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Why do cats have tails? Do cats like their tails stroked?
We love seeing our cats walking around at home, tails high up, coming up to us and rubbing against our legs. But surely there is more to a cat’s tail than this cute strut and tail swishing. A cat’s tail, often referred to as a fifth limb, has many important functions. The tail is a sensitive part of the cat and is very reactive. The tail of a cat is useful for the following roles: Communication Balance A sense of touch For safe landing For hunting Tail for communication Cat language is a combination of tail position, facial expression, vocal and scenting messages. Like in many other species, the…
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Why do cats have whiskers? And fun facts about cat’s whiskers!
A cat’s whiskers, although so light and fine, are such an iconic feature of a cat’s face. Ask a child to draw a cat – the whiskers will certainly be one feature they are sure to include! In the UK, the phrase ‘the cat’s whiskers’ is used to describe a person or an object that is exceptional and superior. So clearly there seems to be a great deal of emphasis on whiskers, but are they that important to the everyday comings and goings of our cats? What do cats use their whiskers for? And do we need to do anything to help them keep their whiskers clean and tidy? Let…
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Do I need to brush / groom my cat? An introductory guide
Cats are very clean animals and seem pretty self-sufficient when it comes to grooming. But with so many cat grooming products on the market, clearly designed for pet owners to help their cats with grooming, it raises the question if this is something that we need to help our cats with? So, do we need to brush our cats? The short answer is YES, we do need to brush our cat in order to help them with their grooming habits. It is easy to assume that cats do not need any assistance in keeping their fur clean and tidy as they seem to spend a great deal of time grooming…
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Has my cat eaten her kittens? And helpful ways to support a mother cat
Before Misty, our cat, had her kittens, this question would never have crossed my mind let alone trying to find answers to it! But our cats do like to test us at times as I’m sure many of you will agree. Misty had a smooth, unaided birth and all seemed well with Misty and her two beautiful little kittens. They were safe in their caravan (yes, the cats have their own special caravan!) and all three were settled and happy. But, a few days later, we went into the caravan one morning and the kittens were nowhere to be seen. We couldn’t hear them, couldn’t find them and we searched…
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How fast can a cat run? What is a cat running wheel?
We’ve seen both our cats running at what seems to be extremely fast speeds. Sometimes it seems for fun, and other times they are running back to the safety of the indoors. Whatever the reason it certainly sparked our curiosity as to how fast can a cat actually run? A domestic cat can run as fast as 30 miles per hour (48 kilometres per hour)! This is not a speed they can maintain for a long time, more a short spurt of speed. A cat can usually run at their top speed only for a minute or so before needing to stop. To compare this with how fast a human…
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Creating the ultimate cat friendly garden – 10 top tips
Whether your cat is allowed to roam freely outdoors, or has outside access on a harness, or you are looking to fully secure your garden so your cat can access without wandering away, there are many things that can be done to ensure your garden is a safe haven for your cat. Many of these things are simple, inexpensive and easy changes or additions. They will enhance the garden experience for your cat. By ensuring most of these are included in your garden, there is a greater chance that your cat will be happier within the garden boundary and less likely to wander further afield. The top ten tips for…
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Can cats see close up? Can cats see In the dark? Can cats See color?
We give our cats some tasty treats every now and then, but it seems bizarre that even though the treats are right in front of them they can’t see them! They certainly can smell them because their noses start twitching and they immediately try to locate the treat. But it is their sense of smell that seems to lead them to their treat rather than their sense of vision. Is it a myth that cats can see really well? Can cats see close up? Despite been super hunters, cats cannot see very close objects. There is a limit to a cat’s near vision. Cats have rather large eyes in relation…
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Top 10 recommended cat books for older girls and boys
Every parent wants their child to read, but we want them to enjoy it rather than seeing it as a chore. Our daughter lost interest in reading for a while, so we were keen to get her reading again. Her passion is cats – she adores our two cats, Misty and Boo. They are her world therefore we set on a mission to find some excellent novels – based around cats – for her to try. And here are our tried and tested, top 10 cat story books for older children. These book vary in suitability from ages 8 to 13 based on our experience and opinion. 1.‘Kaspar Prince of…
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Can cats sense a storm? And how to keep cats calm if they are anxious
If only cats could talk! Sometimes their behaviour seems strange and out of character for no apparent reason. And then in hindsight we ponder, was it because of this or that? And that is precisely how we’ve noticed our cats before a storm. Before the skies darken, before the wind starts howling, the cats are curled up safe and sound. Misty has often come home early from her outdoor adventures or has seemed particularly keen to return to the safety of the indoors. Coincidence, or can cats indeed sense that a storm is on its way? Can cats sense a storm? Cats behaviour in changing weather conditions has been observed,…
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Why do cats climb trees? How can I stop my cat climbing trees?
One of our cats, Misty, will climb trees every now and then. She’s never got stuck – as yet. She climbs the tree so nimble and sprightly but watching her navigate her way down is a little worrying. Cats are excellent climbers; their sharp, extendable claws are perfect for gripping onto the tree while their back legs push forwards. To prevent themselves from falling they hold their bodies, the centre of their weight, close to the tree. So why do cats climb trees? There are a few reasons why cats climb trees: Cats climb trees to keep safe When cats feel threatened, or feels their life is in danger their…
