Project: CAT GROOMING Name: Ethan Murdock Unit Number And/Or Title: Cat 1 Purr-Fect Pals 4-H Club: Broomfield Red and Yellow Lions Club

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Project: CAT GROOMING Name: Ethan Murdock Unit Number and/or Title: Cat 1 Purr-fect Pals 4-H Club: Broomfield Red and Yellow Lions Club

Year in this Project: 1 County: Boulder Age Group (check one): x Junior (8-10)  Intermediate (11-13)  Senior (14-18)

Birthdate: 11/11/2011

Age: 8

Project and exhibit guidelines for each project are listed in the State Fair Exhibit Requirements available on the web at Colorado4h.org

I declare that the information in this book is correct and all 4-H requirements have been completed to the best of my knowledge.

Member’s Signature: Ethan Murdock Date: 07/18/2020

Leader’s Signature: Jennifer Jacoby-Murdock Date: 07/18/2020 Parent/Guardian Signature: David Murdock Date: 07/18/2020

How I Participate in 4-H!

Total Categories of this Description/Project Title Participation Year Cat 1 Purr-fect Pals/ Grooming Cats

4-H Projects you are taking this year

Purr-fect Pals Manual Feline Adventures What activities Online Cat Showmanship video tutorial helped you learn the skills for this Online Cat Grooming video tutorial project? Reading books from the local library

None What Leadership Development experiences did you participate in.

4-H Date Hours Activity/Title Location 11/9/2019 1.5 Park Clean Up Broomfield 4H Park Citizenship/ 12/6/2020 0.15 Wrapped Gifts for Senior Citizens Broomfield Community Club Meeting Service 2/7/2020 0.15 Valentine’s for Senior Citizens Broomfield Club Meeting 7/10/2020 NA How to Brush a Cat Broomfield Club Meeting Demonstrations/ NA Presentations/ Speeches NA

Project Expense and Income/Value

Expenses: Juniors Only. Figure the cost of the specific ingredients and materials use for your final exhibit item or display board. Label the item “Exhibit” or “Board”. You can add a more specific name. Intermediates/Seniors. 1. List items purchased this year for your project, such as tools, ingredients, class fees, etc. (More pages can be added if needed) Project Item Expenses

Safari Cat Flea Comb $4.67

Safari Cat Slicker Brush $10.99

Petrodex Cat Toothbrush and Toothpaste $5.99

Exhibit Board $0.00

TOTALS $21.65 Income or Value: Intermediates/Seniors. 1. List practice items you made-like cakes, Income or cookies, bags, room decorations—and estimate the value by comparing it to a similar Value item you could buy. 2. Record the value of your exhibit item by comparing it to a similar item you could buy. Display boards have no value. 3. Record the amount of money you received for any items you sold as Income.

TOTALS $

Return on Investment Intermediate and Senior Members Everyday, we make decisions about where to spend our time and money, and what activities we want to continue. Ask yourself: How did I benefit from this project? What knowledge and skills did I gain from the project? Did I enjoy it? Was it worth the expense? Could I spend money more wisely the next time? Is it worth doing again? Do I want to learn more? 1. What knowledge and skills did you learn that you can use again? N/A

2. How could you use your new skills to save money or to make money? N/A

3. If you made a product to sell, how would you decide a price for your product? N/A

Photographs from your 4-H Project

Figure 1 4H PROJECT PRESENTATION TO RED AND YELLOW LIONS CLUB

Figure 2 PRACTICING THE SAFETY HOLD WITH BERRY

Figure 3 PREPARING MY PROJECT

Figure 4 FINISHED PROJECT

4-H Story

Hello, my name is Ethan Murdock and this is my first year participating in the Broomfield Red and Yellow Lions 4-H Club. This year I finished the second grade at Peak to Peak Charter School and look forward to being a third grader next fall. One of my favorite topics to study is cats. I enjoy playing recreational soccer and playing football with my older brothers. I have spent a lot of time riding my bike this summer too. Usually, I participate in musicals over the summer, but the COVID-19 restrictions forced our production to be delayed.

Since I love cats, especially my own, I decided to sign up for the Level 1 Purr-fect Pals 4-H project. I hoped to learn more about cats so that I could take better care of my own pets. I wanted to learn how to hold them better, how to keep them clean, how to keep them fed, and how to make them more comfortable around me. The goals that I set for myself were pretty general. I wanted to learn about cats and why they act the way they do through the day. I wanted to know why they lick their fur, why they sleep so much, why they like to play hunting games and how they purr. I wanted to spend more fun time with my cats too. Through the project assignments, the feline adventures and from reading books, I learned a lot about them. I learned to identify characteristics of different cats, their body types and the different breeds of cats, the anatomy of cats, how to hold a cat, how to groom a cat, and the method of showing a cat at the fair. I also learned why cats sleep during the day and hunt at night. I also learned why cats purr, but I never learned how the cats purr in their throat. The books that I read also explained that cats special tongue helps them groom themselves and keep themselves clean by licking their fur coat. My parents also showed me how to clean the litter box and keep it fresh on a daily basis. They also taught me how to feed the cats on regular schedule and when the cats ask for a little snack. I also learned about keeping the water dish clean and fresh daily as a regular chore.

