Lil Bub

One of the OG internet-famous kitties, Lil Bub hails from Indiana and is recognized by her distinctive features, including a shortened lower jaw, dwarfism, and extra toes. Born in 2011, she was the only kitten in her litter to survive. Her physical differences give her a permanently curious, wide-eyed, and kitten-like appearance that captures hearts.

Despite health issues, Lil Bub’s online videos and pics depicting her enjoying life inspire many fans. She promotes awareness and funds for special needs pets. Over 2 million Instagram followers enjoy keeping up with her adventures. Even after retiring from public appearances in 2019 due to health decline, this senior kitty remains a top cute internet cat today.

Suki Cat

This Scottish Fold cat from Canada has earned over 800k Instagram followers. Suki’s blue-grey soft, fluffy fur blends beautifully with her large round copper eyes and adorably folded ears. Her owner posts regular pics of Suki in cute poses and outfits.

One especially popular theme features her snuggled in miniature doll beds and rooms. Clever captions from Suki’s perspective entertain fans as much as the heartwarming pics. This well-dressed feline definitely qualifies as one of the internet’s cutest cats.

Venus the Two-Faced Cat

Hailing from North Carolina, Venus has an unusual split facial fur coloration: half ginger tabby and half jet black with a mustache. She was born part of a feral colony in 2020. Her heterochromia and chimerism grabbed attention across social media as a Janus cat – named for the Roman two-faced god statue.

Despite her anomaly, Venus lives a completely normal, healthy life following her rescue. Her “yinyang face” instantly draws in over 575k TikTok followers and 264k Instagram fans eager to see the latest photos showcasing her unique features. Videos of Venus chilling in cute poses or playing happily highlight her character beyond her striking looks.

Snoozy Cats

These senior rescue cats from Israel find internet fame capturing adorable cat naps in anthropomorphic poses. Alon, Amira and Alfie range from ages 11-18. Their owner created social media accounts in 2019 to share their softer side in retirement.

Over 159k Instagram followers swoon over photos depicting these grey-muzzled sleepyheads curled up together in baskets, miniature couches and beds tailored just for their naps. Clever captions add imaginative details about their dreams. This trio proves senior cats deserve just as much virality for their cute content.

Smush and Pancake – Box Loving Cats

Housed together in Canada, these brother-sister tabby pair measure their small statures against various cardboard boxes in their iconic social media photos. Born in spring 2020 with genetic dwarfism, tiny 4-year-olds Smush and Pancake only weigh about 2.3 kg each at full growth. Their stumpy legs and close sitting positions earned them the monikers “loaf cats.”

Over 234k TikTok fans and 171k Instagram followers tune in to enjoy their silly box antics and adorable loafing. Despite their perpetual kitten-like size, these two live fully enriched lives controlling their cardboard box kingdom one nap at a time.

Tora – Waving Lucky Cat

A Japanese lucky waving cat figurine inspired this 2012 orange tabby’s silly online fame. Owner Hsin Yu posts TikTok videos capturing beloved pet Tora flawlessly posed behind clear glass or plastic floor spaces “pretending” to be a waving lucky cat statue.

With clever editing tricks, it appears as if the friendly feline waves continuously to grant good fortune upon 840k smiling TikTok followers. Tora’s convincing performances and playful personality net an average of over 140k TikTok loves per viral video post.

These remarkable internet-famous felines represent only a small sampling of the growing number of cute cats capturing hearts online right now in 2024 and beyond. From their silly antics to their unique features and endearing personalities, cute cat content continues trending hugely across today’s inter-connected world.

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When the raised, welldemarcated reddish ulcers appear on the lips of affected felines, they are termed eosinophilic ulcers or “rodent ulcers”. Linear granulomas are eosinophilic granulomas that can occur anywhere on the body, but usually on the back portion of the hind legs.

These ulcerations are yellowish to pink in appearance, and, as the name implies, they tend to run in a straight line down the affected portion of skin. With both eosinophilic ulcers and linear granulomas, pain and itching do not appear to be significant factors.

However, prompt treatment is still important, since some of these lesions, especially eosinophilic ulcers, can evolve to skin cancer if left alone. Eosinophilic plaques are types of eosinophilic granuloma that are associated with intense itching.

