Question answer

Answers to frequently asked questions from visitors to the kennel

Things you need to have in your house to welcome a kitten

Travel carrier bag for cats. You will use it to bring a new member of your family home. In the future you will need it not just once: to visit a veterinarian, go to the country with your pet or if you have a wish to take part in a cat show.
Cat toilet or litter box. It is important to note that litter boxes can be of various forms, sizes and functional features:

  • flat litter box with incurved edges;
  • house-type litter box;
  • automatic toilets;
  • composting toilets with charcoal filters;
  • various gadgets that almost clean it all up by themselves.

We recommend buying a flat litter box with incurved edges for your kitten as a first step. When your baby-pet gets older you can buy something that you think is more suitable for your he- or she-kitten.

Litter box filler. The main purpose of every filling material is to absorb the liquid and to “lock” the smell. We suggest using clumping litter box filler for that purpose.

Litter box scoop. Any light and handy sifting scoop to your taste.

Bowls for food: for wet feed, for dry feed and steady bowl for drinking water.

Transformer house-couch. This is a place for your pet to sleep and rest. Take care of is being placed in a warm and noise-free area.

Steady claw sharpener. Today claw sharpener choice range is wide and you can easily find the one to perfectly match your interior. And don’t forget to praise your kitten while it is doing the nails as it makes it really pleased.

Tear-free shampoo is necessary for hairless pets that are recommended to be regularly bathed, approximately once per 1-2 weeks, using shampoos suitable for their tender skin. Murmulet cattery uses Nizoral shampoo for hairless cat breeds.

Brush for combing is necessary for pets with fur. You have to groom your pet as often as possible. Do it in a gentle manner when your pet is in a mood to fondle. 

Claw trimmer. Your pet also needs to have its nails done. Be careful while trimming the claws, cut off only the very tip of it in order not to harm blood vessels. This procedure is quite simple. Take a paw, slightly push at the finger so that the claw would come out and take a look at it against the light. You will see a white semitransparent tip and a dark center. Cut off only the semitransparent tip.

Toys. These can be balls, beads, labyrinths and etc. After all, every kitten is a little child!

With a good care of a kitten you will get not only a pet in the house, but also a happy friend ready to share its love and affection with you and your family!

2. How and what to feed a kitten with?

We recommend feeding your pet with ready-made feeds: both dry and canned. First of all, ready-made feeds are well-balanced and your pet receives all the necessary nutrients and vitamins with it. Moreover, you can save your time on cooking. If possible try to choose professional feeds of Super Premium and Premium classes.

Your pet should always have an access to fresh water and dry feed!

As for canned food, their role in the diet depends on the age of a pet:

Up to 6 months a kitten needs to be fed 3-4 times per day.
After the age of 6 months gradually switch to 2-3 meals per day.
After 1 year you pet can be fed 2 times per day.

It is important to note that before the age of one year it is more preferable to feed your pet with special feeds for kitten, both dry and canned. It is essential for proper development of a pet. After that you can smoothly switch to feed for adult cats, herewith we recommend not to change the feed maker.

If you want to treat your tiny tot there are a lot of “cat treats” in pet stores: these can be various mini-sausages or delicious bits. This can make your pet really happy!

Give your pet a chance to taste some fresh grass. You can buy it in any pet store. Usually it is germinated oats. By the way, you can grow it by yourself, both on your window sill and in a winter garden.

And some more equally important information! Do not feed your pet with the food from your own menu. It is harmful for cats and may badly affect their health.

Proper nutrition is the base of healthy lifestyle of your favorite pet!

3. What to feed the exotic cats with (Savannah, Serval and Caracal)?

We recommend feeding your pet (of Serval or Caracal breed) with fresh meet: rabbit, duck, chicken or quail. It is required to re-freeze the meet in order to get rid of various parasites. You can also indulge your pet with a chicken or quail egg.
As for the pets of Savannah breed, we recommend to use dry feed of Super Premium class and of course occasionally indulge them with re-frozen meet: rabbit, duck, chicken or quail depending on preferences of each cat. It is necessary to take vitamins and feed additives containing calcium for proper growth and development of large cat breeds, as it is very important for proper pet development.
Remember that your pet should always have an access to fresh water and dry feed!

And some more equally important information! Do not feed your pet with the food from your own menu. It is harmful for cats and may badly affect their health.

Proper nutrition is the base of healthy lifestyle of your favorite pet!

4. What kind of care does a kitten need?

Care of hairless breeds, these include: Sphynxes, Bambinos, Elfs and Dwelfs, is quite simple.

  • Since they don’t have coat it is necessary to keep them from ambient temperature drops, protect from cold and exposure to direct sunlight.
  • Skin care. It is recommended that a pet should be bathed on a regular basis, approximately once per 1-2 weeks using baby and anti-bacterial shampoos that suit sensitive skin. Please note that the water temperature should be 37-39 degrees.
  • Eye care. Since every hairless cat has no eyelashes eyes can cumulate some impurities. You should not be afraid of that, it is normal. Just wipe the eyes of your pet every once in a while with a cotton pad moistened with special eye lotion that you can buy in any pet store or you can use Chlorhexidine that you can buy in a pharmacy. After all people also wash their faces after sleep.
  • Ear care. Hairless cats have quite an accelerated metabolism and high body temperature that is why their ears accumulate ear wax more frequently. It is preferable to clean them on weekly basis using cotton buds moistened with ear lotion. By the way, this process can be combined with pet bathing.
  • Claw care. Claws should be trimmed very carefully, only the very tip of it should be cut off in order not to harm blood vessels. This procedure is quite simple. Take a paw, slightly push at the finger so that the claw would come out and take a look at it against the light. You will see a white semitransparent tip and a dark center. Cut off only the semitransparent tip.

Care of haired breeds, these include: Napoleon, Kinkalow, Munchkin, American curl, Persian cat and Exotic shorthair is even simpler.

  • Coat care. These cats take good care of their coat and spend good deal of time grooming. Their wonderful fur coats look always neat and shiny. But, nevertheless, they also need your care. Brush your favorite pet at least for 5 minutes per day and you will be rewarded with its affectionate purring.
  • Claw care. Claws should be trimmed very carefully, only the very tip of it should be cut off in order not to harm blood vessels. This procedure is quite simple. Take a paw, slightly push at the finger so that the claw would come out and take a look at it against the light. You will see a white semitransparent tip and a dark center. Cut off only the semitransparent tip.

Care of exotic haired cats, these include: Serval, Savannah and Caracal, should be approached with sufficient responsibility.

  • Coat care. Brush your favorite pet at least for 5 minutes per day and you will be rewarded with its affectionate purring.
  • Claw care. Not required. Exotic cats are subjected to front paw claw removal by laser in their infancy which does not hamper their movements anyhow, but helps to avoid occasional scratching of an owner.
  • Walking outdoors. Exotic cat breeds can be occasionally walked in the open air. They easily get accustomed to walking on a leash as good as a dog and it is always better to start practicing this since childhood. Frequency of open-air runs depends on your possibilities and wish.
  • Water treatment. Servals and Savannahs love water therefore do not deprive your pet of a pleasure to splash in a swimming pool with you.

Take good care of your pet and it will be truly grateful to you and reward with its affectionate purring!

Were your kittens vaccinated?

When buying a kitten from Murmulet cattery you can be sure that all the age-appropriate vaccinations were done. Our veterinarians take a good care of every pet’s health and vaccinate them according to clearly planned time-table.

Kittens get their immune resistance from mother-cat with mother’s milk and this immune resistance protects kittens from sicknesses during their first weeks of life.

Before the first vaccination a kitten at the age of 1,5 months gets subjected to preventive helminth treatment. There is a variety of vermicides, but Murmulet cattery uses: Milbemax and Drontal.
After dehelmintization (prevention of worms) at the age of 2 months kittens get their first vaccination against viral diseases (calicivirus, herpesvirus type 1 or rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and chlamydia infection).
At the age of about 3 months kittens are vaccinated against rabies. Murmulet cattery uses Dutch veterinary medicinal products Nobivac Tricat and Nobivac Rabies.

After vaccination at the age of 3 months each kitten is ready to move into a new cozy house!

6. What types of vaccination should be done annually?

Vaccination is the most important and essential preventive remedy for your pet. Murmulet strongly recommends getting your pets vaccinated annually!

1,5–2 weeks before annual vaccination a pet should be subjected to preventive helminth treatment, as they produce toxins that weaken the immune resistance making vaccination ineffective. Murmulet recommends using Milbemax and Drontal for this purpose.

After 1,5–2 weeks vaccination against rabies with simultaneous vaccination against viral diseases (calicivirus, herpesvirus type 1 or rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and chlamydia infection) should be performed. Murmulet cattery recommends using Dutch veterinary medicinal product Nobivac and French veterinary medicinal product Quadricat for this purpose.

All the vaccinations should be performed under veterinary control and supervision with marks in vaccination passport.

Cases when pet vaccination is impossible:

  • In case a cat is pregnant. Try to perform vaccination before mating.
  • If a cat is nursing.
  • If a pet has a recovery period after a surgery. For example, after castration or sterilization.
  • If a pet went through a medication with antibiotics. Vaccination can be performed only two weeks after the last dose of antibiotics.
  • If a pet is under stress. For example, during a change of the scene, move or travel. Vaccination is better to be performed a week after such an event in the life of a cat.

Remember: vaccine is used to prevent a disease rather than to treat it that is why it is only a professional veterinarian, which would consider all the individual characteristics of your pet, to select a drug and vaccinate!

Are the kittens accustomed to litter box?

All the kittens are definitely accustomed to litter box. Usually it is mother-cat that teaches kittens to use litter box and it is also genetically inherited in good lines of purebred kittens. Murmulet cattery fosterlings have a good background in this sphere.

As soon as you bring your little pet home you should show the place with the litter box right away and it will immediately realize that all the “business” should be done there. In the first days of a kitten in a new house the litter box should be kept in the foreground, as a kitten is still in the process of getting acquainted with the new home area. Later on you can move the litter box to a place that you find more convenient. And do not forget to praise your pet when it makes “this” in a right place.

Neatness is an instinctive feature of all felines!

8. How does a kitten get on with another pet?

This question often raises fears of the owners who are willing to have one more pet in their family. We are here to reassure you that all the kittens of Murmulet cattery are fully socialized and, as practice shows, they get on very well with other pets.
Affection for animals can be of different types: for some people it is enough just to buy a cat or a dog, but others cannot be easily satisfied with this and surely want to have several pets sometimes even of different types in one go.
As a matter of fact, cats and dogs are long-standing antipodes and they speak different languages. For instance, raised paw means a “game call” for a dog, but for a cat it means “get ready for protection and defense”. Sometimes even the most innocent dog “gesture” is taken by a cat as a danger to hide from. Escape for a dog is a signal: to overtake, catch and neutralize. So is the nature.
However, as practice shows, cat and dog can live in perfect harmony. Such harmony is possible if pets were brought to the house at the same time, grew up and played together, slept side by side and ate out of one bowl.
Peace is also possible in case a young pet gets settled nearby an adult one.

  • A kitten and an adult dog

Usually when an adult dog is settled nearby a kitten it willingly take up a role of its protector and patron.
In any case do not leave your four legged friends face to face in the first days. Be prepared to pick up a kitten in your arms. Your main task is to keep a kitten from getting scared and running away and a dog from running in pursuit. Keep an eye on cat’s behavior: you should not allow it to hit a dog’s eyes with its clawed paw.
In the beginning of their acquaintance pets should be kept in different rooms while you are away so that they could smell and hear each other, but could not meet face to face.
If a dog and a cat shared a meal or slept side by side it means that there is love and complete understanding in-between them!

