Keep Kitty Cat Happy

We all want to keep our furry companions as happy and healthy as possible. Here are a few tips to keep kitty happy.

1. Keep your cats active: If they don't get enough exercise they can put on weight, which is not healthy.  They love playing so there are many things owners can do to ensure they are active every day. Get a selection of cat toys. There is a huge variety for sale  from the very simple to the eye-poppingly elaborate. 

 

But you don't have to spend any money if  you don't want to. Cats can spend ages batting a scrunched up piece of paper around the house. You can tie objects to string and get your cat to chase them. Warning: make sure you don't leave pieces of string lying about for them to swallow. 

They love to climb so put a treat on something high so they have to scramble up to get it (only a 'little' treat, otherwise it defeats the object of losing weight)!

Cardboard boxes, balls, stones or marbles in secure containers to make a noise are all ideal for a cat to play with.

If your neighbourhood is suitable, take your cat out for a walk. There are many leashes to choose from. Here are a few:  Leash One    Leash Two   Leash Three   Leash Four

Two: Get your cat a companion: It has been shown that indoor cats are happier when they have another companion to play with. This is especially important if you cannot be home all day with your cats. You can easily do this by adopting another cat from a shelter. If you cannot take the responsibility for another cat at the moment, you can set up playdates with other cat owners. Some cats are more solitary than others but many cats love company. Getting a feline friend is a sure way to make them happy.

Three: Bring the outdoors in: If you have a cat, then you probably know that they love to climb. You might have noticed they try to get on every piece of furniture. Naturally, they love climbing trees to sit in and also look for prey. To keep a cat happy, you can help nurture this climbing instinct. Cat trees are an amazing way to do this. You can easily buy one or make your own. You can also add cat shelves to your cat’s favourite rooms so they can exercise and climb for as long as they want. Here are some cat trees: Cat Tree One   Cat Tree Two   Cat Tree Three   Cat Tree Four

Four: Try Some Cat-Friendly Plants: You can plant cat grass indoors - preferably in a pot or two so they can graze. If you don’t know it already, cats eat grass if they have an upset stomach. But when it comes to plants, there's one thing that most cats go crazy for, and that's catnip! There many toys that contain catnip (also known as catmint). Here are a few: Catnip Toy One    Catnip Toy Two   Catnip Toy Three   Catnip Toy Four

Five: Pay Special Attention To The Litter Tray: Cats are very clean creatures and hate it if their litter tray is dirty and smelly. Make sure you keep it clean and empty it regularly.

Six: Show Them Love: This one is the easiest of all! At the end of the day, this simple step is the most effective for keeping your cat happy. Domesticated cats need attention from their owners and they crave it when it is not there - they’re just a little more subtle about it than dogs are. Give your cat attention every day. Pet your cat regularly. Sit down for a snuggle, and spend time with your cat. Dedicate time to play and keep your cat active and do not leave it all up to the toys alone. Loving your cat goes a long way to keeping your cat happy and delighted all the time!

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The Language of Cats' Eyes

Communicating with your eyes is not just for humans. Cats too use their eyes to show their feelings but there are some differences between cat and human language which you must be aware of if you want to "talk" to your cat.

We might like to stare adoringly into a lover's eyes but for a cat, prolonged eye contact is threatening. If he fixes you with a stare - it's not a loving look but means, at its least, that he doesn't trust you and, at its worst, that he's threatening you. Rival cats will try to out-stare each other.

That's why in a room full of people, the cat will often head straight for the person who doesn't like cats. It's because people who like cats will be looking at him while those who don't will be looking away, hoping he will leave them alone. So, ironically, the cat lovers are perceived as being threatening, while the cat haters look like they pose no threat.

You can "kiss" your cat by looking him in the eye and then slowly blinking. You are, in effect, telling your cat: "I'm no threat to you. I love you." The first time you do this, he might not respond but soon he'll blink at you in return. 

The first time this happened to me, I felt a real sense of connection, like I was really "talking" to my cat because in the feline world closing the eyes when with another animal is the ultimate sign of trust.

If you want to see what your cat is thinking when there are visitors in your house, take a close look at his eyes. The more frightened he is, the wider his pupils will expand. If he is angry, the pupils may become narrowed.

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The Purrfect Star Wars

I'm not a huge Star Wars fan but the films and TV series can be quite entertaining! The other night we watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens with all the old favourites, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.  Coincidentally, I came across the Youtube video above which made me laugh! Hope it makes you laugh too!

Below is another one! 

                     

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Helpful Cat Minty Wins Award

Minty and Connor.

