The first thing I would like to talk about is the new "Edit Your Profile" section under Members Only. This is a great new addition to the site. From now on, if you need to change the information you submitted to me when you registered (includes: first/last name, e-mail address, location, etc.), you can go to http://www.persian-cats.com/users/edit_profile.cgi and fill out the form. So if you get married and take a new last name, change e-mail addresses, or move, it will be much easier to update the system now.

The next bit of excitement is a new section I have added under Persian Care & Info ("Before You Breed One"). It is an editorial written by one of our members, Mary Baldwin. This fantastic article contains information that folks should consider before they breed Persians. Mary originally posted it in the Breeding/Showing bulletin board, but I felt it deserved a permanent place on the site. Thanks, Mary!

Now let me tantalize you all with a preview of what's coming soon. Now that so much of the site is being run through a database, a new feature will be added - Purrsonal Start Pages. You will be able to customize your own start page at Persian-cats.com.

Finally, I want to announce that I have recently registered the domain name, Purebred-cats.com. Gee, I wonder what I'll do with that... make a site with information about all the CFA-recognized breeds? Yup.

Sometimes a Persian's ears can get a little dirty on the inside. Recently, there was a very helpful discussion in one of the bulletin boards on how to effectively clean the ears. Here are some suggestions (and remember, never ever use a cotton swab):

• Dab a cotton ball with a commercial ear cleaner from the pet supply store and rub the inside of the ears.
• Use olive oil from the drugstore on a cottonball. For really dirty ears, pour the olive oil right into the ear. Then massage the ear and wipe it out with a cotton ball.
• Get an ear cleaner from the vet. Apply one drop, fold down the ear, massage it around a bit, and then wipe the excess liquid with a cotton ball.
• Dab a cotton ball with a baby oil and rub the inside of the ears.

While many cat lovers dream of owning a Persian, most should not. A Persian cat is a full-time job. Even just daily combing/brushing is not often enough to maintain a healthy, mat-free coat. If you can find the time to bathe and fully groom at least once a week, you may be able to get by with just checking the coat daily and combing out any snarls. If regular grooming is out of the question, then you need to be willing to keep the cat shaved. The cats seem to love it. They seem more comfortable not having to carry all that thick, long hair around on them.

If this sounds like too much work, then perhaps the best option for you is the shorthair Persians, or Exotics. They are Persian in all ways except the coat. For more information on Exotics, check out the March 2001 Newsletter.

Easter is coming! Here are some gift ideas for your kitty:

Catnip Butterfly or Catnip Daisy ($1.95 each)
http://www.catfaeries.com/cattoys/catnip_toys.html

Pastel Plush Catnip Toys by Booda ($2.99 each)
http://www.petsmart.com/cat/shopping/toys/catnip/psearch.shtml

Flower Power Cat Toys by Top Paw ($4.99 each)
http://www.petsmart.com/cat/shopping/toys/kitty_classics/psearch.shtml