DURING the last thousand years, the cat in the UK has had a varied relationship with man. In 948AD, during the reign of Howell the Good, King of Wales, cats were scarce and considered to be very valuable. From birth until its eyes opened, a kitten was worth one penny; from then on until it killed a mouse, 2 pennies; and once it had been established as a mouser it was worth 4 pennies; this was a substantial amount of money in those days.

Three hundred years later, it was a completely different story though. in the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX declared that cats were diabolical - this led to the extermination of many. Woman who owned them were considered witches and were dealt with in a similar fashion!

When bubonic plague hit the UK, cats were again in favour as their value as rat catchers were recognised, however during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth 1 and Queen Mary, they were again persecuted. When Charles the 1st came to the throne in the 17th century, cats were considered to bring good fortune, the king carried a cat every where with him and on the day after his cat died he was arrested and subsequently beheaded by Oliver Cromwell.

Would a cat be the right pet for you?

Although more independent than dogs, cats still require plenty of care and attention. They are great company and are normally happy to be left on their own throughout the day so make great pets for working people. Busy roads and cats do not mix – many are killed or seriously injured on the roads every day, so consider this carefully before getting a cat, they do roam and have very little road sense. You could consider a house cat however you would need to get one who is either used to being indoors or a kitten that has never been out. If a cat has always been allowed out in the past, it will struggle to adapt to a life indoors.

If you decide that a cat is the right pet for you, the next step is to find one. If you feel that you would prefer a kitten, there are usually adverts in the local papers or on pets for sale boards in pet stores during kitten season. Rescue centres are usually full of cats needing homes – why not consider an older cat, these unfortunately are often overlooked as they do not seem as appealing as a kitten.

Feeding

Choosing the right food for your cat is essential to ensure that your cat has all the necessary vitamins, minerals and amino acids that it needs to keep it healthy. Cats must have an amino acid known as taurine added to their food as they cannot make this themselves. Taurine is required for reproduction, growth and development, as well as maintaining healthy heart muscle. Cats are true carnivores and must not be fed on either dog food or a vegetarian diet as these will not be nutritionally complete for them. There is a wide variety of foods on the market that range from tins or pouches to complete dried premium foods.

Tinned foods are fairly cheap, however are not generally the most economical way to feed your cats as they contain large quantities of water. Pouches are designed as a single serve option to tins and mean that the food is always served fresh. Although these foods are nutritionally complete, many people serve them topped with dried biscuits to add variety to their cats diet. Cats are not like us and do not require variety in their diets, however will begin to demand this if their owners change the foods too often! There are natural or organic foods on the market that are good if your cat has a sensitive stomach or is prone to skin problems.

Dried foods are great for your cat as they will keep fresh and allow the cat to ‘graze’ throughout the day, they are nutrionally complete and will help to keep the teeth clean. As they are highly concentrated, they create less waste and odour and are useful if you have an indoor cat with a litter tray.

Because dried foods contain little moisture it is essential that you provide your cat with plenty of fresh drinking water, this is particularly important in neutered male cats as they can suffer from feline urological syndrome (FUS) and it is possible that a lack of water in the diet could bring on this painful condition. Many cats hate the taste of tap water and a water fountain that contains a filter will help to remove impurities.

When feeding your cat do not place their food and water bowls too closely together.

Grooming

Long coated cats will require daily grooming to ensure that their coats remain in good condition and do not become tangled or knotted. Cats with shorter coats will require less frequent grooming, as they are generally able to maintain the coat themselves. It is important though to groom all cats at least once a week as this will help to remove the dead hair that could cause hairballs if swallowed.

Unlike dogs, cats do not enjoy getting wet so bathing should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

The best types of brushes or combs to use on a cat are soft bristle brushes or a slicker brush to remove any dead hair.

Play

Some cats will happily play with all types of toys and enjoy interaction with thier owners, however others will simply ignore any toy that is offered and won't show any signs of interest in playing! It is a good idea to encourage your cat to play - this will help them to develop a bond with you and learn to trust you.

The most popular toys for cats are small, furry or sisal covered toys or balls that they can chase. Some cats will even retrieve a toy that is thrown for them. Interactive toys such as dangling toys on a string will also be appreciated by most, however watch your fingers and never let a cat play with these types of toys unsupervised. Most cats love to play with cardboard boxes or paper bags and will spend ages just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting owners that walk by!

