Cat Fact Files

Some cats become entirely dependent on their owner. As ‘replacement litter mothers’ or ‘replacement lead cats’ humans can easily turn the relationship into one that encourages feline over-dependency and nervousness. In this situation. When a partner first appears they are probably viewed by the cat as an extremely large competitor. An ‘intelligent’ Cat, in feline [...]

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You can avoid having to board your pet by asking a family member, friendly neighbour or friend to act as a ‘sitter’ for the holiday period. This is a good idea, because research suggests that cats (and dogs) prefer to remain in the place they know and in which they feel secure. However, it is [...]

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The average lifespan of a domesticated cat is somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Of course, some individuals may not reach 12 years while others may survive beyond 20 years. There is little information about longevity in wild cats, but it is thought that the domesticated cat lives twice as long as its feral relative. [...]

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This relatively new development in feline behavior works on the same principle as a plug-in air freshener. However, instead of wafting a pleasant scent into the home, it sends out feline maternal pheromones. The device can be refilled as the reservoir empties. This may have a calming effect on the cat following installation, but long-term [...]

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When used to descried cats, the term ‘blue’ refers to the lovely grey fur that can be found in many pedigree breeds. British Blue short hair This breed went into decline following the second word war, and even today the best and most striking individuals are in a small minority. Long-haired blue A cross between [...]

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The colour of a cats coat is thought to have an effect on individuals who may be allergic to them. One research study showed that whether a cat was kept in or out of the bedroom proved not to influence the allergic reaction in their owners. But, perhaps rather surprisingly those people keeping a dark-haired [...]

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There are a number of signs to look for. The following will tell you whether or not you have a happy cat: At some times of day you will not know that you have a cat, because it is snoozing in a favorite cupboard or sunning itself in the window. Your cat will use the [...]

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  Unfortunately, no. The idea behind an artificial pheromone spray is that it replace at cat’s natural facial scent-marking and is sprayed onto a target for inappropriate feline ‘marking’. This could be an electrical plug curtain or furniture. The principle on which this product is based is that the cat will not mark a target [...]

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In the most desirable tortoiseshell cats, the dominance of black is infiltrated with a fairly even spread of red and cream. The true tortoiseshell-patterned cat is quite rare and the incredibly high price for a pedigree reflects the rarity of its coloration. True tortoiseshell-patterned cats are almost all females, as the coloration is linked to [...]

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The most striking tabby cat has distinctive vertical stripes, know as a ‘mackerel’ pattern, on its flanks. There are several tabby pattern variations in which the stripes can be replaced by: Blotches Spots Light or dark ticks known as ‘agouti’ The African wild cat, the wild forest cat and the jungle cat all display typical [...]

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