Bombay

Nikky Horner in Kentucky bred the first Bombays in 1953 with selective breeding between a sable Burmese and a black American Shorthair. The breeding program continued with the result of a totally black cat with a short shiny coat and huge copper eyes. The Bombays bred true and in 1976 the Bombay was recognised for championship status in The Cat Fanciers' Association

Birman

The Birman has point which means its face, ears, legs, tail and feet are a different color from the rest of its body. Kittens are born completely white and begin to show their points anywhere between 2 days and 2 weeks. The Birman is a beautiful long hair cat with a medium to heavy body weight, brilliant blue eyes and a silky coat in a variety of different coloured points. Birmans have four white gloves on each of their feet.

Birman coats are easy to care for because they do not mat although they still need regular grooming.

Balinese

A Balinese should be the same as a Siamese in most respects, the main difference is a beautiful Semi-longhaired coat.

Some say that everything on a Balinese is slightly 'softer' than on a Siamese, the length of coat giving 'softness' to the lines of the cat and that the voice is a little quieter.

The Balinese has a wedge head, in the shape of an equilateral triangle, with large flared ears positioned so as to continue the triangle. The eyes are rich brilliant sapphire blue and are oriental or almond in shape.

A long slender neck leads into a refined, lengthy body, well muscled and tubular in shape, the legs are fine boned yet strong, with delicate oval paws.

A soft silky coat lays close to the body and flows gently downward towards a magnificent plumed tail.

Although long and refined, Balinese cats are also strong, muscular and powerful and could be called 'the ballet dancers' of the cat world.

Abyssinian

Although many believe the Abyssinian to be direct descendent of the sacred cat of Egypt, the exact origin of the breed is obscure. Certainly, there is a strong resemblance between the modern Abyssinian and the cat depicted in ancient Egyptian bronzes, paintings and the agouti coated cats found buried in the tombs, with the lithe long body large ears and long tail. The Abyssinian shape and distinctive coat however also bears a striking similarly to the African Wild cats. The first registration of the breed appeared in English studbooks in 1896. The earliest identifiable Abyssinian can be found in the Leiden Museum in Holland. The label reads "domestica India", indicating the origin to the same area. More recent studies have indicated the coast of Indian Ocean between Singapore and Ceylon to be the "homeland" of the Abyssinian Tabby colour pattern - Abyssinians are one of the oldest breeds and they are possibly the closest to a natural breed of all the purebred cats in the world.

Should You Bath Your Cat?

Although your cat doesn't realise it right now, after some tender loving care and a little shampoo, he will appreciate it.

Cats hate water, that much is easy to see as he lashes out at you with his claws when he gets anywhere near it. Why would someone want to bathe their cat, then?

Well, they are dirty and can become flea infested just like a dog, so they do need them. Sometimes, you’ll just have to do it. The key is to not bathe your cat more than once a month as you will damage his skin and his hair if you do so more than that. And, you can do it.

BATH YOUR CAT, AND COME AWAY SCRATCH FREE~! :))

You should know right off the bat that almost all cats hate baths, so be prepared. Here are some tips to make the experience easier:

• Cat baths are smoother when 2 people are bathing the cat. One holds the cat while the other bathes the cat. Bathing the cat should be done in the bathroom where you can close the door to prevent escapes. Noise (like rushing bath water) is always an issue for the cat so anything to keep the noise level down will help.
  
• Preparation is everything - Run the bath water BEFORE you put the cat
  in the bath and make sure the water is not too hot and not too cold. The height of the water should reach the cat's underbelly.
  
• A rubber bathmat placed in the tub will give the cat something to grip when it gets nervous and is a good idea.
  
• Use a cat shampoo recommended by your vet, groomer or other qualified pet professional.
  
• Do NOT wet the cat's head. Instead use a moist washcloth or towelette if the cat's face and head are dirty. GENTLY wet the cat from neck to bum using a cup or small pail with the bath water itself and start shampooing at the neck and move toward the bum. Then wash the legs.
  
• Meowing and yowling at this point are normal unless your cat is mute,
  in a coma, or practically dead. Just continue rubbing in the suds gently. Don't use too much shampoo.
  
