Frequently Asked Questions
It has been suggested in my questionnaire feed back that I have kitten care instructions or FAQ's on my website. So I hope you all find this useful... questions and answers are in no particular order.
Q. What are the main physical and temperament differences between Abyssinians & Ocicats?
A. Ocicats are usually a more muscular cat, they are a surprising weight for their size. Ocicats will talk with a huskie meow where as Abys are mostly quiet.
Most Abyssinians are fearless which means they are not good with roads and most Ocicats are more fearful of roads & cars.
Neutered adult male Abys are usually approx 5 kg - spayed females are approx 4kg.
Neutered adult male Ocicats are usually approx 6 kg - spayed females are approx 4.5kg.
Q. I am trying to choose the breed that is right for me, what are Abyssinians & Ocicats like?
A. My Abys & Ocicats are affectionate, busy, playful, people cats that like to be part of the family. Don't expect them to sit on the couch and look pretty or stay in one room and only come out when you want them too. They love to interact with their owners and really enjoy snuggling up with you in bed at night.
Q. Do I need to pay a deposit to secure a kitten?
A. Yes, a $100 deposit is required to secure your kitten once we know a suitable kitten is born and all the details are sorted out. This deposit is non refundable if you change your mind.
Q. How often do Abyssinians & Ocicats shed their fur?
A. They usually shed their fur seasonally.
Q. What is best to use to keep shedding to a minimum?
A. I use Flea Comb's regularly they are great for getting rid of loose fur. I also use a Zoom Groom once in Summer.
Q. I am trying to decide whether to keep my kitten as an indoor only cat or let it be indoor and outdoors, what do you think?
A. My Abyssinians & Ocicats are suited to both situations but they MUST always be kept indoors at night. Having had an Ocicat attacked & killed by the neighbours dog I am all for indoor only cats but I do often suggest that people build a sanctuary type enclosure from their house for their cats to have safe outdoor access if their house is suitable for one & they are able to do this. A good website with photos and ideas is http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-enclosures.htm
Q. My partner & I work full time should I consider having 2 kittens?
A. Yes, it is really nice for the kitten to have company. I have sold many kittens in pairs.
Q. What is the freight cost from you to any where in NZ?
A. We send kittens from Palmerston North Airport. The cost of freight using Air NZ went up in price August 2008 - it is now $97.30 to send a kitten/cat anywhere in the North Island and $170.30 to send a kitten/cat to the South Island.
Q. Do Abyssinians & Ocicats require any special diet?
A. No, but I do recommend that you feed them a premium dry food & also canned and raw meat each day.
Q. Do Aby and Ocicat kittens get on well with children?
A. Yes, but it is important that you supervise young children with your new kitten, also that you teach them how to correctly handle the kitten and that the kitten gets time out away from the children to sleep.
Q. Is it safe to have kittens early de-sexed & what are the benefits?
A. Yes. Early de-sexing has become a very common practice in the last 5 years. Kittens recover much quicker after surgery and you don't have to worry about your young girl coming into season and having an unwanted pregnancy or your young boy getting mature and spraying every where. I find kittens often grow bigger too. There are many articles relating to the safety of early de-sexing available on the internet.
Q. I have heard lately that it is a good idea to have pets micro chipped if they have indoor/outdoor access during the day, what are your thoughts about this?
A. I think it is a good idea. For those interested I am able to offer for my pet buyers to have their new kitten micro chipped at the time of de-sexing for the additional cost of $55.
Q. What do I get with my new kitten?
A. Your new kitten comes with kitten care information, a computer generated 4 generation pedigree, vaccination card, 30 days free pet insurance, sample of dry food and information and one of it's favourite toys.
Q. Are there things I should watch out for or expect when buying a kitten?
A. You might like to follow this link to tips on buying a kitten http://abyrose.orconhosting.net.nz/tips_when_buying.htm
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All of our breeding Abyssinians are DNA tested for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (Pk-def) and are negative. Pk-def is a hereditary form of anaemia in Abyssinians & Somalis. A DNA test has become available in the USA to test for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) which is a hereditary disease of the retina in the eye that eventually leads to permanent blindness, I have tested all my Abys & Ocicats and they are all negative. Our breeding cats knees and all kittens are checked regularly for Patella Luxation. Here is a link to more information on all these things: http://www.cheeky-monkey.co.nz/AbyProbs.htm I also blood group test by Abyssinians to check the blood type. My Abys and Ocicats are tested for FIV & FeLV from time to time to ensure negative status. I have PCR tested for Tritrichomonas foetus. T foetus is a parasite that causes diarrhoea in cats. I will be able to guarantee that no kitten leaves here with TF. You can find more information for TF by following this link http://www.cheeky-monkey.co.nz/T.%20foetus.htm
While it costs a lot of money for testing any good ethical breeder should be testing for things within their breed to ensure they are selling healthy problem free kittens as pets :-)
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