Whiskers and Tails newest client "Pumpkin".  Pumpkin is 10 years old and lives in a beautiful house in Santee.  He is the "only" child and expects to get all of the attention.

Pumpkin loves to be held and cuddled.

 

Because Domestic Longhairs are of mixed ancestry, their temperaments can be hard to predict. Some cats are quiet and docile while others are more active and vocal. Some are affectionate, while others are independent. Most are playful when they are young. Some enjoy the company of children and other pets.

All Domestic Longhairs have one thing in common: their fluffy coat. Owners of this type of cat must spend 20 minutes at least once a week brushing out the coat to avoid mats and hairballs.

Domestic Longhairs are not purebred cats, but are of mixed ancestry. 

Domestic Longhairs need weekly brushing to remove loose hair and to discourage mats and hairballs. 

Domestic Longhairs can vary greatly in temperament because of their mixed breeding.

The Domestic Longhair is the result of many generations of mixed breeding with different types of cats. In the U.S., cats first came on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims. Some of these cats went on to be the foundation for pure breeds like the American Shorthair, while others bred to cats brought to America from foreign countries. 

Domestic Longhairs are closely related to Domestic Shorthairs. The primary difference is the recessive long-coat gene inherited by the Domestic Longhair, which produces its fluffy coat. A Domestic Shorthair can produce a Domestic Longhair, and vice versa.

Domestic Longhairs have long, fluffy fur. They come in every color seen in cats, as well as every pattern, including tabby, patched tabby and solid. 

Domestic Shorthairs can have different body types and facial expressions, depending on the more prominent breeds in an individual cat’s ancestry. Their weight can vary, from 11 to 22 pounds. Males tend to be larger than females.

I will be pet sitting for a customer during Thanksgiving that owns a Scottish Fold.

Here are a few interesting facts:

The Scottish Fold is a breed of cat with a natural dominant-gene mutation that makes its ear cartilage contain a fold, causing the ears to bend forward and down towards the front of their head, which gives the cat what is often described as an "owl-like" appearance.

Originally called lop-eared or just lops after the lop-eared rabbit, Scottish Fold became the breed's name in 1966. Depending on registries, longhaired Scottish Folds are varyingly known as Highland Fold, Scottish Fold Longhair, Longhair Fold and Coupari.

The original Scottish Fold was a white barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1961. Susie's ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier. Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in Great Britain in 1966 and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. The breeding program produced 76 kittens in the first three years—42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene. Susie's only reproducing offspring was a female Fold named Snooks who was also white; a second kitten was neutered shortly after birth. Three months after Snooks' birth, Susie was killed by a car. All Scottish Fold cats share a common ancestry to Susie.

All Folds are born with straight, unfolded ears, and those with the Fold gene will begin to show the fold usually within about 21 days. The kittens that do not develop folded ears are known as Straights. The original cats only had one fold in their ears, but due to selective breeding, breeders have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that causes the ear to lie totally flat against the head.

The Scottish Fold is a medium-sized cat, with males typically reaching 4 to 6 kg (9–13 lb), females 2.7–4 kg (6–9 lb). The Fold's entire body structure, especially the head and face, is generally rounded, and the eyes large and round. The nose will be short with a gentle curve and the cat's body well-rounded with a padded look and medium-to-short legs. The head is domed at the top, and the neck very short. The broadly-spaced eyes give the Scottish Fold a "sweet expression".

Scottish Folds can be either long- or short-haired, and they may have nearly any coat colour or combination of colours (including white)

Scottish Folds, whether with folded ears or with normal ears, are typically good-natured and placid and adjust to other animals within a household extremely well. They tend to become very attached to their human caregivers and are by nature quite affectionate. Folds receive high marks for playfulness, affection, and grooming, and are often intelligent, loyal, softspoken, and adaptable to home situations, people and children.

Folds are also known for sleeping on their backs. Scottish Folds typically have soft voices and display a complex repertoire of meows and purrs not found in better-known breeds. Folds are also known for sitting with their legs stretched out and their paws on their belly. This is called the "Buddha Position".

The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is 15 years.

Scottish folds are susceptible to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and cardiomyopathy.

We are happy that you have decided to add a cat to your household. There are so many lovely cats to choose 

from- ranging greatly in age and temperament. Now is the time to think about what type of cat would best fit into your lifestyle. 

Below are some of the factors we think wise to consider before you bring home your new feline.

If you have never had the pleasure of a feline in your home, you will need to be 

initiated gently! Though a kitten seems non-threatening and oh-so-cute, they are 

babies and need lots of time and attention. Kittens usually require more training 

in household manners, and the home will need to be kitten-proofed so that they 

cannot injure themselves, as they will get into everything! Also, a kitten will 

develop a personality based on learning and on genes, and the personality may be 

one that you didn’t plan for or are not ready for. It certainly could be an OK match 

if your heart is set on it, if you have time on your hands and a willingness to learn. 

An adult cat with the right personality will be easier and more predictable, 

however. 

 

If you are well versed in feline ways, you have many options. You will be able to 

take on a cat with behavior issues such as nipping or hiding- we will help you out

on how to work with these common problems. 

If the human members of your family are young, say under 12, we recommend that you avoid cats who are skittish or easily startled by noises and activity. You should also avoid cats with a history of aggression. 

 

Though kittens are cute and so playful, they are not always good matches for households with young children (say under 7 or so.) Kittens are fragile physically and need very consistent and gentle handling. They can develop serious behavior problems if not raised with consistency and care by all members of the household. 

If you have a small apartment, we would advise a less active cat (and probably over the age of 5). If you have a large house with multiple bedrooms, you will want to avoid an overly fearful cat - that much space may be overwhelming, and they may spend a majority of time hiding. 

Are you home a lot or gone all day?  All cats need daily attention, both petting and interactive playtime, but some cats need more!  If you are gone all day, you should think twice about getting a young kitten or a needy cat.  Behavior problems (such as biting, scratching, and destructive behavior) are common if cats are under-stimulated. A more independent temperament may suit your lifestyle better. 

You could also think about getting two cats instead of one, so they can provide stimulation and company for each other. An excellent option is to adopt cats that have come into the shelter as a pair, and have a history of getting along well. Barring that, you could adopt one cat now, then come back in a month or two, after your cat has settled in, and adopt a suitable companion. 

If you often have company over, you would do well choosing an outgoing cat who will 

enjoy the extra attention. A shy cat would be overwhelmed by lots of social gatherings, and would likely hide. 

Consider the grooming needs of your new cat as well. A longhaired cat is going to need more attention to its’ coat- thorough brushing anywhere from once daily to a minimum of twice a week is necessary. 

Do you have an idea of what type of personality you like in a cat? Are you looking for a very playful cat, or a lap cat? While it can be difficult to tell how your new cat will be in a home, we do have personality profiles that will let you know what we have observed here. If a cat is a “lap cat” in this setting, it is likely to be in a home as well.  (Remember that some of these cats will fall into the "needy" category!)  If a cat is very high-energy here, it is likely to be a high-energy home.  On the other hand, a cat who is mildly shy here may very well become less shy (and potentially more active) over time in a stable home. So, take these factors into consideration when you are looking.

If you have a cat-friendly dog, you will want either a kitten (needs lots of supervision with dog), a confident adult cat, or an adult cat who has a history of enjoying life with a dog. Avoid very fearful cats, declawed cats,and otherwise disabled cats (such as three-legged) unless you have a very small and docile dog. Make sure you have the time and space to introduce the two gradually. You should also be willing to make practical 

changes to your environment as needed, such as blocking your dog’s access to the litter box, and installing  safety gates. 

It is best to match temperaments, and stay within the same age group, when adopting a second cat. If you have a playful, active cat at home, you will need one who can put up 

with and maybe even enjoy that level of energy. Likewise, if you have a mellow older cat at home, don’t bring home a hyper, aggressive kitten! We have cats up for adoption who 

have demonstrated goodwill towards other felines - you may want to start by looking at some of these kitties, especially if you are not sure if your cat at home is good with other cats. 

It is important to realize that no matter who you decide upon, it will take time, and space to separate the cats, in order to make gradual introductions. Cats are territorial animals, and often take weeks or months to adjust to another cat in their space. 

Indoor cats live safer and longer lives, and avoid such hazards as being hit by cars or contracting fatal diseases such as FIV (Feline Immune-deficiency Virus) and FelV (Feline Leukemia) from neighborhood cats.

 

We encourage people to look into alternatives to letting their cats roam the streets, such as fencing in your yard with special cat-proof fencing (see our handout) or perhaps harness-training and “walking” your cat.

 

However, if you are determined that your kitty go outdoors solo, you should avoid white cats (they can get skin cancer) and skittish cats (they are more likely to run away, and very difficult to find if hiding.) Cats that have been declawed should never be let outdoors, as they are unable to adequately defend themselves and often have impaired ability to climb. 

Uhta is also a new client for Whiskers and Tails.

She is very loving and playful.  Uhta's favorite games is, "Catch the String".

Uhta has the most beautiful ragdoll tail and the colors of her fur are beautiful.