Cat Of The Week#2 (TIFFANIE)

The Tiffanie is the longhaired version of the Burmilla which itself, initially was the result of a chance mating between Chinchilla and Burmese stock. Tiffanies are an endearing blend of the two original breeds.

The Tiffanie is a medium-sized cat with a fine and a silky coat, longer at the ruff and with a flowing plume-like tail. The general body type should be that of the Burmese but carry some of the Chinchilla facial markings particularly the mascara type eye outline.

The silky medium length coat does not tangle and has none of the potential grooming problems of their parent breed, the Chinchilla. The coat is of an easy care nature with only the very occasional need to groom it.

The most outstanding feature of this breed is its wonderful temperament. Tiffanies are outgoing, gentle, loving, beautiful cats that make excellent pets. They are extremely devoted to their humans and most are real lapcats. Tiffanies are also extremely playful and intelligent. They easily learn to fetch and play other games and quickly take over the hearts and homes of their besotted humans. This breed also adapts very well to other pet animals. This delightfully pretty cat with an amazing personality quickly becomes a favourite with all who come to know them.

Pregnancy and Pre-Natal Care

A queen's pregnancy can be confirmed at around three to four weeks. She will become noticeably fatter after six weeks of pregnancy. The average length of pregnancy is 65 days or about nine weeks from the date of the mating.

A pregnant queen should be fed a nourishing well-balanced diet. The number of meals can be gradually increased from about the fifth week of pregnancy. Always consult your vet is you are in any doubt about anything concerning your cat.

In the later stages of pregnancy, provide your queen with a warm and comfortable place to give birth. During the last week of pregnancy, keep a watchful eye on your queen and make sure she is accustomed to the kittening box. Most cats do not need any help with kittening. A mother cat knows instinctively what to do. Make sure your vet is available when the kittens are due just in case.

Canned Food or Kibble?

Many nutritionists agree that cats should get a variety of food, both dry and canned, for several reasons:

· While dry food is convenient, and can be left out for "free feeding,"

· Canned food contains water, and many cats do not drink water regularly

· To ensure that your cat gets the right amount of nutrients. That "near-perfect" food you've selected might be adding too little (or too much) of certain minerals and/or vitamins.

· Cats may actually become bored with the same food day in and day out, and simply quit eating. Face it, would you enjoy pizza morning, noon, and night, for years?

· To head off possible allergies to certain ingredients. Cats (like humans) develop allergies over a period of time. Although the incidence of food allergies in cats is rare, cat owners might want to err on the side of caution, particularly if their cats have shown evidence of allergies in the past.

· To prevent "food addictions." The Whole Cat Journal, in its October, 2001 issue, cites the case of a cat that was addicted to a particular flavor of a particular brand of cat food, right down to a specific factory and lot number! This kind of addiction can be difficult to deal with when that last can is gone, but can be easily avoided by feeding a variety of foods from the start.

This doesn't mean that your cat should get a different food every day, but a variety of high-quality canned foods, supplemented with dry food for cats left alone all day, will add spice to his diet and keep them in good shape.