Cat Fact Files

There is a recessive gene influence in white-long and short-haired cats that leads to inherited deafness - but not always. Experts commonly suggest that deafness in white cats is indicated by those with blue or odd-coloured eyes.

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Cat breeds do not really vary greatly in adult size in the way that dog breeds do. However, a diminutive, short-haired cat would appear miniature alongside an overweight, chunky-bodied, long-haired Persian cat, for example. Lengthy fur and a muscualr body considerably increase the outline shape of a cat.

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There are pros and cons of both. Kittens are usually cute and appealing animals, but they do require a great deal of commitment in their early months. At 6 months old, maturing cats do not require quite the same level of attention as young kittens. Cats become fully mature at about 1 year old, although […]

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We possess the same binocular vision as cats. However, our eyes are placed laterally parallel on our oblong-shaped face, giving us a slightly reduced fixed field of vision when compared to that of cats. The eyes of a cat are placed marginally to either side of its narrow face. Our overlapping vision covers roughly 210 […]

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The temperature of a calm, healthy cat is 38-39°C (100-102°F). A cat’s temperature can be taken with a lubricated thermometer gently inserted into the rectum for about a minute. Lift the cat’s tail up at the base and insert the small thermometer, then wipe it clean before reading. Only take a cat’s temperature in this […]

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Territorial animals are those with a strong instinct to live within fixed land or aquatic boundaries. As small, solitary predators, cats have evolved to live within a fixed land space that is large enough to support them in terms of prey but modest enough for them to defend. In the wild, this territory is within a […]

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Cats love to groom themselves. A groomed fur coat and clean whiskers and paws can enhance a hunter’s ability to stalk in the shadows and undergrowth and surprise unsuspecting prey. However, grooming can become obsessive and compulsive in some cats that are suffering the effects of stress. Causes of stress include competition between home cats, […]

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The Persian cat we know today in all its various collour forms is one of the oldest pedigree breeds around. It also has one of the longest and bushiest coats among the long-haired group of cats. The incredible density of the Persian coat is due to the combination of a large amount of ‘down’ or […]

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The Van pattern denotes a white-coated cat with solid or tortoiseshell patches on its head and tail. The name is a reference to the Turkish Van cat, the ’swimming cat’ with which it is associated, but the pattern can also be seen in other breeds.

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There are a number of strategies to try.

Enter your garden and name call (brightly) at regular intervals - every hour or more often. This is especially important in the early evening and beyond dusk. Do not be disheartened if your cat does not return immediately.
You can expand this action to the outer borders of the […]

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