Meowgazine

Mojave Spotted Cats

The Mojave Spotted, originally named the Mojave Desert Cat was first discovered back in 1980 by April Langford. In 1980 the first colony of wild cats was found living under the thick desert shrubbery in deep borrows which were used for the purpose of sheltering the cats' offspring from the harsh desert weather. It is not known as to how these burrows were dug, possibly by other wild animals or by the cats themselves. Colony size was never noted but there were at least 6 adult cats to each colony found. The first colony was found in a small town called Hesperia, located in Southern California.

Each cat that was observed resembled one another down to the very specific spotted pattern including body structure but color did slightly vary from one cat to another. Colors ranged from silver, brown, gold agouti and black between the different colonies. These cats were larger than an average house cat, a larger bone structure and large paws, lynx like paws in mitten shape, almost resembling the local wild Bobcat. It is not known as to the possibility of the two species being related or not but they did seem to resemble one another.

Average litter size was 1- 3 kitts and approximately 1 litter a year. Life span for an average adult cat is unknown. Study shows these cats survived on a diet of live birds, desert mice, lizards and insects. Predators are the coyote, mountain lion, dog packs and man. In 1984 a litter of Mojave Desert kitts was found abandoned beneath a large Juniper tree, ice cold from the approaching winter, and starving. It seems as though during colder parts of the year food sources were very low and if the Queen had trouble finding the food she needed, she would just abandon her young. The first litter found was rescued and nourished with a Kitten Milk Replacement {KMR} formula, a commercial product used in kitten rescue, and raised indoors but would never become tame because of their wild heritage. During the next several years the wild cats became more and more scarce.

By 1990 people from all over began to come to this small desert town and the cats started to slowly disappear. By this time a breeding program to preserve the Mojave Desert cat was already underway. It was such shame to see these beautiful cats just vanish without a trace. The Mojave wild cat lives to this very day but in the homes of the people who helped save it. The most important thing to be taken into consideration in the study of these cats, was the untamable nature of the cat even when raised in a completely human environment. This required immediate attention in order to keep them in captivity.

Many years have now passed and we are still working with Generation 1 - 4 cats but as each generation is born they get more and more exotic looking and more affectionate to their human companions. During the next few years we will be out crossing our Mojaves to the Bengal, other Mojave Gen. 1 cats and Polydactyl variations to produce larger, heavier built cats. It was not until 1996 that we started using other breeds such as the Bengal, this was a very new bloodline to the Mojave, but to no disadvantage, it was a success. Not only did we use the Bengal for the more pronounced spotting but also to give the Mojave a more brilliantly soft and glittered pelt. By using the Bengal we only added a few extra features to better the breed color wise. In no way did this breeding take from the already beautiful wild cat's appearance.

In 2007 the Mojave Spotted will be bred true without having to out cross to any other breed, at that time Cheshire Cats Cattery will be one of the very few catteries in the World to own and breed such a rare and beautiful wild cat native to the deserts of the Mojave. There are only a few other breeders who have access to the Mojave Spotted, all kittens resulting from the breeding program have been placed in Spay / Neuter homes therefore preventing the novice from using the Mojave in a way which would cause a threat to the breed. Feline Geneticists and other experts are welcome to write for further information on the Mojave Spotted, we are more than happy to assist people in their interests in the Desert cat. We would like to thank Dr. Lesli Lyons of UC Davis for helping out in the research of the Mojave Spotted. At this time we are working with several clubs and organizations as well as preservationists to help the Mojave become more publicly recognized.

-Based upon an article by April C. Langford

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Cat Training - The Meows And The Purrs
by: Son Ngo

A Cat 'meows'. Yes it sounds so good but if it meows loudly and continuously, then the same sound becomes irritating. What do you think the reason can be? Is it hungry?

YES and NO

Yes, hungry, it can be, but apart from this there can many other reasons, why it is 'meowing'. The reason may be anything it may be because it is just bored, or can be because it has suffering from some kind of discomfort or has some medical problem.

What should you do it she keeps meowing? Offer her milk...

No! You should not offer her any food when it is incessantly meowing, as it will think that this as a kind of reward and would keep meowing... This will increase its bad behavior and would affect the relationship between you and the cat.

Offer it food, when it stops meowing, this will be registered in its mind, that if it does not meow unnecessarily, it will be rewarded. You will need to get your cat to learn when it is appropriate to meow, when they really need something. You need to see that all the cat needs is always available to it, as far as possible. This would mean your cat will do less meowing.

Cats are usually lazy and would not exercise by themselves. They love to cat nap all day long. You need to set up a playtime and a play area. Keep Strings, ball, catnip items, or simple home made items that your cat will love. See that the items kept are without any sharp edges which might hurt your pet. This will help it get into a good habit of keeping itself occupied while you are busy with something else.

You should spend sometime in a day and preferable keep it same time everyday. A good time would be when you return home from work and you want to relax. It is proved that playing with or just stroking cats helps one relax and keeps blood pressure under control.

Purring is another characteristic of a cat. Purring signifies that the cat is content. Follow this with caution as purring does not always signify that the cat is happy. Cats also purrs if they are ill, sick or dying. Pay close attention to your cat, when it is purring and check for any physical signals which might suggest that it is not feeling well.

If it stops purring, that too signifies that it has some discomfort maybe it may be sick with a virus or something could be making her feel sick. These are signals to suggest you that seek the services of a veterinarian and have your cat examined. Non-purring may also happen when cats get older or maybe the purring is so soft that you are unable to hear them it.

As in humans, emotions play a very important part of a behavior in your cat. Fears, grief, compassion, jealously affect the behavior of your feline friends too.

* As fear is intimating to us so is it for them, it may have a fear of getting hurt or may be afraid of another animal.

* Cat would exhibit grief, when something tragic happens to it like loosing its owner, the same way as we do when we loose our near or dear ones.

* Cats have compassion for other cats.

* Your meowing and purring pet also turns green with jealousy if it has to share its owner, home, toys or food.

It is these emotions, you need to consider, when you are training your cat. It would be disturbed and might resort to excessive meowing and refuse to listen to its master. When they show the signs of being emotional, you need to find what is affecting their behavior.

Are they hurt or are they ill or is it just their bad behavior.

Cats, being emotional, need your attention all the time. You need to observe, if they are satisfied with the location, they are comfortable with other pets or other members of the family and you should always be aware of their actions.

Training a pet is tricky. It is Time and Patience which will help you through. They are to be treated like our children, teach them good behavior and ignore their bad attitude.

Reward your cat for being good. You need to give time to your cat to teach them how to play with toys and other items which you have kept for their playing. Always feed you cat with healthy food; these will ensure good medical condition and happy-content behavior.

Get toys which they would practically like to play with. Do not go in for toys which you would like them to play with.

Love them, Hug them and be kind to them, and you would be able to share the most beautiful relationship.

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