Taking Care of Your Cat

Cats are very popular pet animals; there are approximately eight million cats kept in the UK. There are different breeds and varieties of cat, varying in size, body shape and temperament. The majority of cats owned in the UK are non-pedigrees. Typically, cats live for fourteen years, but many live for much longer. Understanding cats' needs Cats retain much of the biology and behaviour of the wild cats they originated from. This means they have very complex needs so looking after them well can be challenging. Being aware of how wild cats live can help you understand your pet cat’s needs better, Your duty to care Owning and caring for a cat is great fun and very rewarding, but it is also a big responsibility and a long-term commitment in terms of care and finances. If you own or are responsible for a cat, even on a temporary basis, you are required by law to care for it properly. Read more about the Animal Welfare Act and your duty of care to your animals. The five welfare needs There is no one 'perfect' way to care for all cats because every cat and every situation is different. Cats are now increasingly kept as indoor-only pets, whilst many are given access outside or even live outside permanently. It is up to you how you look after your cat, but you must take reasonable steps to ensure that you meet all its needs. Read our expert reviewed pet care information to find out more about the needs of cats: Environment, Diet, Behaviour, Company and Health and welfare. You'll find lots more detailed advice under these main webpages, so do take a look around our cat section for top tips on keeping your cat happy and healthy.

My Singing Cat

Secrets To Effective Cat Training

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Behavioral problems in cats, such as avoiding the litterbox, excessive meowing and other attention-seeking behavior, biting and painful or destructive scratching can be corrected by first eliminating physical causes, then instituting a program of gradual retraining, with the help of these resources. Remember that there are no bad cats, only uninformed cat caregivers.

I would suggest trying to deal with one problem cat behavior at a time. Too many "dos" and "don'ts" will only confuse your cat and frustrate your training attempts. Start with the most potentially hazardous problems first - such as chewing on electrical cords - then move on from there. Here are the most-often reported behavioral problems in cats:

Attention-Seeking Behavior
Attention-seeking behavior and excessive vocalization often go hand-in-hand with cats. Causes for these behaviors can be either physical or emotional, or both. Before punishing your cat for excessive crying and meowing, or other attention seeking behavior, do some homework on possible causes.

See Also: Rippling Skin Disorder
Also called Feline hyperesthesia, one of the symptoms of Rippling Skin Disorder is loud "lost-in-the-night" howling.

Cats' Aggression Toward People
Cats' aggression toward people can be caused by poor training as a kitten (as in play aggression), fear, or other factors. Learn how to prevent a cat's aggression toward people, how to deal with it when it happens, and how to curb a cat's biting and scratching behavior.

Feline Aggression Toward Other Cats
Cats sharing a household will sometimes fight, but when active aggressive behavior between cats rears its ugly head, sometime human intervention is necessary.

Aggression between cats can be fear-based, territorial, or redirected aggression. This article will help the reader deal with aggression between cats in a household.

Destructive and Harmful Chewing by Cats and Kittens
Destructive chewing by cats is undesirable, first, because of the potential of danger to the cat, and second, because of damage to family valuables. Causes of destructive chewing by cats can range from teething in kittens to curiosity, to boredom, and even (surprise!) because of a nutrient deficiency.

Destructive Scratching by Cats
Are you troubled by illegal clawing by your cats? Please don't consider Draconian measures such as declawing a cat. There are a number of ways you can keep your cats' claws happily engaged in legal clawing with these articles and aids, while protecting furniture and carpeting.

Cat Urine Problems 
Inappropriate elimination (litter box avoidance) is the number one reason cats are surrendered to shelters. By eliminating physical causes, such as urinary tract infections, then targeting other common reasons for litterbox avoidance, you can help your cat overcome this undesirable behavior. Remember that cats don't like to use a dirty toilet any more than you would.

Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Cats
Cats, like humans, can indulge in obsessive-compulsive behavior. In cats, OCD manifests in activities such as excessive licking, fur-pulling, wool-sucking or feline hyperesthesia. Understanding the causes and eliminating physical problems can often lead to a speedy cure for undesirable behavior.

Shyness and Fear in Cats
Is your kitty a "Scairdycat?" Shyness and fear stem from a number of causes, but can be overcome with gentleness and patience, as these tips explain. It is always important to allow your cat to set his own pace, and to be patient if his pace is slower than you had hoped for.

Stress and Anxiety in Cats
While stress itself is not of behavioral origin, it can lead to a number of problems often considered behavioral, such as litter box avoidance or depression. When behavioral problems suddenly appear, savvy cat owners soon learn to first rule out signs of health problems, and next for stress factors, such as changes in the environment.