A sweet cat who helps a six-year-old boy cope with severe learning difficulties has been crowned the winner of this year’s UK National Cat Awards, held by charity Cats Protection and sponsored by Purina. 

Minty, from Holywell, Wales, beat hundreds of other entries to the top spot due to his ‘special bond’ with Connor Raven.

Nine-year-old Minty was recognised by Cats Protection for the support he gives Connor, who as well as severe learning difficulties has a range of medical conditions, including ataxic cerebral palsy.

The cat, who only has three legs following a road accident, helps Connor cope with daily life, from keeping him settled at meal times to providing a calming presence at bedtime.

The pet comes to Connor’s aid when things get difficult, rubbing his face on Connor’s hand. He  also helped Connor learn to climb the stairs.

“Minty would spend hours jumping one step at a time, stopping to allow Connor to catch up,” said Connor’s mother, Siobhan Cobb.

“It was incredible to witness him patiently encourage Connor to achieve something he found so difficult.

“Connor can be very loud, and his medical conditions mean he’s very wobbly and clumsy. Many pets would understandably keep their distance, but not Minty – when Connor is at his most in need, Minty is there like a shot.”

Minty the cat with mum Siobhan Cobb and son Connor Raven, age 6.

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

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The Cat Who Wears His Heart On His Butt

Meet Smooch, the fabulous feline who wears his heart on his butt.

Smooch was a feral cat who was rescued by Cathrine Garnell, from Nottinghamshire, in the UK. He, his mother and five siblings were feral cats living under a shed in her mother's garden.

Cathrine soon transformed the shed into a house for the cats.

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 She said, 'After I began to feed them, I was slowly able to gain their trust over time. This enabled me to move them into the shed, where I made them all little cat houses complete with comfy beds, to try and provide them with the best possible cat life.

‘Once they were all old enough, I was able to take them to our local veterinary clinic and have them all neutered.’

But when Smooch was 18 months old he was in a car accident which resulted in him losing his back leg.

‘After his surgery, I took him back to my mum’s house for a few weeks where we kept him inside,' said Cathrine. ‘I knew once he was fully healed and able to roam free, there was a strong likelihood he would try and cross the busy main road again. I feared next time he may not be so fortunate.’

So Cathrine took Smooch to live with her and her five former shelter cats: Amber, Parsley, Fudge, Pandora and Melvyn.

Smooch is one cat that's fallen on his (three) feet!

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Search Not So Sweet Toffee under books on Amazon.





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Cat Helps Save Owner's Life

Piran who helped save his owner's life.

A cat helped save his owner's life after she fell 70ft through barbed wire, down a ravine and into a stream.

A worried friend of the woman, who is 83,  had alerted neighbour Tamara Longmuir that she was missing. 

"I went off in my truck to search our farm and fields but there was no sign of her," said Tamar. She was joined by other members of her family who live and work on the farm.

The searchers then noticed the woman's cat Piran sitting in the gate to one of the maize fields - meowing at them incessantly.

Tamara said, "The cat is very attached to her, and he was going back and forth in the gateway and meowing, so I decided to go and search the maize field."

The crop was 7ft high, with only a small track around the edge for access. Tamara said: "I walked right around to the bottom of the field, calling the lady's name.

"My cows could hear me calling and were mooing back - I was hoping they would go quiet so I could hear.

"Just as I was going to go off the path and start going through the crop, I heard a very faint response to my calling... I then quickly realised my neighbour was down the 70ft ravine.

"She had gone through the barbed wire and was lying in the stream - we think she had been in there for hours."

The rescue in progress.

Tamara managed to scramble down the incline to get to the pensioner, and checked her over for major injuries - but there didn't appear to be any, even from the barbed wire.

She then had to scramble halfway up the bank and hang off a branch to get a single bar of service on her cell phone in the remote area, allowing her to call other members of the search party, who rang the emergency services and came to help.

Tamara said: "After about two hours she was carried up to safety and into the air ambulance.

"Without the cat waiting at the gate to that field, it could have been hours later that I or anyone else would have checked in there."

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

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Holy Catrimony

Adam Lawrence and his friend's cat

A British man flew to the USA to meet a Chicago woman who had "liked" a picture of him holding a cat on a Facebook page - and now they're engaged!

Adam Lawrence, 29, and Anna Hosey, 26, were both in a Facebook group called This Cat is Chonky for chubby felines.

Adam posted a photo of himself holding a friend’s cat's. He messaged cat owner Anna after she called him “cute” in the comments and, two months later, he flew to the States to see her - and her cat Kidden.

