Cats for sale as well as Kittens for sale from the best cat breeders
Cats For Sale & Kittens for Sale - Click To Jump Straight To Ads
Anybody who loves cats has probably been hypnotized by these independent, mischievous, charming and mysterious pets. Unlike dogs, cats seem to choose whom they love, which makes we as owners all the more proud to "parent" them.
Kittens
These little bundles of fur are every bit as enchanting as their adult counterparts – arguably, even more so. The word "kitten" comes from the French word "chitoun," which means "kitten." Ultimately, this evolved to the Middle English "kitoun" before it became the modern word "kitten."
How kittens develop and are born
A female cat usually has a litter of 2 to 5 kittens, with a gestational period of 64 to 67 days.
When kittens are first born, they are in something called the amnion, a sack that the mother cat bites off and then consumes. They can't defecate or urinate by themselves, nor regulate their body temperatures, so the mother must stimulate them to go to the bathroom and must keep them warm with her own body.
When they're born, their eyes are closed, and they remain "blind" until they are about 10 days old. Even when their eyes are first open, they can't see very well because the retina isn't fully developed. When they're about 10 weeks old, they can see as well as adult cats.
During the first weeks of life, until about their seventh or eighth week, it's very important that they stay with the mother. During this time, they develop coordination and strength by "play fighting" with littermates, and they learn to wash themselves and to "stalk" imaginary game, things very important to survival in the wild. As they grow, the mother cat will demonstrate hunting techniques to her young so that they learn how to survive on their own. If the mother cat is completely domesticated, she will also teach them other behaviors necessary to domestic living, such as using the litter box.
Kittens consume mother's milk until they are about 3 to 4 weeks old, at which time they begin to eat solid food. By the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old, their diets are entirely comprised of solid food, although they may continue to nurse until they're separated from their mothers.
By the time kittens are 6 to 8 weeks old, they can be separated from their mothers, although it's often recommended that they should stay with their mothers until they are 12 weeks old; this is important to a kitten's behavioral and social development. By the time they are six to seven months old, they are generally sexually mature, and they should be spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancy if necessary.
Kittens' health
Kittens' health is delicate, despite their spry, robust behavior, and they should be vaccinated from contagious illnesses like feline calicivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline panleukopenia. The vaccinations for these disorders are given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, with an initial vaccination against rabies given at 16 weeks. By the time they're 6 to 7 months old, they should be spayed or neutered if not kept for breeding purposes, although some kittens can be spayed or neutered at seven weeks if necessary. Kittens are generally also wormed for roundworms at about four weeks.
Cats
Cats are among the oldest domesticated animals, having first been kept as pets and even worshiped as godlike figures anywhere from 9500 to 12,000 years ago, first in the Near East. Today's domestic kitty was probably the product of European and African wildcats, most notably the Middle Eastern wildcat Felis sylvestris.
Because even today's domesticated house cat is so independent, experts have said that cats were not really domesticated. Instead, they truly domesticated themselves. They've been kept as pets and to control vermin, and even worshiped as gods since the times of ancient Egypt. In 2004, a Cyprus archaeological dig revealed that a cat and human had been deliberately buried together, an obvious nod to the cat's domestication at that time. That particular site revealed that the cat had probably been domesticated about 9500 years ago.
Our ancestors worshiped them, too
We as owners may worship our pets, but it turns out that in ancient times, cats really were worshiped – as gods. They also had a practical purpose, of course, which was to control vermin for grain storage, but it's absolutely true that they were considered to be gods and goddesses incarnate. In fact, Egyptians prized them so much that if one deliberately killed a cat, that person was put to death him- or herself. As the site at Cyprus shows, cats were routinely placed in graves alongside owners when those owners died.
The Romans didn't worship cats as gods incarnate, but they did see them as symbols of freedom. In the Far East, they were valued because they could protect prized manuscripts from being eaten by rodents.
The Black Plague
Briefly, cats were demonized in Europe during the Middle Ages, when they were associated with witches and with the devil; unfortunately, they were killed because of this, in a misguided attempt to prevent evil. And indeed, this may led to the Black Plague, the bubonic plague epidemic that decimated all of Europe during this time. Cats' natural propensity to kill mice may have in fact been protecting Europe all along; when they were killed off briefly during the Middle Ages, bubonic plague took hold because cats were no longer around to kill the rodents that spread it.
Domestication
Although expert Carlos Driscoll states that, "Cats sort of domesticated themselves" because of their independent natures, in that they simply and slowly made themselves part of society, people began to take them on as pets, too. Because they favored cats that were placid and friendly versus those that were more wild or aloof, this naturally led to the emergence of the modern, friendly, peripherally human-dependent house cat. Today, about 34% of households in the United States keep about 90 million cats as pets.
Temperament
While certain breeds of cat may display certain personality characteristics, the modern domesticated shorthair or longhair "generic" cat will display a variety of personality characteristics simply because of its varied genetic background. Some cats are very friendly, while others are more standoffish. Most, however, can be very well socialized with humans especially if the mother cats are themselves domesticated and not wild. That said, they are very independent for the most part and will definitely let their owners know who's boss! While they are very intelligent, and may be friendly and incredibly affectionate, most absolutely know their own minds and will not readily obey.
Cats are independent, though, and that's why it's so easy to keep them as pets. If a kitty has been properly trained to use the litter box, you can leave him or her alone with enough food and water, and a clean litter box with no problems; as long as you check on him or her on a daily basis and replenish food and water as needed, cats usually do just fine on their own. That said, most cats are very affectionate and do need regular interaction with humans and other pets.
Health
Cats are prone to infectious diseases like rabies, feline infectious peritonitis, distemper, and feline leukemia. This is why it's so important to vaccinate early, as described above. Cats should also be spayed or neutered as soon as possible (at least by 6 to 7 months of age) both to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to prevent some reproductive cancers. Indoor cats can live long lives as long as they are cared for properly and get regular veterinary treatment; 15-year lifespans are not unusual.
Cats and kittens, an invasive adaptable species - and the most popular house pet on the planet.
Kittens for sale, review our Cat Classifieds, find 74 Cat Breeds and 300 ads of kittens for sale. Domestic cats and kittens for sale. Find your perfect kitten or cat for sale from reputable, responsible cat breeders.
Cat Articles & Research | Get References | Information for Cat Breeders
Though the scientific study of the human/animal bond is still in its infancy, there are increasing reports of discoveries related to the intriguing connections between human health and interactions with animals. Cats are one of the most popular animals with which we form these interactions. This research paper focuses on whether Cats do play a role in strengthening the human immune system and general well-being.
Researchers observed a mutual social interaction in which both cats and humans signaled to each other when they wanted to pet or be petted. Like our human friends, cats keep track. They were more likely to respond to owners' needs, if their owners had previously responded to theirs. Cats also seem to remember kindnesses and return the favors later. If owners comply with their feline's wishes to interact, then the cat will often comply with the owner's wishes at other times. The cat may also "have an edge in this negotiation," since owners are usually already motivated to establish social contact. Read more research on cats and kittens.
CATS, ALL BREEDS:
