A common myth existing in the cat world is that all white and especially blue-eyed white cats are deaf. This is not true. Only a very small percentage of white cats are deaf or carry the gene for deafness. At Boutique Kittens, our cats have been tested and none of them carry the gene for deafness.

Although cats are not usually susceptible to influenza type A infections, results of a research study published in September 20041 demonstrated that domestic cats can become infected with the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and are capable of transmitting the virus to other cats. In February 2006, authorities in Germany reported that a domestic cat had died from H5N1 HPAI infection.

Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that cats can see in color. Their color perception is not as vivid as that of the human eye, but they can see a limited array of colors. Researchers think that they can't distinguish between different color values, so subtle changes in shades do not register to them.

Not all of them. White, blue-eyed cats are more often deaf than other white cats that have green eyes, yellow eyes, or eyes of different colors.

It has been written that hairless cats are not allergy free. Many people are allergic to the dried saliva residue left after grooming, and all cats will groom themselves. HOWEVER, I have found that these cats groom themselves less often and less thoroughly than "furry" cats. I can only tell you what I have experienced personally. My husband and several people in my family are VERY allergic to cats and suffer almost immediately upon entering a house with even one short haired indoor only cat.

Every user's experience is different, but many report that they are able to locate the direction sounds are coming from, and almost all can put a telephone to the dead ear and hear the dial tone. In quiet conditions, most can carry on a phone conversation using the aided ear, and whispers can usually be heard from the TransEar side.

No! Starving cats don't vaporize. We have seen cats linger to the point of starvation rather than "move on" as some agencies and well-meaning friends hope they will. Ignoring the cats only perpetuates the problem for the whole community; neutering and responsible care solves it. The problem isn't feeding, it's breeding! Animal Control is limited in its ability to help other than to trap for euthanasia, and generally does so only when a complaint is filed.

If cats fall a short distance, they can almost always right themselves and land on their feet. If they fall more than one or two floors, however, they may sustain severe or even fatal injuries. The number of cats who become injured from falling is increasing, partially because of the large number of multi-story apartment buildings. Cats who are injured during falls are often said to have 'high rise syndrome.

The Miniature Schnauzer was developed to be an identical version of the Standard Schnauzer. The Standard Schnauzer has never come in the white color. Our history of the evolvement of the breed indicate that there probably were introductions of other breeds to reduce the size of the original breed. The originators of the breed recommended not breeding the whites and parti-colors that appeared. This was to preserve the breed as it was intended.

This frequently quoted figure is attributed to a study by the "American Insurance Institute." However, there is no such study and no such institute. A recent Gaming Law Review article by Dr. Joseph Kelly discusses the origins and persistence of this particular myth.

One cup of rice has more or less the same calories as two slices of white bread. However, many people make the mistake of having too big a "cup". Be sure to measure it with a correct measuring tool like those for baking.

Yes, it is true! White noise is often recommended as a behavior modification tool, to help manage your pets' behavior, especially to relax them. Many dog owners play white noise as an anti-bark control to stop their dogs from incessant barking at loud noises or if they're suffering from separation anxiety or fear. White noise also helps comforts your scared or nervous pet, especially if it's experiencing some form of pet phobia.

When this question was posed to the 300+ KB-L subscribers, many good examples of Kerries, cats,and other species of critters co-habitation were given, while just a few thought that their Kerries would never tolerate a cat under any conditions. Kerries and cats would seem to be able to co-exist in the same household and even become genuinely fond of each other with some guidelines. The carefully supervised initial introduction is most important.

The OFA accepts cats into the hip dysplasia, cardiac, and patellar luxation databases. Requirements, protocols, procedures, and fees are identical to dogs.

It has been said there are three different kinds of deaf ministries. 1) An interpreting ministry, 2) A Deaf teaching ministry, 3) A Deaf church ministry. Each has its own benefits. Some areas cannot support a Deaf church. Other areas tend to shun an interpreting only ministry. It is important to work toward a successful deaf ministry, no matter which type it is.

