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Build Your Own Cat Tree: Build a four-perch cat tree measuring 2' wide, 2' deep, and 4'-6" high.

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Build A Cat Tree


Build a four-perch cat tree measuring 2' wide, 2' deep, and 4'-6" high.

Perches

one (1) 22" length of 12" (diameter) Sono tube
(check the CONCRETE FORMWORK SECTION in a hardware or building supply store) cut lengthwise into three (3) curved sections.

Posts

two (2) 8'x2"x4" pieces of lumber,
each piece cut into (1) 4'-6", (1) 2'-9", and (1) 9" lengths.

Supports

one (1) 1"x2" piece of lumber cut into:
three (3) 19" lengths (to span the posts at the top beneath the perches);
two (2) 13" lengths (to attach the support perch).

Support Shelf Perch

One (1) 19"x13" piece of plywood (to span between posts and act as a stabilizer).
Base two (2) 2'x2' pieces of 3/4" plywood.

Hardware:

twelve (12) 1/4" x 3-1/2" lag bolts;
twelve (12) flat washers (to fit the bolts);
twenty (20) 1-1/2" wood screws.
heavy wire brad staples;
staples (for staple gun);

Fabric and batting

four (4) 26" squares;
one (1) 34" square in the cat's choice of color.

Miscellaneous:

500' of 3/8" sisal rope;
3" long nails.
wood glue;

Tools

saw (or have the lumber cut-to-length when purchased),
drill (also a 1" bit for countersinking),
screw driver,
hammer,
staple gun,
wood clamps,
measuring tape,
carpenter's level,
pencil


DIRECTIONS:

Prepare and Assemble the Posts:

1. Cut the 2x4's into 4'-6", 2'-9", and 9" pieces (2 of each size). "Measure twice and cut once!"
2. Drill two holes in the bottoms of each length of wood, using a template (see base instructions).
3. Attach the 19" long 1x2" support between the top ends of each pair of posts, spanning the posts like a beam. Attach the 9" pieces together, and the 2'-9" pieces, and then the 4'-6" pieces. Use nails to fasten these pieces. Put them between the posts, not on top of them.

Assemble the Base:

1. Glue the 2'x2' pieces of 3/4" plywood together to form one 2'x2'x1-1/2" base.
2. After the glue dries, drill six holes along two opposing sides of the base about 2" from the edge.
An easy way to do this is to make a template on cardboard or heavy paper then trace it onto the underside of the plywood base.

The template should be a rectangle 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" (the actual size of a finished 2x4). Place the template in the corner of the base 1" from the each edge (you can use the leftover 1" block as a guide), trace the edges, and repeat for each corner. Measure 10-1/4" from either end to position the edge of the template for the middle rectangle on each side.

You will have three rectangles in a row along either side of the base, 1" from the base edge, as shown in the drawing.

Place two marks inside each rectangle for the bolt holes (the center of the hole will be the diameter of a nickle from the end and the sides of the rectangle).

3. Countersink the holes with a 1" drill bit. This will allow the bolt heads and washers to be recessed into the wood (so you won't scratch your floors).

4. Cover the top surface of the base with the 34" square of fabric, by centering the base on the overturned square of carpet, wrapping the edges of the carpet around the sides of the base, and securing the fabric with staples tacked through the under side only.

Assemble the posts and base:

Attach posts to base with the 3-1/2" lag bolts:

1. Insert a bolt through a washer first, and attach the 9" post assembly in the front.

2. Next, attach the 2'-9" post asssembly in the middle.

3. Then, place the 4'-6" post assembly in the rear.

This forms a ramp the cats can run up.
(Do not completely tighten the bolts yet. Bring them close to tight, then back them off a bit.)

Attach the Support shelf Perch:

1. Stand the tree upright.
2. Clamp a 13" 1x2 between the 2'-9" and the 4'-6" posts, one on each side, on the inside of the posts. Be sure the base bolts are loose, so the posts are free to align themselves properly.
3. Place the top of the 1x2 supports 21" above the base, and level them.
4. With these shelf supports clamped in place, place the 13"x19" shelf perch on them. It should lay flat, and not wobble.
5. Adjust the clamps and support 1x2's until the shelf lays flat.
6. Once the shelf is laying flat, remove it and attach the 1x2's to the posts more permanently. While still clamped in place, screw them to the posts with the 1-1/2" wood screws (two per post). Then remove the clamps. (A screwdriver clutch drill attachment makes this easy work.)
7. Screw the 13"x19" shelf to the 1x2 supports. Use three screws per side.
8. Now tighten the base lag bolts.

Attach the Perches:

1. Cut the 12" diameter Sono Tube into thirds, lengthwise, to form three curved sections each 22" in length.
2. Place one section on top of a post assembly. Screw it in place using the wood screws. Put two screws in each 2x4 post. Repeat for each perch.
3. Cover each curved section of tube with poly batting and a 24" square of fabric, placing seams on the the under sides of the perches, attaching the fabric with staples. Also cover the Shelf Perch with batting and fabric, stapling to the underside of the shelf.

