Dog lovers might think cat owners often feel superior to them - and they might be barking up the right tree. A study of 600 college students conducted by Carroll University in the United States found that respondents who preferred cats to dogs scored more highly on IQ tests. The research correlates with an earlier study conducted by Bristol University in the UK - showing that households in which someone was qualified to degree level were more likely to own cats and less likely to own dogs than other households. But before you rush out and buy a cat in the hope it will make you smarter, apparently it's more to do with the personality traits of dog and cat owners and the lifestyles of each group. The Bristol researchers speculated that people who are more highly qualified and work longer hours might be more likely to have a more low-maintenance pet like a cat than a dog. The Carroll study suggested dog owners were more likely to be lively, energetic, outgoing and to follow rules obediently - all qualities associated with dogs themselves.

Cat lovers were more likely to be introverted non-conformists and more open-minded and sensitive than dog fanciers. Interestingly, the British study showed much lower levels of pet ownership overall than in New Zealand: just 26 per cent of households owned cats, compared to more than 50 per cent here. Bad news, maybe, for birdlife and Gareth Morgan, but good news for their happy - and maybe healthier - owners. So are cats good for our health, too? Samantha Boston, a former vet nurse and pet advisor for Bombay Petfoods who also fosters cats for the Lonely Miaow cat-rescue organisation, says research shows spending time petting a cat can reduce people's heart rate and make them feel calm and happy. Another study has shown the frequency of cat's purr - in the range of 20-140 Hz - is at a level corresponding to "vibrational/electrical frequencies used in treatment for bone growth/fractures, pain, edema [swelling], muscle growth/strain, joint flexibility, dyspnea [breathlessness], and wounds."

A study by the researchers at the Stroke Research Center at the University of Minnesota found the stress-reducing properties of owning a cat can result in lowered risk of heart attack or stroke, or even developing heart disease. The 10-year study showed those who did not have a cat had a 40 per cent higher risk of having a heart attack and a 30 per cent greater risk of dying from other heart diseases than those who have or have had a cat. "I know for myself I look forward to spending time with my cats," Boston says. "I always feel better when I hear my cats purring. It's lovely to have a little happy creature nearby - they give off a really good vibe." But don't stress if your rental agreement or lifestyle doesn't allow you to have a cat of your own. There are now two cat cafés in Auckland where people keen for a casual cuddle can get their hands on some feline fur. Glenfield's The Cat Lounge and Barista Cats in the CBD are busy with bookings for quality time in the company of cats. Boston has visited one with friends and loved the hands-on experience.

She admits to being a "cat person" and thinks those strongly in the dog camp should think again: "If they spent some time with cats they would find that they are very nice." Pomsky Puppies For Sale In NycAs satirical website The Onion recently reported, "Recent studies have shown that cat owners feel superior to others after being told of recent studies proving cat owners are superior to those around them." Orange Polydactyl Cats For SaleNow that's something for dog owners to chew on.Exotic Pets For Sale In Fayetteville NcExcavators / Excavators / 0-7 tonnes Tidy wee EW55 wheeled digger, with blade, std digging bucket and wide cleaning bucket as in photo. CALL *** *** 8744 Show number What to Watch for in Cat Breeds

Maine Coon Ragdoll Bengal Kittens For Sale Ragdoll Kittens British Shorthair Kitten Russian Blue Sphynx Exotic Devon Rex Siamese Bengal Kittens 1 - 25 of 1,796 ads within Cats & Kittens Maine Coon Ragdoll Bengal Kittens For Sale Ragdoll Kittens British Shorthair Kitten Russian Blue Sphynx Exotic Devon Rex Siamese Bengal Kittens Cat and Kitten Care Cats can bring enormous joy into our lives. If you have recently adopted an animal, this guide has been developed to help answer some common questions about settling your new cat into your home. If you have any other questions or concerns after adoption, please call us on 09 256 7300 and ask to speak to a member of our friendly Customer Service team who will be happy to assist. Cat allergy in humans is an allergic reaction to one or more allergens produced by cats. The most common of these allergens are the glycoprotein Fel d 1, secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands and Fel d 4, which is expressed in saliva. An allergic reaction is a histamine reaction that is usually characterized by coughing, wheezing, chest tightening, itching, nasal congestion, rash, watering eyes, sneezing, chapped lips, and similar symptoms.

