Some good places to find high-quality information to keep your cats happy and healthy.

Feline Genetics and Heredity

Pedigree Research and preservation of the history of the cat fancy is for those who want to learn about, trace or preserve information on feline lineages. By the way, cat fancy is the term used since the 1800's to denote the breeding, heredity, judging and study of feline breed types. The term is often applied to cat enthusiasts in general, not just those who run catteries.

Feline Genetics is a cattery site that has links to articles and organizations concerned with cat breeding for certain characteristics.

Veterinary Practice of Medicine

• The US parent organization, The American Veterinary Medical Association
• Veterinary Colleges Accredited by the AVMA Countries with accredited veterinary colleges include: Australia, Canada, England, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, and of course, the US.
• AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Programs at two and four year colleges in the US and Canada

  This page provides a list of 20 accredited animal care specialty organizations. Many of these organizations provide links or listings of Certified Board specialists by geographic location. By the way, "Diplomate" after a medical doctor's name (human or non-human) means Specialist. To be Board Certified in a specialty a Veterinarian has to first earn his DVM at an accredited College. She must then go to another school for further rigorous studies and experience in a given specialty, usually for several years. Following this are exams and a Board of Review before certification is given. A sampling of these specialties:

• American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
• American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
• American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
• American College of Theriogenologists. "This site provides information for Diplomates of the College as well as general information regarding the speciality. Specifics regarding reproduction, fertility and infertility of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, cats, dogs and exotics can be located through this portal."
• "The American Board of Veterinary Toxicology is a group of specially trained veterinarians that strive to inform and educate the public, private practice veterinarians and veterinary medical students about toxicologic hazards to pets, livestock and wildlife."

More Health Information

A zoonoses? Is it where you go to the zoo and count noses? No. It is the term used to describe diseases and parasites which can be inadvertently shared between humans and other animals. Most can be prevented by following simple health precautions.

• Probably your best one stop shop for information is The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. Their special information section for companion animals is called "Healthy Pets". Articles are organized by animal type, and the cat page contains a select listing with links about many cat related diseases and parasites and what care is needed to heal and prevent the occurance. A layman's brochure in PDF format Your Cat, Your Health can be downloaded, too.
• If the above intimidates you, try Zoonoses and You: Something To Be Concerned About by Lorraine Shelton of Featherland Cattery. In simple language she talks about the most common diseases that cats and humans can unwittingly share and basic preventative precautions for:
  • Ringworm
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Salmonella bacteria
  • Cat Scratch Disease bacteria
  • Parasitic Diseases

Health Benefits of Pets

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Delta Society, according to their web site "is the leading international resource for the human-animal bond. Delta Society has been the force to validate the important role of animals for people's health and well-being by promoting the results of research to the media and health and human services organizations…" Their mission includes: "improving human health through service and therapy animals, expanding the [public] awareness of the positive effect animals can have on human health and development, removing barriers that prevent [the] involvement of animals in everyday life [and to] expand the therapeutic and service role of animals in human health, service, and education."

Petnet promotes responsible pet ownership in Australia. In addition to lots of useful information, they offer "selectapet" which consists of a multiple choice form designed to help you think about what qualities you want in cat, your home environment and other basic factors. The form then returns several possible breeds for you to consider.