WORD |
DESCRIPTION |
Calicivirus |
A
serious respiratory disease. |
Calico |
A
coat pattern that is mottled in tones of black, orange, and
white |
California
Spangled Cat |
A
large, strong, spotted cat with a somewhat wild appearance
as they were bred to look like a small leopard. |
Calling |
A
term used to describe a female cat's behavior (i.e. howling,
yowling, screaming) during estrus (ovulation). |
Call
Name |
The name that a cat is called, which is commonly a shortened
form of a cat's registered name. |
Cameo-Chinchilla |
A coat that is shaded or smoked with red or cream tipping. |
Carbohydrate |
Any
of a group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starches,
celluloses, and gums and serves as a major energy source in
the diet of animals. These compounds are produced by photosynthetic
plants and contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually
in the ratio 1:2:1. |
Cardiomyopathy |
A
disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown
or obscure cause. |
Carpal
Pads |
The
pads on the wrists of a cat's front legs which provide traction. |
Castrate |
To
remove the testicles of a male cat. |
Cataract |
Opacity
of the lens or capsule of the eye, causing impairment of vision
or blindness |
Cat
Collector |
A
person who acquires and hordes great numbers of cats. Often
a derogatory term suggesting improper care. |
|
A shrill, discordant sound. |
Cat
Fancy |
The
collective group of individuals, clubs, and registering associations
involved with breeding and showing cats. |
Cat
Flu |
More
common term for feline upper respiratory virus. |
Cat
Hoarder |
See
Cat Collector |
Catmint
|
Any
of various aromatic, ornamental, annual or perennial plants
of the genus Nepeta, having opposite leaves and variously
colored flowers with two-lipped corollas. |
Catnip |
A
hairy aromatic perennial herb (Nepeta cataria) in the mint
family, native to Eurasia and containing an aromatic oil to
which cats are strongly attracted. |
Cattery |
An
establishment where cats are kept and bred. |
Certified
Pedigree |
Pedigree
issued officially by a cat registering association. |
Champaign |
A
term referring to the chocolate color in Burmese and the lilac
color in Tonkinese. |
Characteristic |
A
feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably;
a distinguishing mark or trait. |
|
A
breed of cat that is muscular with long limbs, a blue (grey)
double-thick coat, and gold-colored eyes. |
Chinchilla |
A
coat color in which most of the hair is white or pale and
only the outermost tips are colored black or another color. |
Chlamydia |
A
highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory
tract which causes flu-like symptoms including coughing, sneezing
and runny eyes and nose. A vaccine is available for cats considered
"at risk." |
|
A
medium to pale brown color, though distinctly paler than seal
in Siamese. |
Chronic
Disease |
A
disease lasting indefinitely. |
Chronic
Renal Failure |
The number one primary cause of death in older cats. |
Class
B Dealers |
People
who receive collected (usually illegally) dogs and cats and
sell them for research purposes. |
Clowder |
A
group of cats. |
Coat |
The
fur of a cat. |
Cobby |
Compact,
with a short body. |
Colostrum
|
The
milk secreted by the mother during the first few days following
birth that provides the kittens with immunity to some diseases. |
Congenital |
Present
at birth; may have genetic or environmental causes. |
Conjunctivitis |
Inflammation
of the conjunctiva, characterized by redness and often accompanied
by a discharge. |
Convulsions |
An
intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction. |
Cornish
Rex |
A
cat with no hair except down, or the undercoat. |
Crate |
Portable
container used for shipping, transporting, or housing animals.
|
Crepuscular
(or Nocturnal) |
Becoming
active at twilight or before sunrise, as do bats and certain
insects and birds. |
Crossbred |
A
cat whose sire and dam are representatives of two different
breeds. |
Cryptorchid |
The
adult whose testicles are abnormally retained in the abdominal
cavity. Bilateral cryptorchidism involves both sides; i.e.,
neither testicle has descended into the scrotum. Unilateral
cryptorchidism (also called monorchid) involves one side only;
i.e., one testicle is retained or hidden, and one is descended. |
|
A
longhaired breed of cat medium length double coat that is
dense, full and silky in texture. |