Clicker Training for Cats
Anyone involved in clicker training their cats will readily tell you that it is not only fun for cats and their humans, but also important training for safety reasons. Need to get a cat in his carrier quickly? Clicker train him. Does he try to slip out the door? Clicker train him.

Cat Behavior FAQs
A large percentage of questions I receive by email or on the About Cats Forum are those concerning cat behavior. Many so-called "behavioral problems" result from the cat owners simply not understanding what cats are trying to tell us. And often cats' behavioral "quirks" are their most endearing traits.

I hope you and your cat have been able to utilize the lessons given here to develop good habits for your kitty and a better relationship for both of you!

Share your Cat Behavior Success Stories

If you've been particularly successful in correcting one or more of these behavioral problems in your cat, share your experiences here in the attached form. You may very well help another frustrated cat and his frustrated human.

Cat Standing Up Funny

Dancing Cats Compilation

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Cat Hiccups and Farts at the Same Time

HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED MY CAT

f you're a first-time cat owner, "How much should I feed my cat?" is likely to be one of your first questions when you bring her home. Even if you've owned cats for years, you may sometimes wonder whether your cats are getting too little food or too much. Feeding your cat isn't rocket science, but it is based on many variables, including the cat's weight and age, whether you're feeding wet or dry food, the cat's activity level, and whether or not she is pregnant or nursing. The brand of food you're feeding also makes a difference. A dense, high quality dry cat food will contain more nutrients by weight than a low-quality food, and thus require smaller portions to deliver the same amount of nutrition. Many cat owners allow their cats free access to dry food, supplemented by canned food once or twice a day. A dry-food-only diet is not necessarily a bad pet diet if you're feeding high quality food, but it does require that you encourage your cat to drink a lot more water to compensate for what she's not getting in canned food. When you bring a new cat home, it's important to continue to feed her the same amount of the same food on the same schedule that's she's been accustomed to, then gradually migrate to your own food and schedule. Cats are very sensitive to change, and a new cat will be dealing with a lot of new-environment stress, so keeping the food and schedule consistent will ease her transition and keep intestinal upset at bay. When you're ready to transition your cat over to your own food and schedule, you'll need to determine what kind of food you'll be feeding her (wet or dry, raw, or a combo), and using the calorie counts in each, determine how much of which kind to feed her. Cat Food Ingredients The foundation of a healthy cat diet is flesh-based protein like meat, fish, or poultry. Dry food should be high in animal proteins, and low in plant proteins (which cats are ill-equipped to digest). Carbohydrates should make up no more than ten percent of the mix of cat food ingredients. Wet foods should consist predominantly of meat with as few by-products and fillers as possible. How Much To Feed Your Cat According to the Animal Medical Center in New York, a healthy, active 8-lb adult cat requires about 30 calories per pound per day. So, the average 8-lb cat requires about 240 calories per day. Typically, dry food contains about 300 calories per cup, and canned food contains about 250 calories in each 6 oz can. (or, 125 per 3 oz. can). Using these counts as a guide, an 8-lb. cat would need 4/5 of a cup of dry food and just under a full 6-oz can (or two 3-oz. cans) of wet food per day. You can adjust the proportions based on whether your cat prefers more or less dry or wet food. If you're free feeding dry food, each day measure out the day's allotment of food into your dry food feeder. This decreases the amount of food that gets stale and needs to be discarded. It will also help you monitor how much your cats are eating. If you have to take a thin cat to the vet, it will help in the diagnosis if you can identify exactly how much she eats per day. Portioning out the food will keep your cats from overeating. Free choice feeding is one of the top contributors to feline obesity. How Often To Feed Your Cat How often to feed a cat depends on what you're feeding her. Most cat owners feed their cats morning and night, and may or may not supplement those feedings with free feeding of dry food throughout the day. Is Your Cat Is Too Fat Or Too Thin? Throughout your cat's life you will need to modify her diet to accommodate changing metabolism and dietary needs. Feel your cat's backbone and ribs. If the ribs and backbone show through her skin, she is too thin. If you can't feel the ribs, your cat is likely overweight. Adjust her portions accordingly. Keeping your cat from becoming obese is much easier than forcing an obese cat to diet. And it will make both you and your cat a lot happier.

Cats spooning

 Spooning

A form of affection between a couple. Where the man lays front to back with the girl. They fit together like spoons.

I am chipped dog collars

About this item

Cats love adventures, this collar is designed for your cat's safety. It will snap if it gets caught on something allowing your cat to break free. Made from a soft yet durable nylon, the collar will not rub against your cats neck making it extra comfy. Red only.