  • A kitten and an adult cat

A she-cat and a kitten is the best alternative. A she-cat will either accept a kitten right away taking up a role of its mother and governess or will keep neutrality. They cannot show aggression towards little kittens. 
He-cats are more cautious towards kittens than she-cats. Males do not take care of their progeny in nature. That is why a domestic he-cat is more likely to ignore a newcomer avoiding to come in contact with it for some time. After a he-cat realizes that a kitten is not dangerous they will become friends.
It is also important to remember that affection and treats should be shared equally between the pets. Jealousy is not the best feeling to build a friendship on. When both pets equally understand that you are the master in the house their behavior is built in the right direction.

9. Who would you recommend: a boy or a girl?

Temperaments are different for every cat and it does not depend on pet’s sex attribute just as well as for any human!
In any case a she-cat is a woman, she is affectionate and tidy, independent and self-consistent character. You have to respect her right for a distance when she needs it. But if a she-cat really loves someone then it is truly a connection to be felt!
He-cats are always ready to be cherished, they are sociable friends that are always willing to have a scratch behind the ear regardless of their mood. While after castration they remain perpetual children!
In any case, purchase of a pet is a great happiness regardless its sex attribute and coat pattern. Have a look at the kittens and listen to your heart!

Which exotic breed would you recommend?

Temperaments are different for every cat just as well as for any human!
Each of the exotic breeds: Serval, Caracal and Savannah, enjoys sharing a company of their owners and other pets they get on very well with.
The first thing that is emphasized by the owners of these gorgeous and amazing creatures is their intelligence, sagacity and devotion.
In any case, purchase of a pet is a great happiness regardless its sex attribute and coat pattern. Have a look at the kittens and listen to your heart!

Do female cats need to be sterilized?

As a first step you have to decide the purpose of buying a pet. There are 2 options:

  • Your favorite pet will become a caring mother for future offsprings. You should take into account that in such a case you will be responsible for the kittens’ future. When they grow up you should find reliable owners that would love them as much as you do.
  • Your beautiful pet will become a good and loyal friend for you, but having offsprings is not the part of your plan. In such a case you should make sure that your pet has a quiet, healthy and happy life, it is for this purpose that a pet needs to be sterilized. Do not use contraceptives which are hurtful to pet’s health and do not doom it for painful sufferings.

 Now let us refer to more detailed biological process of feline organism for a better understanding.
Puberty period of female cats occurs at the age of about 8-10 months, to a greater extend it depends on the breed of a pet. For example, hairless cats have this period earlier, as long as some exotic cats have it somewhat later. At this period cat’s gonads (ovaries) start to actively produce sex hormones (estrogens) and discharge them into the blood. Being affected by these hormones a female cat begins to have its “heat period”. Depending on pet’s temperament this phase can last from several days till one week. During this period all the reproductive organs of a pet are starting to get ready for conception and gestation as if answering the call of nature.
In case a cat is not mated she calms down and sex hormone in her blood gets substituted by another hormone – progesterone, due to which her life becomes calm and happy. In such a case it may be said that a cat remained “vacant”. From biological point of view this is a very difficult period in pet’s life and it brings a great stress. Permanent “vacancy” throughout cat’s life along with interruption or change in the course of sexual cycle of a cat, as many owners prefer to do using “magic” pills or drops, or hormonal injection, has a harmful influence on pet’s health in adulthood and sometimes in the first years of life.
All this leads to permanent consequences and such diseases as endometritis, pyometras (purulent inflammation of womb), cystic glandular endometrial hyperplasia, ovarian cysts or even malignant tumors. In order to avoid such health problems most veterinarians insist on sterilization. This is an absolutely harmless surgical procedure and the quality of its result depends mainly on the experience of a vet.
Take a good care of your female cat and give her a calm, healthy and happy life!