These well-demarcated, raised ulcers are often bright red in appearance and show up primarily on the abdomen and on the upper, inside portions of the back legs. Cats so affected will often lick constantly at the lesions because of the irritation and itching that they cause.

Diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats is routinely made on physical exam and on microscopic examination of cells or tissues from the lesions. Treatment employs corticosteroids given orally or by injection for 3 to 4 weeks.

In cases that don’t respond to standard treatment, alternate therapy such as radiation therapy may be used in an effort to bring the lesions under control. As with miliary dermatitis, antibiotics are rarely necessary to afford a cure unless a secondary infection is present.

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Why Do Genetic Problems Occur?

Inherited disorders result from faults in a cat’s genes—sections of DNA inside cells that hold the “instructions” for a cat’s development, body structures, and functions. Genetic disorders usually develop in small populations, or result from the mating of animals that are too closely related.

For this reason, such disorders are more common in pedigrees. Sometimes, screening tests are used to identify cats with inherited disorders.

Breed-Specific Problems

Because the gene pool may be quite small for each cat breed, faulty genes can have a greater influence than they would in a larger mixed-breed population, where such genes usually vanish after a few generations.

A disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is mainly associated with the Maine Coon and Ragdoll, and is linked to one faulty gene. The disorder causes the heart muscle to become thicker and less elastic, which reduces the space inside the heart’s chambers and the volume of blood that the heart can pump.

This eventually leads to heart failure. Some cat breeds are actually characterized by inherited disorders—for example, in the past the crossed eyes of classic Siamese cats were the result of a visual problem.

An inherited disorder may be present when a kitten is born or may develop later in a cat’s life. Some cats may have a faulty gene but never develop symptoms. These cats are called carriers and can produce kittens with the inherited disease if they breed with another cat carrying the same faulty gene.

Many cat diseases are thought to be genetic in origin, but have not yet had faulty genes identified to explain them. The disorders listed in the table have all been confirmed as genetic. For some of them, screening tests are available to identify whether or not a cat has the faulty gene.

What Can Owners Do?

To help eradicate inherited disorders, responsible breeders should avoid using any cats known to have or to carry an inherited disorder for breeding by having them neutered.

If your cat has, or develops, a genetic disorder, try to find out as much information as possible about the condition. Most inherited disorders are not curable, but careful management can reduce symptoms and allow a good quality of life for your pet.

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Developing the shorthair

The first cats to be domesticated, possibly over 4,000 years ago, had short hair, and their sleek-coated look has been popular ever since. In a short coat, colors and patterns are clearly defined and the feline form appears to full advantage. Dozens of shorthaired breeds have been developed, but there are three main groups: British, American, and Oriental Shorthairs.

The first two are essentially ordinary domestic cats refined by decades of breeding programs. They are sturdy, round-headed cats, with short, dense, double-layered coats. The strikingly different Oriental group has little to do with the East, being created in Europe through crosses with the Siamese. They have short, close-lying, fine coats with no woolly undercoat.

Other much-loved shorthaired cats include: the Burmese; the plush-furred Russian Blue, which has a very short undercoat that lifts the top guard hairs away from the body; and the Exotic Shorthair, which combines unmistakably Persian looks with a shorter, more manageable coat.

Short hair is taken to extremes in several hairless breeds, including the Sphynx and the Peterbald. These cats are usually not totally hairless—most have a fine covering of body hair with the feel of suede. Another variety of short hair is seen in rexed cats, which have wavy or crimped coats. Among the best known of these are the Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex.

Easy maintenance

A great advantage for owners of shorthaired breeds is that the coat requires little grooming to keep it in good condition, while parasites and injuries are easy to see and treat.

However, keeping a shorthaired cat does not guarantee hair-free carpets and sofas. Some breeds shed heavily, especially during seasonal loss of thick undercoats, and even single-coated varieties such as the Orientals always lose a certain amount of hair.

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Properly managed, such programs can be a satisfactory solution to the problem of feral colonies that have become too large or need to be relocated because of health issues.

Although the animals concerned are not regarded as pets, the people who “adopt” them must agree to provide minimum shelter, a small daily amount of cat food to augment whatever prey is taken by hunting, and veterinary care if necessary.

