Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered about Feline Unf Cat Information. There is an abundance of cat information out there. To make it easier for you, I have compiled several bits of cat information for you to enjoy, all in one place. As an owner of two amazing cats, I’m always interested in learning new things about cats. After sharing more than ten years with my two kitties, I’ve learned a lot about cats. Things such as their characteristics and their behavior, for example. And yet, there’s always something new to learn about cats. General cat information. Even though the term cat can be used to describe any of the felines that belong to the Felidae family, in this article the term cat is used to refer to the domestic cat. Here's some general cat information: Physical characteristics of cats. Every time I look at my cats, I’m fascinated by their grace and beauty. No wonder cats’ beautiful shape has inspired many an artist. Indeed, cats have appeared in art throughout history. Cats have captured the imagination of painters, sculptors, writers, cartoonists, and even musicians. Cats are truly beautiful animals. Here are some of the physical characteristics of cats: The domestication of felines. Cats’ domestication is relatively recent - compared to the domestication of dogs. I've read that cats have been domesticated for at least five millenia. Artifacts found on a Neolithic grave showed that cats were in contact with humans around that time. Ancient Egyptians domesticated cats to protect their barns from mice and rats. Most likely, the ancient Egyptian domestic cat was a descendant of the North African wildcats (Felis lybica). Indeed, cats were held in high regard in ancient Egypt. They were believed to be divine beings. Cats were venerated by the ancient Norse culture as well. Today, cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, in the United States alone there are more than 70 million cats. More fun morsels about cats. Fun cat information. Cats are one of the most popular pets, if not the most popular pet, in the U.S., and they have managed to become a very important part of our lives. Here are some fun tidbits of cat information: More Cat Info - Cat Breeds. This is a very short list of cat breeds: For more info on cats and breeds, also check. --We Are Siamese - All about the beautiful and enigmatic Siamese cat. Books on Cats. For additional cats information, here are a few books you might enjoy. These books also make wonderful gifts for cat lovers. The Encyclopedia of the Cat by Michael Pollard. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds by Angela Rixon. Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered about Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors by Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori. For more books about cat information and other cat topics visit our cat book page. Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? (I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you, and I appreciate any support. You can read more about affiliate links here ) Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet ? This is a fun cat book by Marty Becker DVM. 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors! Why Do Cats – Fun Book About Cats. Is My Cat Crazy? If only it were that simple! But the fact is that your cat is very sensible indeed—about cat things. She knows how to scratch upright surfaces, cough up hairballs, send messages with her pee, and party all night. To the feline mind, these are the stuff of everyday life—as important as sleeping all day and grooming for several hours using nothing but your tongue. Your clever kitty knows you very well (after all, she sits and stares at you when you’re in the bathroom). But how well do you know her? Find out why cats knead against us, the best way to hold a cat, how cats can jump onto your kitchen counters without even a running start, why they chew on your sweaters. Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? Marty Becker. While we all know it's a fact that cats rule the household, there are many facts people don't know about their feline friends, and they're here for the revealing in this quirky compendium for cat-lovers (and those who tolerate them). Dr. Marty Becker and syndicated columnist Gina Spadafori, compile the best questions they've ever received from readers and fans to give people the skinny on things they've never dared to ask about cats but often wondered (or not) like: Is it true that cat sex lasts only three seconds? Do cats always land on their feet? Do cats have nine lives? Why do cats' claws detract? Whats the best way to give my cat medicine? Do cats need a good flashlight or can they see fine in the dark? Do feline feces have healing powers? Does my crazy aunt hold the record for the number of cats living in a single dwelling? Where did the term "cat's pajamas" come from? Does my cat nap too much? Is it true that cats are the only domestic animal whose penis points backwards? Why does a cat arch its back? What exactly is in that hairball my cat just coughed up? With an entertaining mix of laugh-out-loud humor and practical information, this is the perfect gift for any cat lover. Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered about Feline Unfathomables Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors by Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, DVM. For more than ten years, Dr. Becker has been the popular veterinary contributor to ABC-TV's "Good Morning America." More recently, he has started appearing on the new "Good Morning America Weekend." He has also taped special features called the GMA Pet Clinic which are one minute vignettes on topics such as giving medications, stopping bleeding and taking a pet's temperature. Dr. Becker has also hosted a nationwide PBS pledge special produced by Detroit Public Television called, "The Pet Doctor with Marty Becker." Additionally, he has appeared on Animal Planet, and is a frequent guest on many national network and cable TV and radio shows. Dr. Becker's syndicated column, Pet Connection is carried internationally by the Universal Press Syndicate. He produces the weekly feature along with his writing partner, Gina Spadafori, and a team of top animal-care experts including Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp of AnimalBehavior.net. Dr. Becker previously wrote for McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (formerly Knight-Ridder Tribune Services). Dr. Becker has been a contributing editor for Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy and has written for Reader's Digest. He was the Chief Veterinary Correspondent for Amazon.com. Dr. Becker serves as an adjunct professor at is alma mater, the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He also served as the Practice Leadership Editor for Veterinary Economics magazine, a position he held for almost 15 years. Dr. Becker has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, BBC, Unsolved Mysteries and in USA Today, USA Weekend, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Life, Newsweek, Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, People, Parade, Prevention, Christian Science Monitor, Woman's Day, Woman's World, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Traveler, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Redbook, Parents, Shape, Star, Men's Health, US Weekly, National Inquirer, Cooking Light, Bottom Line, Natural Health and major Web sites such as ABCNews.com, Amazon.com, Prevention.com, Forbes.com and iVillage. He has lectured at the Smithsonian Institution and at every veterinary school in America. On six continents and in dozens of countries, Dr. Becker has been a leader in changing the way we interact with and take responsibility for our pet companions. Dr. Becker is the recipient of several professional honors and awards including the American Veterinary Medical Association's prestigious Bustad Award, as the Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year. Dr. Becker served as as the National Spokesperson for the AVMA's inaugural National Pet Wellness Month (NPWM), a duty he repeated the next year. Catnip. Nepeta cataria , commonly known as catnip , catswort , catwort , and catmint , is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. Contents. Description Taxonomy Uses Cultivation Biological control As an insect repellent Effect on humans Effect on felines References Further reading External links. The names catnip and catmint are derived from the intense attraction about two-thirds of cats have toward them (alternative plants exist). [6] [7] In addition to its uses with cats, catnip is a popular ingredient in herbal teas (or tisanes), and is valued for its sedative and relaxant properties. [8] [9] Description. Nepeta cataria is a short-lived perennial, herbaceous plant that grows to be 50–100 cm (20–40 in) tall and wide, which blooms from late spring through autumn. In appearance, N. cataria resembles a typical member of the mint family of plants, featuring brown-green foliage with the characteristic square stem of the plant family Lamiaceae. [10] The coarse-toothed leaves are triangular to elliptical in shape. [11] The small, bilabiate flowers of N. cataria are fragrant and are either pink in color or white with fine spots of pale purple. [11] Taxonomy. Nepeta cataria was one of the many species described by Linnaeus in 1753 in his landmark work Species Plantarum . [12] He had previously described it in 1738 as Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatis pedunculatis (meaning " Nepeta with flowers in a stalked, interrupted spike"), before the commencement of Linnaean taxonomy. [13] The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria . Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation. [14] Cultivation. Nepeta cataria is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens. It is also grown for its attractant qualities to house cats and butterflies. [11] The plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It can be a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs. [11] Catnip is best grown in full sunlight and grows as a loosely branching, low perennial. [15] Varieties include Nepeta cataria var. citriodora (or N. cataria subsp. citriodora ), or "lemon catnip". [16] Biological control. The compound iridodial, extracted from catnip oil, has been found to attract lacewings that eat aphids and mites. [17] As an insect repellent. Nepetalactone is a mosquito and fly repellent. [18] [19] Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites. [20] [21] Research suggests that, while a more effective spatial repellant than DEET, [22] it is not as effective as a repellent when used on the skin when compared with SS220 or DEET. [23] Effect on humans. Catnip has a history of use in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. [24] The plant has been consumed as a tisane, juice, tincture, infusion, or poultice, and has also been smoked. [24] However, its medicinal use has fallen out of favor with the development of modern medicine. [24] Effect on felines. Catnip contains the feline attractant nepetalactone. N. cataria (and some other species within the genus Nepeta ) are known for their behavioral effects on the cat family, not only on domestic cats, but also other species. [24] Several tests showed that leopards, cougars, servals, and lynxes often reacted strongly to catnip in a manner similar to domestic cats; while lions and tigers can react strongly as well, they do not react as consistently. [25] [26] [27] [28] With domestic cats, N. cataria is used as a recreational substance for pet cats' enjoyment, and catnip and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers. Common behaviors cats display when they sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, and chewing it. Consuming much of the plant is followed by drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about, and purring. Some growl, meow, scratch, or bite at the hand holding it. [29] [30] The main response period after exposure is generally between 5 and 15 minutes, after which olfactory fatigue usually sets in. [31] : p.107. Cats detect nepetalactone through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ. [32] At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors. A study published in January 2021 suggests that felines are specifically attracted to the iridoids nepetalactone and nepetalactol, present in catnip and silver vine, respectively. [33] The compounds were found to repel mosquitos, and it is hypothesized that rubbing against the plants provides the cats with a chemical coat that protects them against mosquito bites. [33] [34] Felines not affected by catnip. About one-third of cats are not affected by catnip. [6] [7] [24] [35] The behavior is hereditary. [36] Other plants that have a catnip-like effect on cats include valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) root and leaves; silver vine ( Actinidia polygama ), or matatabi, popular in Asia; and Tatarian honeysuckle ( Lonicera tatarica ) wood. Many cats that do not respond to catnip do respond to one or more of these three alternatives. [6] [7] A 1962 pedigree analysis of 26 cats in a Siamese breeding colony suggested that the catnip response was caused by a Mendelian-dominant gene, but a 2011 pedigree analysis of 210 cats in two breeding colonies (taking into account measurement error by repeated testing) showed no evidence for Mendelian patterns of inheritance but demonstrated heritabilities of h 2 = 0.51–0.89 for catnip response behavior, indicating a polygenic liability threshold model. [24] [37] [38] Related Research Articles. Nepeta is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. The genus name is reportedly in reference to Nepete, an ancient Etruscan city. There are about 250 species. The cat is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is often referred to as the domestic cat to distinguish it from the wild members of the family. A cat can either be a house cat , a farm cat or a feral cat; the latter ranges freely and avoids human contact. Domestic cats are valued by humans for companionship and their ability to hunt rodents. About 60 cat breeds are recognized by various cat registries. Nepetalactone is a name for multiple iridoid analog stereoisomers. Nepetalactones are produced by Nepeta cataria (catnip) and a many other plants belonging to the genus Nepeta , in which they protect these plants from herbivorous insects by functioning as insect repellents. They are also produced by many aphids, in which they are sex pheromones. Nepetalactones are cat attractants, and cause the behavioral effects that catnip induces in domestic cats. However, they affect visibly only about 2/3 of adult cats. They produce similar behavioral effects in many other Felidae , especially in lions and jaguars. McElvain and colleagues were the first to extract and name nepetalactones, which they did in 1941. N , N -Diethyl- meta -toluamide , also called DEET or diethyltoluamide , is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is a slightly yellow oil intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing and provides protection against mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, leeches and many biting insects. An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface. Insect repellents help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, bubonic plague, river blindness and West Nile fever. Pest animals commonly serving as vectors for disease include insects such as flea, fly, and mosquito; and the arachnid tick. Catnip , Nepeta cataria , is a species in the family Lamiaceae (mint). Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from the essential oils of a variety of plants such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita , and pennyroyal. It is classified as a monoterpene. Icaridin , also known as picaridin , is an insect repellent which can be used directly on skin or clothing. It has broad efficacy against various insects such as mosquitos, ticks, gnats, flies and fleas, and is almost colorless and odorless. A study performed in 2010 showed that picaridin spray and cream at the 20% concentration provided 12 hours of protection against ticks. Icaridin does not dissolve plastics, synthetics or sealants. Schizonepeta is a genus of herbs. It should not be confused with the true catnips of the genus Nepeta known for their euphoria-inducing effect on domestic cats. Cat pheromones are pheromones that are used by cats and other felids for cat communication. 1-Octen-3-ol , octenol for short and also known as mushroom alcohol , is a chemical that attracts biting insects such as mosquitoes. It is contained in human breath and sweat, and it was once believed that insect repellent DEET worked by blocking the insects' octenol odorant receptors. Recent evidence in Anopheles gambiae and Culex quequinfasciatius mosquitoes suggest DEET reduces the volatility of 1-octen-3-ol which can result in a reduction in human attraction. 1-Octen-3-ol is a secondary alcohol derived from 1-octene. It exists in the form of two enantiomers, ( R )-(–)-1-octen-3-ol and ( S )-(+)-1-octen-3-ol. Actinidia polygama is a species of kiwifruit in the Actinidiaceae family. It grows in the mountainous areas of Japan and China at elevations between 500 and 1,900 metres. Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) or feline interstitial cystitis or cystitis in cats , is one of the most frequently observed forms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Feline cystitis means "inflammation of the bladder in cats". The term idiopathic means unknown cause; however, certain behaviours have been known to aggravate the illness once it has been initiated. It can affect both males and females of any breed of cat. It is more commonly found in female cats; however, when males do exhibit cystitis, it is usually more dangerous. Leslie Birgit Vosshall is an American neurobiologist and currently an HHMI Investigator and the Robin Chemers Neustein Professor of Neurogenetics and Behavior at The Rockefeller University. She is also the director of the Kavli Neural Systems Institute at The Rockefeller University. She is well known for her contributions to the field of olfaction, particularly for the discovery and subsequent characterization of the insect olfactory receptor family, and the genetic basis of chemosensory behavior in mosquitoes and humans. Trombiculosis , is a rash caused by trombiculid which is often referred to as a chigger bite . VUAA1 is a chemical compound that works by over activating an insect's olfactory senses causing a repellent effect. It is considered to be an Orco allosteric agonist. It was discovered at Vanderbilt University with research being partially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Iridomyrmecin is a defensive chemical, classified as an iridoid, isolated from ants of the genus Iridomyrmex . It has also evolved into a sex pheromone in wasps such as Leptopilina , with host species using the smell of iridomyrmecin as a way of detecting the presence of the parasitoid wasps. Iridomyrmecin is also found in a variety of plants including Actinidia polygama . Nepeta racemosa , the dwarf catnip or raceme catnip , syn. N. mussiniii , is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the Caucasus, Turkey and northern Iran. Growing to 30 cm (12 in) tall by 45 cm (18 in) wide, it is a herbaceous perennial with aromatic leaves and violet or lilac-blue flowers in summer. Nepetalactol is an iridoid. It is produced from 8-oxogeranial by the enzyme iridoid synthase. Nepetalactol is a substrate for the enzyme iridoid oxidase (IO) which produces 7-deoxyloganetic acid. It has been identified in Actinidia polygama as a major cat attractant, and a mosquito repellent. The fact that mosquitos bite less often cats with nepetalactol on their fur may explain why cats are attracted to silver vine in the first place. Nepeta grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the Caucasus. Growing to 75 cm (30 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in), it is a clump-forming, erect deciduous herbaceous perennial with aromatic, slightly hairy, grey-green leaves, and spikes of purple/blue flowers in early summer. Species of Nepeta are called catnip or catmint , with reference to their reported effect on some domestic cats. The plants seem to induce a euphoria in the animals, causing them to roll in the foliage and exhibit signs of intoxication.