Does sterilization affect cat’s health?

Sterilization surgery is not only harmless, but also useful for those pets that are not to become breeders. Some owners are convinced that every cat should have at least one litter in order to feel healthy and happy to the rest of its life. Basing on the opinion of the majority of veterinarians Murmulet cattery reassures you that it is not so. Earlier sterilization brings beneficial effect for cat’s health and even prolongs its life. The best age for the surgery of a young pet is 7-9 moths, which means before the first signs of puberty. In plain language, before a cat starts rolling on the floor meowing in a long drawn-out manner.
As a rule, such surgeries can be performed in two ways: either by removing ovaries only (ovariectomy) or by removing ovaries and womb (ovariohysterectomy). The choice of the method is associated with pet’s age. If a cat is young, has never been pregnant and has not yet reached her puberty period then the first method is used. But if a pet is in its adulthood or elderly age and had several pregnancies then it is more preferable to use the second method in order to reduce the risk of various diseases.
Before the surgery you should get a veterinary advice on such matters as how to get a pet properly prepared to the surgery and how the postoperative period should be held. Such recommendations are provided by a professional veterinarian, who takes into account all the individual characteristics of your pet.

Careful attention towards a favorite pet is a pledge of its health and your calmness!

Is it necessary to castrate a male cat?

Try to make up your mind as soon as possible – whether to make your cat a breeder or just a family pet.
Puberty period of male cats occurs at the age of about 9-11 months, which is a little later than that of female cats. In nature tom-cats mate with female cats around 8 times per year. Hormones affecting the behavior of a male cat are constantly produced. In this period they start to insist on a contact with a female cat and they remain in a state of permanent heat. Some pets set up heartbreaking “caterwauls”, start marking territory with a specific odor, thus attracting a female cat while other pets even simulate a sexual intercourse with various toys. In natural environment it does not disturb anyone, but when it happens in your house you start feeling uncomfortable. Therefore you should take care of your calmness and welfare of your pet in advance.
Castration is a surgical removal of gonads (testicles) with a view to cease reproductive function and production of male sex hormones. The best suitable age for castration is 7-10 months, while a cat is not mated, but already strong enough. The fact is that male sex hormones (androgens) are produced by testicles only before the first mating of a cat. Later androgens are also discharged by hypophysis (brain gland). That is why castration of an adult cat – one year old and more – does not give an absolute guarantee of sexual instincts suppression, but you can be sure that such cats will surely not mark their territory even if they were breeders before.
The opinion of any veterinarian states that castration is the most common surgery in veterinary practice that hardly ever causes complications.
Take a good care of your male cat and give him a calm, healthy and happy life!

Does castration affect cat’s health?

Castration surgery is not only harmless, but also useful for those pets that are not to become breeders. Earlier castration brings beneficial effect for cat’s health and even prolongs its life. The best age for the surgery of a young pet is 7-10 months, which means before the first signs of puberty.
Keep in mind that when castration is done too early it can cause serious health problems: cat’s urethra may remain undeveloped, narrower that it should be in adulthood. As a result it leads to urethra obstruction risk increase in case of urinary system diseases.
Castration of a cat is performed under general anesthesia. Two minor incisions are made on the scrotum, spermatic cord gets tied up and then testicles are removed. Incision points are usually powdered with tricyllinum, in order to prevent post-operational complications. The whole operation lasts not longer than five minutes. The risk of castration is reduced to complications related to post-anesthetic recovery of middle-aged cats. Before the operation veterinarian always examines pet’s state of health.
Murmulet cattery recommends giving special priority to post-operational nutrition. There are special low-carb and low-starch feeds for neutered cats. As a rule, such feeds are enriched with proteins an L-Carnitine that prevents a pet from gaining extra weight.
Before the surgery you should get a veterinary advice on such matters as how to get a pet properly prepared to the surgery and how the postoperative period should be held. Such recommendations are provided by a professional veterinarian, who takes into account all the individual characteristics of your pet.
Careful attention towards a favorite pet is a pledge of its health and your calmness!