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Probably the best known of the hairless cats that have appeared around the world, the Sphynx originated in Canada and was named for its supposed resemblance to the ancient Egyptian sculpture of the mythical Sphinx.

The cat’s hairlessness is a natural mutation, and interest in its development dates from the birth of a hairless male kitten produced by a short-coated farm cat in Ontario in 1966. This kitten, along with other hairless kittens that appeared over the following decade, was used to found the breed.

Although hairlessness is commonly accompanied by other mutations, careful selective breeding, including outcrosses to Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cats, has ensured that the Sphynx is relatively free of genetic problems. Sphynx cats are not completely bald—most have a coating of fine, suedelike fuzz on their bodies and often a little thin hair on their heads, tails, and paws.

Undeniably an extraordinary looking cat, with its enormous ears, wrinkled skin, and rounded belly, the Sphynx does not appeal to everyone, but its delightfully sociable and loving nature has made more than a few converts.

It is easy to live with but needs to be kept indoors and protected from temperature extremes. Lack of a normal coat also means that excess body oils cannot be absorbed, so regular washing is required. Cats used to baths from an early age are unlikely to object.

Mr. Bigglesworth

A Sphynx shot to fame after appearing as Mr. Bigglesworth, feline companion to the appalling Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers’ trilogy of comedy spy movies, the first of which was screened in 1997.

The cat that played the role was a championship winner named Ted Nude-Gent. Accustomed to being in the public eye at cat shows, Ted remained unfazed by the noise and activity of a movie set and, like many Sphynxes, responded exceptionally well to training.

Origin: Canada, 1960s

Breed registries: CFA, FIFe, GCCF, TICA

Weight range: 8–15lb (3.5–7kg)

Grooming: 2–3 times a week

Colors and patterns: All colors, shades, and patterns.

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Megacolon is caused by a disruption of or lack of nerve activity in the muscular walls of the colon. It might occur secondary to spinal cord trauma, other diseases affecting the nervous system, or, as in the case of some Manx cats, be inherited.

The clinical signs associated with feline megacolon can vary. Straining to defecate is certainly the most obvious sign; diarrhea can also be seen alongside firm, hard stools. If the obstruction is severe, vomiting, dehydration, and loss of appetite can be seen as well.

Diagnosis of feline megacolon can be made on physical examination and, for confirmation, from radiographs. Treatment involves removing the fecal impaction using warm-water enemas and by infusing the colon with mineral oil.

Enemas designed for use in humans should not be used in cats, as the components of a human enema solution can cause severe dehydration in cats, Severe cases might require surgical relief of the impaction.

There is no effective cure for this condition; as a result, preventive maintenance therapy should be used to prevent recurrences. Giving an oral hairball laxative on a daily basis will help keep fecal matter moving along nicely.

Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet has also been shown to be helpful in preventing relapses.

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Developed specifically for its beautiful color combinations, this breed was created during the 1940s and 50s, initially by crossing a Siamese with a red tabby American Shorthair. If not for its different range of colors, the Colorpoint Shorthair would be impossible to distinguish from the Siamese, since it possesses the same elongated body, slender head, outsized ears, and brilliant blue eyes as its relative.

Intelligent, sociable, and highly vocal, this cat likes to be the center of attention. A Colorpoint Shorthair needs family life—the more fun going on, the better—and is not suitable for owners who are out of the home for long periods.

This breed was first created by introducing red to the point colors of the Siamese.

Origin: US, 1940s/1950s

Breed registries: CFA

Weight range: 6–12lb (2.5–5.5kg)

Grooming: Weekly

Colors and patterns: Various solid, tabby, and tortie point colors.

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Early signs that might be noticed include wet hairs, reddened skin, and hair loss in the areas of biting and scratching. Prolonged itching results in further hair loss, excessive scaling and thickening, and discoloration of the involved skin.

Secondary skin infections are common. Severe and/or prolonged itching is most always a symptom of an underlying skin disorder. As a result, correction of the underlying problem is imperative if the symptom of itching is to be successfully controlled.

