12 posts
Cat ear positions are one of the quickest ways to read a cat you meet. Ears that face forward and look relaxed usually mean a calm cat. Ears turned to the side mean a worried one. Ears pressed flat mean a cat that wants…
What is a tabby cat? It is a cat with a tabby coat pattern: stripes, swirls, spots or banded hairs, with an "M" marked on the forehead. It is not a breed. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), a cat breed registry, puts…
Why do cats slow blink? You have probably seen it: a cat looks at you, then closes its eyes slowly, holds them shut or half shut, and opens them again. Many people read it as a cat's smile. One study backs that reading…
What is a calico cat? It is a mostly white cat with large patches of black and orange, so its coat looks like a patchwork quilt. "Calico" names the pattern of the coat, not a breed. This guide explains what cat experts…
If you have tried to take a picture of a black cat, you know the problem. The phone shows two eyes floating in a dark shape, and the fur has no detail at all. This guide covers how to photograph a black cat so it looks…
What is a tuxedo cat? It is a black and white cat, usually black on top with white on the chest, the paws and often the face, so it looks dressed for dinner. "Tuxedo" is a nickname for the coat, not a breed. This guide…
What does a cat's tail position mean? Most of the time, a tail held up with a little curl at the tip means a relaxed cat, and a tail tucked in tight means a worried one. A puffed tail or one twitching fast means the cat…
Which cat breeds have curly fur? Five recognized breeds are known for it: the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex, the Selkirk Rex, the LaPerm and the American Wirehair. Each has a different kind of curl, from a tight wave to…
How to approach a cat you don't know comes down to one idea: you are not approaching the cat, you are inviting it to approach you. International Cat Care says cats thrive on choice and control, and a cat that feels in…
What is a domestic shorthair cat? It is a cat with a short coat and a family tree of mixed ancestry. It is not a breed. If a vet, a shelter or an insurer wrote "domestic shorthair" on your cat's papers, they were…
If you want to know how to photograph a cat with your phone, the good news is that you do not need a better camera. Most blurry, dark or startled cat photos come from a handful of fixable things: the flash, the zoom, the…
Is my cat a mixed breed? If you are asking, the honest answer is almost certainly yes. The Cat Fanciers' Association, a cat breed registry, says only about five percent of all domestic cats belong to any recognized…