Its Kitten Season (Insights to cat breeding and seasons)

We have all heard of The Kitten Season but how can there be a season for cats? Well the mating cycle of kitty cats is dependent on weather and thus the name “kitten season”. The amazing findings of a survey conducted by Petco found that 60% of the respondents didn't know that there are running a kitten season. The astounding reproductive abilities of cats put humans in a frenzy as shelters are usually full around kitten season and this causes a spike in the rate of putting down or euthanizing cats to make room for the new ones.

Yes, it’s heartbreaking but this is something shelters deal with twice a year. So, when it comes to breeding your cat; every cat lover will tell you not to do it!

Cat birth rate is too high

The higher kitten rates have also been a nuisance to deal with as it has become a larger problem over the years. An average cat has the ability to birth 12 kittens per year. Experts attribute this change to global warming, shelters have also experienced a higher influx of kittens over elongated periods of times. Initially, the kitten season was said to last around 2 months which has grown to extend over a period of 4 months.

The age of maturity for an average cat can be as young as 4 months, which when coupled with elongated warmer weather can clearly portray a picture of why cat overpopulation is problem.

For female cats coming on heat is the beginning of their Oestrus Cycle however, it is not limited by season. Experts state that a cat can reproduce at any time of the year if the conditions are right. This is due to the fact that female cats ovulate upon stimulation unlike humans. Thus the chance of impregnating a female cat are high.

During the heat cycle cats will express behavioural signs that can be used to identify that the cycle has begun. Some of which may include:

• Increased vocalization that is used to signal a willingness to the mate. Normally referred to as “yowling” it should not be confused as a sign of pain.
• Your cat may become increasingly affectionate or aggressive depending on the cats' personality.
• Urine spraying on walls (male cats)
• Increased interest in other cats and pouncing at any chance to go outside.
• Increased attention to the genital area.

Female cats, in particular, are encouraged to be desexed as their heat cycle will continue until and unless they are desexed or mated. Even after mating and pregnancy, the cycle can return after 1-21 weeks. Unattended repeated heat cycles can cause infections in the ovaries that can prove to be fatal.

This is exactly why desexing your cat is stressed upon by all the cat lovers and experts. It will save your kitty cat from a lot of diseases, dangers and stress in case they decide to run out and find a mate in the “heat of the moment”.

Cat Evolution is dedicated to providing you with best cat supplies and accessories. We advise providing your cat with the best comfort during her pregnancy. We are offering the best self-cleaning litter box that provides you a scoop free litter experience and that is also healthy for your cat. Another comforting thing is the modern cat bed and cat pod that will make her pregnancy time more comfortable. For new kittens, automatic cat feeder is a must have and highly advised product to cat parents.

For more statistics and information about cat reproduction, check out the following link:
https://www.catevolution.co.nz/reproductive-capability-of-cats/

Top 3 Things You Should Really Care About as a Cat Owner

We, as cat owners, generally love our pets so much. But as human beings, we sometimes forget about nature and psychology about our pets. Pets are more sensitive than humans and they are also special in many ways. So if we are interested to adopt a pet, we first need to understand their nature and needs.
Here I will discuss three things that you should never forget to provide to your pet, especially if it is a cat. Why I am stressing at the cat is because a cat is a very sensitive animal and also very lazy. If you don't give them their required comfort, you may observe some strange behaviors in their nature.

1. Litter Box:

As a pet owner, your biggest challenge is pet litter. It may surprise you but pets are also very concerned about it. You should never forget to provide best litter facilities to your pet. With the advent of technology, it has not remained a big hassle now. There are advanced technology products which provide you scoop free automatic self-cleaning litter box solutions. Litter Robot III is the best automatic litter box solution that is delivering throughout the world. Cat Evolution Australia is the distributor of this product in Australia & New Zealand.

2. Cat Tree

Cat tree is another most loving toy for the cats. Cats are very sensitive and vulnerable pet. They feel relaxed and safe within their shelters and Cat Tree & Towers are one of them. For best modren cat tower & best cat tree in Australia, you may contact to Cat Evolution.

3. Cat Feeder

The third most important thing for cat parenting is cat feeder. Feeding is another difficult task for pet owners. There are many different and advanced designs are available in the market. I would recommend you to have automatic pet feeder instead of the manual one. They will make your life more comfortable and hassle-free.

I expect this post will be helpful for new pet parents. if you have any question, please feel free to ask

Whisker Fatigue in Cats and Its Solution

Has your cat started acting unusually bratty or strange at meal times?

There may be significant changes in eating habits like reduction in the intake or throwing food on the floor which are indicative of high-stress levels.

  

The first conclusion that you draw may be a psychological disorder however there is another reason behind this crabedness known as Whiskers fatigue. It might sound like a terminology made up by kitty hypochondriacs, however, proof suggests that it’s quite real.

It is actually a condition that can affect cats, and cause them a great deal of stress. Let's take a deeper dive into the function of whiskers and what whisker fatigue is.

 Whiskers are NOT Ordinary Hair! 

Whiskers are the thick hair that are scientifically named is vibrissae. They're sensitive at the tips, where each one includes a sensory organ known as proprioceptor. Once the proprioceptors touch an object, vibrations travel down the whiskers follicles to the roots that are located in nerve-rich areas of cat’s body (mostly in the face but behind the front paws as well).
Read Also Damn lies and cat statistics

How do whiskers work?

The general information regarding whiskers is that they help your cat to go through narrow spaces, however, they also help them navigate through the dark exhibiting the sense of touch and sensing air currents caused by objects in motion. To perform these essential kitty “chores”, whiskers send messages to your cat’s nervous system that determine the location, size and texture of objects.

It has been a long held belief that cats can see in the dark but the fact of the matter is that acute sensitivity of a cat’s whiskers appears to be partially responsible for their successful navigation through the dark.

How do Whisker get stressed out?

Whiskers translate sensory messages as they touch many things throughput the day. However, when your kitty is hungry; bumping of the sensitive whiskers in its muzzle against the sides of    food bowl that is too deep may cause him whisker fatigue. Imagine someone pulling at your hair every time you open up to eat something! Sucks right? That is exactly what your cat feels.

What to Do!

Fortunately, there is an easy solution:

• Change your cat’s narrow and small food bowl with a wide, deep or even a flat food dish. Make sure, the bowls are wide enough to not touch the cat’s whiskers.  

• Steel, glass, or ceramics bowls are the best option as they are easier to clean and do not accumulate bacteria, unlike plastic containers. Cat Evolution has specially designed food and water bowls that will provide a solution for your problem in no time.

• Generally cats like a lip-less, large flowing water source, for drinking. So cat parents should provide an automatic, fresh source, like a smart automatic cat feeder.

•  Another presented solution may ask you to trim the cats’ whiskers, but this is simply a NO, NO. Trimming cat's whisker can mute their expressions, slow down their perceptions and in general cause discomforts and annoy them.

So we can assume that whiskers are one of the important “organs”of the feline family. When it is fatigued, it causes discomfort and even pain. In addition, it makes eating and drinking stressful. The solution is fairly simple, so the best route would be prevention