When you consider getting a purebred cat, you might consider Persians and Himalayans. If so, you haven’t done enough research to own either breed, since Himalayans actually are Persians. They are the same breed!
Himalayan cats are essentially a cross between a Persian and a Siamese. This gives the cat the long coat of the Persian, with the striking marks of the Siamese. Among Persian cats, the Himalayan is the most popular Persian.
While Himalayans are Persians, however, there are some marked differences between purebred Persians and Himalayans. For example, Himalayans are known to be more vocal than Persians are. Persians have eyes of varying colors, but most Himalayans have beautiful blue eyes. However, the most common difference between Himalayans and purebred Persians are the colors, known as Color Points.
Himalayan color points include blue, red, cream tortie, seal, lilac, chocolate, blue-cream, chocolate tortie, lilac-cream, red lynx, blue lynx, seal lynx, cream lynx, blue-cream lynx, tortie lynx, chocolate lynx, chocolate-tortie lynx, lilac-cream lynx, and lilac lynx.
In the case of Purebred Persians, the color points aren’t as well defined as they are with Himalayans. However, most people cannot distinguish the differences between Persians and Himalayans.
Because Himalayans are actually only part Persian, many people think that they should be priced lower than purebred Persians. In most cases, this isn’t what you will find. Himalayans are priced just as high as purebred Persians because of their beauty and their show quality. Of course, if they are the product of champion status Persians and champion status Siamese, their price only tends to rise higher.
So, why would one choose a Himalayan over a purebred Persian? Some like the darker markings on the Himalayan – the Siamese look combined with the long hair, while others prefer the more solid, non-marked look of the Persian. Other than vocal differences, there really is no difference beyond that.
Showing posts with label Pet Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pet Insurance. Show all posts
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Teaching Persians Good Behavior
Your Persian is beautiful. You could spend hours just looking at him and watching him. The problem is seldom the way he looks…the problem with Persians – or any other breed of cat – is their behavior.
The first thing to realize is that Persians are not dogs. While a dog will do anything in his power to please you, a Persian wants to know what it is that you are going to do to please him. You own a dog…a Persian owns you. Once this has been established and acknowledged by you, you will be more likely to be able to teach your Persian some good behavior.
Cats have their own unique personalities. Each one is different. Some are naturally well behaved, while others are not. Often, the environment determines whether or not they are well behaved. For example, if the Persian gets a lot of attention from you and has plenty of toys to entertain him, you can expect good behavior for as long as that attention continues. However, if you take that attention away, the cat will most likely start acting out in a way that is unacceptable to you.
Note that you cannot really discipline a cat – or any other animal. Animals don’t learn from discipline. They learn from negative results associated with what it is that they are doing. If your cat is swinging from your drapes, and you yell and swat at him, this tells him to fear you, and not to swing from the drapes when you are in the vicinity…he will save drape swinging for when you are not around, but he will still be swinging from the drapes. Squirting with a water bottle doesn’t work….again he associates this with you, not with swinging from the drapes.
However, if the drapes fell each time the Persian felt the need to swing on them, and he hits the floor enough, he will associate that negative result with the drapes, and not with you – and this is what you want. This is how he will learn to stay off of the drapes.
If you want you’re Persian to stay off of the furniture, or to stop scratching the furniture, you have to make the furniture unattractive. There are many products on the market that you can treat your furniture with that will make it unattractive to your Persian.
Each time you find a way to redirect your Persian attention or behavior, you must provide an alternative. If he is swinging from the drapes and scratching the furniture, a good alternative is a cat tree that provides plenty of scratching posts and rope type swings that he can swing from. It takes time, attention, and a little ingenuity on your part, but you really can turn a Persians bad behavior into good behavior that you can both live with.
The first thing to realize is that Persians are not dogs. While a dog will do anything in his power to please you, a Persian wants to know what it is that you are going to do to please him. You own a dog…a Persian owns you. Once this has been established and acknowledged by you, you will be more likely to be able to teach your Persian some good behavior.
