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American Short Hair catstheir history and background of the breedAt Paws, we get a lot of requests for cat adoptions and there are some types that are a lot more popular than others. The largest number of people request Persians and "American short hair" cats. This month we wanted to feature American Short Hairs - because we think we will surprise quite a few people with the truth about this breed. The first cats arriving in North America came with earliest English settlers on historic ships like the Mayflower - sources record how cats were kept on the ship to control rats and mice and some settlers brought their family pets too. Over the years this stock of cats bred in the new country. Initially it was the rugged, good hunting cats that people prised; paying $50 or more in the mid 1800's for a cat who was good at keeping vermin away - imagine that in today's money!
By the early twentieth century, more and more cats were being brought to North America from abroad, particularly Longhaired breeds and Oriental type cats, and these cats promptly interbred with native cats. Many North American cat fanciers wished to preserve the original old type of American cat and by 1906 it was recognised by the breed society as the Domestic Short hair - the name was finally changed in 1966 to "American Shorthair". American short haired cats are strong, solid cats with a slightly oblong shaped head, thick short fur that is usually a striking tabby pattern, the most well-known colour is the silver tabby, with dense black markings set on a sterling silver background.
Of the two cats we have pictured in this article, one is a pedigree (champion) American Short Hair, and the other is a Riyadh street cat who was found in our TNR project and has since adopted by a new family. It may surprise many people to know the white cat was the street cat and the tabby is the champion pedigree from the USA! There are two lesions in this story for you. Firstly, to realise the American Short Hair cat breed was developed from best surviving and hunting cats of the settlers. This is actually similar to the situation of the Arabian Mau which is now a recognised breed in shows too - a breed fashioned from the cats best suited for survival in urban Emirati areas - it is a "breed" of local cats. Isn't it amazing the local street cats can become a recognised pedigree line! Secondly, it's important not to judge a cat by it's colour - or breed. A breed is really just a "type" and a colour is no more than a coat. We should love any of these little felines for who they are, their personality, their purrs, their company and beauty - where ever they came from or what ever colour coat Allah has given them to wear. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cat-activist of the year!Working against the odds | ||||||||||||||||||||
Increasingly they were kept as pets and people started selecting cats with the bold colour patterns they preferred in looks - not just the good hunting skills.
Here in Saudi, we have found that many people think that American Short Hairs are white cats - it's common that people even ask for "American whites". While American Short Hairs can be white, most aren't! Also, the white colour gene can be shown in many many other breeds - and cross breeds and street cats and moggies too.
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Every single cat who has been neutered has had its life improved by what has been done. Having tried, and failed, to get changes made in hospital policy regarding trapping, our work is carrying on regardless. |
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Since the www.OpenPaws.org website started we have had quite a number of the cats adopted, one has left the country already for a new life abroad. Some of these compound cats scrub up really well! To know that we have facilitated happiness, contentment and a safe environment for these cats...well that is very rewarding.
Pet Adoptions
There's more information about pet adoptions and fostering on our website and a larger selection of animals to view. Please visit, www.OpenPaws.org - learn more about caring for pets and perhaps even find one that's purrr-fect for you! (when you're checking for new pets, click on "refresh" to make sure you're not viewing an older version of the page that's stored in your cache!)
Urgent
Maliki
There are several cats at the Faisal Hospital who are in immediate danger. Housing services has decided that all cats, friendly, pets, neutered, all are to be culled. This little guy is Maliki, a 2 year old neutered male is very friendly and out in a foster home. If you can help any of them,please contact Lesley on 055 190 1449.
Urgent
Tasha
Tasha is a 2 year old neutered female cat who has lived as a pet with the nurses on the Faisal hospital. But as they aren't able to keep them there - with the constant threat of Pest Control, she's looking for a home.
If you can provide them care, a foster home or are interested in adoption, please contact Lesley on 055 190 1449.
Advice from our Vet
Neuter the cats you care for
You wouldn't believe the numbers of cats that are removed (killed or dumped) from compounds in the city with Pest Control. Many of these are un-owned and many others are born by "accident" with pets breeding.
There are NO medical or psychological advantages to allow your cat to breed more cats. Your cat can live a longer healthier life without breeding and without making the overpopulation problem worse - there are simply not enough homes for all the kittens produced.
Read more about the pros and cons of neutering your pets here you may be surprised at some of the common excuses people use - and our answers.
Neutering saves lives.
Neuter the cats you care for outdoors. It is inhumane to just feed the cats. Does that surprise you? By feeding them you make them relient on you. They breed more cats and what happens then? The mothers have enormous physical demands on them, many of the kittens can not survive, males fight more to compete spreading injury and disease. Neutering them stabilises the population humanely and allows those animals to live longer healthier lives.
You can save lives like these - if you can volunteer with us to help the un-owned cats where you live. | ||||
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Dieing for help. This young female cat has died giving birth- many female street cats don't survive their first litter and many abandon the kittens because they can't cope. |
The majority of kittens born on the street don't survive. The first kitten pictured here has lost its eyes to severe cat flu' because he's weak, unvaccinated, and left untreated. The second kitten has died of starvation and dehydration, the family feeding the mother left over summer and the kittens were left without care. | |||
Learn more: www.CompoundCats.comYou can read more about neutering for health and population control here! | ||||
Powers of the BLACK cat?
