WORD |
DESCRIPTION |
Habit |
A
recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired
through frequent repetition. |
Half-Pedigree |
A
term referring to a cat with one pedigree parent. In the strictest
terms, however, a half-pedigree is still considered a mixed
breed. |
Hand-Feed |
The
process of feeding a cat periodically throughout the day and
for a limited time. |
|
A
moderately sized, muscular shorthair cat with a brown or reddish-brown
coat and green eyes. |
Haw |
A
nictitating membrane, especially of a domesticated animal. |
Heartworm |
A
filarial worm (Dirofilaria immitis) transmitted by mosquitoes
and parasitic in the heart and associated blood vessels of
dogs and other canids. |
Heat |
Seasonal
period of the female. Estrus, in season. |
Hemorrhage |
Excessive
discharge of blood from the blood vessels; profuse bleeding. |
Hepatic
Lipidosis |
A
disease of the liver which can be fatal. Most commonly found
in obese cats that are anorexic and have rapidly lost weight.
|
Hepatitis |
Inflammation
of the liver, caused by infectious or toxic agents and characterized
by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain. |
Hereditary |
Transmitted
or capable of being transmitted genetically from parent to
offspring: a hereditary disease. |
Herpes
Virus |
A
highly contagious viral disease causing upper respiratory
disease (URIs) in cats. |
Himalayan
Cat |
A
breed with extremely long, fluffy fur and the points of a
Siamese cat. |
Hip
Dysplasia |
Abnormal
formation of the hip joint. Although long recognized in dogs,
hip dysplasia has only recently been studied in cats, and
certain breeds may be more prone to the condition. |
Histamine |
A
physiologically active amine, C5H9N3, found in plant and animal
tissue and released from mast cells as part of an allergic
reaction in humans. It stimulates gastric secretion and causes
dilation of capillaries, constriction of bronchial smooth
muscle, and decreased blood pressure. |
Hock |
Term
for the ankle of a cat's hind leg. |
Holistic |
An
alternative form of veterinary care which, rather than focusing
on a singular disease, takes into account the whole of the
patient. |
HomeAgain |
Brand
name for microchips sold by Schering Plough to veterinarians
for permanent identification of companion animals. |
Homeopathic |
A
system of veterinary practice that treats a disease by the
administration of very minute doses of a remedy that in a
healthy animal would produce the symptoms of the disease that
is being treated. |
Honey
Mink |
Term
referring to the intermediate brown color of Tonkinese, corresponding
to chocolate. |
Hookworm |
Any
of numerous small parasitic nematode worms of the family Ancylostomatidae,
having hooked mouthparts with which they fasten themselves
to the intestinal walls of various hosts, including humans,
causing ancylostomiasis. Also called uncinaria. |
Hormone |
A
substance, usually a peptide or steroid, produced by one tissue
and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological
activity, such as growth or metabolism. |
Host |
The
animal on which a parasite lives . |
Household
Pet |
In
cat show terms, a cat not registered for breeding or exhibition.
|
|
The
process of training a pet to live cleanly in a house. For
cats, litter box training. |
Humane
Societies |
Groups
that aims to stop animal and human suffering due to cruelty
or other reasons. |
Hybrid |
A
cat resulting from the crossbreeding of two different breeds
of cats. |
Hyperglycemia |
The
presence of an abnormally high concentration of glucose in
the blood. |
Hypoglycemia |
An
abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. |
Hysterectomy |
Surgical
removal of part or all of the uterus. |
