause serious problems. Here’s
some valuable information about cat bites.
Cat bites can cause serious problems, which can be of two types:
Cat bites another cat
The first is when cats have a serious fight and the bites and scratches can
be very serious – usually for both cats. A bite on a cat’s tail should never
be ignored as these can create major problems. All other bites and scratches
should be attended to. Keep them clean and consult your vet immediately
to make sure all is fine.
Cat bites a human>
The cat bites to humans can also be extremely serious and should never be
ignored. If the bite or scratch is minor, then wash the area thoroughly
using soap and mild disinfectant and keep it clean and cover until the
scratch heals. If the wound is deep, consult a doctor immediately. In case
there are stitches, take the full course of medicine and antibiotics until all
tablets are gone.
It is important that all cat parents have their tetanus shots on a regular
basis. Some people react very badly to a cat bite and the affected area can
swell up and be very painful.
Cat scratch disease
‘Cat scratch disease’ or ‘cat scratch fever’ is one of the worst human
reactions to a cat bite. I also had to undergo such an unpleasant experience
and spent almost 3 weeks, on and off, in bed feeling very ill indeed. I was
judging at a show and was badly bitten by a cat who we subsequently
found out had very bad teeth and was not as healthy as show cats should
be. Cat scratch fever is a bacterial disease and although some people only
have a mild infection, others, like myself, take quite a while to recover.
Depending where the bite is placed – head, hands, neck and upper limbs
as well as legs – the area can become swollen. The patient will experience
fever, headache, fatigue and poor appetite.
Unfortunately, we cannot tell which cats are likely to carry the bacteria
(Bartonella henselae infection) as they do not show any signs of illness.
So, it is up to the parents of all cats to keep their animals in spotless and
very clean conditions and make sure that they pay attention to the
health of their cats at all times. This applies to companion, breeding and
show cats.
Ways to avoid cat scratch disease:
- Avoid “rough play” with cats, especially kittens. This includes any activity that leads to cat scratches and bites.
- Wash cat bites and scratches immediately and thoroughly with running water and soap. Rinse with disinfectant and cover it.
- Do not allow cat to lick your open wounds.
- Control fleas.
- If you develop an infection (with pus and pronounced swelling)
in the spot where you were scratched or bitten by a cat or
develop symptoms, including fever, headache, swollen
lymph nodes, and fatigue, contact your doctor
immediately.
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Kitty Scoop
How do you know whether a cat is
frightened or is ready to prowl? Just look
at his fur. If he is frightened, the hair all
over his body would stand up but if he
is ready to attack, his hair would stand
up only in a narrow band along the spine
and tail. If he is frightened, give him all
the love to make him comfortable but if he
is in an aggressive mood, just watch out!
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KAS: for the love of kitties
– by Dr. Naveen Pandey
The journey begins...
Walking down the road on the outskirts of Kalimpong, a hill-station in
West Bengal, I was shocked to see two small children playing recklessly
with a kitten. I realized that the problem had to be addressed at the core –
too many kittens and too little understanding. Fortunately, I received an
offer from the Animal Protection Network based in Sweden to help fund a
cat ABC at Kalimpong Animal Shelter (KAS), a unit of Help In Suffering
and I readily accepted the offer.
Population explosion of kitties...
Kalimpong has a substantial number of free
roaming cats including pet, community and feral
cats. A female cat starts reproducing when they
are 5-7 months old.
Spreading awareness...
Most of cat owners resist neutering of their pets
as they believe that can have an adverse impact
on her growth and behaviour and may even lead to
her death. KAS addressed such issues by creating
awareness about the subject. Infact, spaying a
female cat not only prevents unwanted litters
and eliminates heat periods but also
eliminates the risk of life threatening
pyometra (pus in the uterus).
Additionally, it reduces the risk of
mammary tumour (breast cancer). There
are significant benefits of neutering
(castrating) a male cat too. It has been
observed that 90% of neutered cats
decrease incidence of urine marking,
fighting and roaming.
ABC programme for kitties...
KAS started an Animal Birth Control (ABC)
programme for cats, along the lines of the
successful ABC programme HIS conducts for
controlling street dog population. The complete philosophy of spay/
neuter programme rests on ensuring that the animals are returned to their
territory in a healthy condition after surgery. To abide by their principles,
KAS built a cattery where they could house 18 cats, thus giving them the
flexibility to sterilize nearly a hundred cats a month. To keep the cats
engaged, they also provide suitable non-toxic
items for their enrichment and play.
The mission gathers momentum...
From day one, the local community
participated in the programme
whole-heartedly. The volunteers
help KAS to trap or catch the
cats using specially designed traps.
Kitty adoption…
At KAS, kittens are sterilized, vaccinated against rabies
and when they are more than three months old, they are transferred
to adoption section. During this time, they are given substantial amount
of human interaction/contact and socialization opportunities. Every kitten
sterilized and re-homed by their shelter becomes an ambassador of the
project which aims at alleviating pain and suffering for this lovely and
intelligent being.
(Dr. Naveen Pandey is Vet in Charge of Kalimpong Animal Shelter. He can
be contacted at
naveen@helpinsuffering.org or visit
www.his-india.org.au)
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Towards responsible kitty parenting
– by Mary Anne Miller
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Once you bring home a cat/kitten, you are responsible for her needs.