At what age is it possible to have a look at a kitten?

We are happy to show you our kittens but not earlier than after one month of age.
Photos of kittens are available on our web-site. In case you get interested with some particular kitten we can make an additional photo session for your special benefit. Thereafter you can easily make a reservation of a selected kitten and buy it.

When is it possible to bring a kitten into a new house?

Kittens are completely ready to move into your cozy house at the age of 3 months.
Before that each kitten goes through all the stages of vaccination, dehelmintization, socialization (toilet training, claw sharpener usage, observation of certain rules) and what is more important they are trained to love people and be friends with them. After that each kitten moves into a house of its loving owners!

When is it possible to bring an exotic kitten into a new house?

Kittens of Serval, Caracal and Savannah F1 breed can be picked up at the age of 1,5 months. It is conditioned upon a fact that exotic cats grow up faster and it is essential for them to have an owner or in other words a “pack leader” while your family is a pack for this cat. By this age all exotic kittens are fully socialized, accustomed to litter box, claw sharpener, trained to observe certain rules and ready to live in a new house.
As for health, before the age of 1,5 months kitten goes though dehelmintization (prevention of worms) and gets a test certificate for various diseases: infectious peritonitis (FIP), Leukemia (FELV), immunodeficiency (FIV), chlamydia infection, mycoplasmosis, toxoplasinosis.
At the age of 2 months kittens need to get their first vaccination against viral diseases (calicivirus, herpesvirus type 1 or rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and chlamydia infection).
At the age of about 3 months kittens go through re-vaccination and vaccination against rabies. Murmulet cattery uses Dutch veterinary medicinal products Nobivac Tricat and Nobivac Rabies.

For your convenience, veterinarian can perform all the necessary vaccinations at your home.

What documents are provided on buying a kitten?

Pet passport of an international standard with vaccination notes.

  • Book of genealogy. In case a kitten is purchased as a home pet book of genealogy contains a mark “without reproduction right”.
  • Contract of purchase.
  • Transportation certificate from state animal clinic (if delivery around Russia or to other countries of the world is needed).
  • Recommendations on care, feeding and handling.

What documents are provided for exotic cats?

For a kitten of Serval and Caracal breeds the following documents are provided:

  • Veterinary certificate of kitten’s health (if delivery around Russia is needed).
  • Test certificate for various diseases: infectious peritonitis (FIP), Leukemia (FELV), immunodeficiency (FIV), chlamydia infection, mycoplasmosis, toxoplasinosis.
  • Contract of purchase reflecting financial responsibility of the parties.
  • Agreement on kitten transfer from breeder to owner.
  • Book of genealogy (certificate of origin) which specifies the parents of a kitten. This document confirms that animals were not tracked down in wildlife.
  • CITES is drawn up for international transportation of a kitten. For pets of Caracal and Serval breeds that were born in Russia and bought for living on the same territory there is no need drawing up CITES.
  • Recommendations on care, feeding and handling.

A little bit more about CITES, which is a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The purpose of this convention is to guarantee that international trade of wild animals does not create a threat of their extinction. Upon signature of this convention in 1975 not a single species under its protection became extinct as a result of trade.
One more important fact, pets of Serval and Caracal breeds do not belong to the first category of CITES, which means that they are not Red Listed, that is why a permission of The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Monitoring Service is not required for keeping them at home. Sure enough cats of such unique breeds would feel better living in a country house as they need an open space for games. By the way they can walk in the open air every now and then as they are easily trained to walk on a leash just like a dog.
For a kitten of Savannah F1 breed the following documents are provided:

  • Pet passport of an international standard with dehelmintization marks and a microchip.
  • Veterinary certificate of kitten’s health (if delivery around Russia is needed).
  • Test certificate for various diseases: infectious peritonitis (FIP), Leukemia (FELV), immunodeficiency (FIV), chlamydia infection, mycoplasmosis, toxoplasinosis.
  • Contract of purchase reflecting financial responsibility of the parties.
  • Agreement on kitten transfer from breeder to owner.
  • Book of genealogy (certificate of origin) which specifies the parents of a kitten. This document confirms that animals were not tracked down in wildlife.
  • TICA certified pedigree (The International Cat Association) is issued for kittens of Savannah F1 breed in case they are purchased with reproduction right. This document is provided for Savannahs starting from generation F1 and till F7 generation. Murmulet cattery deals only with Savannahs F1 – the largest, rarest and the most expensive cat in the world.
  • Recommendations on care, feeding and handling.

What does a kitten price depend on?

Kitten’s price depends on numerous factors. Murmulet cattery has a widest range of cats that allow to produce progeny with set-up parameters and to delight our clients with truly unique, purebred kittens with perfect health, good temper, amiable disposition and perfect appearance. All our pets are surrounded by professionals around the clock; they keep an eye on cats’ nutrition, health, physical and psychological development.
Murmulet fosterlings worthily represent their breed outside our cattery!
Clearly there is an average price for a kitten of each breed.
Hairless cats:

  • Sphynx – from 25 000 rubles
  • Bambino – from 45 000 rubles
  • Elf – from 45 000 rubles
  • Dwelf – from 120 000 rubles

Dwarf-cats:

  • Munchkin – from 25 000 rubles
  • Napoleon – from 30 000 rubles
  • Kinkalow – from 45 000 rubles
  • American curl – from 20 000 rubles
  • Persian cat – from 15 000 rubles
  • Exotic shorthair – from 15 000 rubles

Exotic cats:

  • Serval – from 320 000 rubles
  • Caracal – from 400 000 rubles
  • Savannah F1 – from 450 000 rubles

Sphinxes are absolutely naked?

Основной породообразующий признак сфинкса – это отсутствие шерсти. Единственная часть тела, на которой она должна быть – это переносица. Слегка заметные и очень нежные волоски допустимы на внешней стороне ушек, лапках, кончике хвостика и иногда на мошонке у котиков.

У сфинксов существует 2 типа кожи, которые можно сравнить с фруктами:

  • Нектарин, когда кожа абсолютно гладкая.
  • Персик, когда кожа имеет мягкое бархатное напыление.

Как правило, усики и брови отсутствуют полностью, либо они совсем коротенькие.

Кожа у сфинксов – складчатая. Маленькие котята абсолютно все в «складочку», включая даже лапы и хвостик. С возрастом морщинки разглаживаются и у взрослых кошек они остаются на голове между ушками, вокруг мордочки и плеч, немного на животе и туловище. Чем больше сохраняется складочек у взрослого сфинкса – тем лучше!

22. Do hairless cats suit allergy-predisposed people?

Allergy-predisposed people have very sensitive immune system. Such side effects as sneezing, nasal blockage, watery eyes or even nettle rash appear as a result of this.
Hairless cats suit only those people who are allergic to pet hair. But keep in mind that allergy can be caused both by cat epithelium (exfoliated skin cells) and cat saliva. It should be also considered that a cat constantly washes itself with saliva regardless of it being long-haired or hairless. But it is only a qualified allergist that can define an allergic agent through special tests. Therefore we recommend getting pre-tested for allergic agent before buying a pet.
After all buying a pet you take responsibility to care of a new family member that also needs your tenderness and love!

23. What does “odd-eyed” mean?

Odd-eyed cats are the cats with different eye colors: one eye is blue and another is either yellow or green.
It has no relation to any diseases. In anatomic language it is called heterochromia, which means difference in iris coloration of right and left eye or difference in iris sector coloration of one eye.
As per legend, cats with different eyes bring luck and wealth!

