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This Kitty is a Domestic Medium Hair!
The Domestic Medium Hair cat combines qualities of both the long-hair and the short-hair cat. They have more playfulness than the long-hair and, yet, are usually calmer than the short-hair. Their body type can be either broad and stocky or slender.
The medium coat is caused by the cat having fewer secondary "down" hairs than the long-haired breeds and by the cat having a shorter growth and "shedding" cycle. Simply put, the coat has length without being as thick.
While most short-hairs can handle their own grooming, and the Domestic Long Hair needs help with regular grooming, the medium length of this cats' coat normally doesn't require extensive grooming on the part of the owner.
A cat 's hair grows out during a 60 to 90 day cycle, rests during a 40 to 60 day cycle, and then falls out. This is mainly influenced by the length of day. During the longer days of spring, more hair falls out. As the days shorten, less falls out and the coat appears to thicken. Indoor cats are less affected and shed on a year round cycle. The hair of a long-haired cat does not grow faster; the growth stage is just more extended than for the short-haired cats.
The hair of a cat is not like human hair. We have a single hair growing out of each follicle. Cats have up to 6 primary hairs, (each surrounded by secondary down hairs), growing from each follicle. The cat also has arrector muscles, (muscles that lift or erect the hair), surrounding each follicle. They raise their hair in response to anger, fear and cold temperatures.
The short-haired breeds that have evolved to cope with hot climates have fewer secondary "down" hairs and shed what they do have at a faster rate. The cold weather, long-hairs have more "down" hairs and retain them longer. If the short-haired breeds are still too hot, they shed their primary hairs at a faster rate.
While cats are more resistant to heat than dogs, they don 't have enough sweat glands to survive for very long at extreme temperatures. Furthermore, cats are more prone to frostbite and hypothermia if their fur gets wet than a dog; because, the wet fur loses its capacity to insulate.
We are pleased to welcome This Kitty to our practice!
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