Wrap the Posts with Sisal Rope

1. Start at the base of the post, and use heavy wire brads and a hammer. Fasten the rope to the bottom of the post, and begin wrapping. Every 6 or 8 winds, tamp the rope down with a hammer. Fasten the rope in the back of the 2x4's only, so the fasteners don't show.
2. At the shelf perch, we cut small sections of rope and attached them individually around the 1x2 shelf supports. Then we continued winding after we passed the shelf. Each 50' length of 3/8" sisal rope will wrap about 20" of 2x4.





About the author:

Adapted from June/July 1994 issue of PETA's ANIMAL TIMES.


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Multi-Vitamin for Cats

Many pet owners wish to provide their animals with the best health possible by giving them a multi-vitamin for cats. Cats require a certain careful balance of vitamins and minerals as well as other nutrients in order to function at their best. By ingesting the proper combination of these vitamins, your cat will remain healthy and strong and is more likely to enjoy a long, happy, and illness free life.

The exact vitamins which your cat will need are slightly different from the vitamins which you may see in a human multi-vitamin supplement, however, so it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics of feline nutrition before you purchase anything.

Benefits of Multi-Vitamins for Cats
Ideally, a good cat food will provide your pet with all of the different vitamins and nutrients that he needs. However, there are a number of reasons why he may still require a vitamin supplement as well. First, many cat foods do not provide the highest quality nutrients as a result of lower quality ingredients in the food. Second, sitting on the shelf for weeks or even longer can mean that the vitamins and nutrients which are naturally in cat food are reduced in quantity, thereby not giving your cat the nutrition he requires. For this reason, multi-vitamins are a good supplement to help your cat overall.

Components of a Cat Good Multi-Vitamin Cats require certain enzymes and amino acids that can only be found in meat sources. For this reason, cats that do not eat meat will not be healthy and, ultimately, will not survive. Thus, many of the multi-vitamin supplements that are available for cats focus on some of these types of nutrients which are usually found in meat sources. These include:
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10 Causes of Feline Heart Murmur

Feline heart murmurs are unusual sounds the blood makes when leaving or moving through the heart. A cat heart murmur is rated from Grade 1 through Grade 6, with Grade 6 being the most severe.

10 Causes of Feline Heart Murmur
There a number of causes resulting in feline heart murmurs. Some conditions may be resolved with surgery.
1. Sometimes a cat heart has some abnormality or defect with the heart wall itself or the valves within the heart due to genetics (hereditary). Often a kitten is born with a heart murmur that he will grow out of in several months. This condition is not unusual and does not impair the cat heart. Often surgery can repair deformities in the heart valves.
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FELINE AIDS

In 1986 in Northern California a disease that was causing illness and death in cats was found to be caused by a virus similar to HIV, or the AIDS virus found in humans. Since then, much research has been done on this virus and the disease it causes. To date scientists have not been successful in formulating a vaccine to prevent this infection in cats. There has also been little success in finding methods to treat those cats that have the disease, but we DO know enough about the disease to safeguard our pets from this fatal disorder.

Because of its similarity to the HIV virus, it was named FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), and the disease it induces is known as FAIDS (feline acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The virus is classified in the same group of viruses as the HIV virus, but it is not identical. The HIV virus does not infect cats, and likewise the FIV virus does not infect humans. There is no danger that a person could catch AIDS from a cat or vice versa.

There is now a reliable blood test, which your veterinarian can perform on your cat to see if it is infected with FIV. As in people, we refer to a cat that tests positive as being "FIV positive" but that cat does not necessarily yet have FAIDS, and may not become sick for months or years or in some cases not at all. When a cat does develop illness, the body's natural defense against disease is broken down. The cat is then susceptible to a great variety of infections, cancers, etc. No one specific symptom is typical. It might be a sickly cat that is not recovering promptly from an illness, or has a chronic illness such as infected teeth or gums, frequent diarrhea or discharge from the nose or eyes. While we do our best to control other infections these cats may acquire, we cannot cure them of the FIV infection, and it is usually fatal.

The FIV virus affects only cats, so the risk for any cat of catching the virus comes through contact with another cat that is infected. The virus does not survive outside the cat's body, so it is not blown through the air or carried on a person's hands or clothing from cat to cat. An indoor cat that does not come in contact with other cats would be at no risk of catching the virus. Cats that are allowed to roam outdoors and may encounter stray cats have to be considered at risk to catch FIV. Studies have shown that the infection is worldwide, and in every area of the United States where stray cats have been tested the infection is present in a certain percentage of those cats. Because cats can live for months or even years while infected, they can transmit the infection to other cats.

