WARNING! FLAT FACED CATS HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES

Think carefully when choosing a cat breed for the family. There is mounting evidence to show that flat faced cats have serious health issues says International Cat Care.

In recent months the issue of health problems in flat faced or brachycephalic dogs has been highlighted to the public by RSPCA’s campaign ‘Love is Blind‘.

Flat faced cats like Persians or Exotic Shorthairs can have all the same health issues as dogs – breathing and dental problems, skin fold infections and problems giving birth to name a few.  These issues can lead to lifelong suffering as a direct result of being ‘designed’ to have a very flat face.

To read more on this story, click here: WARNING! FLAT FACED CATS HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES

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Furry Pet Atchoumfan Has Left Twitter Baffled After a User Posted a Picture of Him Saying…”Is This a Cat or Dog?”

Everyone loves an optical illusion, but the latest visual tease to leave the internet confused is something a little different.

Furry pet Atchoumfan has left Twitter baffled after a user posted a picture of him saying: 'Her - "do you have a dog or a cat?" Me - "I don't know".

The image of the enigmatic creature has been retweeted over 12,000 times and liked over 22,00 times as users tried to figure out what kind of animal they were looking at.

Barb Leflar Jackson couldn't figure it out at all, saying: “Yeah, what IS that?” while FreebieBean joked it was an owl, adding: “Whatever it is I want it.”

Stillchip was sure they were looking at a feline, saying: “While the ears are barely visible, the eyes are a dead giveaway. The pupil shape is cat all the way.”

Noonefollowsme agreed making the point that “the eyes never lie”, adding: “Those are cats eyes”.

Summersanz joked “it's a Cog Dat” while ‏JulieCTaylor said: “Definitely a dog. Very cute!”

Eventually, the person behind the Twitter account revealed that the creature is in fact a cat.

The pet is already internet famous in its own right, not just for being half-cat-half-dog.  

He has over 162k followers on hisInstagram page https://www.instagram.com/atchoumfan/ where he is described as a “young male Persian with hypertrichosis. I'm hairy not scary!”

The owner of Atchoum regularly keeps followers up-to-date with what the feline is doing and he can often be seen wearing a funky-colored bow tie.
He also appears to have been featured in magazines, campaigns and has even been in shows.

Atchoum also has a website dedicated to him. It says: “Hello and bonjour! I'm Atchoum, the hairy but not scary Persian kitten from Quebec, Canada. I purr with a French accent.”

“Some people say my wild furs and intense amber eyes make me look like a dog, an owl, a mad scientist, a Gremlin, Lorax or the Grinch but I'm happy to be me.

I love life and love sharing my adventures every day with you!”

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Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League: Monitor Your Animals with Extreme Heat in the Forecast for Days

Washington, DC -  With the National Weather Service predicting temperatures around 90 degrees for the next seven days, the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League is asking all pet owners to take precautions with your pets during this period of extreme heat.

Some tips for pet owners, courtesy of WHS-WARL Director of Behavior and Training Alexandra Dilley.

• Keep your pets indoors when temperatures are extreme and in the shade when they are outdoors.

• Walk your pets early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.

• Give pets plenty of water to avoid dehydration.  When you walk your pet or take your pet outside, carry water with you.

• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.  Temperatures in cars can increase rapidly and become lethal.

• Animals with short noses such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers and Persian cats, struggle in the heat.  Dogs and cats cool themselves by breathing through their mouths, but those with flat faces cannot cool as quickly and need extra attention.

• If your pet is panting excessively, drooling, struggling to walk, is lethargic or has bloody diarrhea or vomiting, know that that these are potentially signs of overheating. 

• Windows in the home that are open should have screens.  Pets can fall out of open, unsecured windows.

• Be careful with dogs on asphalt in the heat.  Not only are their paws sensitive but because their bodies are closer to the asphalt, they can overheat more easily.

• As always, if you think your pet is in distress due to the heat, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.

 About Washington Animal Rescue League/Washington Humane Society (WARL-WHS):

The Washington Humane Society -Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others.  Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region. 

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Helpful Tips to Keep Those Long-Haired Kitties Looking Marvelous

While long-haired cats may be beautiful, sometimes people are apprehensive to have one because of the extra work they might think will be involved. Long-haired cats have a certain appeal to them and if you look past the grooming, they can make a great choice for a companion.

1. The softer the coat, the more grooming required

This is a general rule of thumb that you can apply to long-haired cats. While some coats never seem to develop tangles, cats with softer and silkier coats seem to tangle easier and will require a bit more grooming. To properly upkeep and prevent against tangles that can become painful mats, daily brushing is recommended. And you will find that most cats enjoy being brushed or combed so don’t be surprised if you get a rise out of your cat each time you break out the grooming tool.