Cats have their own unique personalities. Each one is different. Some are naturally well behaved, while others are not. Often, the environment determines whether or not they are well behaved. For example, if the Persian gets a lot of attention from you and has plenty of toys to entertain him, you can expect good behavior for as long as that attention continues. However, if you take that attention away, the cat will most likely start acting out in a way that is unacceptable to you.
Note that you cannot really discipline a cat – or any other animal. Animals don’t learn from discipline. They learn from negative results associated with what it is that they are doing. If your cat is swinging from your drapes, and you yell and swat at him, this tells him to fear you, and not to swing from the drapes when you are in the vicinity…he will save drape swinging for when you are not around, but he will still be swinging from the drapes. Squirting with a water bottle doesn’t work….again he associates this with you, not with swinging from the drapes.
However, if the drapes fell each time the Persian felt the need to swing on them, and he hits the floor enough, he will associate that negative result with the drapes, and not with you – and this is what you want. This is how he will learn to stay off of the drapes.
If you want you’re Persian to stay off of the furniture, or to stop scratching the furniture, you have to make the furniture unattractive. There are many products on the market that you can treat your furniture with that will make it unattractive to your Persian.
Each time you find a way to redirect your Persian attention or behavior, you must provide an alternative. If he is swinging from the drapes and scratching the furniture, a good alternative is a cat tree that provides plenty of scratching posts and rope type swings that he can swing from. It takes time, attention, and a little ingenuity on your part, but you really can turn a Persians bad behavior into good behavior that you can both live with.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Persian Cats And Hairballs - How To Treat Them
For the most part, if you own a cat, you will have hairballs. This is especially true for long haired cats such as the Persian. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce the number of hairballs that you and your Persian have to suffer. The first step is to realize that something must be done about the hairballs, because they are more than a nuisance, they also pose a danger to your cat!
Hairballs have the potential to block the intestines, which in turn blocks the digestion of food. This can cause the cat to become impacted – at the worst – and to not be getting the proper nutrition – at the least.
Hairballs occur when cats groom themselves. They often swallow the hair that is coming loose. We seldom think about the fact that hair cannot really be broken down and properly digested. Your cat is having to deal with hairballs when you hear them hacking and they throw up cigar shaped looking objects on the floor. It’s pretty easy to realize what you are looking at when you see one.
The first step to cutting down on hairballs is to brush your cat daily! This helps to keep loose hair removed – before your Persian gets the opportunity to swallow all of that loose hair. This is the number one way to prevent hairballs, although all it really does is cut down on the number of hairballs that your cat has to deal with.
You can use hairball products that are available in most stores as well. These products include hairball reduction food and hairball supplements. These don’t prevent the cat from swallowing loose hair. Instead, they give the fur more oils, which makes it easier for the hair to pass through the digestive tract.
If you do some basic research on hairballs, you will also find many home solutions that cat owners swear by. One such home remedy includes feeding the cat about half a teaspoon of butter several times a week. Another is giving the cat pureed squash or canned pumpkin. There is a good chance that you won’t be able to force your Persian to eat any of these things.
Again, the best remedy for hairballs is to keep the Persian well brushed. Occasional bathing isn’t out of the question either – but daily brushing is a must. Not only is this required to keep Persians beautiful and tangle free, but as you can see, it’s also the most effective way to cut down on the number of hairballs that you and your precious Persian have to deal with.
Hairballs have the potential to block the intestines, which in turn blocks the digestion of food. This can cause the cat to become impacted – at the worst – and to not be getting the proper nutrition – at the least.
Hairballs occur when cats groom themselves. They often swallow the hair that is coming loose. We seldom think about the fact that hair cannot really be broken down and properly digested. Your cat is having to deal with hairballs when you hear them hacking and they throw up cigar shaped looking objects on the floor. It’s pretty easy to realize what you are looking at when you see one.
The first step to cutting down on hairballs is to brush your cat daily! This helps to keep loose hair removed – before your Persian gets the opportunity to swallow all of that loose hair. This is the number one way to prevent hairballs, although all it really does is cut down on the number of hairballs that your cat has to deal with.
You can use hairball products that are available in most stores as well. These products include hairball reduction food and hairball supplements. These don’t prevent the cat from swallowing loose hair. Instead, they give the fur more oils, which makes it easier for the hair to pass through the digestive tract.
