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Moggies - glossary of cat terms Category: Animals and Nature > Cats Date & country: 22/09/2007, UK Words: 130

Acute Metritis
An infection of the uterus.

Agouti
The colour between the stripes of a Tabby cat. In non-agouti cats there is no contrast, producing a solid (self) coat.

Ailurophile
A person who loves cats.

Ailurophobe
A person with an intense dislike or fear of cats.

Allergen
Any inanimate or living object that creates an allergic reaction in an animal.

Altered
A cat that has had its reproductive organs removed (either spayed females or neutered males).

Anaemia
A condition caused by iron deficiency.

Anoestrus
The period of inactivity in the female cat's reproductive cycle.

Asthma
An allergic condition leading to wheezing and difficulty in breathing.

Awn Hair
Short, thick, bristly hair which lies underneath a cat's top coat.

Banding
Distinct bands of colour in a cross-wise direction.

Behaviour
The act or manner in which cats conduct themselves.

Bib
The part of the ruff, or lengthened hair, around the chest area.

Bicolor
A cat with more than two spots of colour on the torso, either white and one basic colour, or white with one tabby colour.

Blaze
A marking down the forehead, nose and under the chin.

Breed-suitable
A cat that meets strict breed criteria, proving its worthiness to reproduce.

Breeding
The process of reproduction; mating and giving birth to offspring.

Calicivirus
A serious respiratory illness.

Calico
A coat pattern consisting of a mosaic blend of black and orange, plus patches of white.

Carbohydrate
A food source including starch, sugars and celluloses, created by the combination of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.

Carpal Pads
Anti skid pads found on the wrists of the cat's front legs.

Caterwaul
A loud, shrill cry.

Characteristic (typical - adj)
A distinguishing trait, quality or property (noun) .

Cobby
Describes a cat's body type characterized by a large bone structure and rounded shape.

Colustrum
The milky fluid secreted from the mother's nipples, or mammary glands, for the first few days after birth. It is rich in protein and contains antibodies which initially protects the young kittens from disease.

Conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the membrane on the inside surface of the eyes.

Convulsions
Strong and involuntary contraction of the muscles.

Crepuscular (or Nocturnal)
Active during twilight hours - dawn and dusk.

Declawing
A surgical process that permanently removes the nails on an animal (British vets have unilaterally banned it by deciding they won't ever declaw except in cases of medical necessity, not to be encouraged elsewhere). DO NOT DECLAW Your Cats need their claws as their first line of defence - Maiming your pet cat by removing its claws is not the right solution. If you think more of your inanimate objects, then a cat is not for you.

Domestication
A process that tames animals and their offspring, so that they may live in close contact with humans.

Euthanasia
A process of killing animals because they are very ill, injured or contribute to pet overpopulation - the latter is a good reason to have your female cat spayed as early as possible.

Fat
A concentrated food source of oily, water-insoluble glyceride compounds that combine oxygen, hydrogen and carbon.

Feline
Member of the Cat Family - Felidæ.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
A virus that invades the cat's DNA and uses it to reproduce, causing dysfunction of the immune system.

Feline Leukaemia
A group of diseases that often cause cancer and death.

Feral Cat
An untamed domestic cat that was born, or has reverted to living in the wild.

Fleas
Wingless, jumping parasites that feed on blood.

Flehmening
The grimace a cat makes when it draws air over the Jacobsen's Organ in its mouth.

Free-feed
A feeding process that gives a cat open access to a food bowl all day.

Gastritis
An inflammation of the mucous membrane surrounding the stomach.

Genetic
Inherited.

Genus
A biological classification that combines organisms sharing common characteristics; ranks between species and family.

Grooming Kit
A collection of materials needed for the care of a cat's coat, including brush, comb and feline shampoo.

Guard Hair
Long, course hairs that make up the cat's top coat. These carry the pattern of the fur.

Habit
A fixed or constant practise established by frequent repetition; an acquired mode of behaviour that has become nearly or completely involuntary.

Hand-feed
A feeding process that offers a cat food periodically during the day and for a limited time (usually twice a day, for about 20 minutes).

Heartworm
A rare, but potentially life-threatening parasite, that travels through a cat's bloodstream and grows large in the heart.

Heat
A period of time when female cats are sexually receptive.