Inhalant Allergic Dermatitis (Atopic Dermatitis; Atopy)

Inhalant allergic dermatitis represents one of the most common causes of itching in cats across the United States. Atopy often produces severe itching and is frequently accompanied by skin infection (folliculitis), scaling, hair loss, and discoloration.

Atopy parallels human hay fever, except that itching is the primary symptom in the cat rather than the respiratory symptoms exhibited by people. Licking and chewing of the feet, legs, and flank are common symptoms reported by owners, along with generalized scratching.

Atopy is inherited and usually develops between the ages of 6 months and 4 years, following exposure to immune-system-stimulating substances called allergens. Although atopy is seasonal, sporadic, and relatively mild in its early stages, it often becomes perennial, and worsens in severity with time.

Unfortunately, pets do not outgrow these allergies. Dust (and dust mites), fungal spores, and pollens from trees, shrubs, and grasses can all initiate an allergy in cats. Since these substances are present in the air and can be carried hundreds of miles by wind, trying to avoid them by restricting a pet’s environment is not possible.

Diagnosis of atopy is based on clinical signs seen, seasonality of such signs, and allergy testing. There are currently two methods of allergy testing available: intradermal skin testing and serum testing. Intradermal skin testing involves injecting a number of different allergens into the skin of the patient and observing the injection sites for a corresponding allergic reaction.

This type of testing has been used effectively for allergy diagnosis for years and provides the most definitive way to find out what a pet is actually allergic to. Serum testing is also used to diagnose allergies.

These tests involve the evaluation of a serum sample from the allergic pet for antibodies to substances to which it might be allergic. The advantage such testing affords over skin testing is that it is much easier to perform and causes little discomfort to the patient.

However, since the accuracy of such tests is still being debated within the veterinary community, intradermal skin testing is still considered by some experts to be the most definitive way to diagnose atopy.

There are four ways to approach treatment for atopy: steroid anti-inflammatory (cortisone-type) drugs, antihistamine/fatty-acid therapy, topical therapy, and allergy shots or hyposensitization.

Steroid Anti-Inflammatories (Cortisone-Type Drugs)

These medications temporarily suppress the itching sensations produced by the allergy. Steroid anti-inflammatories are never curative, yet they can offer effective relief from itching for days to weeks. Increases in water consumption, urination frequency, and appetite are sometimes seen in pets placed on steroid therapy.

Unfortunately, prolonged steroid usage over months might produce side effects much more unpleasant than these, including bloating (water retention), muscle atrophy, skin thinning, hair loss, and decreased resistance to infection.

In addition, while these steroids are being administered to a pet (especially dogs), its body’s ability to produce its own cortisone is suppressed, and might not return even when the steroid therapy is discontinued.

If this happens, the pet could go into shock and die. As a result, long-term usage of these drugs for allergic dermatitis should be done only under the close scrutiny of a veterinarian.

Antihistamine/Fatty-Acid Therapy

Scientific studies have shown that antihistamine medications alone do little to suppress itching caused by atopic dermatitis. Because antihistamine drugs can cause drowsiness, they can be useful for helping calm down a frustrated pet that can’t stop itching and chewing on itself.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be quite beneficial to atopic cats. It seems that these fatty acids, which are derived from cold-water fish such as salmon, do have the ability in some cases to reduce inflammatory responses and stop itching.

Others require additional medications, such as antihistamines, in order to achieve an acceptable comfort level. Although the effectiveness of this therapy can vary between cases, it does provide a unique alternative to steroid therapy.

Topical Therapy

Topical treatments by themselves do little to provide lasting relief to the atopic pet. However, when used in combination with other forms of therapy, they can potentiate the effects of these other treatments.

One such topical product, a colloidal oatmeal conditioner, can provide effective topical relief for atopic cats. Along with applying it after bathing, it can also be used as a daily spray (create a 10 to 25% mixture with filtered water and place in a spray bottle) as well.

The advantage of using oatmeal conditioners versus shampooing is twofold: (1) A conditioner will help moisturize and soothe the skin with repeated use, whereas shampoos can dry out the skin; and (2) colloidal oatmeal is known to be an effective anti-itch agent and can be applied as many times during the day as necessary to provide relief.

Just be sure to brush your pet thoroughly after each application to work the conditioner down to the skin.

