A Dreamer
May 2, 2006
The story of an owner and a cat… and the challenging journey they take together.
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
BREED SPECIFIC ARTICLES
Abyssinian
American Bobtail
American Curl
American Shorthair
American Wirehair
Balinese
Bengal
Birman
Bombay
British Shorthair
Burmese
Burmilla
Chartreux
Colorpoint Shorthair
Cornish Rex
Devon Rex
Egyptian Mau
European Burmese
Foldex
Havana Brown
Japanese Bobtail
Javanese
Korat
LaPerm
Lykoi
Maine Coon
Manx
Munchkin
Norwegian Forest Cat
Ocicat
Oriental
RagaMuffin
Ragdoll
Russian Blue
Scottish Fold
Scottish Straight-Ear
Selkirk Rex
Siamese
Siberian
Singapura
Somali
Sphynx
Tonkinese
Toyger
Turkish Angora
Turkish Van
BREEDING
BUYING & SELLING CATS
THE CATTERY
CAT REGISTRIES
GENERAL TOPICS
GLOSSARY & DEFINITIONS
GROOMING
HEALTH ISSUES
Abscesses
Allergies
Alternative Medicine
Blocked Bladder
Dental / Teeth / Bite
Diarrhea & Constipation
Diagnose The Problem
Digestive Issues
Eye Problems
Feline Herpesvirus-1
FIP
First Aid
Heart & Blood
Medical (General)
Medical Case Histories
Medications
Medicating Your Cat
Parasites
Respiratory Infections
Ringworm / Fungus
Skeletal Issues
Skin Conditions
Surgeries
Urinary Problems
Vaccines & Vaccination
Veterinarians
NEW TO THE CAT FANCY
NOTABLE CATS & PERSONS
RAISING KITTENS
SHOWING
SAFETY & EMERGENCIES
SENIOR CATS
Article Category:
Skeletal Issues
A Tail Of Faults
February 15, 2022
Can over-zealous handling of a cat`s tail during judging actually cause a tail fault? You be the judge.
Cow Hocks In A Kitten
May 13, 2018
Cow hocks is a fault in the conformation of the hind quarters of a kitty. See photos of a cow hocked Exotic Shorthair kitten and learn how the condition was improved through diet and exercise.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Cow Hocks In The Cat
July 15, 2025
Cow hocks are a conformation fault of the hind legs. This article includes diagrams, descriptions and protocols for improving the condition.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Detecting A Kink In A Cat’s Tail
September 1, 2025
Part of the evaluation routine for every kitten should be checking for a tail kink. Learn how to detect a kink in your cat's tail.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Femoral Head Fractures In Cats
March 20, 2015
The top of the femur bone in the hind leg of a cat forms the ball of the hip joint. In kittens, the head of the bone has a growth plate. This growth plate is susceptible to developing fractures or breaks, especially in large breed kittens. Learn more about how you can minimize the risk of your kitten suffering such a fracture.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome, Part 1
March 1, 2025
This is part one in an article about Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome in which we discuss the condition, along with its causes and prognosis.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome, Part 2
March 1, 2025
In Part Two about Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome, we discuss the treatment options for FCK in detail, including examples of splinting.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Hip Dysplasia In Cats
September 22, 2018
At one time, it was thought that cats were not affected by hip dysplasia. We now know better. Learn the symptoms and treatment for this painful condition.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Luxated Patellas In Cats
September 23, 2019
A luxated patella refers to the condition when the kneecap slips out of position when the joint is moved, typically resulting in lameness in the cat.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Open Fontanelle In A Newborn Kitten
January 15, 2026
Fontanelles are soft spots on a newborn's head which, during birth, enable the bony plates of the skull to flex, allowing the kitten's head to pass through the birth canal.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Pectus Excavatum In The Cat
April 18, 2016
Often referred to as funnel chest or inverted sternum, Pectus Excavatum is an unusual chest wall deformity sometimes found in a kitten. It occurs when the breast bone (sternum) is deformed, pointing into the chest cavity. But it can be corrected.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Polydactyl Cats
September 1, 2024
Polydactylism is the condition when an animal has a higher-than-usual number of toes. It is surprisingly common in some mammals, including cats.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Radial Hypoplasia In Cats
August 15, 2024
Radial Hypoplasia refers to a rare congenital condition in kittens where the radial bones of the foreleg are shortened to varying degrees, often accompanied by twisting due to abnormal growth. This article discusses the diagnosis and management of radial hypoplasia in cats.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Scoliosis & Vertebral Fusion In A Cat
October 14, 2022
This is the story of an Oriental Shorthair named Shrimpbait who was born with a condition called scoliosis. A twisting and fusing of the bones in her spine left her permanently leaning to the right.
Swimmer Syndrome In Kittens
February 8, 2017
Swimmer Syndrome is characterized by a kitten's failure to stand or crawl normally. remaining in a lying position on its tummy, and paddling its feet sideways in a swimming motion. The condition can be corrected if treated early.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Tail Kinks In Cats
April 8, 2020
Although a purely consmetic fault, discovering a tail kink in a promising kitten can mean the end of its show career before it has even begun. Most tail kinks are an anomaly in an individual vertebrae in the bone structure of the tail.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
X-rays Of Tail Kinks
October 22, 2005
Tail kinks are purely cosmetic and do not affect the health of the cat. They come in a wide variety of shapes and can range from almost undetectable to so severe that they create the appearance of a corkscrewed tail.
This article is for Subscribers.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here