Product Description

If your cat is lost the collar will alert the stranger immediately that your cat is microchipped, and it incorporates the break away safety buckle for safety. Red colour.

Box Contains

1 x Ancol "I Am Microchipped" Cat Collar with Safety Buckle, Red

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Best treat on market for cats whiskas temptation

WHISKAS TEMPTATION 

Product Description

Complementary pet food for cats. A delicious cat treat with a tasty crunchy outside and an irresistible soft centre!

Ingredients

Vegetable Protein Extracts, Cereals, Meat and Animal Derivatives (including 4% Chicken), Oils and Fats, Minerals, Milk and Milk Derivatives (including 4% Cheese)

Directions

Feeding instructions: Feed up to 15 pieces per day. Use within 4 weeks of opening. Fresh drinking water should always be available.

Box Contains

Each order comes with 8 x 60g Whiskas Temptations Chicken and Cheese

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Cat treats

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6 Adorable Cat Behaviors With Shockingly Evil Explanations

There seem to be two kinds of people in the world: those who don't understand cats, and those who think cats are kind of douchebags.

Unfortunately for cat lovers, science has kind of come down on the side of that second group. Research has revealed that a lot of the quirky and even cute things your kitty does are actually signs that your cat is kind of a dick.

#6.

Meowing to Imitate a Baby Human

Cats have many different ways of communicating, but the meow is every cat's go-to vocalization when it wants to tell us something; be it, "I'm hungry," "pay attention to me" or "I just took a dump, go clean it up." However, far from the one-dimensional barking sound that dogs use to communicate, cats are like living stereo equalizers that are able to fine tune the pitches and tones of their meows... so they can better manipulate you into doing what they want.

A recent study has shown that people subconsciously can tell the difference between a pleading or soliciting meow and a run of the mill, casual one just by listening to sound clips taken from different felines in different situations. The subjects said the soliciting sounds came across as more urgent and less pleasant than a normal meow, much like the cries a human baby makes when she's hungry.

In fact, further studies have proven that a cat's cry for food or attention shares a remarkable similarity in frequency to a baby's cry. It's not coincidence- it's pure, kitty evil genius.

Using their expertise in Soviet-style subliminal advertising, cats adjust their purrs and meows to include this frequency which then prompts their owners into responding to them more quickly. Like well trained animals ourselves, we respond because, not only is the sound annoying to us, but it also stimulates our natural instinct to immediately nurture anything that sounds like our offspring, even if it is covered in fur and named Mr. Bojangles.

#5.

Leaving Their Poop Uncovered As An Insult

One of the major perks to owning a cat over, say, a dog or a horse, is that all cats instinctively drop their waste into neat little litter boxes, eliminating the need for frequent "walkies" and the palpable awkwardness that comes with the public use of pooper-scoopers and plastic baggies. Cats instinctively seek to bury their droppings, so it works out for everybody.

Contrary to popular assumptions though, this behavior doesn't come from Snowball's obsessive compulsive cleanliness, but rather an evolutionary holdover from before felines were domesticated and had more dangerous predators than the vacuum cleaner to worry about.

Burying the poop prevents detection by their enemies, but there's another layer to it, which is that they do it to avoid challenging the dominant cat of the group. It kind of makes sense, if burying the poop is a sign that they fear another, larger animal, then leaving it uncovered would be a pretty aggressive act. "No one here is bad enough to fuck with me. Enjoy my shit."

So... what do you suppose it means when your cat doesn't bother to cover his poop?

Yep, some cats intentionally leave their crap uncovered or in conspicuous locations (such as on a doormat or in your sister's bed) in order to communicate to us that they are the dominant member of the household, and that this territory is theirs.

In the wacky world of feline politics, feces act as little, smelly flags that clearly dictate the boundaries of each cat's domain. In the wild, these flags are intended to be seen, and smelled, by other cats, a sign that this is the stomping grounds of a badass kitty.

I claim this bed in the name of Admiral Bootiekins!

When it comes to the shared domain with humans that domesticated cats enjoy, the same territorial rules still apply, so a housecat who leaves his waste out in the open is sending the message to us that he is El Presidente, and that we should be covering up our shit, so as not to offend him.

And guess what? We do. We helpfully flush away our poop and your cat probably thinks it's done entirely to avoid offending him. Yes, if you want to take back your house, it's time to poop in kitty's bed.

#4.

