bio clock?

When and how do i know what a biological clck is and how does it affect my kitte or cat female

ANSWER:
When you say “biological clock” and specify “female cat”, I’m assuming it is the reproduction cycles that you refer to. Female cats can enter their sexual maturity and have their first “heat” anywhere from 4 months old to 10 months old although the average is 6 months. So, in fact, the unsprayed female cat is a ticking time bomb. A female cat can have kittens every 4 months and is pregnant for approx. 2 months. I found it a little sad that one of the strays I took in a few years ago, Coty, was less than 6 months old and already pregnant. I was able to get her spayed immediately, eliminating a kitten…having kittens.

Cats are typically seasonal breeders and most often show signs during spring and autumn. Female cats cycle in and out of heat every 2-3 weeks until they are bred, often howling and moaning like they are in pain. This “heat” or estrus actually has 5 stages.

Proestrus: The male is attracted to the female but she is unwilling to mate.

Estrus: Female is in heat and willing to mate. Bizarre behavior can happen such as howling, moaning and rolling on the floor.

Interestrus: A 2-3 week period between estrus cycles if the female cat has not been bred.

Metestrus: Approx. 30-40 day interim period after estrus or mating.

Anestrus:This is an inactive period of time of approx. 2-3 months. This follows the estrus phases listed above.

My suggestion to you…get any female cats spayed before their first heat…unless you want kittens. Even if your female cat doesn’t have access to male cats, it’s not a pleasant experience to see the bizarre behaviors that can happen. I hope that I have answered your question about biological clocks. If you didn’t mean the reproduction biological clocks then I do discuss generalities about internal clocks of cats here: Cat Internal Clock

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paint and carpeting hazards

I'm expecting to have my apartment painted and carpeted but I'm worried that the carpet and/or paint odors might sicken my older cats. Are there certain paints and carpeting that should not be used around animals?

ANSWER:

Yes, paint fumes are dangerous to your cat. Keeping your cat safe and sane during a home renovation can be challenging. Determining if you should keep your cat at home or board him with a friend or even in a kennel pretty much depends upon how your cat manages stress. Keeping your cat at home is preferable to boarding him because cats don’t do terribly well when you take them out of their own environment. Therefore, prepare 2 or 3 weeks prior to the start of the renovation by finding a place in the house away from where the work will be done and get the cat accustomed to staying in that area for short periods. A radio or television in the room can help adapt the cat to noise and can act as a buffer to the work noise when the actual carpet laying occurs and the paint job is being done. A well-ventilated area such as a bathroom with an open window will work well.

Signs of stress levels in your cat are things like inappropriate eliminating outside the litter box, acting more aggressive, not responding to stimuli the way he normally would, hiding and running away, and not eating. The most dangerous is if he stops eating for more than a day or two because then he could develop fatty liver disease. If this should happen, get him to a vet immediately. Playing with your cat and showing him a lot of attention are two of the best stress reducers. If your cat enjoys catnip and doesn’t react aggressively to it, you can give him some as a stress reliever.

Dangerous substances to keep your cat away from during your paint job and/or renovation are fresh paint, varnish, or stains….until they have dried completely. Dispose of used brushes, rags, stirring sticks and so forth. DO NOT use paint thinners or paint removers to clean him if he happens to get paint on himself. Call your vet. However, I had an incident some years back when one of my cats got into paint and since it was latex, most of it washed off with a mild soap and water. The few areas that had dried too much for the paint to come off, I took the scissors and simply cut it off. Better to have a cat with a few bald patches than one who poisons himself chewing the paint off. The fur grows back just fine.

Something to consider is to check the VOC rating of the paint that will be used. VOC’s are volatile organic compounds or solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOC’s are suspected carcinogens. The federal government caps the VOC content in paint at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat finishes and 380 g/l for all other finishes (low-luster, semi-gloss, etc.). However, some manufacturers have opted to comply with more stringent limits…50 g/l for all finishes…set by California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District. These paints include such products as Benjamin Moore Aura, True Value Easy Care, and Glidden Evermore.

A handful of paints whose manufacturers claim they contain zero VOC’s are now on the market. One is Mythic, which sells for $35-$45 a gallon at independent dealers nationwide. Another zero VOC paint is Freshaire Choice, a Home Depot exclusive that sells for $35 to $38 a gallon. Increased awareness of possible health risks to both humans and animals has led to a demand for products with lower VOC’s and manufacturers have therefore risen to the challenge, mainly by developing high-quality, latex-based coatings and adhesives for a wide variety of uses. Latex paints use water as their solvent and carrier, allowing both easier cleanup and generally lower toxicity than oil-based paints. Not every latex-based paint has low VOC’s…so read the label.

Carpets are manufactured to be safe for humans and pets so the only potential hazard is any adhesive that is used. Most carpets are installed without much adhesive, but if any is used simply check that the VOC’s are low. A consideration with carpet is more along the thought process of what carpet will stand up to the pet accidents that can happen such as throwing up hairballs or a urine accident. In that case you need to avoid buying a looped Berber carpet and you need to buy a carpet that cleans easily. I would look at a short-napped, dense-pile, nylon BCF fiber, plush or textured plush carpet style. Your carpet should have an anti-stain treatment applied like Scotchgard or Stainmaster. A word of caution...carpet cleaners can have harmful chemicals so carefully check the label for safety information.

I hope that I have answered your question. I will probably write a page or two on cats and construction since there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information on the topic, but this current response will hopefully answer your specific concerns.

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need answer about my baby buddy (house cat) 4 years old

by maria joffe
(rexdale,ont canada)

My house cat always HISSES at my husband but not for so long only when he picks her up...me no problums why is that... and rolls on his side of the bed when he get up,thank you ive wrote befour i hope i can ask you more again, iam having problums finding the answer i need to know .maria

ANSWER:

There can be several reasons for your cat hissing at your husband. First, she may be afraid of your husband and she is hissing out of fear. Secondly, she may be getting irritated that she is being touched, and thirdly, she is showing territorial aggression. By this I mean that your cat is possessive of you and thinks your husband is a competitor for your attention. When your husband leaves the bed and your cat takes over his spot, she is re-establishing her territory. Your cat can be displaying jealousy because she wants all your attention. I have a full page covering this topic called Cat Behavior and also Cat Behavior Medications. You will find more information there. Also, there are Chinese herbs and flower essences that are supposed to calm a cat and reduce fear and aggression like the hissing. If you want to keep a natural approach and try any of these go to Pet Products and scroll down to "All Natural Pet Store". "Entirely Pets" also has a selection of anti-anxiety products. You might want to take a look at what is available.

Lastly, if your husband is agreeable you can try having him make friends with your cat. It sounds like she tolerates him as long as he doesn't touch her or try to take her territory. Have him stroke her head a little when she's in another room, not the bedroom. Have him offer her a little snack treat that she likes. Over time she may accept him picking her up and not be so jealous.

Maria, I hope that these suggestions will help you.

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