Cat Glossary | Essential Terminology for Breeding and Care
Over 50 specialized terms used in cat care and breeding, explained by category. A comprehensive guide covering health, reproduction, behavior, and nutrition terms in easy-to-understand language for beginners.
Key Takeaways
Over 50 specialized terms used in cat care and breeding, explained by category. A comprehensive guide covering health, reproduction, behavior, and nutrition terms in easy-to-understand language for beginners.
When reading information about cat care and breeding, you may encounter many specialized terms that can be confusing. Here, we explain important cat-related terminology divided into five categories: "Health & Medical," "Reproduction," "Behavior & Habits," "Diet & Nutrition," and "Housing & Environment." This guide will be useful for communicating with breeders and veterinarians.
Health & Medical Terms
- 3-in-1 Vaccine: A basic vaccine that prevents three diseases: feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. Vaccination is recommended even for indoor cats.
- 5-in-1 Vaccine: A combination vaccine that adds feline leukemia virus and feline chlamydia to the 3-in-1 vaccine. Particularly effective for cats with outdoor access or in multi-cat households.
- FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus): Commonly known as "feline AIDS." Transmitted through saliva via bite wounds. Even FIV-positive cats can live long lives with proper management and regular veterinary care.
- FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus): Causes immunosuppression, anemia, and lymphoma. Transmitted through saliva and nasal secretions. In multi-cat households, precautions should be taken to prevent transmission.
- FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis): A disease caused by mutation of feline enteric coronavirus. It has wet and dry forms, and effective treatments have been recently developed.
- CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease): Age-related decline in kidney function. One of the most common diseases in senior cats. Regular check-ups are important for early detection.
- FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease): A general term for cystitis, urolithiasis, and urethral obstruction. Male cats have narrow urethras and are prone to obstruction. Providing wet food to increase water intake helps prevent this condition.
- Hyperthyroidism: An endocrine disorder common in senior cats. Characterized by weight loss, increased appetite, and rapid heartbeat due to excess thyroid hormone secretion.
- Microchip: An ID chip for individual identification. Installation has been mandatory for pet sellers since June 2022. It's important to regularly update the registration information.