Throughout history, people have created superstitions about cats and black cats in particular. In Hebrew and Babylonian folklore, cats were compared to serpents, coiled on a hearth. In ancient Egypt they were considered divine; they even believed in a goddess Basst who was part cat. The ancient Romans considered cats sacred as did some pagan sects in Europe. In Ireland and Britain black cats were considered good luck. The Christian witch-hunts created a fear of black cats through Europe and spread the belief that they were witches familiars, shape-shifters or even forms of the devil. In the Arab world they have been associated with Djinns.
However there is no evidence in science or the Holy Quran (or the teachings of the Prophet) which suggests black cats are evil.
Black cats are just cats which happen to have black fur. They are not a special type of cat. They have no magical powers. They don't create good luck or bring bad luck.
There is no place for such superstition (tiyarah) in Islam; as Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said;
"O Allah, no one brings good things but you and no one wards off bad things but you, and there is no power and no strength except with you."
Home Project
Yummy-Puppy-Cookies
Hay, feel like making something tasty for your pet pooch? I got this month's home project from a friend who is a great dog trainer and pet owner. She makes all sorts of treats and cooks for her 3 dogs. People often say they have a hard time finding doggie treats and when they do they are expensive, filled with artificial ingredients and usually sold in Pet shops - which we try to avoid. So, as a solution, here are some yummy, healthy treats that are easy to make at home for your pooch!
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Ingredients
Directions Preheat oven to 180 deg C (350 deg F) In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in the parsley, garlic, broth, honey and egg. Gradually blend in flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough. Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball, and roll to 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Using small cookie cutters (you can get bone shaped cutters!) and make biscuits! Transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1/4 inch (6 mm) apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again, and cut additional biscuits. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn over. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on both sides. Let cool overnight. (After we finish baking all batches of biscuits, we turn off the oven, then spread all the biscuits out on one baking sheet and set them in the oven to cool overnight. The extra time in the oven as it cools off helps make the treats crispier and crunchier.) |
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This recipe makes several dozen small biscuit treats that keep and freeze well for future use.
People for Paws
Introducing our new Re-Homing Co-ordinatorKaren Ibbotson
Two and a half years ago I took on a Saluki bitch through an ex-pat rescue based in Khobar. I have since learned an awful lot about the breed. I write a column for an on line Saluki E-Zine and I recently had a book published, which is a witty diary written from the point of view of my Saluki about the trials and tribulations of living with us.
I hope to be available to offer any help and advice I can and to help in the re-homing of dogs and other pets in Riyadh. So please feel free to give me a call. Home: 014924411 ext 344 or Mobile: 0554 360829. |
My name is Karen Ibbotson. I have been involved with dogs since I was a child, my parents had Labradors when I was growing up and I had my own first dog at the age of 14, a Poodle cross bitch. Around 10 years ago I became involved in the Weimaraner breed. I had my own first Weimaraner, an older rescue and as a result I also became involved in Weimaraner rescue. I fostered dogs, performed home and dog checks for them and transported dogs to new homes and from old homes when I was able to. I have been owned by 4 Weimaraners and still have a male that I brought out here with me from the UK. I am still involved with rescue in the UK to a degree and help with fund raising as much as I can from here and I also moderate on a forum, where we offer advice on health, diet, behaviour and training.
I am by no means an expert on dogs, but I am very passionate about them. I have a lot of hands on experience with difficult dogs having been involved in a rescue that deals with a breed that can be difficult and is notorious for suffering from separation anxiety. I offered a home to a male several years back that suffered with extreme separation anxiety.
Feature Creature
Apple Snails!
Because they grow as big as an apple!
Pomacea canaliculata
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Apple snails do well in a common aquarium or a pond. They can live together with most fish species and clean the aquarium of algae. But be careful they don't eat all your aquatic plants - some have a voracious appetite. One of the interesting things about these snails is that they are gonochoristic (i.e. there are male and female snails - that's actually unusual in the snail world!). They can also breathe air into "lungs" - with the use of a siphon - check out the picture! If you keep them in a fish aquarium, make sure you have a coverplate - or they may escape. If they don't get hurt or lost they can survive out of water for a few days but if they fall they can crack their shell. They don't need deep water (but are ok in it), but they do like about 10cm (4 inch) air space above the water level and you should allow about 10L (2.5US gallons) per mid sized snail. They eat lettuce and greens like spinich, cucumber, small pieces of carrots, green beans, celery, algea and aquarium plants. But also some garden weeds, fish food (pellets and tablets), even dead fish and other snails or their eggs. They need a calcium rich water with pH between 6.5-8 (preferable neutral) and temperature between 18 - 28deg C (65-82deg F). And like shadows and shade to hide in. If you have one female snail, she can store zygotes to produce fertile eggs months after being with a male. You do have to be careful with breeding as they can become a plague and in some countries a serious problem that threatens wildlife if released. If you don't want more snails, just keep one or remove the eggs before they develop. Any baby snails need to be protected from fish in the aquarium because they might get eaten! |
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You can learn more about apple snails at www.applesnail.net - it's a great site.
If you have an aquaria or pond and would like to adopt an apple snail contact
Jean
055 4779 008 or ask at newhomes@openpaws.org
www.OpenPaws.org and the Open Paws E-zine is written and run by volunteers in Riyadh.
We aim to provide helping hands for the care of companion animals in need
- why not help too?