All newborn kittens have two openings under their tails.  In the females these are obviously the anus (closest to the tail) and the vagina.  Some people are surpised to learn that in male kittens the lower opening is in fact the penis.

Therefore at first glance, both male and female kittens look the same under their tails.  However, on closer examination there are two differences.

In males, the distance between the two openings is greater than in females.  As mentioned, even the professionals get it wrong, especially when faced with a single kitten.  The best way to notice the difference in this distance is to look at a number of kittens and compare what you’re seeing.

The reason for the larger gap in males is to make room for the testicles, which do not appear outside the body for a couple of months.

The second difference is the shape of the lower opening.  In females it is a narrow vertical opening, whereas with males it is rounder.  Some people compare the area under a female kitten’s tail to a lower case letter i, and the male’s to a colon :

That’s a huge simplification of reality, but nonetheless goes somewhat towards describing the situation.

One more tip - if you’re feeling up to it, you can give the lower opening a small squeeze.  If the tip of the penis appears, it’s a boy.

There is also a health issue related to sexing.  You should check kittens under their tail as a matter of course.  This is because on rare occasions there is only one opening.  This requires immediate veterinary attention.

The treatment

The process of vaccination is itself simple.  A newborn kitten gets her first set of injections at 9 weeks old, then another set at 12 weeks old.

An older cat that hasn’t been vaccinated will get two sets, three weeks apart.

Depending on factors such as likelihood of contact with other cats and who you listen to, your cat will be fully protected either one week or two weeks later.

No other initial treatment is necessary, but annual boosters are usually administered.  Veterinary experts aren’t entirely sure if yearly top-ups are necessary, but most pet insurance companies will insist on them.

The diseases

Cat Flu (aka Feline Upper Respiratory Disease Complex)

Strictly speaking cat flu is one of a range of viral infections. By far the two most common are feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus.  The vaccinations will protect against these two feline diseases.

The symptoms vary slightly, but will include most of the following: sneezing, coughing, runny nose, drooling, loss of appetite, fever, depression, eye ulcers, mouth ulcers, joint pain and gunky eyes.

A cat with cat flu is in severe danger from dehydration in the short term, and may also develop pneumonia.  In the case of calicivirus especially, the disease never really goes away.  Rhinotracheitis will re-appear when it’s least welcome i.e. at times of stress.  Reproduction in female cats may also be impossible.

Feline Infectious Enteritis (aka Panleukopania)

Another virus that causes severe problems for cats.  It is widespread, partly because it is so hard to kill.  It can also survive for over a year without getting anywhere near a cat.

The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, seizures, depression, thirst and crippling abdominal pain.  It attacks the digestive system, lymphatic system, nervous system and bone marrow.

Feline infectious enteritis can kill within five days.  Kittens that get the disease rarely survive, and cats that do get through it suffer for the rest of their lives.

Their intestines will be permanently damaged, they will suffer diarrhoea, and any females who fall pregnant will give birth to either stillborn or brain damaged kittens.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Again, caused by a virus, FeLV is a nasty feline disease.  It causes the growth of malignant tumours in the lymphatic system, nervous system, nasal cavity, spleen, kidneys and thymus gland.  This leads on to a range of problems affecting the nerves, bone marrow, intestine, blood and reproductive organs.

In severe cases the only treatment is to make the cat feel as comfortable as possible.

Initial symptoms are loss of appetite, breathing problems, fever, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, depression, diarrhoea and anaemia.

FeLV kills two thirds of the cats it infects.

The conclusion

Get your cats and kittens vaccinated.

History and Origins

Like the Siamese cat, the exact origins of the Persian cat have been lost in time.  However, there is some evidence to suggest that they do indeed originate in Iran, formerly called Persia.

Some historians contend that there are hieroglyphic references to the Persian cat dating to 1700 BC, which would make their origins a more cloudy issue.

The first Persian cats to enter Europe arrived by two routes.  One was into Italy, the other into France.  Both events took place in the early 17th century, and since then they have been bred to the standard known today.

Colour and Form

There is no particular colour for a Persian cat.  There are about 100 different variations on 7 basic patterns.  Some of the more exotic names include Red Smoke, Shell Chocolate Calico and Flame Point.

However, all Persian cats have a long thick coat and a shortened - in some cases non-existant muzzle.  They also have very large eyes and fairly rounded ears.

Their body shape is heavy, stocky and compact.

Persian cats require daily grooming to prevent the hair matting and needing clipped by a vet.  They also need bathed regularly to keep the hair in good condition.  It is best to get the cat used to bathing at an early age to prevent problems at a later date.  Combing should be a pleasure for both of you!

The large eyes although beautiful, can become problematic in older Persian cats.  A hard growth sometimes forms under the eye.

Another potential problem is the shortened muzzle.  By its very nature, it causes deformities in the sinuses and nasal cavity, which can lead on to respiratory problems.  It is also a shortened, therefore less effective filter of dust and dirt that wouldn’t cause problems in longer-nosed cats.

