Frequently Asked Questions
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What's the difference between
the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon?
In general the Maine Coon is slightly bigger than the Norwegian
Forest cat. Also the Maine Coon needs to have a 'square' muzzle
with a clear break, while the Norwegian Forest Cat needs to
have a straight profile and a more 'triangular' face.
A Maine Coons body needs to be big, sturdy and 'rectangular',
while that of a Norwegian Forest Cat is long, muscular and
more streamlined. Other than that, both breeds are very similar.
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They have lot's of hair,
how about maintenance?
Because the coat of a Norwegian Forest Cat is slightly greasy
it won't tangle quickly. They do shed in the spring and autumn
so it's wise to give the cat a good brush regularly. Normally
about once a week, and daily or every other day when the cat
is shedding. |
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Why are there being photo's
taken of the noses of newborn kittens?
According to the breed description a Norwegian Forest Cat is
supposed to have a long and straight profile. You can see how
the nose of a newborn kitten will develop clearly within a
few hours after being born. If you wait a couple of weeks,
or even a couple of days the nose will get a 'milk bumb' because
of drinking by their mother. In that case it's best to wait
until the kitten is 10-12 weeks old. |
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Why do you sell your kittens
with a contract?
This way the new owner knows exactly what he/she can expect
from the kitten and our cattery. And we as a cattery know also
what we can expect from the new owner. In this way we hope
to ensure a loving and healthy future for the kitten. |
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Can kittens be neutered at
12-14 weeks age?
Yes, it's no problem. Early age neutering has been practiced
for more than 20 years now in America and Australia, but in
Europe it's still quite uncommon.
Kittens will recover quicker and easier from the surgery than
adult cats, and because they're small they don't suffer from
much bleeding.
There has been done a lot and extended research to early age
neutering and no research showed any negative effects. Kittens
will grow just as big and sometimes bigger than not-neutered
cats but their character and behavior will be more relaxed
because they're not suffering from hormones.
Click
here for more information.
We love our cats and kittens a lot. If we would have any doubts
about it, we wouldn't have it done. |
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Why are they being neutered before they move to the new owner?
Among other things to prevent that the kittens who are not
sold as a breeding cat are suffering too long from their hormones.
Males will most likely spray, are more impatient and get frustrated;
females will get in heat regularly causing them to get exhausted.
Besides that females will have a higher risk of getting pyometra
if they get in heat too often without getting a litter. Giving
the female the cat birth control pill is even worse because
it can develop mammary tumors.
Other than that they're also neutered to prevent them from
reproducing. Sounds simple, and it could have been simple if
people would stick to their agreement (no free roaming, neuter
the cat at the agreed time, etc.). It happens too often that
people buy a kitten as a pet, and after a while come to the
idea that it would be nice if this kitten would have some offspring.
Not every kitten is suitable as a breeding cat, and not every
breeding cat lives with people who are suitable as breeders.
Besides that, I don't want that one of the cats born in our
cattery (against agreements) will walk freely outside and gets
pregnant or gets all the females in the neighborhood pregnant
without the owner if this cat taking full responsibility. Many
of these (unwanted) kittens will sooner or later end up in
an animal shelter.
We do sell kittens as breeding cats, but only after careful
selection. |
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What does BIV, BIS, and
BOB mean?
BIV: Best In Variety
BIS: Best In Show
BOB: Best Of Best
These are some titles a cat can win on a show. |
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What is HCM?
Hypertrofic cardiomyopathy.
A genetic and deadly heart disease causing a thickness in the
heart muscle. Usually the disease shows up between the first
and second year of age, but there are known cases of it showing
up in an earlier or later stage. The life expectancy is usually
a few years.
Cats can be checked to see if they are affected using a echocardiographic
test. The test needs to be repeated every year. A negative
tested cat isn't negative for the rest of it's live since the
disease can develop on a later age, but a positive tested cat
is 100% positive. There is no medication to prevent or cure
the disease, so at this moment the only way to get rid of it
is to test breeding cats regularly and exclude positive cats
from breeding. |
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What is PKD?
Polycystic Kidney Disease.
A genetic and deadly kidney disease where kidney failure is
caused by growing cysts in the kidneys.
Cats suffering from PKD will have from the moment they where
born tiny cysts in their kidneys which can be located using
a ultrasound test. A negative tested cat is negative for the
rest of its life, a positive tested cat is 100% positive. Positive
tested cats should be excluded from breeding. |
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What is FiV?
Feline Immuundeficiëntie Virus. Also known as cat-AIDS.
The disease is characterized by chronicle infections, skin
rash, diarrhea, otitis, emaciation and anemia. Normally cats
have resistance against these type of infections, but FiV weakens
the immunity.
Cats can contaminate each other trough sexual contact, fighting
(scratch and bite wounds), saliva, blood, during birth and
trough mothers milk. It can not be passed on from cats to humans.
There is no medication and treatment is mostly focused on fighting
the symptoms.
It can be shown in blood samples and since breeding cats have
regularly different sexual contacts it is wise to have them
tested at least once a year. Positive tested cats should be
excluded from breeding. |
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What is FelV?
Feline Leukemia Virus.
Although it's a different disease, the symptoms and the way
of contamination is similar to FiV (above). Cats can be vaccinated
but this vaccination isn't 100% reliable.
Breeding cats should be tested yearly and positive cats should
be excluded from breeding. |
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What is PL?
Patella luxation.
The knee cap isn't securely in place, it sometimes popped to
the outside of the leg, but most times to the inside. It usually
popped back into place when the cat walks.
It is genetic, affected cats and their offspring should be excluded
from breeding. A vet can check if the knee cap can be moved
or that it's securely in place. There will always be some movement. |
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What is FIP?
Feline Infectueus Peronitis.
FIP is caused by the feline corona virus. About 90% of all
cats carry this virus. The corona virus can develop spontaneously
to FIP, but FIP affected cats can also infect other cats trough
saliva and/or the litter tray. It seems like cats who are sensitive
to stress or where family members had FIP are little more likely
to develop FIP. In general it occurs in cats younger than 2
years or older than 8 years.
The first symptoms are (extreme) laziness, lack of appetite,
weight loss, difficulty breathing and a fever that doesn't
respond to antibiotics. There are a 'dry' and a 'wet' variety
of the disease. In the wet variety the abdomen (and/or sometimes
the chest) are filled with a 'syrup like' yellow fluid. Although
the cat looses weight, it is hardly noticeable because of the
fluid in the abdomen. The dry variety will impair the liver,
kidney's and/or intestines.
In living cats FIP can almost not be diagnosed, one can only
suspect it. A FIP titre test can be done, but a high score
on the test doesn't always mean an with FIP infected cat, opposite
a FIP affected cat can have a low score on the test. In general
FIP can only be positively diagnosed through post mortem examination.
Life expectancy after 'diagnoses' is a few weeks/months.
Since there are no medications to fight FIP, prevention (trough
hygiene and reducing stress) seems the only way to decrease
the chance of development. |
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