How to keep up with your
  very active cat   
        






    Specific active breeds and mixes
    Some Asian breeds, Siamese and their derivatives, are very active and need a
    lot of stimulation to be content.   By derivatives, I mean those cats that have
    been bred with Siamese and, through the years, have been developed into
    new breeds.  Examples are Colorpoint, Himalayan, Balinese, Havana, Javanese,
    Oriental, and Tonkinese.  Siamese and all these derivatives, plus other mixes
    caused by non-pure bred mating, can be very active.  
    These beautiful cats are a challenge not to be taken on by people who have
    never had cats, or those who have little patience and little time.  
    I have a White Oriental Shorthair odd-eyed apple face mix.  I was his fourth
    owner when he was just six months old.   Fortunately, I consider myself as
    having lots of patience, lots of experience teaching young children, and lots of
    time at home after I retired.  So I rescued him from the third owner, who had
    no idea what to do with this furry ball of energy.






















    Their bodily characteristics
    How can you tell if your mixed breed includes some Siamese?
    Siamese-type cats have points.  This means they have a lighter colored body
    and darker colored face, ears, legs and tail.  Their face is triangular, with one
    point down for the chin.  Their bodies are thin, muscular, long and sleek.  Their
    tail is long and thin.  Their ears are large.  Their eyes are almond-shaped and
    usually blue.  Their legs are long, with the hind legs longer than the front legs.  
    Their hair is short.  
    Their are exceptions to this description.  There is a breed called Oriental
    Longhair.  A white Oriental Shorthair is all white with no points, and may have
    odd eyes, which means one is blue and the other is a different color.  Another
    alternative is a rounder face, called apple face.

    Their behavioral characteristics
    Another way you can tell if your cats are partly Siamese is by their actions.  
    Their voices are loud, and they talk to you a lot.  They become very attached to
    you, wanting to be involved in anything you're doing, and following you around
    the house.  They're "up close and personal," even with visitors.  They're
    fearless climbers.  Outdoors, they're good hunters.  They soon become the
    head of the entire household, the alpha cat, and are usually looked up to by
    your other cats.  They don't usually sit on your lap unless they want to take a
    cat nap, at which point they may lay on your arm, keeping you right where they
    want you to be.  

    Their mental characteristics
    A third trait of Siamese-type cats is intelligence.  These cats are easily
    trainable.  They can learn to walk on a leash.  They easily learn to respond to
    their name and other words.  They may talk to you with words like "Me-owt"
    meaning I want to go out, "Merro" meaning hello, and "Mou" meaning mouse.
    My very active cat, Pinky, was the first of my cats to stand in front of a door
    and say, “Me-owt.”  Since his example, the other cats have learned from him.  I
    used to live where there were field mice outdoors.  I called each one Missy
    Mousey.  Now we have chipmunks and ground squirrels instead.  Twice, my
    very active cat has looked out at a chipmunk and said, “Mou.”  Sure, it wasn’t a
    mouse, but he was communicating with me as best he could.  And I was proud
    of him.    
    You can browse through images of Pinky by clicking on my page, Order cards
    and Prints.  
    Dedicated Siamese-type cat keepers are happy souls.  Can you be one of
    them?  These cats have delightful traits, but they want something in return.  
    They don't like being alone.  They need attention, time, space, challenging
    environments, love and firm control.

    What they need
    You might as well admit you're going to spend more time with your cat than
    you expected to.  Let your cat be with you most of the day.  Include them in
    most parts of your life.  Give them attention and they will give it back to you.   
    If you have another cat or even a dog, your active pet will turn some of its
    attention to them.  Also, they won't be as lonesome when you're away from
    home if there are other pets around.  Even a stuffed toy may make your cat
    feel less alone.  When you're at home, but in another part of the house, your
    cat may call for you, to find out where you are.  They don't want to feel
    abandoned.  You might as well call back to them, so they know you're near.  Or
    turn on a radio so your cats can hear the human voice.

    More hints
    Speak directly to them, using consistent words so they will learn to associate
    what you're doing with your words.  
    My very active cat literally climbed the walls, running from one end of the room
    to the other and jumping up on the wall on each side.  It needed space to run
    and jump and climb.  This is where a sturdy ladder will come in handy.  Or
    purchase a tall cat tree with numerous places for the cat to jump to.  Expect
    them to land on the top of your refrigerator or other high object.     
    Have a changing variety of toys, especially ones that are interactive--ones that
    your cat does something with.  A fishing pole toy works well for that.  A sturdy
    rope that you trail behind you will have your cat playing follow the leader.  A
    maze made from boxes will keep your cat busy.  And he or she wants to be
    busy.  
    Give lots of petting and loving.  But, at the same time, speak assertively to
    your cat when you want him to learn not to do something.  
    These cats can be a handful.  Their intelligence will amaze you and enchant
    you.  Their loyalty will comfort you.  Their antics will challenge you.  Good
    luck!           
How to Keep Up With An
Active Cat