Deaf people tend to share common involves behavior, values, beliefs, and world views, even though they may come from different backgrounds. This Deaf culture, and their language, unifies Deaf people as a group. The SWM booklet, Deaf Culture, gives several insights into the interesting world of Deaf people.

Deaf-blindness is defined as concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.

We do not use tap water. We have individual distilled water containers for each patient. This eliminates the bio-film that builds up in ordinary water lines.

ASL is a beautiful language and a gift from the Deaf community, and we applaud your desire to become more involved in its usage! Check with your local community college or Continuing Education Program for a beginning ASL course, visit a nearby Center on Deafness, and seek out the many excellent online resources for information on Deaf culture and your local Deaf community. For more information, visit our Links page.

Ideally, yes. Domestic cats are safest indoors. However, because of the overpopulation crisis, there are not enough available homes. The next best thing for feral domestic cats born outdoors is a managed colony where food, water, shelter, and medical care are consistently provided.

No, there is no such thing as a mating season. Some cats are in heat three, four and sometimes even five times a year, others only two times. However, it's true that many cats are in heat in spring and summer, but you're never sure about this. Find out more about heat cycles.

Yes. Glucosamine was used to help with arthritis in horses many years before the beneficial effects for humans were known. Now with the high quality glucosamine, the liquid formula for maximum absorption, and the eleven other beneficial ingredients, your dog or cat's arthritis or hip dysplasia can be effectively eased with Syn-flex®. Full information on Syn-flex® for use in pets can be found here.

A. A very common theory! Let me go into Science Professor mode. There are two main genera of cats: the small Felis cats such as Felis serval (serval), F. nigripes (Blackfooted cat), F. catus sylvestris (domestic cat), etc, and the big Panthera cats, such as Panthera tigris (tiger), P. leo (lion), P. onca (jaguar). The small Felis cats have a throat bone, the hyoid, which supports the larynx (voice box).

Generally, no. That is a common misconception. Persian cats do have very flat faces and noses when they meet the CFA (and other) breed standard. They will sometimes snort or breath loudly when stressed or upset ... much like an English Bulldog. Occasionally a kitten will be born with very small nostrils which can make breathing difficult. There is a surgery available to help these few cats.

Yes. After much soul-searching, we have decided to change our official recommedations for certain cats. Urinary tract problems are extremely common in cats and, because of the relative acidity of meat to vegetable protein, many vegan cats suffer from them. Although we have been giving advice for some time on how these problems can be minimized while still feeding a completely vegan diet, we have found that the vast majority of our customers have not been following this advice.

Cats may carry a disease that is called Toxoplasmosis. This problem is rare but important, as it is rather easy to prevent. Even though it is rare, it has been known to cause very serious problems in newborn babies including mental retardation, growth failure, blindness and deafness. To prevent it, avoid changing or cleaning the cats litter box as the disease is usually spread to humans by cat droppings. Ask someone else to do this for you.

While it's not 100% true, it is largely a fact that calicoes are female. A simple explanation is that the colors red and black are linked to the X sex chromosome, but each X can carry only one color, black OR red. Since a female is XX it can carry both, but since a male is XY he can carry only one of the colors. Occasionally a male calico comes along but it is generally found to be an anomaly such as XXY and these cats are generally sterile.

Nope--we think! Scientists believe that canines can see part of the range of colors in the visible spectrum. Humans like you can see all the colors--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet--but dogs probably see mostly in shades of yellow and blue. But remember, this is only a THEORY, since we can't really find out if a color appears the same way to dogs as it does to people. [ Back to Top ]

No one is the founder of racism or sexism. What we are responsible for is the cure: looking at ourselves and our own stereotypes. We often feel that racism and sexism are not about hate, but rather about fear. Lee Mun Wah often says, “I am a recovering racist and sexist. That doesn’t mean that I’m a horrible person, what it does mean is that I’ve been acculturated since I was very young to see particular groups in stereotypical ways.