Can hairless kittens change their skin color with age?

Kitten indeed can slightly change its skin color as a part of growing process. This color change is within reasonable limits. Minor changes of skin color are proved by biological causes.
Kittens of dark colors such as black or blue can grow lighter over time to be more precise their pattern color grows less deep. It occurs due to the fact that kittens are born with creases even on paws and tail. Creases get flattened with age and in adulthood cats have them only on head between the ears, around the muzzle and shoulders, a little on the abdomen and belly. Exactly in these crease areas color remains deep and consequently in areas with flattened skin color becomes slightly lighter.
Kittens of light colors such as seal mink or seal point are born almost white and as they grow skin color turns darker, which is related to peculiarity of acromelanic colors. Moreover color can change if your hairless pet got a suntan.
Purchase of a pet is a great happiness regardless its sex attribute and coat pattern!

What does a “microchip cat” mean?

Microchip identification of cats is the most up-to-date pet electronic identification method.
Despite the numerous talks and discussions microchip identification in European countries is a common practice along with vaccination. Correspondingly, all the cats travelling across the borders of European Union must be identified with microchips. This is an obligatory requirement when entering European countries.
Advantages of using microchip identification:

  • It is easier to find a lost pet through a microchip – a cat will be scanned at a temporary holding center, animal shelter or veterinary clinic to check the owner’s identity. 
  • Microchip is a proof that a pet belongs to you. Unfortunately, there are such cases in real practice when owners of pets without microchip identification cannot prove their ownership of a lost pet and bring it back home. 
  • Identification of cats is extremely important in order to prevent elite pets from being substituted at cat shows or while traveling.
  • Presence of a microchip allows having a simpler record system in veterinary clinics and in felinological structures.

Since spring 2005 a common animal identification database is being established in Russia.
You can check an ID of your pet on special web-portals:

  • ANIMAL-ID – operates in Russia and is connected to Petmaxx international database.
  • Pet-ID – National Pet Electronic Identification Database.
  • Petmaxx – International Lost Pets Search System.
  • Murmulet nursery uses base AnimalFace

Is microchip identification harmful for cat’s health?

Microchip as such is energetically passive. It is activated by a weak electromagnetic field sent out by scanner while reading a code. So microchip as such is completely safe for your pet. Pet can be identified with a microchip at any age.
Microchip implantation does not cause any inconvenience for a pet, moreover, no inflammation appears in this point. Implantation process takes one week for connective tissue to form around the implant and hold it in place. Microchip remains under pet’s skin for life as it has no expiry date and the encoded number can be read throughout the life duration of a pet.
There is a possibility for the implanted microchip to move, but not more than by 2 cm from the initial implantation point. We assure you it does not cause any harm to your pet and it does not affect the ability to read information.
It is strongly recommended for this procedure to be performed only by a professional veterinarian who already has such experience. Incorrectly implanted microchip can damage pet’s skin or muscles.
You can register your pet’s microchip on special web-portals:

  • ANIMAL-ID – operates in Russia and is connected to Petmaxx international database.
  • Pet-ID – National Pet Electronic Identification Database.
  • Petmaxx – International Lost Pets Search System.

Take good care of your pet and it will be truly grateful to you and reward with its affectionate purring!

What does laser declawing mean and how it affects cat’s health?

Exotic cats of Serval and Caracal breeds are subjected to laser declawing on front paws in infancy which does not hamper their movements anyhow, but helps to avoid occasional scratching of an owner.
You may have a question how Servals or Caracals can protect themselves with such soft paws outside or how they can climb a tree? After all, such cats do not climb trees in wildlife of African prairie; they get their feed from the ground. Frogs, small birds, rodents, reptiles or hares can become their prey. Domestic Servals and Caracals have no need to protect themselves from larger predators.