If you are looking for a cat breed that is as wonderful as a good French wine, you may want to consider the Chartreux cat. After all, a legend tells that this breed was named for the Chartreuse liquor that Carthusian monks were so famous for. Of course, while it is true that the Chartreux cat is mentioned in Carthusian records as early as the fifteen hundreds, this breed probably received its name because its coat looks similar to the wool of the Chartreux sheep.

The Chartreux cat breed has a thick, wooly coat in a rich gray blue color. This breed is neither a true longhair nor a shorthair, since the outer coat is longer than that of a shorthair, but not as long as that of most longhairs.

If you want a friendly cat and don't mind that the breed you've chosen is a bit of an upstart in the cat world, since it only has existed since the nineteen sixties, you may want to consider the American Bobtail. 

The American Bobtail is one of only three breeds in the Cat Fancier's Association's Provisional Class, which is where cat breeds are placed until they show that they are able to stay true to their standards. This breed is a lightweight compared to many other breeds, weighing in at seven to fifteen pounds.

If you've always thought cats were too snooty and unaffectionate, you haven't met an Abyssinian. These cats are very personable and affectionate animals that love to interact with their families.

The Cat Fancier's Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

When you're new to bird breeding, you may feel as though all you have is questions. However, you also may think that you can't possibly ask some of the questions you have because more experienced breeders will think you are unintelligent. While your local librarian will tell you the only stupid question is one you didn't ask, finding out a few of the basics can help you feel a bit more confident.

Understanding what your pets are telling you can be a real challenge, even if they can talk. After all, few parrots communicate their feelings with words, although at least one African gray has been known to loudly announce, 'I'm bored!' when he were being neglected. Luckily your bird's body language speaks just as loudly as he does, allowing you to understand exactly how he is feeling.

Despite the fact that some of them can outlive their owners, birds are more fragile than many other types of animals. In fact, miners used this weakness to stay safe underground. They often carried a canary with them because they knew these birds were so sensitive that the canary would die if the air in the tunnel was unhealthy.

Pet birds have this same susceptibility to unhealthy odors. Teflon pans, aerosol sprays and even furniture polish can be lethal for your birds. Always be sure to use anything with a strong odor in a well-ventilated area that is well away from your birds.