Rubbing Against You to Declare Ownership

By nature cats are hard to read. They're not like dogs, hopping around with joy when you walk in the door, or slinking away with shame when caught eating the garbage. No, cats have mastered an expression of almost disdainful indifference that they seem to wear regardless of their mood.

However, as any spinster will tell you, a cat's affection is obvious when its purring and rubbing its face and body against your leg. It's like the animal is giving you a little kitty hug the only way it knows how!

The problem with that, though, is when cats rub up against their owners, it has nothing to do with affection at all, but instead is kitty's way of claiming you as its property.

I own you, motherfucker!

Cats, like many other animals, are packed full of pheromone-oozing scent glands that are primarily used to communicate with other cats on such hot topics as identity, sexual availability and territorial ownership. The most active and important glands that a cat uses to send these messages are located on the tail, the side of the body and the face. Thus, when a cat rubs up against your legs or slides its face along your hand, it is engaging these glands in order to leave its unique scent on you.

That scent in turn communicates to any other animals in the vicinity that not only is it, say, female and horny, but that you, the human, belong to her. When a cat brushes against your legs, it's less a furry hug and more of a prison yard tattoo. One that reads, "Owned By: Mittens" and, "Single Siamese Female, 8, seeking uncut Tom for a romp in the alley."

• Why Do Cats Sleep So Much

  
  

   

  

   

  Cats sleep an average of fifteen hours a day, and some can sleep up to twenty hours in a twenty-four hour period. Which begs the question: Why do cats sleep so much?

   

  The 'Catnap'

   

  The first thing you should realize is that cats are most active between dusk and dawn, which means that they sleep mostly during the day and become active around twilight. This can come as quite a shock if you're bringing a new kitty home for the first time. Your cat will waste no time investigating and getting into trouble -- usually while you’re fast asleep!  But as soon your cat is done with breakfast, as the rest of the world winds up for action, you'll find him winding down for a long day of slumber.

    

  Energy Conservation

   

  Cats have the physiology of a predator, meaning that they’re hardwired to give chase and hunt -- mainly at night. Large cats such as lions have a similar pattern of sleeping during the day and hunting at night. Although they have been domesticated for the most part, housecats still retain that wild streak. Even cats at play will display the feline primal instincts of creepng about in the shadows and, without a whisper of warning, pouncing on their target prey.

   

  And hunting prey takes an amazing amount of energy. Whether your kitty is hunting for outdoor prey or tackling a catnip toy, all that sleep he gets is reserve energy for running, pouncing, climbing and stalking.

   

  One Eye Open

   

  Like people, cats either doze in a light sleep or sleep very deeply. When your cat dozes (which lasts about fifteen minutes to a half hour), he will position his body so that he can spring up and into action at a moment’s notice.

   

  During deep sleep, cats experience rapid (or quick) brain movement. Deep sleep tends to last about five minutes, after which the cat goes back to dozing. This dozing-deep sleep pattern goes on until the cat wakes up.

   

  Kittens and older cats tend to sleep more than the average-aged adult cat.

   

  Rainy Day

   

  It should come as no surprise that felines are affected by the weather, just like us. Cat behavior can vary greatly, depending on their breed, age, temperament and overall health. But, whatever your kitty’s usual disposition, it has been observed that cats sleep more when the weather calls for it. Yes, even if your kitty is an exclusive indoor-dweller, a rainy or cold day will have him (and probably you) yawning and looking for some shut-eye.

   

  What Time is it?

   

  Cats are crepuscular -- which means that they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. They tend to lay low in the darker night-time and day-time hours, when other predators may be hanging about. Some cats may be active at night as well, especially when they’re kittens. But, cats are also sociable and highly adaptable. This means that a cat is apt to adjust his sleeping habits so he can spend more time with his loved ones -- meaning you. Cats will also adjust their sleep patterns to their feeding schedules, which is why an indoor cat sleeps more than a cat that roams outdoors.

   

  Whether your cat is a spry kitten or a mature feline, his level of interaction and activity depends a lot on whether he's constantly recharging his kitty battery.

   

  Cats may sleep a lot, but when they’re awake, they sure make the most of their time!

   

  
  

   

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CAT TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY

READ BELOW TO SEE WHAT YOUR CAT IS SAYING TO YOU 


Miaow - Feed me. 

Meeow - Pet me.

Mrooww - I love you. 

Miioo-oo-oo - I am in love and must meet my betrothed outside beneath the hedge. Don't wait up.

Mrow - I feel like making noise. 

Rrrow-mawww - Please, the time is come to tidy the cat box.

Rrrow-miawww - I have remedied the cat box untidiness by shoveling the contents as far out of the box as was practical.