Hereditary
Derived from ancestry; describing a genetically transmitted or transmittable characteristic; inborn; independent of prior learning.

Hookworm
A parasitic worm that thrives in unsanitary conditions.

Housetraining
Process of instruction that teaches a cat to eliminate in a litter box.

Humane Society
Local organizations that rescues and cares for lost or homeless cats and helps find them new homes

Hysterectomy
A sterilization process that removes a female cat's uterus.

Inate
Inborn, inherited; existing or determined by factors present from birth; congenital.

Inherent
Implanted by nature; intrinsic, innate; involved in the constitution or essential character; belonging by nature or habit.

Instinct
A propensity that urges an animal to perform actions that are for the most part useful or beneficial; a natural or inherent aptitude that is largely hereditary and usually unalterable.

Jacobsen's Organ
An organ in the roof of a cat's mouth that is linked with the sense of smell and taste.

Jowls
Loose flesh around the neck and throat.

Kink
A twist, curl, bend or bump in the tail bone.

Kittens
Offspring of a female cat.

Laces
White markings on the legs.

Lactating
When a female cat is breast-feeding young offspring.

Laryngitis
An inflammation of the larynx, often temporarily making speech difficult.

Lithe
A cat body type that is lean, narrow and small-boned.

Litter
All the kittens born to a mother in a single birth.

Litter Box
A lined container filled with kitty litter, used as a sanitary place for cats to eliminate.

Locket
Solid white marking on the neck.

Lordosis
When a Queen who is on Heat lies with her front paws down and her rear end in the air.

Mackerel
A type of tabby pattern where the colours of the coat appear striped.

Mask
The darker shadings on the face.

Mites
Very small arachnids that cause and carry a variety of diseases.

Muzzle
The jaws and mouth.

Necklace
Bandings of colour across the lower neck and chest area, as if the cat is wearing a necklace.

Neuter
Any surgical process that prevents a male cat from being able to impregnate a female.

Nocturnal (or Crepuscular)
Active during twilight hours - dawn and dusk.

Onychectomy (Declawing)
A surgical process that permanently removes the nails on an animal (British vets have unilaterally banned it by deciding they won't ever declaw except in cases of medical necessity, not to be encouraged elsewhere). DO NOT DECLAW - Your Cats need their claws as their first line of defence - Maiming your pet cat by removing its claws is not the right solution. If you think more of your inanimate objects, then a cat is not for you.

Ovariohysterectomy
A sterilization process that removes a female cat's ovaries.

Panleukopenia
Viral infection that attacks the bones and intestinal walls.

Papillae
The tiny, pointed hooks on a cat's tongue that give the tongue its rough surface.

Paralysis
The loss of movement and/or sensation on the body.

Parasite
An organism that lives in or on another organism and often survives by draining nutrients from its host.

Particolor
A coat pattern consisting of two or more colours in distinct patches.

Pedigree
Cats that have been bred for a specific purpose or for strict physical characteristics, and have been bred along pure lines for many years without interbreeding.

Pneumonia
A serious disease characterized by lung inflammation.

Pointed
A coat pattern consisting of a solid colour on the body and a darker colour on the ears, tail, face and legs.

Points
Extremes of the body comprising the mask, ears, legs and tail.

Praise
Positive reinforcement that indicates satisfaction to your cat.

Pregnant
When a female cat is carrying unborn offspring.

Protein
A food source of nitrogen based substances from plants and animals.

Puberty
A growth stage reached between 6 and 12 months of age when cats become sexually active and able to reproduce.

Pyometra
An infection of the uterus.

Queen
Unneutered female cat.

Quick
The root inside a nail that feeds blood to the nail.

Rabies
A viral infection that affects the nervous system, causing either hyperactivity or extreme listlessness.

Rhinotracheitis
A serious respiratory illness.

Righting reflex
The ability to properly orient the body during a fall.

Roundworm
A parasitic worm resembling round spaghetti that may cause illness, particularly in young, old or weakened cats.

Ruff
Protruding or lengthened hair around the neck and chest.

Scratching post
A free standing tower covered in burlap or other stiff material that cats use to safely rub their nails.

Shaded
A coat pattern consisting of a single colour that varies from light to dark shading across the length of each hair.