Polycystic kidney disease and retained testicles are also more common in Persian cats, but the PKD is being bred out.

Personality and Behaviour

The Persian cat is one of the most relaxed cats you will ever come across.  They are quiet, laid back and love to sit back and watch everything that is going on around them, without ever getting excited about any of it.

They do enjoy gentle play, and can move with surprising agility when called upon, or upon encountering something resembling prey.

Generally, any other cat is welcome in the home of a Persian cat, as long as it doesn’t expect too much rough and tumble.

Perfect as an indoor cat that provides quiet companionship, and will make you smile every time you look at him, it’s no wonder the Persian cat is the most recognizable and popular cats in the world today.

However, there is one type of cat that will not respond well to those measures - the outdoor cat.

Forcing an outdoor cat inside and blocking out the scary noises will not make sense.  She will simply think she isn’t allowed out, and have no idea why. You will most likely end up with torn furniture, torn curtains, urine stains and smells, and a very unhappy cat.

Similarly, you can’t put the cat out.  The fireworks will scare her to levels that could only be described as tormenting.

What you need to do is provide the cat with some sort of safe haven, with the option of coming right into the house.  If your cat is never in the house, she will most likely have a favourite hiding place somewhere in the neighbourhood.  However, it would be better to provide one in any outdoor space within your own property.

A utility room or porch with an outer door left ajar could also be used, with the option for the cat to come right into the house.  As long as she knows she can leave the house proper, and return at will there shouldn’t be a problem.

Although the usual advice will state that all exit routes from the house should be blocked, this really only applies to house cats that have shaky nerves at the best of times.  An outdoor cat that comes to your house for treats or affection is much less likely to associate the fireworks with your house and run away.

Other than that, if and when your outdoor cats do come into the house because of fireworks, the usual advice is good advice.  Do provide a dark room with soothing music, and “act-normal” human behaviour.  Just don’t force the cat into it.

Some people prefer to put the cat on a table, others on their lap, and others like to sit on the floor with the cat between their knees.

Once you are in position and comfortable, you need to make sure the cat is totally under your control.  A good way to achieve this is to wrap the cat in a towel with only her head sticking out.  Also, make sure her rear end is against you or another solid object so she can’t back out.

Finally, place thumb and forefinger on the hinges of the cat’s jaw until the mouth opens, and pop the pill in.

A useful tip is to turn the cat’s head over one shoulder, then tilt it upwards before opening the jaws.  This makes the jaws a bit easier to open.  Once the pill is in, the main part of the battle is over. The next job is to get your cat to swallow the pill. Return her head to a more neutral position and stroke under the chin until the pill is swallowed. Another useful tip is to blow on her nose to dry it out. When you let go she will lick it, which will automatically be followed by a swallow.

Although the process of giving a pill to a cat is less than pleasurable, and certainly uncomfortable, it could never be described as distressing. Cats know when they are being helped, and you will probably find yourself on the receiving end of some feline gratitude when the illness in question has cleared up.

A fracture is usually obvious, but in some cases - such as broken ribs - it may not be too easy to spot.  Watch out for inactivity, dislike of being handled, laboured breathing and depression.

The most common bones for cats to fracture are the legs, pelvis, spine and jaw.

Leg fractures

When a cat fractures a leg it is easy to spot, and fairly straightforward to treat.  However it is important to ensure there are no other joint, organ or spinal injuries that also need treated but are not as obvious.  Treatment can be either splinting or surgical depending on how the vet assesses the injury.

Pelvis fractures

Some pelvis fractures can be left to heal on their own, others will require surgical repair.  The main cause of concern when a cat suffers a pelvic fracture as a result of heavy trauma is damage to the kidneys and urinary system.

Spine fractures

Spinal injuries have the potential to be very serious.  If a fractured spine occurs along with severe damage to the spinal cord, no amount of bone healing will help and the cat will need to be put to sleep.  Even tail fractures can come with unexpected complications.  Some tail fractures can leave cats unable to control their toilet activities.

Jaw fractures

Although jaw fractures are deeply unpleasant to witness, they are not usually life-threatening.  With wiring and or pinning, the cat will usually make a full recovery.

Once the vet has completed their medical and/or surgical treatment, they will probably set out a course of physical therapy for the cat.  It is very important to follow these instructions closely as they will usually mean the difference between permanent disfigurement, deformity, disablement or injury, and a full recovery.

If you have a cat and want another one, go to your local shelter where you will find a large selection.  Do not breed and hope to get rid of the rest of the litter - you won’t.

Another sobering statistic: in the UK alone around 1,000 healthy cats and kittens are destroyed every day because a home can’t be found for them.

Now on to the more practical reasons from a cat owner’s point of view.  Male cats that have not been neutered are a nightmare.  If they are kept indoors they will spray urine on the furniture, walls and curtains, and try to escape all the time.  Outdoor cats that haven’t been neutered will fight, which can lead to abscesses, FeLV and FIV (the feline form of HIV).  Neutering also eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer.