If you do some basic research on hairballs, you will also find many home solutions that cat owners swear by. One such home remedy includes feeding the cat about half a teaspoon of butter several times a week. Another is giving the cat pureed squash or canned pumpkin. There is a good chance that you won’t be able to force your Persian to eat any of these things.
Again, the best remedy for hairballs is to keep the Persian well brushed. Occasional bathing isn’t out of the question either – but daily brushing is a must. Not only is this required to keep Persians beautiful and tangle free, but as you can see, it’s also the most effective way to cut down on the number of hairballs that you and your precious Persian have to deal with.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Persian Cats Need Daily Grooming
As you may or may not know, most cats are perfectly capable of grooming themselves, and for many breeds, the owner doesn’t need to do anything further. Unfortunately, in the case of Persians, this is not the case. Persians have long, beautiful hair, and they are considered to be one of the most high maintenance cats in existence.
Grooming begins with daily brushing. The cat should be brushed once a day, or at the very least once every two days. Brushing with a natural bristle brush, followed by a metal comb, is essential to keep the Persians fur from knotting up. You should not use nylon combs, as these do nothing but generate static electricity, which is already a problem for Persians.
To combat static electricity, there are many things that you can do. You can gently rub the cat with a fragrance free dryer sheet. You can also purchase anti-static sprays that are made especially for pets. You can wipe the cat down with a damp paper towel, or you can use hand cream on your hands before handling the cat.
When you are brushing and combing your Persian, if you discover a knot, try to work it out with your fingers. It is important to be gentle, so that you don’t cause the cat pain. You want your Persian to continue to enjoy the time that you spend brushing him – and if it always results in pain, he will quickly learn to hide when you get the brush. If necessary, use round tipped scissors to cut the knot out of his fur.
Persians do have eye drainage, and this is normal. Excessive eye drainage, however, is not normal. For normal drainage, wipe his eyes with a warm, moist cloth once or twice a day to prevent gunk build up and discoloration. For excessive eye drainage, visit the veterinarian to find out what the problem is.
Unless you will be showing your Persian, bathing him in the tub really isn’t necessary, unless he has parasites or a skin condition that needs treating. If this is the case, follow the directions on the medicated shampoo that you are using, and bath the cat in lukewarm water. Make sure that you rinse him well, and avoid getting water in his eyes or ears. After the bath, you can towel dry him a bit, and try to get him combed out before he runs away to hide. He will eventually lick himself dry.
Finally, you will most likely want to trim your Persians nails ever couple of months. If you’ve never done this before, you can have a groomer or your veterinarian show you how it is done, or pay the groomer or veterinarian to do this for you.
Grooming begins with daily brushing. The cat should be brushed once a day, or at the very least once every two days. Brushing with a natural bristle brush, followed by a metal comb, is essential to keep the Persians fur from knotting up. You should not use nylon combs, as these do nothing but generate static electricity, which is already a problem for Persians.
To combat static electricity, there are many things that you can do. You can gently rub the cat with a fragrance free dryer sheet. You can also purchase anti-static sprays that are made especially for pets. You can wipe the cat down with a damp paper towel, or you can use hand cream on your hands before handling the cat.
When you are brushing and combing your Persian, if you discover a knot, try to work it out with your fingers. It is important to be gentle, so that you don’t cause the cat pain. You want your Persian to continue to enjoy the time that you spend brushing him – and if it always results in pain, he will quickly learn to hide when you get the brush. If necessary, use round tipped scissors to cut the knot out of his fur.
Persians do have eye drainage, and this is normal. Excessive eye drainage, however, is not normal. For normal drainage, wipe his eyes with a warm, moist cloth once or twice a day to prevent gunk build up and discoloration. For excessive eye drainage, visit the veterinarian to find out what the problem is.
Unless you will be showing your Persian, bathing him in the tub really isn’t necessary, unless he has parasites or a skin condition that needs treating. If this is the case, follow the directions on the medicated shampoo that you are using, and bath the cat in lukewarm water. Make sure that you rinse him well, and avoid getting water in his eyes or ears. After the bath, you can towel dry him a bit, and try to get him combed out before he runs away to hide. He will eventually lick himself dry.