• The rinsing is the most important part as shampoo left on a cat's skin will make your cat scratch itself thereby irritating its skin. Start draining the bath water. While it is draining, start rinsing the cat's fur with the remaining bath water using cup or small pail. This gets the 'big suds' off. Use or buy a cheap shower attachment for this next part. With warm water from the shower attachment, rinse and rub the fur well from neck to bum. Once you think it's clean do it again quickly making sure there is no shampoo residue.
  
• While in the tub put a towel all around kitty and start gently rubbing
  all around its body. It must be a gentle rub or pat down because especially in a longhaired cat, you don't want the rubbing to create new knots. Remove kitty from the tub and use another towel to further absorb water from the fur.
  
• If you have a hair dryer that does NOT make too much noise you can try rubbing the fur while blow drying. Make sure that if your cat is NOT completely dry that you put it in a WARM room so that it does not catch a chill and get sick. This CAN happen easily.

Note: It is 100% normal for the cat to start licking its fur immediately after you've finished all your hard work.

Below is a video by 'Animal Allies' showing how to bath a cat. Enjoy~! ;)

.:How to Select the Best Shampoo For Your Cat:.

If you've ever been in the shower, and reached for the cat shampoo instead of your own, you already know that there's a difference between cat shampoo, and shampoo for people. Cat shampoo is designed especially for cats. Your shampoo can irritate their skin, not to mention how their shampoo irritates you. But that's a topic for another article.

Shampooing your cat has many benefits. It keeps him looking and smelling clean, and it can help you spot parasites, such as ticks and fleas. An occasional bath also helps to reduce shedding. But how do you choose a cat shampoo?


Features to Consider in a Cat Shampoo

There are many different kinds of cat shampoo, and the type you choose depends on why you are shampooing your cat in the first place. Cats are experts at keeping themselves clean. But occasionally, they may need a bath, and a shampoo recommended by your vet, or other pet professional, should be your first choice.

Cat shampoo can be formulated much like your shampoo. There's a cat shampoo to keep hair (or fur) soft and shiny. This would be a cleansing, or deodorizing cat shampoo. There's hypoallergenic cat shampoo, and even color enhancing cat shampoo. Dry cat shampoo is ideal for those cats who simply won't tolerate water, or simply for ‘spot cleaning.' This kind of cat shampoo may go on like a mousse, then be brushed vigorously (but safely) out of the cat's fur, taking the dirt with it.

Some cat shampoo is designed especially for flea and tick treatment. Again, consult your veterinarian or pet professional before choosing, and using, these products.

If you're looking for a more ‘natural' way to bathe your cat, try herbal, organic, or botanical cat shampoo. It may be harder to find, and will probably cost a little more than other cat shampoo.


Author's recommendations:

• Johnson's Tea Tree Shampoo 200ml

RM13.39

This shampoo contains Tea Tree oil which is a natural essential oil taken from the Australian Tea Tree and which has been traditionally used for its cleansing properties. It also contains Aloe Vera which helps to soothe and calm irritated skin, promoting a healthy coat and skin. Suitable for dogs and cats.

• 

Wahl No-Rinse Shampoo for Cats

RM15.80


Wahl No-Rinse Shampoo for Cats is a remarkable innovation in pet cleansing and grooming. A specially formulated foaming cleanser gives your cat's coat a bright lustrous appearance. No water needed and no rinsing required. This shampoo contains gentle but effective cleansers derived from coconut oil which quickly remove surface dirt and grime. 200ml bottle.

• Refresh Deodorizing Shampoo 470ml + 25%FREE

RM32.55


The residual deodorising action keeps pets smelling clean and fresh longer than other shampoos. It helps reduce matting, tangles and dryness and can be used on dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals.

• 

Coatex Aloe & Oatmeal Shampoo 500ml

RM77.70


Coatex Aloe and Oatmeal Shampoo is a mild conditioning shampoo for dogs and cats with sensitive skin. Contains natural aloe Vera extracts as well as oatmeal to provide an all-purpose shampoo. This shampoo will NOT wash off flea treatment such as Frontline or Advocate. Can also be used to remove puppy scale, sooth dry skin and provide a detangling action for long, thick haired breeds. Adds essential moisture whilst providing a rich lather that gently cleanse the skin without removing natural oils. Can be used weekly with no side effects.

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