Regardless of age and temperament, the kitty’s basic needs should to be
met. Here’s meow to kitty care.
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These furry angels bring a lot of happiness in our
lives – they love us, play with us and give us
company. As a responsible pet parent, here’s
what we should know:
Diet: Cats are obligate carnivores, which means,
they must eat meat. Cats are predators and they
spend their days hunting anything that is small
and moving. Being inside does not diminish that
need. A cat’s digestive system is set-up to process
meat and meat by-products. Giving them grains
and vegetables can cause them major health issues
including the possibility of becoming blind.
For vegetarians, this may cause some concern,
but denying them meat is to put their health at
great risk. Meat contains essential vitamins and
minerals that a cat’s system uses in order to
survive.
The best choice is to feed your cat the processed
cat food available in markets, both dry and canned.
Water: Water is very important to keep your
cat well-hydrated. If you find your new cat isn’t
drinking, find a large, glass bowl with wide
enough sides so that the kitty doesn’t bump
her whiskers. Put coloured rocks, marbles, or
stones (rinsed clean) at the bottom. Fill with
water. Your kitty will love it! You can also float
a toy in the bowl to encourage your kitty
to drink.
To check for dehydration, when kitty is at rest,
gently pinch the skin above her neck. Hold for a
few seconds, then release. If the skin folds back
down, your kitty is okay. If it stays pinched up,
you need a vet quickly!
Shelter: Cats need a place to get out of the
weather, where other predators can’t reach them.
If yours is an outside cat, be sure she has adequate
shade and hiding places. If in indoors, remove all
toxic plants and chemicals from her reach.
Waste disposal: If you have one cat, you need
two litter pans, a litter scoop, plain unscented
litter and time to scoop boxes daily. If you have
3 cats, you need four boxes. Place the boxes in an
area where the cat can quickly escape if she senses
danger. Scented litter smells nice (to us) but most
cats prefer plain clay litter.
Veterinarian care: A good vet will keep kitty
safe and healthy, taking care of her vaccination,
neutering, annual examinations, besides allowing
for emergencies. Rearing a cat needs money and
this factor should be accounted for before bringing
home a kitty.
Playtime: Playing with your cat increases the
bond between the two of you. It keeps her
mentally stimulated and healthy, besides
stopping destructive behaviour. Buy toys which
encourage movement. A piece of string or yarn is
a good way to engage your kitty’s prey response.
Pull it along the floor but never allow your cat to
swallow it as it can cause major health issues. In
order to enjoy your cat’s company for many
years to come, always keep string, yarn, rubber
bands away from her when you are not playing
with her.
Grooming: Even short-haired cats need daily
grooming and our felines are good at keeping
themselves groomed. With sharp barbs on their
tongues, when cats groom themselves, they pull
up loose fur and swallow it. This results in
hairballs. Hair left in their system also has the
means to cause health issues. Brush your cat
gently. Zoom Groom is a great tool for grooming,
giving benefits of both brushing and massage.
(If you find yourself with an orphaned kitten and
don’t know what to do, visit Mary Anne’s website
www.kitten-rescue.com for all the information you
need to raise this kitten.)
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Monkey, my soul mate: where have you gone?
-by Mandakini
She came to my life as a rain on the desert. With silent purring, she
walked into my heart and enlivened my life. But, my happiness
was short-lived and she left me forever, creating a void in my life.
She is Monkey, my kitty, the embodiment of love and affection
who taught me the lessons of unconditional love.
Monkey came to my life and transformed me into a cat lover.
Since then, we slept together, played together…and cuddled each
other. She loved to chase her own tail and go around in circles. She
danced with joy when I made her walk on her hind legs. Like an
expert fighter, she used to somersault in mid-air. She loved to play
hide and seek and chased butterflies in the garden. She was crazy
about home-cooked foods such as fish, meat and vegetables. She
also loved to eat coconut and honeydew.
Fate didn’t allow me to see her last, as I was not in town.
My London visit prevented me from giving her a final adieu. My
playful kitty died in a road accident.
I know she will not come back, however, I can’t but wait for her
eternally, her soft-spoken meows... her caress... Here is my
obeisance... to my gentle, sweet, devotional companion...
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Detecting illness in your cat
Our furry angels can’t tell us where or when they get hurt. In fact,
many animals will try to mask pain or illness. That’s why it is
extremely important that you get to know your cat’s regular habits
and behaviours. Any deviation from his or her normal behaviour could
indicate a problem with his or her health. Some symptoms and
behaviours are obvious: diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, sneezing,
running nose or eyes, and trouble using the litter box. There
are other, more subtle, physical and behavioural
signs that might indicate a trip to the vet is in
order. Take note if your cat does any of the
following:
- Misses more than one meal.
- Shows a sudden change in eating habits.
- Stops using the litter box.
- Develops puffiness or a lump under the skin.
- Hides for more than a day.
- Becomes suddenly short-tempered or intolerant of attention.
- Shakes his head frequently.
- Changes his routine or loses interest in his favourite games.
- Stops grooming.
(Reprinted with
permission from The Humane
Society of the United States,
www.hsus.org )
