Felines

Question 1

Roles of cats in society

Answer 1

Pets
Rodent control
Breeding
Pedigrees/shows
Strays

Question 2

Origins and evolutionary history of cats

Answer 2

Common ancestor with African Wildcat
Cats were valued by humans for the protections of their grain stores and rodent control
Domesticated 9,500 years ago in Cyprus
Domestic cats retained the desire to maintain an independent territory
Many cats live in close proximity while maintaining territory - can lead to conflict

Question 3

Socialisation/sensitive period

Answer 3

2-8 weeks
Defines normal
Impact from good and bad experiences
More likely to be fearful of new experiences encountered outside this time of life
Broader range and greater number of experiences -> more adaptable cat to new situations as an adult
Gentle handling, people, other pets, surfaces, sounds, scents, litter, food, scratching post, toys, activities, outdoors

Question 4

Behaviour of cats

Answer 4

Territorial
Predator and Prey
Fight and flight

Question 5

Factors that affect sociability of cats

Answer 5

Genetics
Kitten socialisation
Social maturity between 1.5-4 years
Previous experience
Relatedness
Perceiving themselves to be in the same social group

Question 6

Indicators of cats being in the same social group

Answer 6

Mutual grooming (allogrooming)
Mutual rubbing (allorubbing)
Sleeping together touching
Spending alot of time in close proximity
Greeting with tail up, touching noses
Communal nursing of young

Cats from the same family or household are not always in the same social group

Question 7

UK animal charities

Answer 7

Cats protection
Dogs trust
Blue Cross
RSPCA
PDSA

Question 8

Cats protection aims

Answer 8

Rescue + rehome
Neuter
Improve understanding of cats

Question 9

Non-pedigree cats

Answer 9

Moggie
Domestic Shorthaired
Domestic Longhaired
Domestic Mediumhair
Crossbreeds

Question 10

Advantages of grooming longhaired cats

Answer 10

Reduces hairballs
May improve skin and hair quality
Good owner-cat bonding

Question 11

Who is the official body of the cat showing world?

Answer 11

Governing council of cat fancy (GCCF)

Question 12

Factors when choosing a cat

Answer 12

Cat factors:
Pedigree or non-pedigree
Long or short hair
Male or female
Adult or kitten
How many?
Where from?

Owner Factors:
Single person/couple/family
Working or non-working
Location/environment
Size of home
Other pets
Finances

Question 13

Essential resources for cats

Answer 13

Food - safe, low traffic area
Water - separate from food
Litter trays - one per cat +1
Scratching posts
Toys
Sleeping places
Hiding places
Places to get up high

Question 14

Advantages and disadvantages of a cat wearing a collar

Answer 14

Advantages:
Easy identification if injured/lost
May increase safety in dark if reflective
Some collars are now effectively used for parasite control

Disadvantages:
Risk of getting caught - use a quick release collar
Collar wounds are common and difficult to treat

Question 15

Indoor cats: things to consider

Answer 15

Number and placement of essential resources
Need a more enriched environment
Needs lots of choice
Beware of obesity

Question 16

Factors in a cat being Indoor or outdoor?

Answer 16

Owner decision:
History of cat
Location
Owner lifestyle
Some cats will not tolerate indoor only

Question 17

Cat Diet

Answer 17

Cats are obligatory carnivores
Need a balanced diet
Essential amino acids, vitamins A+D and EFAs only found in food of animal origin

Question 18

Cat eating requirements and implications

Answer 18

Obligate Carnivores
Highly protein dependent
High and constant rate of protein metabolism
Readily go anorexic
Quickly go into a state of starvation/protein deficiency
Particularly important in sick and/or hospitalised cats
You have 48 hours max in a cat not eating before large metabolic changes occur

Question 19

Obesity in cats: factors leading to increased risk and what obesity can lead to

Answer 19

Up to 20% above ideal weight = overweight
>20% above ideal weight = obese

Increased risk if:
Indoor cats
Male cats
Middle-age
Owner also obese

Increased risk of:
Type II diabetes
Arthritis
Hepatic Lipidosis
Urinary Tract disease

Question 20

Management of obesity in cats

Answer 20

Calorie restriction
Increased ‘work’ for food
Increased play
Owner compliance
Wet food

Question 21

Common Cat diet mistakes

Answer 21

Vitamin A toxicity (high liver diet)
Veggie diets
Human products
Cow milk - many cats are lactose intolerant
Overfeeding

Question 22

Cat Litter

Answer 22

Types of litter:
Grit, sawdust, paper, soil, clumping, odour-free, non-absorbent

Clean frequently: ideally as soon as used

Keep away from food

Question 23

Functions of scratching in cats

Answer 23

Nail conditioning
Scent marking

Question 24

Common Feline diseases & clinical signs

Answer 24

Cat Flu:
Rhinitis + nasal discharge, conjunctivitis + ocular discharge, fever, sneezing.
Caused by a variety of bacterial and viral pathogens

Dental disease:
Halitosis, hypersalivation, inability to eat/pain when eating, tartar, gingivitis, fracture or missing teeth

Road Traffic Accidents:
Young cats, un-neutered toms, black cats, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, blood loss

Cat bite abcesses:
Soft swelling around face or tailhead, swollen leg/foot, pain, often first aware of them 2-5 days post fight

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease:
Frequent, small volume urination, blood in urine, pain on urination, urinating in wrong place, licking perineum, life threatening if unable to urinate completely

Hyperthyroidism:
Excess thyroid hormone, older cats, goitre (swelling at front of neck due to swollen thyroid), thin, polyphagic (hungry), vomiting and diarrhoea

Chronic Kidney Disease:
Inability to excrete nitrogenous waste, electrolyte + acid/base imbalance, older cats, thin, polyuric/polydipsic (excess drinking and urination), inappetant, vomiting

Question 25

Feline Preventative Healthcare

Answer 25

Vaccination
Flea Treatment
Worm Treatment
Neutering
Microchipping

Question 26

Feline Vaccinations and courses

Answer 26

Cat Flu:
Feline Herpesvirus (FHV)
Feline Calicavirus (FCV)

Enteritis:
Feline panleukopenia (FPV)

Feline Leukemia Virus

Start at 8-9 weeks
Kitten course - 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart
First annual booster is important (15 months)
Followed by annual vaccination

Question 27

Feline Worms

Answer 27

Kittens are exposed to roundworms from mothers milk
Fleas can carry tapeworm

Question 28

Reproductive Cycle of cats

Answer 28

Seasonally polyoestrus
Induced ovulators
Cycle every 2-3 weeks
Oestrus lasts 7-10 days
Sexual maturity/puberty from 4 months of age
Pregnancy is 63 days

Question 29

Feline Neutering

Answer 29

Prophylactic and therapeutic
Don’t need to be sexually mature

Question 30

Key Feline Organisations

Answer 30

Cats Protection - feline welfare charity (homing, neutering, education)
International cat care - feline welfare charity (education, cat advocacy)
Governing council of the cat fancy

Question 31

Feline legislation

Answer 31

Animal welfare act 2006
Veterinary Surgeons act 1966
Code of practice for the welfare of cats
Theft act 1968 - cats registered as property
Criminal damage act 1971