Cats Dictionary

agouti: Refers to a "natural" or wild color that is occasionally deemed to be the "normal" color of a coat. Technically, agouti is the location on a chromosome where the color of a cat's coat is determined.

ailurophile: One who likes cats.

ailurophobe: One who is afraid of or dislikes cats.

albino: Refers to an animal or person without pigmentation (color) in his skin, hair and eyes. Albinos are extremely pale and highly sensitive to the light.

alter: To spay or neuter a cat

awn hairs: The coarse, strong hair that sticks out from a cat's (or any mammal's) undercoat. Working to insulate and protect a cat's skin, awn hairs make up most of the visible coat.

banding: Striped color markings on a cat's coat that are patterned cross-wise.

bib: Longer fur around the chest area (where a bib would fall).

blaze: A white stripe or marking that extends down the middle of a cat's face, from forehead to nose.

bloodline: Also known as "pedigree," bloodline refers to the lineage and inherited characteristics of a particular animal.

blue: Refers to cats that come from a valued or elite bloodline.

bordetellosis: Caused by the bacteria bordetella, bordetellosis is a respiratory infection that affects cats and other mammals.

breed standard: As a term used in breeding and raising animals, the breed standard refers to a guidelines that determine the ideal set of characteristics for a particular type of cat breed. In competitions, judges use the breed standards to award ribbons.

breeder: A person who is in the business of mating and selling animals.

calico: Referring to a cat's (or other mammal's) coat pattern, calico describes a coat with patches of scattered color, including black, white and orange.

call name: Refers to the given name of the cat, rather than the breed or species name. Otis, Ruby and Chloe are all examples of call names for cats.

carpal pads: Refers to the pad halfway up a cat's hind legs. Carpal pads prevent cats from skidding as they run and jump around.

catnip: A mint-scented herb that stimulates cats. In homeopathy for humans, catnip is a sedative that aids digestion and controls diarrhea.

cattery: Refers to a location where cats are bred and raised before they are sold.

clowder: Also known as a "clutter," a clowder is a group of cats.

crate: Refers to a box, either wood or plastic, with holes used to transport cats.

crossbreed: A cat (or other animal) that is the offspring of two different breeds. In some cases, as with mules, a crossbreed refers to the offspring of two different species (here, a horse and a donkey).

cryporchid: Refers to a condition in which a male cat has one testicle that hasn't descended, or fallen. Cryporchid cats are at a greater risk for cancer.

dam: The mother, or female parent, of a kitten.

dander: Small, airborne skin cells from a cat (or other mammal). Dander is often responsible for people's allergic reactions.

declawing: A surgery that permanently removes a cat's nails, or claws.

domestic longhair: Also known as a "moggie," a domestic longhair cat is a mixed breed with long hair.

domestic mediumhair: A cat of mixed breed that has medium length hair.

domestic shorthair: A cat of mixed breed that has short hair length.

down hairs: Refers to the layer of soft, fluffy, short hair between a cat's (or other mammal's) skin and top coat.

Elizabethan collar: A protective, plastic cone used on cats and dogs to prevent them from irritating (licking or biting) a wound.

estrus: The period during which a female cat is most receptive to mating. Also spelled as 'oestrus.'

euthanasia: The act of painlessly killing an animal to prevent it from suffering further. Euthanasia is usually carried out through lethal injection.