Anna Hosey and Kidden

They dated long-distance and when Adam’s next visit was cancelled owing to the pandemic, Anna flew to London. She moved into his apartment in Ealing, West London, and now they are engaged a year after their online meeting.

Graphic designer Adam said: “Anna was leaving and I wanted our relationship to carry on so I just decided to propose. My friends and family all love her."

Hairdresser Anna said: “I was scrolling by and I thought, ‘Oh he’s so cute’ so I decided to comment that. The next day, he sent me a private message saying that he thought I was super cute as well and that we’d have to meet up if he was ever in the States. We ended up just chatting non-stop.

We're engaged!

“Our first phone call was a five-hour call — we were just sharing similar interests and they were all just so spot on to one another.

“I remember saying to my friends, ‘I don’t know why, I don’t know this guy but I feel like I’m going to marry him!’ ”

They plan to marry in London, with Anna moving to the UK full time. Her cat Kidden will also  join them.

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Clever Cat Owners

TELL us something we DON'T know!

Research has come up with the fact that people with cats are likely to be more intelligent than dog owners.

However,researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK say that the superior intelligence of cat owners is unlikely to be caused by their exposure to their clever and manipulative pets.

It's just that more educated people tend to work longer hours and choose a pet to fit their lifestyles. Unlike dogs, cats require no walking and can manage with little human company.

Dr Jane Murray, Cats Protection Lecturer in Feline Epidemiology, who led the study, said: "We don't think it is associated with income because that was one of the variables we looked at, and there was little difference.

"Cats require less time per day than a dog, so they are more popular with educated people who work late and have long commutes."

Homes with degree-holders were 1.36 times more likely to have a cat than other households. The same homes were less likely to have a dog than households where no-one went to university.

The study, published in the Veterinary Record journal, also found that cat owners were more likely to be older and female. Both cat and dog owners were more likely than the general population to live in households with gardens in rural areas.

The popular myth of cat intelligence was dented last year with the publication of a study showing that they did worse than dogs at a simple reasoning task. Cats presented with two pieces of string, only one of which was attached to a food reward, could not tell which one to pull for their treat.

The picture above is from Margaret Sherry's Cross Stitch Gallery.

How is Your Relationship with Your Cat?

A fascinating study by the University of Lincoln in the UK says there are five different kinds of relationships between cats and their owners - friendship, co-dependence, remote association, casual and open. 

Co-dependent relationship

This cat has often come to depend on a very emotionally invested owner (the cat is very important to the owner, possibly seen as family or as a great friend).

The owner typically plays regularly with the cat, and is seen as a part of the same social group (the cat behaves in a friendly way towards the owner, even regularly licking the owner’s hands and face) and as a secure base (the cat will seek the owner when worried).

The cat doesn’t relate well with others (is even likely to hide when, for example, someone comes to the house.

This cat has learned that good things come when the owner is near (for example: the owner stays with the cat whilst the cat is eating) and so, makes a considerable effort to maintain physical proximity to the owner (these cats can even be considered to be clingy) and separation can be problematic (the cat may not eat if the owner is away). This might suggest the cat has some problems with controlling its frustrations.

This relationship is common among cats living in a one-person household with no access outdoors.

 Casual relationship

These cats have always preferred life outdoors to life in their busy households.

They will often visit several homes in their territory (possibly having more than one home!) and might be gone for days at the time.

Even though these cats behave in a friendly way towards the owner they will not try to stay close to their carer (in fact, the chance are they will even make an effort to put some distance between them and their owner).

Friendship

The owner is emotionally invested in the cat (worries about the cat, sees him/her as a good friend or a part of the family) and will often find time to play with the cat.

The cat is very warm and friendly towards the owner (will often sit on the owner’s lap)/

The owner is seen not only as part of the same social group (the cat will regularly lick the owner’s hands and face) but also as a secure base (someone to seek out for comfort when the cat is worried).

The cat relates well to others (will greet or inspect visitors coming to the house and possibly even visit some neighbours).

Alongside the friendly and warm relationship, cat and owner can happily function independently.

This cat likes to be near the owner but doesn’t feel a need to maintain physical proximity to the owner (doesn’t always follow the owner around the house and may even take him/herself away to a preferred location).

Separation is not likely to be problematic.

This relationship seems to occur more often in busy households with more than one cat, and the cats often have some outside access.

Open relationship

The cats in this type of bond reflect a prototypical view of the cat as a solitary, independent animal, who should have access to the outside.

The cats relate well to other people (they are likely to greet visitors or visit neighbours) and have some affiliation with the owner, but have little need for owner proximity and may be seen as aloof.

