What type of cat is my cat?

Hello

Oh dear, where do I even begin with you? I have some information for you: three points about the breed, keeping them alone, and the collar…

1.) About the breed :

Breed: German Randsteinadel 😉 A normal house cat, a mix in look alike of a certain breed!

So you have a beautiful EHK (European Domestic Cat)!

Unfortunately, many say EKH (European Shorthair)!

But the EKH is an independent, recognized breed that evolved from the EHK. Confusing, I know. If you want to preserve the original form of the domestic cat, then the domestic cat becomes a pedigree cat: in this case, the European Shorthair. Breeders abbreviate it as “EU”!

Why is it called European?

Because the Romans took cats with them across Europe over 2,000 years ago and they became native here:

http://revvet.de/katzen/europaeisch-kurzhaar-ekh

Since you apparently didn't get the cat from a registered, reputable breeder, and therefore don't have a pedigree, it's "just" a mix. This means that no matter what breed is involved, it is and will remain a European Domestic Cat (EHK), since you have no proof of breed or pedigree spanning multiple generations.

However, you can determine the breed by assigning it to a breed:

Using a DNA profile, it is possible to determine the probability of belonging to a particular race. But NOT which race it is!

Such "breed assignment" is done through a DNA test. However, these tests are NO guarantee that a pedigree-less cat will become a purebred. That's impossible! It remains a mix!

How such a breed assignment or probability determination is made is explained very nicely and understandably on this website, using a dog profile:

https://feragen.at/das-geheimnis-der-mischlingshunde/how-the-race-determination-functions/

I think this makes it clear that such an assignment is not 100% and that you cannot turn a simple house cat without papers into a pedigree cat.

If you'd still like to have this kind of "race assignment" done, there are several labs that offer it. It's up to you to decide how important it is to you and whether it makes sense to invest money in it.

Here is a list of links to various laboratories that do DNA tests for the probability of affiliation:

https://shop.labogen.com/

https://www.certagen.de/de-de/dnatests.aspx

http://www.gentest-deutschland.de/katzen-dna-tests

2.) Solitary confinement:

Unfortunately, the notion that cats are solitary creatures is still a widespread misconception. Sadly, there's still so much need for education on this topic 🙁

Studies show that cats need the company of other cats. Only when hunting do they truly prefer to be alone. Free-roaming cats even form large colonies, voluntarily and of their own accord, in which they live together. Domestic cats also socialize outdoors. But a neighborhood cat is NOT a substitute for a companion at home!

Of course, there are supposed loners who don't care all that much about their fellow animals or who simply can't find their place in a group. However, these individuals have, usually during the imprinting period, developed a very deep and close bond with humans, or have suffered a traumatic experience while living with other animals, and are absolute exceptions. And even these "loners" maintain social interactions with their peers, in their own way.

Many people always say that keeping a cat alone with access to the outdoors is OK. NO , that's NOT the case either! Having a companion at home is completely different than meeting cats from the neighborhood. Outside, things get much tougher with territorial disputes, territorial fights, and hierarchy. You simply ca n't compare that to having a partner at home!

A cat in solitary confinement, especially if it's an indoor cat, will almost certainly develop behavioral problems sooner or later. This could include uncleanliness, aggression, destructiveness, refusing to eat, not wanting to play, hyperactivity, depression, and much more.

The idea that cats can be left alone for long periods of time has also been outdated for decades. Cats become numb over time and tend to vegetate if they are left alone too much. Even if the owner is home a lot, it's nothing compared to having a playmate with whom you can wrestle, romp, and play, or even test your strength. What cats share with each other, we humans can never give them.

Single cats are made by humans; they are NOT born as single cats!!

Please allow your cat to have company from a fellow cat!

A great educational video: https://youtu.be/CO16PgdNPnA

Interesting studies and articles on this topic:

With German translation: https://www.katzen-links.de/forum/anfaengerfragen/katzen-sociale-tiere-t126549.html

Study 2003, University of Georgia, USA in the original: http://katzen-vergehen.at/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/social-organization-of-the-cat.pdf

Rita Marlen Feisel, BKH of Duke Mystic Falls website: http://www.dearcats.de/einzelkatze.pdf or http://www.bkh-of-duke-mystic-falls.de/einzelhalte-2.html

Many people think that cats that live together should eat, cuddle, play, go to the toilet, and who knows what else. NO! You're perhaps over-anthropomorphizing that! Cats communicate with each other completely differently than they do with humans.

Cats have an incredibly large communication system, perhaps even complex for humans, with hundreds of vocalizations and an extensive repertoire. Communication in cats consists of various forms of expression.

Firstly, there is vocal language , which includes meowing, purring, growling, hissing, snarling, screaming, chattering/chittering, cooing and so on.

And body language through eyes, ears, tail, nose, whiskers, posture, paws, and biting. Even uncleanliness is a form of communication. What cats share with each other, humans can and will NEVER be able to fully decipher or replace!

I can tell you from experience that it is absolutely true that cats need the company of others of their own kind!! My six are not always attached to each other, but they get along and accept each other. As soon as one of them goes to the vet, they are missed. That also shows me that they value each other very much and are grateful to have each other. But they don't have to be on top of each other non-stop. And yet it is a pleasure every day to watch them interacting, learning from each other, playing together, cuddling, grooming each other or simply each of them doing the things they do without constantly being on top of each other!