Finally, you will most likely want to trim your Persians nails ever couple of months. If you’ve never done this before, you can have a groomer or your veterinarian show you how it is done, or pay the groomer or veterinarian to do this for you.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Do You Need Insurance for Your Persian?
Insuring pets is still a relatively new thing in our society, but more and more pet owners are finding that paying the premiums for pet insurance is well worth it. Because Persian cats cost so much initially, should you consider purchasing pet insurance for your Persian?
The answer to this is a resounding yes. As much as Persians cost – initially and throughout their lives – and as much as one could win in prize money at the cat shows for these beautiful animals, one would even wish that you could purchase life insurance on these animals, but you can’t. What you can purchase is pet insurance, which covers medical costs for the animal.
Costs for veterinarian services are on the rise. These days, there are many diagnostic tests that can be performed, and those tests are costly. However, in the instance of purebred animals, such as the Persian cat, diagnostic tests, as well as genetic testing is essential…and largely unaffordable by the vast majority.
Then there are emergency situations that must be paid for. Cats are known for having urinary and bladder problems. These problems often have to be corrected with surgery, which can cost thousands of dollars. Without the surgery, the cat will most likely die. Even if the problem can be treated without surgery, the fix is temporary at best, and the owner can expect to have the cat in the veterinarian’s office again and again, for the same problem, at a cost of hundreds of dollars for each episode.
This is where pet insurance really comes in handy. Not only does pet insurance cover routine exams and care, but it will also pay a large percentage of procedures that must be performed due to illness or injuries. Believe it or not, pet insurance actually saves the lives of many animals, because without such insurance, the owners wouldn’t be able to afford the care, which leads to the animal being put down.
Pet insurance is quite affordable, and typically costs anywhere from $10 to $20 per month, depending on the type of animal you have and the age of the animal. Pet insurance can now be bought through independent companies and through many major insurance carriers as well.
The next time that you review or renew your own insurance, be sure to ask your insurance agent if pet insurance is available. When you insure your pet through the same agent or company where you have your own insurance, you are often offered discounts on the pet insurance, which is an added bonus.
You spend a lot of money on your Persian cat. It simply makes sense to go ahead and spend a few pennies more for health insurance for your Persian as well.
The answer to this is a resounding yes. As much as Persians cost – initially and throughout their lives – and as much as one could win in prize money at the cat shows for these beautiful animals, one would even wish that you could purchase life insurance on these animals, but you can’t. What you can purchase is pet insurance, which covers medical costs for the animal.
Costs for veterinarian services are on the rise. These days, there are many diagnostic tests that can be performed, and those tests are costly. However, in the instance of purebred animals, such as the Persian cat, diagnostic tests, as well as genetic testing is essential…and largely unaffordable by the vast majority.
Then there are emergency situations that must be paid for. Cats are known for having urinary and bladder problems. These problems often have to be corrected with surgery, which can cost thousands of dollars. Without the surgery, the cat will most likely die. Even if the problem can be treated without surgery, the fix is temporary at best, and the owner can expect to have the cat in the veterinarian’s office again and again, for the same problem, at a cost of hundreds of dollars for each episode.
This is where pet insurance really comes in handy. Not only does pet insurance cover routine exams and care, but it will also pay a large percentage of procedures that must be performed due to illness or injuries. Believe it or not, pet insurance actually saves the lives of many animals, because without such insurance, the owners wouldn’t be able to afford the care, which leads to the animal being put down.
Pet insurance is quite affordable, and typically costs anywhere from $10 to $20 per month, depending on the type of animal you have and the age of the animal. Pet insurance can now be bought through independent companies and through many major insurance carriers as well.
The next time that you review or renew your own insurance, be sure to ask your insurance agent if pet insurance is available. When you insure your pet through the same agent or company where you have your own insurance, you are often offered discounts on the pet insurance, which is an added bonus.
You spend a lot of money on your Persian cat. It simply makes sense to go ahead and spend a few pennies more for health insurance for your Persian as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
