WORD |
DESCRIPTION |
Abscess |
A
localized collection of pus in part of the body, formed by
tissue disintegration and surrounded by an inflamed area.
In cats, these are commonly the result of bites or scratches
occurring from fighting and, if left untreated, can be fatal.
|
Abyssinian |
An
oriental shorthair with a distinctly ticked tawny coat. |
Acinonyx |
A genus of Felidae including only one species, the cheetah. |
Acquired
Immunity |
Immunity
obtained either from the development of antibodies in response
to exposure to an antigen, as from vaccination or an attack
of an infectious disease, or from the transmission of antibodies,
as from mother to fetus through the placenta or the injection
of antiserum. Results in resistance to further infection. |
Acute
Disease |
An
illness that manifests rapidly. |
Acute
Metritis |
An infection of the uterus. |
Advocate |
To
speak, plead, or argue in favor of, as in an animal advocate. |
Agouti |
In
a Tabby cat, the color between the stripes. |
Ailurophile |
One
who loves cats. |
Ailurophobe |
One
who hates or fears cats. |
Albino |
A
relatively rare, genetically recessive condition resulting
in white hair and pink eyes. |
Allele |
One
member of a pair or series of genes that occupy a specific
position on a specific chromosome. |
Allergen |
A
substance, such as pollen or pet dander, that causes an allergy. |
Allergy |
An
abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as
pollens, foods, or microorganisms. Common indications of allergy
may include sneezing, itching, and skin rashes. |
Alley
Cat |
A
non-pedigree cat |
Allopathic |
A
method of treating disease with remedies that produce effects
different from those caused by the disease itself. |
Alter |
To
neuter or spay (an animal, such as a cat or a dog). |
Alternative
Veterinary Medicine |
Treatment
used to complement or supplement traditional veterinary practice,
such as acupuncture and homeopathy. |
American
Bobtail |
A
relatively new and uncommon breed of cat most notable for
its stubby "bobbed" tail about half the length of
a normal cat's tail. They come in both short or longhaired
coats and can have any color of fur. |
American
Curl |
A
breed of cat with unusual ears that curl inwards like a crescent.
|
American
Keuda Cat |
A
breed of cat currently under development with some pronounced
similarities with the Egyptian Mau cat. |
American
Shorthair |
A
breed of cat with a hard, short, close-lying coat. |
American
Wirehair |
A
breed of cat with a medium-lengths coat with individual hairs
that can be crimped, hooked or bent, lending it a wiry look. |
Amino
Acids |
The
component molecules of proteins. |
Angora |
A
very new British cat breed that is an oriental longhaired
cat. |
Animal
Protein |
Dietary
components derived from meat, fish, and animal products such
as milk. |
Animal
Shelter |
An
organization which cares for strays and other homeless pets
and seeks to find permanent homes for them. |
Antibodies |
A
Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted
into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus,
such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or transplanted organ,
and that neutralizes the antigen by binding specifically to
it; an immunoglobulin. |
Asthma |
A
chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies,
that is characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored
breathing, chest constriction, and coughing. |
Asymptomatic |
Neither
causing nor exhibiting symptoms of disease. |
Australian
Mist Cat |
A
breed of cat developed by crossing Burmese cats, Abyssinian
cats and domestic shorthair cats, creating a shorthaired cat
with a spotted coat. |
Auto-immune
disease |
A
disease resulting from an immune reaction produced by an individual's
white blood cells or antibodies acting on the body's own tissues
or extracellular proteins. |
Awn
Hairs |
In
a cat's coat, the secondary hairs with a bristly texture and
thickened tips. |
