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Cats
Cats are mammals.
They are also carnivores, which means they eat meat. Cats purr
and are friendly and playful pets.
Male cats are called toms, and females are called queens. Their
young are called kittens.
Life Cycle
When they
are about five months old, cats can begin to breed. Male and female
cats mate and the male's sperm passes into the female's body and
joins with eggs there. Kittens begin to grow and about nine weeks
later, the kittens are born. There are two to six kittens in a
litter. The kittens are blind and deaf for the first two weeks.
Kittens drink milk from their mother's teats. when they are 21
days old they can eat solid food. While they are little, kittens
are cared for by their mother. She cleans and feeds them and keeps
them safe. After they are six weeks old the young cats can look
after themselves.
Feeding your cat
Cats eat meat,
fish and vegetables. There are specially prepared cat food available
from pet shops and from vets. They drink milk when they are kittens
and then water. Sometimes cats eat grass. It helps them to digest
their food.
Exercise and grooming
Cats need
exercise and should have a safe place to run and play. Playing
with your cat will keep it healthy and prevent it from getting
fat, which is not healthy. A scratching pole will give the cat
a place to keep its claws trim. Sometimes owners must trim their
cat's claws. Cats, especially long haired cats, should be brushed
to keep their coats clean and free from fleas.
Go here for an A
- Z guide to all cat breeds and links to information about them
http://cats.about.com/library/breeds/snapshots/blbreeda.htm?once=true&
Go here to read more about caring for your cat
http://www.care-for-my-cat.com/html/everyday_care.html
And there's more here
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_catcare
For the history of the domestic cat go here
http://www.hdw-inc.com/historyofcat.htm
Responsible
pet ownership
Cats, like most pets, enjoy the company of people and depend on
their owners for food, protection and shelter. Before becoming
a pet owner think carefully about all the things you will
have to do to care for your pet responsibly.
Acknowledge this source in your bibliography
like this:
Cats (2007). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
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updated March 2007