2. Older cats may need more assistance

Although cats are thought to be self-grooming, an older cat may have a trying time keeping their fur looking sharp. With age comes lack of energy and the task of grooming may prove too much of a chore for a tired, aging cat. Help them out with daily brushes so they can look and feel good all the time regardless of age.

3. Flat-faced cats may need help in hard to reach spots

 

Brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, have distinct “pushed in” faces and will need assistance grooming the areas around their eyes to prevent from tear-staining and eye infections. If practiced routinely your cat should become accustomed and not seem to mind too much with repetition.

4. Overweight cats need a little extra

If your cat is significantly large, they may have difficulty contorting their bodies to get those hard to reach places around their tail and buttocks. By helping them out with brushing in this area this works to eliminate the possibility of excess clumping or tangles. For heavier cats bathing might be a necessity to keep them sanitary and avoid the risk of infection.

5. Bathing for your cat

Yes, it’s true that cats bathe themselves routinely, but giving your cat a bath about once per month may be needed to help with keeping kitty fresh. The more hair a cat has means more grooming, and for older or overweight cats they may need some extra help keeping themselves tidy. If you would like your cat smelling fresh all of the time, start from a young age implementing a bath into their routine so that they can get used to taking regular baths.

6. No need to hire a professional

Contrary to what some might believe, grooming for long-haired cats can be done at home and doesn’t require professional grooming unless absolutely necessary. With regular grooming this will keep your cat looking great and not have to worry about being transported to the groomer–which if it’s anything like the vet, your cat will not be particularly fond of.

7. More grooming by you, less hairballs for them

Every cat is prone to the occasional hairball, but with all that hair long-haired cats are more susceptible to these unpleasantries. Regular grooming will help reduce the number of hairballs a long-haired cat produces as their digestive systems can only break down so much hair at a time. Which will also be nice as cats love leaving these unsightly cat byproducts in the least desirable of places… directly under your feet where you walk.

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Did You Know: The shape of a Cat’s Face Holds Valuable Clues to its Personality?

The shape of a cat’s face holds valuable clues to its personality — helpful for strengthening your bond with your current cat or determining if a potential new kitty is right for you.

“Cat face geometry is one of the best tools for matching a cat to a person,” explains Arden Moore, author of “Fit Cat: Tips & Tricks to Give Your Pet a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life” (Amazon Books, $15.90). “It especially helps with ‘mutt’ cats whose breed cannot be determined.”

You can order on Amazon.com below:

Here, Moore breaks down the personalities for the three basic cat face shapes to help determine the ideal human companions for each.

Face Shape: Round

Breed examples: Persian, Himalayan
Personality: Referred to as “library cats,” these are the quiet felines who “get spooked if the doorbell rings,” says Moore. They’re shy and gentle and they love a good cuddle — and will happily pose for your Instagram. Once you develop a bond, they will never leave your side.

Ideal Companion: You enjoy curling up on the couch with your Kindle or Netflix and a cup of tea. You’re a homebody, and likely live alone in a studio apartment on a high-numbered floor, away from the noise of the streets below.
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Face shape: Square

Breed examples: Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest
Personality: Confident and independent, square-faced felines can be mellow and roll with the punches. “They can hang out with dogs, kids — nothing really rattles them,” Moore says.

Ideal Companion: ​You have a social life, but look forward to greeting a furry friend when you return home. You work a 9-to-5 job, and live with your spouse, children and a pup in a Park Slope brownstone.


Face shape: Triangle

Breed examples: Abyssinian, Siamese, Burmese
Personality: The “jocks” of the cat world, “they’re the perfect cat for someone who wants to teach their pet tricks,” says Moore. Triangle-faced cats tend to be the most vocal and would rather watch birds out the window than sit in a lap.

Ideal Companion: You’re the life of the party, hosting frequent soirees and showing off your cat’s latest trick. Your work schedule may be erratic, but you don’t mind late-night meows — and you don’t own another, more submissive cat. FOLLOW US!

World's Angriest Cat Greets You In Bollywood Style

Seems, Grumpy Cat has some serious competition! Garfi, a plump orange Persian cat has become an internet sensation thanks to his menacing appearance and a rather intimidating stare.

Garfi lives in Turkey with his owner Hulya Ozkok and has earned quite a number of fans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms.

We picked a few iconic dialogues from popular Bollywood movies to match Garfi's villainous expressions and the results are as follows:

To read more on this story, click here: World's Angriest Cat Greets You In Bollywood Style

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