Many studies are currently investigating exactly how FIV is transmitted cat to cat. The most common method of transmission is through a bite wound inflicted by an infected cat. In this case the virus in its saliva enters the blood stream of the bite victim. Bite wounds, however, are not the only method of transmission and virus-to-blood contact is not always necessary. FIV infected mothers can transmit the virus to their offspring but not in utero. The transmission to offspring probably takes place during nursing, and experts feel the majority of kittens nursing FIV positive mothers don't get the disease. It is still unknown whether transmission takes place during mating, but since biting can be part of the mating ritual, we have to assume it could. Experimentally scientists have been able to infect cats by giving the virus orally. We don't know, however, in the natural setting of mutual grooming, sharing food bowls, etc., how often this occurs. It appears that in a setting where one cat in a house is FIV positive and has non-biting contact with other cats, those cats have a low probability of becoming infected.
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Cat Blood Types

Cats have A, B and AB (rare) blood types. Most cats in the United States have type A blood - something like 99% of domestic shorthair cats have Type A blood. This ratio varies from country to country. Other cat breeds have a much higher incidence of Type B blood. As the popularity of purebred cats increases it is likely that the ratio of cats with Type B blood will also increase.

There is no "universal donor" blood type in cats - a very small amount of the wrong blood type can kill a cat if is is sensitized to the blood. This can be an issue in some cat breeds. In particular, British Shorthair, Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cats, where the percentage of Type B cats is much higher, perhaps as high as 50%. Other breeds with significant percentages of Type B blood include the Abyssinian, Himalayan, Japanese Bobtail, Persian, Somali and Sphinx breeds. (preceding information from Urs Giger, University of Pennsylvania, Kirk's XI).

If a Type B queen (mother cat) gives birth to Type A kittens, severe reactions can occur in the kittens
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Lab Blood Work Tests for Cats

Cats require blood work tests when they need to diagnosed for different diseases. Blood tests are widely used in veterinary medicine. The results are measured against normal values, which are typically present in healthy pets; these values differ across species. The lab test results may be influenced by certain drugs, so always inform your vet about the medication of your pet prior to blood tests. Prior to certain blood tests, your cat should fast.

Complete Blood Count
The complete blood count is a blood test that is very frequently employed to inform the vet about the amount of different types of cells in the blood flow of the cat.

The red blood cell count as well as the white blood cell count and the hemoglobin are important values to determine the condition of the cat. Red blood cells transport the oxygen to the vital organs, while white cells help fighting infections.

A low red blood cell count can indicate anemia, while a high amount of white blood cells can indicate an infection or a viral disease.

Platelets help the blood to clot. If the platelet count is low the cat may have a destroyed bone marrow or an autoimmune disease.

Hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) may also measure the red blood cell count.

Commonly Performed Blood Tests There are numerous tests that can be performed on a cat to determine his health condition. Some tests will show how a particular organ functions, while other tests will give a general overview.

The following tests are most commonly performed in felines:
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Focus On Cat Breeds

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The California Spangled Cat

A shorthair cat breed , California Spangled originated following a fateful visit by Hollywood script writer and animal lover Paul Casey to Tanzania, Africa, in the early nineteen seventies. Casey was shocked by rampant poaching of leopards there for their skin and after motivation by famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, decided to develop a breed that would resemble the spotted big cats in appearance and generate awareness among people regarding conservation of great cats in the wild. The idea was that if people own a spotted cat of their own, they would desist wearing of furs of other spotted cats. It was not until the mid nineteen eighties that Casey was finally able to develop the breed from a number of different cats including American and British Shorthairs, Abyssinians, Angoras, Manx and Siamese. Though the resulting Spangled cats gained initial popularity, they were not enthusiastically received by many cat fancies who were not so keen in adding another spotted cat to their registry at that time. Today very few of these purebred cats remain.

Medium sized cats with short hair, California Spangles are well muscled felines. They are lean and sculpted and move like their wild cat cousins even as they have entirely domestic genes in their heritage. Fur is short and velvety and occurs in a number of colors including black, blue, bronze, brown, charcoal, gold, red and silver. Spots are dark, well defined and preferably rounded or blocked. At times they are arranged into rosettes. Triangular and oval markings are also accepted. Tabby-like stripes often exist on head, chest, throat, legs and tail. Head is round with prominent cheek bones, almond shaped slanting golden to brown eyes and high set ears.
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Grooming Tips for Preventing Matted Cat Hair

Matted cat hair is entangled hair that ends up in tight knots. Long haired breeds are more susceptible to the condition than other pets. Cat hair is divided into three categories as each type of hair performs a certain role. The types of cat hair include awn hair, down hair and guard hair. The various function of cat hair involves protection from environmental contaminants, heat and cold. The uppermost layer of cat hair also determines the color of individual pets.

Cat Hair Conditions
Cats shed their fur during specific periods. However, fur loss that's caused due to skin conditions such as alopecia, dermatitis or skin allergy needs medical treatment. Although cats routinely groom themselves to maintain their fur coats, pets also develop conditions such as cat hairball due to the ingestion of hair during routine grooming. Pet owners should thus groom the cat with a brush to avoid excessive self-grooming and cat hairballs. Cats that appear sick or lethargic may avoid their routine grooming which in turn leads to matted hair. Thick knots are difficult to detangle with a comb and may cause the pet pain, if the mats are located towards sensitive areas of the body.

Tips to Separate Matted Cat Hair
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