In some severe cases, reactions may progress rapidly to cause the victim's airway to become inflamed and close up, requiring emergency medical attention. Those with severe, life-threatening cat allergies face tremendous challenges due to lack of public awareness about anaphylactic cat allergies, and do not enjoy the same conscientiousness from the public as those with a food allergy might, due to widespread knowledge of allergies to allergens such as nuts or dairy. Five cat allergens have been described in medical literature. The two major allergens are Fel d 1 (a secretoglobin) and Fel d 4 (a lipocalin). The minor allergens include Fel d 2 (an albumin), Fel d 3 (a cystatin), and cat IgA. Fel d 4 is the product of the cat major urinary protein gene. It is primarily expressed in the submandibular salivary gland and is deposited onto dander as the cat grooms itself. A study found that 63% of cat allergic people have antibodies against Fel d 4. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to cats range from mild to severe, and include swollen, red, itchy, and watery eyes;

nasal congestion, itchy nose, sneezing, chronic sore throat or itchy throat, coughing, wheezing, asthma, hay fever,[3] hives or rash on the face or chest, or itchy skin. If a cat has scratched, licked, or bitten someone who is allergic to cats, redness and sometimes even swelling of the affected area will occur. For those severely allergic, a reaction may resemble that of someone with a severe food allergy, and such reactions require emergency medical care. Allergens are airborne survive for months or even years by themselves, hence removing anything that can trap and hold the allergens (carpet, rugs, pillows) and cleaning regularly and thoroughly with HEPA filters and electrostatic air purifier systems reduces risk. Frequent hand washing, especially after handling the cat, and washing hands prior to touching eyes, nose, or mouth, and limiting the cat's access to certain rooms, such as the bedroom or other rooms where much time is spent, may also reduce allergic reactions. Cat allergies can often be controlled with over the counter or prescription medications.

Antihistamines and decongestants may provide allergy relief. Some allergy sufferers find relief in allergen immunotherapy, a periodic injection therapy designed to stimulate the body's natural immune responses to the cat allergens. The Synthetic epitope vaccine is an in-development vaccine to provide a long term vaccine for allergies. Regularly bathing the cat may remove significant amounts of allergens from the fur.[10] Furthermore, regularly brushing the cat will reduce the amount of loose fur (and its attached saliva) in the air. Feeding the cat a high quality diet with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids will help keep the coat healthy and minimize dander. A hypoallergenic cat is a cat that is less likely to provoke, or produce an allergic reaction in humans. Although the topic is controversial, owners' experience and recent clinical studies suggest that Siberian cats, Devon Rex and Cornish Rex cats, Abyssinian cats, Balinese cats, and several other breeds[], especially females, are likely to have low levels of Fel d 1, the main allergenic protein.

From among the above cats noted, the most popular cat breeds to be renowned for their hypoallergenic quality is the Siberian and Balinese cat breed. These cats have been noted to produce much lesser amounts of the protein allergens in comparison to regular domestic household cats, and other cat breeds. Cats that have some Balinese cat lineage or ancestry might have a probability of producing few amounts of the protein allergens, some cat breeds that might have some Balinese cat lineage include the Oriental Shorthair, Oriental Longhair, and some Siamese cats. The common theory among these two hypoallergenic, medium to long-haired cat breeds is that their long-haired gene is associated with producing lesser amounts of the allergens. This may be the case as the Balinese cat, a medium to long-haired cat breed; also referred to as the Long-haired Siamese cat is regarded as hypoallergenic, where as the Siamese cat, a short-haired cat breed is not. Some Siamese cats might possess hypoallergenic qualities if they have proven Balinese cat ancestry, they are often referred to as short-haired Balinese cats.

This might provide some evidence that the long-haired genes or traits within this cat breed have resulted in a cat that can genetically produce less amounts of the cat allergens. In 2006, the Allerca company announced the successful breeding of a line of hypoallergenic cats. However, no peer-reviewed studies have been done to confirm their claims and many scientists and consumers are skeptical of the company's assertions.[13] The company has announced that on January 1, 2010 they will cease their breeding activities. Another company, Felix Pets, also claims to be developing a breed of hypoallergenic cat. Female cats produce a lower level of allergens than males, and neutered males produce a lower level of allergens than unneutered males.[16] In 2000, researchers at the Long Island College Hospital found that cat owners with dark-colored cats were more likely to report allergy symptoms than those with light-colored cats.[19] A later study by the Wellington Asthma Research Group found that fur color had no effect on how much allergen a cat produced.