In our household we have two very different cats! Misty, the eldest, is a cat who has outside access during the day and is kept in overnight. Bella-Boo is an indoor cat and has supervised outdoor access. Misty is a fabulous hunter. We live in the heart of Wales in the UK where wildlife is abundant. With many smallholders and pet owners around us, mice and rats can be found. We know this as Misty likes to bring home small rodents very often. Unfortunately, there has also been the odd occasion when she’s has bought home a little bird. Thankfully this is a very rare occurrence. We thought it was…

Many cats are excellent mousers, but opinions seem very split as to whether cats will hunt rats, and whether or not their existence will simply keep rats at bay. As we peek into the history of our cats as rat catchers, there is no doubt that cats do have the abilities to catch rats and keep their population numbers under control. But can the same be said for today’s cats? Do cats keep rats away? One bizarre tradition noted in ancient times to keep rats at bay was to seal dead cats in walls of homes. It was believed rats would stay away from the property and bring good luck.…

 There’s nothing like opening the curtains on a cold winter morning and discovering that a blanket of snow has fallen over night. A pretty picturesque scene, just like a Christmas card. But the snow gets a mixed response from us humans. Kids usually scream in delight at the prospect of a day off school and rush to get out there sledging and building snowmen. Whilst us adults usually worry about travelling to work and is there enough food stockpiled in the house! But what do our feline friends make of this flaky, white, cold substance? Do cats like snow? The first experience of snow, the delicate snowflakes floating down from…

Kittens are so adorable and playful. They bring so much joy via their innocence, their energy and their sense of discovery and curiosity. But sometimes the hyper behavior can seem to be getting out of control. When household items such as curtains and sofas are being ripped and scratched, cat owners can become exasperated as to why this is happening and how to stop it. Understanding the reasons behind certain animal behaviors can make finding solution easier and more effective. Climbing curtains is a common behavior in cats and one in which owners are constantly discussing and seeking ways of deterring them. So why do cats and kittens climb curtains?…