Allergy Shots or Hyposensitization

An alternative approach to treating allergies aside from the ones just mentioned is to hyposensitize the pet using allergen injections. This approach requires allergy testing to be performed, followed by a series of injections of the exact allergens or agents causing the reaction.

Although this approach is not effective in all instances, some veterinary dermatology specialists do report at least an 85 to 90 percent success rate; this rate is based on at least 50 percent overall improvement in the allergic pet’s condition.

However, since inhalant allergens are poor stimulators of immunity, this improvement takes some time. Owners should allow anywhere from 1 to 6 months before making a final judgment as to the effectiveness of the treatment. In most cases, maintenance injections given monthly will be required for the lifetime of the pet.

Fleabite Hypersensitivity

Aside from the discomfort caused by the actual bite of a flea, cats might develop an allergic response to the flea’s saliva deposited in the skin during feeding. Moderate to severe itching and hair loss can result, especially along the back near the tail, hips, and hindleg areas.

Some allergic pets can harbor staphylococcal bacteria not found on the skin of nonallergic pets. Irritation resulting from fleabites can produce a skin infection (folliculitis) on the damaged skin surface and hair follicles.

Toxins released from these bacteria might further intensify the itch-scratch cycle. As one might guess, successful treatment of a flea allergy is heavily dependent on the ability to control fleas on the pet and in the environment.

Food Hypersensitivity (Food Allergies)

Food allergies are a potential cause of nonseasonal itching in cats. Other dermatological symptoms might include hives, facial swelling, and chronic ear infections as well.

Besides these skin-related problems, food-related allergies have also been implicated in gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and/or excess gas.

Diagnosis of food hypersensitivity requires the exclusive feeding of a hypoallergenic diet containing a protein source that is not commonly used in commercial pet foods for 8 weeks. Such diets are available through veterinarians.

If a positive diagnosis is made, the pet will need to remain on the hypoallergenic diet indefinitely. Simply changing food brands or types seldom benefits food allergy cases since most commercial foods contain similar ingredients.

Food items such as milk, animal proteins, and vegetable proteins are the most common culprits causing food-induced allergies in pets.

Contact Hypersensitivity – (Contact Allergy)

The haircoat of cats offers an efficient protective barrier to many substances and agents that could produce an allergic reaction just by coming in contact with the skin. Therefore, those areas relatively devoid of hair such as the chest, abdomen, and feet are more susceptible to contact allergies.

The most common contact-allergy-producing agents include detergents, shampoos, pet sprays, collars, and insecticides, which, in liquid form, can penetrate the normally protective haircoat. In addition, bedding that is moldy or has been chemically treated can cause contact hypersensitivity.

Symptoms of such exposure include redness and swelling of the skin and intense itching. These signs will generally develop within 24 to 72 hours after exposure. Chemicals that can normally irritate the skin might produce similar symptoms immediately after contact.

Such reactions are not to be confused with slower developing hypersensitivity. Treatment of contact allergies requires the removal of the offending agent and administration of topical and/or systemic anti-inflammatory drugs.

A thorough history of the pet’s exposure to chemicals and exposure to any environment vegetation is imperative in the veterinarian’s effort to identify the allergy-producing agent. Bacterial Infections Bacterial infections involving the skin are itchy in themselves.

As a result, when they occur secondarily to an allergy or parasitic infestation, it can mean sheer misery for a pet. It is for this reason that many treatments for other skin ailments are combined with antibiotic therapy.

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The first domestic cats in the US are said to have arrived with the early pilgrims in the 1600s. Over the following centuries, sturdy, workmanlike cats spread all over the US, most of them kept as efficient mousers rather than as house pets.

But by the beginning of the 20th century, a more refined form of the farmyard hunter, known as the Domestic Shorthair, began to emerge. Careful breeding further improved the Domestic, and by the 1960s—now renamed the American Shorthair—it was attracting attention at pedigree cat shows. Healthy and hardy, American Shorthairs are perfect family cats that fit in with almost any type of household.

Origin: US, 1890s

Breed registries: CFA, TICA

Weight range: 8–15 lb (3.5–7 kg)

Grooming: 2–3 times a week

Colors and patterns: Most solid colors and shades; patterns include bicolor, tabby, and tortie.

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