The Snowshoe Cat is a breed created by American breeders who crossed Siamese cats with bicolor American Shorthair cats, combining the color of the Siamese cats and the white ankles of the Birman cats. They are large in size, with some male cats weighing over 5 kilograms. Snowshoe cats are born completely white and develop their markings after about two years. While originally the breed focused on the coloring of Siamese cats, various color variations of Snowshoe cats have been bred.
The white markings overlap the traditional Siamese cat pattern, and breeds with this pattern are becoming increasingly popular. The "white boots" on the front legs must reach the ankle and extend to the hock joint on the hind legs. Older cats usually have darker coloring, but the key is to create a contrast between the point color and the body color.
The white paws of the Snowshoe Cat were initially considered a "breeding mistake" and were first seen in a litter of kittens born to a normal pointed Siamese cat. Their breeders were very fond of these cats and crossed a Siamese cat with an American Shorthair cat to continue breeding this new breed with its striking appearance.
Recommended for cat lovers.
1. Cat Scab
Cat scab is a common skin disease in cats, simply put, it is a fungal infection.
Cause: Kittens with poor physique are more prone to scabies. Another type is caused by a warm and humid living environment, leading to fungal infections.
Symptoms: The easily affected areas are usually the ears and chin. Initially, small areas of scab will appear, accompanied by hair loss, dry scales on the surface, and severe cases may result in skin ulcers and large areas of bald spots.
Solution: Isolate first - shave the hair (shave the hair near the scab, to facilitate the application of medicine and prevent the spread of fungi) - take oral medication (commonly used are itraconazole/fluconazole/griseofulvin) - apply ointment (ketoconazole cream/miconazole cream/tolnafate cream/petiphen spray, please follow the doctor's advice before use) - medicated bath (ketoconazole solution/miconazole solution, continue for 1-2 weeks until recovery) - increase nutrition (cats infected with scabies may have some problems with resistance, so they need to increase nutrition, cook some chicken breasts and carrots) - sunbathe more (sunbathe to maintain ventilation, which can help kill bacteria).
2. Cat Flu
Cat flu is also one of the common diseases, and kittens with weak constitution are more prone to it.
Cause: A bacterial strain called the herpesvirus invades the cat's respiratory tract. This virus attaches to the cat's trachea and begins to invade their respiratory system.
Symptoms: Increased body temperature, mucus around the nose, frequent sneezing, excessive secretions around the eyes, and severe cases may also have conjunctivitis.
Solution: When it is not too serious in the early stage, you can take lysine and cooperate with antiviral eye drops. It is recommended to vaccinate kittens to reduce the chance of getting cat flu. The virus causing cat flu has a strong ability to survive, so it is necessary to disinfect and clean the entire house. Formaldehyde and phenol can be used for disinfection.
3. Vomiting
Cat vomiting is also common. Sometimes cats vomit their vomit out of their own body protection mechanism, and they will feel better after vomiting.
Cause: Inhaling too much hair, indigestion, swallowing foreign objects, changing food too quickly, catching a cold, and gastroenteritis can all cause vomiting.
Symptoms: The vomit contains hair and mucus; or vomits food, vomits yellow water and foam, etc.
Solution: If the cat vomits hair, it is recommended to buy some hair cream or cat grass for the cat to eat.
When the cat vomits, it is recommended to let the cat fast for a day, give it some warm water to drink, and then feed some pet probiotics to help regulate its flora. If the cat's vomiting symptoms stop, you can feed a small amount of soft cat food or canned food with more soup and easy digestion. If the vomiting does not improve, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
Hygiene: Because cats have more fur, they are prone to carrying all kinds of bacteria and fleas. To ensure the health of the cats and their owners, it is necessary to regularly bathe the cats and groom their fur;
Diet: Different cats have different food preferences. Owners should not choose cat food randomly for the sake of convenience. They should carefully select cat food based on the type, growth, and physical condition of the cats, and prepare dedicated utensils for the cats;
Health: Like humans, cats can also get sick. When cats get sick, they must be taken to a specialized animal hospital for treatment. Regular physical examinations and vaccinations should also be carried out for cats. Only when the cats are in good health can they have the energy to play with their owners;
Safety: There is a saying "Curiosity killed the cat". Cats are restless and always have great curiosity about various things. Their nature also makes them like to enter closed spaces. Therefore, owners must close doors, windows, and lids to prevent cats from getting into potential dangers;
Living space: Cats love to take a nap, so as owners, they should prepare a sleeping mat for them. After long-term use, these mats will accumulate a lot of bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to regular cleaning and disinfection;
Cat litter: The problem of pets defecating anywhere is a common concern for many pet owners. But cats are actually very clean animals, so as long as the owner prepares cat litter for the cats, they will use the litter box on their own;
Cats cannot tolerate being forced to do anything. When owners force them to do something, they will become annoying. Therefore, owners should always trim the cat's claws to prevent getting scratched and infected while playing with them.
Grooming time: recommended every three days
1. Relax the cat: before combing, you can first give the cat a massage. After the kitten purrs, proceed with the following steps;
2. Comb along the hair: from the back → waist → buttocks → tail; when combing, you can dampen the cat's hair with a small amount of water to reduce static electricity, comb along the direction of hair growth, and comb from top to bottom;
3. Comb from chest to abdomen: lift the cat, sit on your lap in a human posture, and comb from top to bottom. The cat's belly is more sensitive, so when combing, the owner must be fast and accurate.
4. Comb the cat's head and the area around the face: you can comb from the cat's head or face towards the neck, and be careful with the cat's eyes when combing.
5. Hair under the armpits and on the abdominal side: at this time, the cat can lie on its side, lift up the cat's front paws, and comb from the armpits to the side of the abdomen.
6. Finally, use a comb to further comb and remove excess hair, straighten the cat's coat, and complete the entire process.
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