Many adult cats adore the smell of catnip or cat mint. The catmint plant (Nepata cataria) excludes the chemical nepetalactone, as well as being an effective insect repellent; this chemical produces almost addictive behaviour in many cats over the age of 6 months although kittens seem relatively unaffected. Many toys are scented with catnip and cat scratchers etc can be sprayed with a catnip spray to encourage your cat to use them.

Fleas

A flea will only spend about 5% of its life on your cat or dog, the rest of the life cycle is spent in beddings, carpets or furnishings in your house. Although you need to treat your pet, this alone will not be enough to control an outbreak of fleas. To prevent re-infestation, you must break the life cycle of the flea. Many products now include an ingredient known as an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR), this helps to prevent the flea egg from hatching.

If left untreated, flea infestation can cause severe irritation and pets can become allergic to flea saliva, leading to sores on the skin and hair loss. In extreme cases flea infestation could lead to anaemia or even death.

Life cycle of the flea. The life cycle of a flea can be completed within three weeks in warm conditions, but can take up to a year or more. To prevent re-infestation, it is necessary to break the life cycle which is in four stages:

  • Eggs
  • Larvae
  • Pupae
  • Adult flea

Signs of flea infestation:

Constant scratching or biting the coat, skin or coat problems, twitching back muscles.

If you suspect fleas, check the coat closely, if you see any black dirt on the skin try combing some out onto a piece of damp cotton wool. If a red circle forms around the dirt, this indicates that it is flea dirt.

How to rid your pet of fleas.

Follow the 4 step plan to rid you pet of fleas.

1) Treat your pet – there are huge range of flea drops, aerosols, sprays and powders available

2) Treat your home – household flea sprays and carpet powders reduce the risk of infestation. Products that contain an IGR are the most effective.

3) Future prevention – flea collars, used with a flea and grooming comb, can protect your pet from adult fleas for up to five months. Carpets and soft furnishings should be treated periodically with a suitable household treatment. Wash pet bedding frequently.

4) Worm your pet – fleas are carriers of tapeworm eggs and are a major cause of worm infestation in cats and dogs.

Worms

Worm infestation is very common in dogs and cats and cause serious distress especially in puppies and kittens. As animals can become infected at any time and therefore, routine treatment is recommended for the two main types of worms:

  • Roundworms: Similar to an earthworm in shape (although much thinner). Roundworms are whitish in colour, live in the intestine or stomach, and can grow up to about 8 centimetres in length.

Round worms are usually present in puppies and kittens and if left untreated can lead to serious illness or even death. All puppies and kittens should be treated for roundworms every two weeks before weaning, and then several times more up to the age of 6 months.

  • Tapeworm: these consist of whitish segments with a head that attaches itself to the intestine. Mature segments of the tape break away and may be seen around the base of the tail (resemble a grain of rice). Not normally found in puppies and kittens, however periodic dosing is recommended from the age of 6 months.

It is recommended that you worm your pet 3 – 4 times a year.

Always ask for advice if you are unsure about the best products to use on your pet. Never use a dog flea treatment or wormer on cats!

Vaccination

It is recommended that your cat is vaccinated against Feline Enteritus, Leukaemia and Influenza at about 8 weeks of age, a booster should then be given annually to ensure that your cat remains protected.

Common Illnesses

  • Ear Mites

Tiny mites that live within the ear can cause acute irritation which will make the cat scratch or rub the ear, thereby damaging the tissue. A small amount of light brown, waxy secretion is normal and necessary to keep the ear healthy, however if your cat is showing signs of irritation or has dark, reddish brown wax in the ear or the ear smells unpleasant, this could indicate ear mites.

Ear mites can be treated by using a lotion that will kill the mites. If in doubt always speak to your vet before treating your cat.

  • Hair Balls

Hairballs are a common cause of vomiting especially in longhaired breeds and during periods of heavy moulting (spring and summer). They are caused by the cat swallowing hair as it grooms, the hair then accumulates in a solid mass in the stomach and causes irritation to the stomach lining. Regular grooming of your cat can help to limit the amount of hair that they swallow and specialist foods are available that will help the hair to pass through the cats digestive system.

  • Bites, Scratches and abscesses

Wounds that are caused by fighting will often become infected. This is because, when they are caused by teeth or claws, the wounds are often deep but only have very small openings on the surface, which soon close, leaving infection trapped below the skin. Bath the wound at least three times a day and consult a veterinary surgeon if the wound does not heal or an abscess forms as your cat may require antibiotics.

This information has kindly been given to us by Just for Pets Centres. For further information visit www.justforpets.uk.com