Cat Fact Files

Rescue centres will generally have a range of abandoned kittens and cats in need of caring homes. These may include moggies, pet-quality kittens and sometimes pedigree cats. Such centres will be listed in local newspapers or telephone books.

Non-pedigree cats are often advertised in local newspapers. They are always much cheaper than pedigree cats and may even be offered ‘free to a good home’.

During weaning, begin with a small single meal to supplement the litter mother’s milk. This is because a kitten’s stomach is tiny and you do not want to overload it. Gradually increase this until the kittens are eating between three and six small meals per day at 6 weeks old.

By about 8 or 9 weeks, the fast-developing kittens will be able to eat standard cat food and will thrive on good-quality brands.

Named after the Welsh word or Wales (Cymru), this is a rare long-haired type of Manx cat. It is therefore characterized by its tail slump plus longer coat. There are some lovely color forms, including orange-eyed white and reds, with three different tail-forms – ‘rumpy’ (almost no tail), ‘stumpy’ (very short tail) and ‘longy’ (extended stumpy tail). The Cymric (pronounced ‘kumrik’) has strong support in the USA.

It can be extremely traumatic for owners when their favorite cat is no longer around. The majority of people who do not own companion animals often fail to realize the strength of the emotional bond that can exist between owner and pet. In the case of companion cats, that bond can stretch over 20 years and the loss of a feline friend can weigh extremely heavy on a sensitive owner.

So much is missing when a cat is no longer there to greet them first thing in the morning, in the evening and forever in the kitchen, where the cat was usually found brushing up against them in a way guaranteed to produce a treat or some supper. It is not surprising that owners find it difficult to fill that gap in their lives.

This may vary, depending on the degree of material drive the litter mother naturally displays. A litter mother with a strong maternal instinct will care for her kittens throughout the 9 or 10 weeks of their early kittenhood, usually until her milk begins to dry up. In nature, this mother would almost guarantee a perfect start to life, and natural selection will have succeeded.

Most cats appear to ‘enjoy’ being stroked by their owners. This apparent willingness on the part of cats to succumb to human needs suggests that there is a benefit to them in this behavior. However, it is probably more accurate to analyze the interaction as the cat perceiving that the human is performing marking behavior as they stroke the cat and, seemingly deliberately, leave their skin scent behind on it. Cats may not fight against being stroked (although some cats do shy away or become aggressive during interaction that involves stroking), and they may even thrive on the cross-marking behavior. In this analysis, there would clearly be a benefit to being stroked, but it may not be equally balanced between human and cat.

Most rescue centres will follow a similar procedure with prospective adoptive families. They will:

• Take down basic details about you , your family and your home.
• Ascertain whether or not you have had experience of owning a cat.
• Ask if you want a kitten or an adult cat.
• Decide if you will make a suitable owner.
• Try to match you up with the ideal cat.

The laws on importing cats vary between countries. Most have strict quarantine regulations, the length of which depends on the likelihood of endemic animals being known carriers of rabies and other exotic diseases. Cats that have have been microchipped, vaccinated and subjected to veterinary checks can be moved more easily between countries that have created new pet importation rules. Some countries have set up schemes whereby, if an animal complies with all the rules of the scheme, they can avoid spending six months in quarantine. check with a veterinary practice about the current requirements well in advance of intended travel.

Cats actively seek out water that is ‘organic’ - free of the chemicals used to treat tap water. This is because they know instinctively that the bacterial content will enhance gastric digestion.

There is no direct mention of cats in the translated Bible. It is known that the Israelites distrusted everything associated with the Egyptians, who ruled over them. The fact that the Egyptians held cats in such high esteem encouraged the occupied population to despise them almost as much as they hated the occupiers, so this may be the reason why they are not mentioned in the Bible.