D
Dam: The mother of a cat or kitten.
Dander: Skin cells that a cat continually sheds. Danders protein causes allergic reactions in sensitive people. In addition, when cats groom themselves, the cells mix with saliva, providing another method for the spread of the allergen.
Dilute: A coat with more muted or softer colors. Lilac, blue and cream often are dilutes.
E
Echo: The act of conversation between humans and cats.
Exotic: A breed that has all the features of the Persian, but wears a much shorter coat. The Exotic is a registered breed with several recognized registries.
F
Feral cat: The wild offspring of domestic cats, primarily the result of pet owners abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their cats, thus allowing them to breed uncontrolled.
Foundation cat: A cat with an unknown origin (farm cat, stray cat) that fits the breed standard and is used for breeding to introduce fresh blood to the gene pool of a purebred. Often used in the breeding of Bengals.
G
Gestation: The period during which animals grow in the uterus. Typically 63 days in cats.
Ginger tom: An orange, male cat with a tabby coat. Also called a marmalade tabby. H Hairballs: When a cat grooms itself, it ingests a fair amount of hair. In some cats, a large clump of this hair may lodge in the stomach or intestine. Generally this does not cause a problem, and the cat will pass the hairball in its stool or via regurgitation.
Hybrid: The result of breeding two different purebred cats. Applied to all kittens produced, whether or not they conform to the accepted standard for the resulting breed.
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