Cat Fact Files

The abrasive surface of a cat’s tongue is covered with many tiny, hooked ‘papillae’ – almost like miniature teeth. These hooks have a dual purpose, enabling the cat to clean off any flesh from the bones of prey as well as enhancing grooming.

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Cats in nature have learned the advantages of an elevated position over millions of years. It is ideal for surveying for ground-based and flighted prey, and also offers a place of safety from large terrestrial predators. When house cats are under competitive pressure from others or perceive that there are dangers within their territory, they [...]

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Cats can suffer from anaemia. This occurs when there is a reduction in the number of red blood cells, normally associated with low iron content. There are a number of causes for anaemia in cats, including: Blood loss following injury. Cancer. Viral feline leukaemia Infestation of internal/external parasites. Poisoning Major organ disease. Inadequate diet. Treatment [...]

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The first Scottsh Fold, recorded in 1951, was a short-haired cat, as was one of her kittens. owever, the breeding programme that resulted from this produced long-haired kittens. This breed is characterized by its thick coat and a deformity that causes the distinctive folded or flap-backed ears. The kittens are actually born with straight ears [...]

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Cats can live to around 20 years old – even longer in some exceptional individuals. This is equivalent to a human age of 100 years, so few cats live this long. The average lifespan for a cat is between 12 and 15 years. A cat that has reached 2 years of age has gone through [...]

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This distinctively white-footed cat was developed in the USA in the 1960s. It arose from a series of crosses between Siamese cats and American short-hairs and is rarely found outside North America. There are two different patterns of Snowshoe cat: the mitted, which has little white, and the bi-colour which has more white on the [...]

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This depends very much on the nature of the adult cat that is already a member of your family. If it is confident, contented and non-aggressive, there is little danger of it finding a defenceless kitten too threatening, although that can all change as the kitten develops to maturity. It is advisable to allow a [...]

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A cat that has had an excellent start in life is ideally equipped to fight off most of the physical tests that nature may offer. There are several factors involved. The cat will have: Started life physically healthy. Been fully vaccinated against the common feline infections, wormed and treated for fleas. Enjoyed a balanced and varied diet. [...]

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Making a home safe for a cat is similar to taking precautions for a young child. There are number of issues to address: Detergents and other household chemicals Although a cat is unlikley to lick up a solution, it could easily knock over a bottle and then walk through the split liquid. Once a chemical [...]

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There are several telltale signs to look for. These develop at different stages of gestation: The earliest point at which you will be able to tell is between 14 and 21 days after mating. Close examination of the pregnant female’s nipples will reveal that they are slightly enlarged and pink, and this is an early [...]

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