We’ve all seen the videos by now. A cat is innocently enjoying a game, a nap or a dish of food, only to be startled by the appearance of a cucumber. The effects can be quite dramatic, with the unfortunate kitty leaping into the air and responding with every appearance of terror. People find these …
Pretty, fragrant and long-lasting, carnations are popular both in the garden and in floral arrangements. Their sweet smell, attractive ruffled blooms and romantic shades of pink and white make them a perennial favourite. Carnations take a long time to wilt or fade once cut, which is why they’re still favoured as an ornament for buttonholes. …
Baby teeth are sometimes called milk teeth, primary teeth or temporary teeth. They are more properly known as deciduous teeth. These are small, often rather weak teeth that drop out after a time so that the animal’s permanent teeth can take their place. Many species have them, including humans, dogs and cats. In fact, deciduous …
Daffodils are one of the loveliest spring blossoms. The sight of a flowerbed full of golden daffodils and creamy narcissus can’t fail to lift your heart — they’re a sure sign that winter has passed and spring is well and truly there. The beauty of these spring flowers is matched only by their popularity. During …
There’s something special about a calico cat. Unlike a conventional tortoiseshell cats, whose colour patches are fairly evenly distributed all over and have very little white, calicos are primarily white with clearly defined patches of colour. Calico cats are often called tortoiseshell-and-white cats in the UK. They’re also known as callies, tricolor cats or brindled …
While the average lifespan of a domestic cat is around 10-20 years, different breeds can have radically different lifespans. There are the bob-tailed Manx cats and hairless Sphynxes, who only live from around eight to 14 years. On the other end of the scale, you find longer-lived breeds like the Burmese and Balinese — noted …
When you’re considering buying or adopting a cat, it’s important to think about the cat’s lifespan. Becoming a cat guardian isn’t like buying a hamster — it’s a long-term commitment. In the bad old days when most cats lived outdoors, they tended to average only two or three years; a ten-year-old cat would have been …
Just like humans, cats are mammals. Like other mammals, they have mammary glands. In the females, these glands secrete milk to feed their young until the babies are old enough to eat solid food. This is known as lactation. Lactation is triggered by hormones released during pregnancy and childbirth, although it can sometimes be induced …
Cats have so many winsome and appealing traits: their affectionate natures, their playful antics, their soft, fluffy fur; the way they rub against your legs or curl up on your lap to purr. They also have a few somewhat less savoury qualities, one of which is their tendency to chase and often kill any small …
Cats are insatiably curious — and often seem insatiable in other ways. We all know that one cat (or even several) who persist in eating things they really shouldn’t. If they’re not stealing “people food” from your plate or swallowing pieces of carpet fluff, they’re chewing on plastic bags or destroying your houseplants and cut …