Miaowmiaow - Play with me.

Miaowmioaw - Have you noticed the shortage of available cat toys in this room? 

Mioawmioaw - Since I can find nothing better to play with, I shall see what happens when I sharpen my claws on this handy piece of furniture.

Raowwwww - I think I shall now spend time licking the most private parts of my anatomy. 

Mrowwwww - (only heard in males) I am now recalling, with sorrow, that some of my private parts did not return with me from that visit to the vet. 

Roww-maww-roww - I am so glad to see that you have returned home with both arms full of groceries. I will now rub myself against your legs and attempt to trip you as you walk towards the kitchen. 

Mmeww - I believe I have heard a burglar. If you would like to go and beat him senseless, I shall be happy to keep your spot in the bed warm. 

Gakk-ak-ak - My digestive passages seem to have formed a hairball. Wherever could this have come from? I shall leave it here upon the carpeting. 

Mow - Snuggling is a good idea. 

Moww - Shedding is pretty good, too. 

Mowww! - I was enjoying snuggling and shedding in the warm clean laundry until you removed me so unkindly.

Miaow! miaow! - I have discovered that, although one may be able to wedge one's body through the gap behind the stove and into that little drawer filled with pots and pans, the reverse path is slightly more difficult to navigate.

Mraakk! - Oh, small bird! Please come over here.

Ssssroww! - I believe that I have found a woodchuck. I shall now act terribly brave. 

Mmmmmmm - If I sit in the sunshine for another week or so, I think I might be satisfied.

Grrrnite - Good Night

Mmeeewake - Me wake, wake up, I'm hungry

FUNNY CAT MEMES

GARY THE CRAZY CATS BEATLES TRIBUTE

GARY'S CELEBIRTY BIG BROTHER ROUNDUP

And the winner of Gary the crazy cats fake irish accent goes to 

LOST CAT PLEASE HELP

CATNIP ... DON'T MIND IF I DO

What is catnip?

           

               

Catnip

(Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb of the mint family. Although originally native to Europe, it has been successfully imported to many countries of the world where it is often considered to be a weed! The plant can grow as high as 3 feet, has lots of branches and can be recognised by its clusters of small white purple-spotted flowers at the ends of its stems.

How does catnip work?

Catnip contains various aromatic oils including one called nepetalactone, a mild hallucinogen, which is the main cause of the clinical signs. The receptor for nepetalactone is in the vomeronasal organ (also known as Jacobson's organ) at the back of the cat's nose and catnip needs to be inhaled to cause its effect. Indeed it is a great chance to see a cat exhibit what is known as the Flehmen response where it pulls its gums back from its teeth and almost looks as if it is smiling (see picture below, right). By doing this, the cat presses its tongue against the roof of its mouth forcing air through the vomeronasal organ. This concentrates the smell and allows the cat to concentrate the scent: to smell-taste, rather than just smell it.

 

When exposed to catnip some cats will rub (often with the chin and cheek areas), sniff, lick and eat the plant, sometimes followed by rolling over the plant. Following this contact with the catnip, behavioural changes are often seen. Most commonly reported signs of ‘intoxication' include having a ‘wild' or ‘drunken' appearance, vocalisation, rolling around in ecstasy and showing signs similar to sexual arousal. Affected cats look like they are having a really good time!! The effects usually last for a few minutes. Cats will then not react to catnip for at least an hour. In some cats, aggression can be seen with exposure to catnip. In these cats, it is probably best to avoid giving catnip treats or toys.

Cat owners often enjoy seeing the effect that catnip has on their pet. Catnip can be grown in the garden or purchased as a dry herb which can be sprinkled onto food, incorporated into toys or put onto a scratching post.

A recipe for catnip tea has been reported 

1 heaped spoonful of catnip

125 ml boiling water

125 ml lactose free milk

Steep the catnip in boiling water for 10 minutes, stirring several times. Strain it. Add lactose free milk and serve.

 

Does catnip affect all cats?

No - not all cats react to catnip. Susceptibility to behavioural changes has been shown to be inherited as a dominant trait in cats. This means that cats with one or both copies of the autosomal dominant gene will show behavioural changes when exposed to catnip. The effect is not seen in kittens, and in fact very young kittens tend to avoid catnip. Susceptibility to catnip starts to develop once kittens are six to eight weeks of age, fully developing when they are about 12 weeks old.

In FAB's Cat Personality Survey 80 per cent of owners reported that their cats did react to catnip, which agrees with the estimate that 10 – 30 per cent don't respond to the plant.