Monday, February 15, 2010

Thinking Out of the Box

Who thought that when the Bengal was first accepted to TICA as a Championship Breed in August of 1985, that it would soon become the most popular breed in the world.

For two years now, the Bengal has claimed the title of Most Popular Cat based on the number of registrations. Since TICA was the first cat registry to recognize the breed and work with breeders to help develop the lovely spotted cat we know today, being able to claim that a hybrid cat would be the favorite of cat lovers around the globe is astonishing.

It just shows that by thinking out of the box, and TICA being a genetic registry, we can work with breeders to develop cats that are healthy with good personalities, "purrfect" not only for the show ring, but as a pet for families. TICA hasn't stopped with the Bengal as a new breed. The Savannah now has reached Advanced New Breed. The first known Savannah was born April 7, 1986 when a female domestic cat gave birth to a kitten sired by an African Serval. The breed was accepted for registration by TICA in 2001. Another "new breed" is the Thai, the original cat of Thailand, which will soon be able to compete for championship status.

We're proud that TICA continues to "think out of the box" to allow more new breeds to be registered and compete for titles and awards. That's what sets us apart from other cat registries around the world!

Purr-sonally yours,
Vickie Fisher
President
TICA

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Chocolates and Roses

Valentine's Day is a time to shower love on your spouse, family, friends...and cats of course! Kitty would appreciate some cat nip, a new toy or even some scrumptious cat treats or wheat grass.

But please be careful about any boxed chocolates you are given. Don't let them sit out as chocolate is toxic to cats (and dogs if you share your home with any canine children). Also, while roses are not toxic, if kitty wants to chew on the stems, the thorns can cause injuries to your cat's mouth. There are flowers and plants that are toxic so please make sure if you don't know if the flowers are poisonous to put them somewhere out of the way where kitty can't eat them as a snack.

Review a list of poisonous flowers and plants.

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The (Longhaired) Brits Are Coming!

TICA has accepted the British Longhair for championship competition.

The British Longhair has the same characteristics of the British Shorthair but its dense coat stands out from the body emphasizing the cat's imposing lines. In most colors, large, round eyes ranging from deep gold through copper are set into the smiling face. In pointed cats the eyes are blue while deep green eyes shine in the silvers. The classic Blue remains the most popular color however the breed comes in a rainbow of colors. Their round heads have short noses, chubby cheeks and prominent, rounded whisker pads creating an enigmatic smiling look to the face. The British Longhair's round eyes are wide open and, combined with the smile; give the cat an amused air.

British Longhair's are friendly and affectionate, making loyal and devoted companions. If you're on the sofa, they'll be snuggled up beside you. But don't' think they're just lap cats! They have a little bit of the clown in them too, playing with toys when they feel like it.

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Topical Flea Treatments Still Under Question

According to Pet Product News, prompted by a spike in the number of reported adverse reactions to spot-on flea- and tick-control products from 2007 to 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada in April 2009 together launched an investigation into the safety of the treatments. The EPA has been evaluating the data but has not released its findings yet. Click Here for updated information.

What can you do? Comb your cat(s) on a regular basis with a flea comb. There are new natural sprays, shampoos and flea collars available at pet stores or online that are good alternatives. You can also check with your veterinarian for alternative methods of controlling fleas.

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For Love of the Cat...

Why are there people out there that don't love cats like the rest of us? A recent survey conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation found that half of 1,102 non-cat owners that responded have an overall negative attitude towards cats based on litter box smell, shedding, unprovoked biting and a perceived inability of cats to get along with other pets.

The top three negative behaviors cited were cats jump on counters, scratch furniture and spit up hairballs, which can be addressed and corrected with training, scratching posts and diets. Thirty-one percent of the respondents said they couldn't have a cat in their house because someone was allergic to them.

But not all is negative! Ten percent said they would consider owning a cat, and another 12 percent said maybe they'd consider owning a cat if they didn't have these problems. Why would they consider owning a cat? The top three ranked positive behaviors the respondents did like about cats is that they like to play, can entertain themselves and make people smile.

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