Female cats that haven’t been spayed also cause massive problems.  They too spray urine everywhere, and howl constantly when in heat.  From a health perspective, spaying guarantees that the cat will not get uterine or ovarian cancer, and the risk of mammary cancer is significantly reduced.  An unspayed female cat is also at risk from FeLV and FIV because the male bites the females neck during mating, and these bites frequently break the skin.  Any male cat carrying the viruses will then pass them on to the female.

Finally, spaying and neutering should take place as soon as possible.  There are several notions often stated as fact for delaying spaying and neutering (e.g. females should have at least one litter first) but science has tested these notions, and there are now no reasons not to have kittens spayed and neutered.

Indeed there are several benefits.  For example, a kitten that is spayed will only require one stitch to close the wound.  Also, getting back to the population explosion, kittens of both sexes can breed at 4 months old.  So get it done early.

As a footnote, there is the elephant in the room of pedigree cats.  Obviously if they are all spayed and neutered there would be no more pedigree cats - an undesirable situation.  If you intend to buy a pedigree cat, do everything you can to make sure the breeder is a responsible breeder.  A good sign that they are is if they insist on spaying/neutering of any cats they sell to non-breeders.

Professor Adnan Qureshi is Executive Director of the Stroke Research Center at the University of Minnesota. At the 2008 International Stroke Conference in New Orleans, he presented findings of a study of data from a 10 year study of 4,435 Americans. Roughly half of them had owned a cat at some point during in their lives.

What the study showed was that people who had owned a cat had a 40% less chance of suffering a heart attack.

The study didn’t offer any explanation as to why this is the case, but Prof. Qureshi speculated that being in the company of a cat reduces stress and anxiety (Hardly news to us cat owners!) - both contributing factors in heart attacks.

Other experts have suggested that stroking and petting a cat reduces stress, blood pressure and heart rate, while others reckon that cat owners are the sort of people who are less susceptible to heart attacks anyway.

Whatever the reasons, it’s good to have the scientists confirm what we cat owners have known all along - cats are good for you!

History and Origins

The exact origins of the Siamese cat are not clearly recorded, but they do come from south-east Asia, and possibly from Thailand. Siam is an old British colonial name for Thailand.

It is possible that the modern Siamese cat is descended from Royal or temple cats that were believed to act as guards against evil spirits, and carriers of good fortune.

Siamese cats were first seen outside south-east Asia in 1884, when a British official returned from Siam with a breeding pair. By all accounts their appearance and lively behaviour produced quite a stir in the English cat world of the time.

It wasn’t long before the Siamese cat appeared in America, and it has grown in popularity ever since to become one of the top three most popular cat breeds in the western world.

Colour and Form

The “classic” Siamese cat has a light body with seal-brown paws, legs, face, ears and tail. This variety is known as seal point. However, there are now over 30 different varieties of Siamese cat with names as intriguing as blue point, caramel tortie point, apricot point and lilac tabby point to name a few.

A Siamese cat’s body is a fine balance of athletic and muscular. They are not the largest of cats, but are robust and heavier than they look.

Their fur is short, flat and smooth. Not only does it look beautiful, it is really easy to keep beautiful. A quick brush and the odd bath should keep it in top condition.

Personality and Behaviour

It has been said that Siamese cats truly believe the world was created for their benefit, and revolves around them. It is probably also fair to say they truly believe humans were created for their benefit, and should also revolve around them!

They are very active, playful, noisy cats that hate to be left alone. Having a Siamese cat as a single cat in a household that is empty for long periods is totally unsuitable.

They are happy with the company of other Siamese cats, but will bully the more relaxed and less extroverted breeds.

In a family setting Siamese cats play their full part, and will often bond with one human in particular. This bond will extend to fierce loyalty, leaving any other cat that wants a piece of that human’s affection with a battle on its hands.

If you want a great friend, get a Siamese cat.

Before attempting to control cat shedding, it’s important to understand how and why it happens.

Cat shedding is a healthy, natural response to longer days in the spring, and shorter days leading up to winter. In the spring cats shed their warm winter coat because it is no longer needed. Before winter they get rid of old hair so they can grow a new winter coat and have it in tip-top condition during the colder months.

However, shedding that follows this pattern only happens in outdoor cats. The benefits of this for you, the cat owner, are twofold. Firstly your cats will do most of their shedding outdoors, and secondly it will be limited to twice a year.

With indoor cats the story is different. Because the temperature never really changes, and the lights are on past nightfall even on the longest summer days, indoor cats have lost their natural shedding rhythms and do it all year round.

Now we all know how much cats love to be groomed, so buy a brush and give your cat a therapeutic (for both of you!) brush as often as you can. There is no harm in doing it every day. Not only will you be removing cat hair that would otherwise be left around your house, you will help prevent hairballs and be able to keep an eye out for skin diseases.

Although brushing is probably the singlemost effective tool to control cat shedding, using wet wipes, covering your cat’s favourite places with an easily washed blanket, and a diet rich in omega-3 can also help reduce cat shedding.