Or to put it simply:

Now imagine this: you live in a world entirely inhabited by cats. You are the only human. You don't speak cat language, you have no telephone, no internet, you're not allowed to leave the house. You occupy yourself with other things: you play, romp, and discover the world of cats. You're alone, without another cat of your own, without being able to talk to each other. It's very quiet for you. What cats say, you don't understand, and you'll never be able to learn. You can't tell anyone what you've experienced, what's on your mind. You have no one to test your strength, play, and romp with. Do you think that's great? And that's exactly how a cat in solitary confinement feels. Yes, there are cats that prefer to be alone, but I already explained that in my article. A cat in solitary confinement, and even worse if it's an indoor cat, will almost certainly develop behavioral problems sooner or later. What cats share with each other, we humans can never give them.

3.) Topic: Collar:

If you want a healthy, long-lasting cat, then for heaven's sake, remove the collar IMMEDIATELY! Why?… The risk of the animal strangling itself is extremely high.

Tests have shown that even so-called safety collars don't always open immediately when pulled. So they're not 100% safe either.

Dr. Jonigkeit's practice has published a great test on this topic:

https://www.facebook.com/Tierarzt.Jonigkeit/videos/1588771107809781/?hc_location=ufi

Have you ever seen a cat injured by a collar?

CAUTION! The following link is not for the faint of heart. It shows severe injuries and strangulation caused by collars!

https://www.katzen-erlebnisen.com/post/katzenhalsband

https://www.streunerhilfe-ni-no.de/katzenhalte-infos/sicherheit/halsb%C3%A4nder/

Do you want to protect your cat with a collar that has an address tag? Please have your cat microchipped and then register it (free of charge) with Tasso: http://www.tasso.net

Further registration options are findfix: http://www.findefix.com

afta animal register: http://www.tierregistrierung.de

A collar is NOT protection!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zUvPfX-lh8

GPS, Airtag collar, etc.?

Also NOT recommended. Because in addition to the dangerous collar, there is also the cumbersome transponder attached to the collar. The transponder means the cat can bump into things, get stuck, get caught in something, and so on. There is currently NO alternative to GPS collars, as the devices need to be charged. But if you decide to let your pet go outside without security, you have to expect that something might happen to the cat. A GPS collar won't help in this case! Even an AirTag offers no protection, as it still requires a life-threatening collar!

Tick/parasite collars:

Tick/parasite collars are not only dangerous because of the risk of injury, but also because of the neurotoxins they contain! Not only harms ticks/parasites, but also our cats! These collars contain the chemical active ingredients pyrethroids permethrin, deltamethrin and flumethrin. But cats cannot tolerate pyrethroids, can trigger allergic reactions and in the worst case scenario can cause life-threatening poisoning for cats. So why do these collars even exist? Well, because in Germany the low dosage on these collars is approved. But every cat reacts differently, you can't just say in general terms that it will be fine. But unfortunately we just accept it. The toxic active ingredient is dosed low and we simply hope that every cat can somehow tolerate it. The same applies to spot-ons. Since then, PLEASE be aware of this and be careful what you buy.

Alternatives: Here you can use brewer's yeast products, for example.

Collar with bell as bird protection?

NO! A bell is simply animal cruelty, absolutely terrible. The constant ringing impairs the cat's fine hearing and is an unbearable burden for it, like tinnitus is for humans. Cats hear everything, more than twice as much as we can. A cat's ear can perceive up to 60,000 vibrations, a human's only up to 20,000. And they can even hear in the ultrasonic range. They are not even suitable for deterring birds. Let's take blackbirds as an example. Blackbirds warn of danger with a shrill warning call as soon as they see a cat outside. The young birds then remain completely flat and motionless on the ground. The bark starts the bird with the unnatural ringing and therefore becomes easy prey.

Are cats a threat to bird life?

Anyone who knows even a little about animals and nature knows that the future of birds depends not only on their predatory predators, such as cats, but also on martens, squirrels, crows, magpies, and others. Of course, cats also play their part. But it is primarily humans who are destroying the natural habitat!

If the basic ecological conditions are no longer met, then even "controlling" cats cannot protect the birds. A threat to birdlife lies in the destruction of habitats and livelihoods by humans. Furthermore, around 300 million migratory birds end up annually – mostly illegally – on the plates of "gourmets" in France, Italy, Malta, as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands. 100 million birds alone (including partridges and skylarks, whose decline is often blamed on cats!) are officially shot in Europe under EU law because they are considered "game animals." The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.

Even NABU has now published a great article on this:

https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/voegel/gefaehrdungen/katzen/15537.html

But of course the HOUSE animal cat also contributes to this. Cats have long since ceased to belong outside without supervision. Secured access to the outdoors through a secured balcony, terrace, garden, enclosure or on a leash is the order of the day here; taking responsibility is the magic word! Cats are not part of the fauna and flora. After all, what wild animal lives like that when it comes to food, security, medical care, a warm place and so on? And apart from the fact that our cats are descendants of the Egyptian wildcat and are therefore NOT native here. For all other pet owners, having a pet is worth taking responsibility for and spending enough time with. I simply do not understand why cats are the only pet that is still allowed outside without supervision. But there are many other reasons too.

I would also be happy to provide detailed information about secure outdoor access.

All the best

LG