Several people helped me with my project this year. My parents were my primary teachers, but my grandparents were eager to share their knowledge with me, as were my brothers and a family friend. Our adult cats also helped me practice and learn more about them. With all of this work, I grew closer to my cats Berry and Mango. They are less nervous around me and they trust me more when I work with them. However, if I do this project again, I

7 want to improve my safety carry technique with my cats. Right now, I am still small, and it is hard for me to carry the cats safely and securely.

I really enjoyed my first year in 4-H. My club leader and the club members made meetings enjoyable because we all got along and did fun crafts and ate yummy snacks. I also enjoyed the community projects and the park clean up because we are helping people and the environment in our country. Next year, I would like to be the club photographer, so I can be more involved. Thank you for reading this, I really appreciate it.

ETHAN MURDOCKS RECORD BOOK- MY CAT PROJECT GOALS AND OUTCOMES

What I wish to learn:

This year, I wish to learn how to be a responsible cat owner. I wish to learn the proper method of holding cats, how to feed them and check their water dish, how to keep their litter box clean, and to correctly groom them to keep them healthy. I also want to learn about cat behavior, such as why they climb and how they seem to land on their feet when they jump or fall from heights. I am curious how they can jump so high and far. I also want to learn how they clean themselves with their tongues.

Project Highlights:

This year, I learned how to be a responsible cat owner. I have been taught how to groom the cats and how to carry the cats. My family has taught me how to maintain the cat’s litter box and how my family feeds them on a daily basis. The lessons have also taught me about the breeds of cats and the cat’s body parts. The books that I read taught me about the basic activities of cats and the personalities of different breeds of cats. I even learned how cats clean themselves with their tongues, how they climb and how their body shape helps them land on their feet when they fall.

All of this knowledge has deepened my love for cats. It has also helped me develop a closer relationship to my two cats. They are starting to trust me more and let me spend more time with them. I have also started to learn their body language and understand when they are asking for attention or for more food.

ACHEIVEMENT PROGRAM

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

CAT PROJECT READING LOG DATE TITLE AUTHOR 03/2020 Kittens! Christopher Nicolas 6/14/2020 101 Amazing Facts About Cats Jack Goldstein 6/15/2020 Dogs and Cats Steve Jenkins 6/21/2020 Animal Family Albums Cats Charlotte Guillain 6/22/2020 Animal Cats Nick Rebman 6/22/2020 Pet Care Cats Julie Murray 6/22/2020 A Pet’s Life Cats Anita Ganeri

Cat Chat: 1. What were the different body types of the cats? The different body types are named moderate, oriental, and cobby. 2. What other characteristics did you find? When identifying the cats on the spreadsheet, we used the body type and the length of the cat’s fur. The two hair lengths were long and short hair types 3. Where did you find information about cat breeds? When filling out the spreadsheet activity, we used the cat facts within our workbook and information from the internet.

Feline Adventure: Cat Breed 1. Which breed of cat would you choose based on temperament? After reading books about cat breeds, I would choose an American shorthair because it is friendly and active. I also like the easy going Maine Coon cat. 2. Which breed of cat would you choose based on appearance? Russian Blue and Maine Coon cats are beautiful animals. American shorthair cats are great too because they are easy to maintain.

ON THE PROWL

Cat Chat:

1. What advantages and disadvantages did you discover for each of the characteristics?

Although kittens are cute, older cats are calm and like to sleep. Kittens are generally easier to train to the house rules than adopting more mature cats. However, if the kittens learn bad habits at foster homes, it takes a lot of work and time to get them to listen to the new rules. Long hair cats are beautiful, but they need more brushing and care to prevent hair balls and matting of the fur. Short haired cats do not need to be brushed as often to maintain a nice coat of fur. Male cats tend to be friendly and playful, while female cats are more independent. Some families wish for their cats to have babies to help take care of rodents and pests, but most families choose to have their cats spayed or neutered. Owners of neutered cats don’t have to worry about the male cats marking their territory in the home. Spayed females may experience less cancer and they won’t go into heat like females that remain intact.

Feline Adventure: Cat Owner Interview

CAT CHARACTERISTIC PREFERENCE CHART Owner Name AGE Hair Type Gender Reproduction Comments K O S L M F S/N I -Kittens are cute and fun, but older cats are trained to the house rules. -I like both long haired Janet Jacoby X X X X X and short haired cats. -Neutered males seem to be calmer and easier to train than spayed females. -I want a kitten because they are loving and bond with you better. Anne Hesse X X X X -Long haired cats need a lot of grooming. -I would prefer female cats.

Bill Reffel X X X X -I prefer Siamese cats.

-Adult cats are loving. -Short hair cats don’t shed as much as long David Murdock X X X X hair cats. -If neutered, males do not mark their territory. -Male cats seem to play more than females.

Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Cat Chat:

1. How did you learn the body parts?

I learned about the cat’s body parts using the Purr-fect Pals workbook, websites on the internet, and from inspecting my own cats’ bodies.

2. How was using the live cat to identify body parts different from using the diagram?

The pictures of the cat’s anatomy often show the cat’s skeleton. When I looked at our cats, their bones are covered with skin and fur; thus, I had to touch the cat to feel the bones and joints. Using a live cat was easier, because it was easier to touch and feel the body parts and look at them closely with my eyes. The text books just show a drawing of the cat’s body.

Feline Adventures: Unique Cat Characteristics

1. Share things cats can do with their bodies that dogs cannot do:  Cats purr  Cats meow  Cats climb trees with their claws  Cats sleep in the day and play at night  Cats eyes see well in dim light  Cats arch their back and puff their tails when they are scared  Cats use their litter box

Carrying Kitty

Pounce:

1. Teach another person how to properly handle a cat. Show a picture of you or a friend holding a cat.

Cat Chat:

1. Describe the steps you learned to pick up and carry your cat safely.

I learned to pick up a cat safely by placing my right hand under the cat’s chest, behind the forelegs and lifting up. My left hand is placed under the cat’s rump, holding the tail and back legs up to my body. When I carry the cat, I try to use the safety carry, but my arm is still small enough that it is difficult to press the cat against my body while my hand is on the cat’s chest. My other hand is placed on the back of the cat’s neck to secure the cat against my body. This way I can pet the cat too.

2. How did your cat act when you used the safety carry? When I held the cat in the safety carry, my cat acted calmer than when I practiced picking him up. As I grow and get bigger, I will be able to secure the cat better and make him feel more comfortable having me hold him.

3. What type of problems did you have picking up, holding and carrying a strange cat? Since I am young and inexperienced at carrying cats, my parents did not let me hold a strange cat. Holding cats is a new skill for me. Before this project, my parents did not let me pick up my own cats because I was too little and could injure them. When I practiced with my smaller cat, he seemed worried about me handling him. As I practice, Berry will get to know me and he will begin to trust that I will not accidently hurt him.

Cat-a-Comb

Pounce: Record the time you spend grooming your cat over a one-month period. Compare your grooming schedule with others. (Please see workbook for chart.)

Cat Chat: 1. What grooming skills did you practice? In this lesson, I practiced grooming my cats using the instructions found in the workbook. I practiced brushing my cats with a soft brush on their head, a self-cleaning slicker brush on their body, and a stiff bristle brush on their body. We collected a lot of loose hair! I also practiced combing our cats with a fine-tooth flea comb to make sure they had no fleas and I rubbed the cats’ fur with a rough cloth to smooth everything down. After brushing, I also practiced cleaning the eyes, nose and ears. My mom also showed me how to brush the cat’s teeth, but that was not easy. When we purchased pet toothpaste, the cats were more willing to have their teeth brushed because they liked the flavor.

2. How did your cat act while it was being groomed? My cats were calm when I brushed them and they acted like they wanted to get groomed forever. The cats really like the soft brush and the flea comb. They seem to like getting the loose fur removed. The cats enjoy the time that we spend with them; however, they were not fond of the tooth brushing activity without toothpaste. They also did not like washing their eyes, nose and ears wiped. Now, they are getting used to having these wiped with cotton balls.

Feline Adventure: 1. Give a presentation about grooming a cat your group. On July 10th, I taught my 4-H club how to brush a cat. I explained that it is necessary to groom a cat to help them keep their bodies healthy and well. Regular brushing keeps tangles from getting in their fur, it reduces the hair balls that cats make when they clean themselves and digest the fur, and brushing also reduces loose dander. Brushing cats will help keep our house cleaner, which is important because we suffer from allergies.

2. Make a grooming kit. Include at least a brush, flea comb, cotton balls and rough wash cloth. We have made a grooming kit that includes a rough wash cloth, a flea comb, the assortment of brushes (soft, firm and slicker), and cotton balls. The toothbrush and toothpaste were left out of the kit so that they don’t get full of hair. I used this kit in my grooming demonstration for our club.

Showing Off

Pounce: 1. Show your friends how to show a cat. (Please see workbook page.)

Cat Chat: 1. How did you learn each step involved in showing a cat? I learned each step involved in showing a cat from watching videos on the internet, reading the cat facts portion of my workbook, and from my leader. 2. How did it feel to show your cat to others? I enjoyed showing my cat to others, but I also learned that I need to spend more time with my cat to practice the methods. My cats are not as comfortable with me showing them to others. They prefer my parents to show them because they trust them more.

Feline Adventures: 1. Make up10 questions about cats to use during showmanship and practice answering them with friends.  What breed of cat are you showing?  Is your animal a short haired or a long haired cat?  How do you know that your cat’s ears are healthy and well maintained?  How do you know that your cat is free of fleas and ticks?  How do you keep your cat from getting tangles and matted fur?  How do you know that your cat’s eyes are healthy?  How do you know that your cat’s nose is healthy?  Are your cats declawed?  If not, how do you trim your cat’s nails?  Are your cat’s teeth and gums healthy?