They possibly will not sit on the owner’s lap or lick the owner’s hands or face.

 Remote relationship

Cats in this type of relationship are cared for, but not typically considered to be a close friend or part of the family.

They may not be very close emotionally, even though the cat’s behaviour towards the owner may be quite friendly.

These cats prefer to maintain distance from people (owners and others), possibly because they lack confidence.

They will not lick the owner’s hands and face, nor will they seek the owner even when worried.

 If you want to do the quiz yourself, have a look here: www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/cat-quiz/

That's Purrfect (looking at the quirkier side of our feline friends) is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/purrfectdays

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

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How To Cure Litter Tray Problems

EVEN though you have a litter-tray for your cat, you may be shocked to find that kitty has suddenly decided not to use it and to go somewhere else in the house. This is a common problem and one of the main reasons why cats are taken to shelters. This is sad for the owner and the cat, especially as this drastic move is often unnecessary, and the problem can often be solved by making a few simple changes.

 
Reason: Kitty may have a urinary tract infection or gastrointestinal upset and has associated using the litter-tray with pain. So consult your vet to see if there is a medical reason.
Remedy: Treat the symptoms and move the litter-tray to where the cat has been relieving itself. Once it’s back using the litter-tray, you can move it to where you want.

Reason: The cat may have taken an acute dislike to the litter-tray if they have had an unpleasant experience while using it. This may be because of a medical reason (see above), being frightened by another pet or being subjected to a frightening noise while using it.
Remedy: Get a new litter-tray and find a new safe location. If you have a dog, try to keep them out of the area.

Reason: The litter-tray smells.
Remedy: Cats have an acute sense of smell so it is best to scoop the tray every day and empty it fully every few days and give it a good wash. However, don’t use strong-smelling cleaners as these can deter the cat from using the tray. Many cat-owners like to use clumping litter as it’s easy to scoop.

 
Reason: The litter-tray is too small. The tray should be big enough for your cat to be able to turn around in it.
Remedy: (Obviously!) Get a bigger litter-tray.

Reason: The cat doesn’t like the type of litter.
Remedy: If you buy a rough litter, try a finer one. They may not like the feel of rough lumps under their feet.

Reason: They are in another part of the house when they want to use the tray.
Remedy: Have more than one litter-tray in the house, preferably at least one on each level.

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

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Lampshade Lady

This is the moment nine-year-old Layla was rudely interrupted while switching to record a TikTok video for her friends.

Young Layla Phillips heard a noise behind her and swung round to find her cat Graycie swinging from the lampshade. In her video, Layla's eyes can be seen widening in surprise as she spots Graycie hanging by her front claws.

Layla's mum Vickie Cochrane, 30, said Graycie had to be lifted off .

Vickie, from Scotland, said: "My daughter was just going to record a TikTok and then the cat jumped up and started swinging from the lampshade. She tried to get her down. She was a bit shocked. Graycie's never done that before."

The lampshade is made of feathers so Graycie's reaction is understandable!

Vickie continued, "Layla had to pull her off. I think because it's feather she likes it. Layla came running through saying,  Oh my god, look what I've got on my iPad. When she showed me I couldn't stop laughing - I was laughing for a while.

"Everyone's said it's one of the funniest things they've seen. People have been laughing and texting about it."

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Well, I've finally done it. I have written my no-holds-barred exposé of my life. Prepare to be AMAZED, prepare to be SHOCKED, prepare to be ENTHRALLED. Left is the paperback, right is the Kindle version.

            

➨You can follow me on Facebook,  talk to me on Twitter, and idolise me on Instagram.

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

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Mailman Moggie

So many stories are emerging from the Covid pandemic and although some are sad, there are many that are uplifting too.

Here's one about a little rescue cat called Billy (pictured) who brought his neighbours together after acting as a mailman between the two households.

Olga Shipunova, 29, and her partner Zack King, 37, from Hackney, London, UK, adopted little Billy after he was abandoned as a kitten just over a year ago. 

Billy looking cute on the day he was adopted.

Zack returned home one day to find Billy with a note attached to his collar. It said: "Your cat likes to come visit us when he is outside. He will sit at the door and meow to be let in. It's actually hilarious and we love him!! We have no idea where he is coming from. What's his name? We call him Billy :) From your friendly neighbours!"

Olga and Zack were astonished the neighbours had guessed the name. They replied:  "We're glad he's making friends with the neighbours! And his name is Billy!!! So you guessed right." It seems Billy once had a name tag, before losing it, and the neighbour's  housemate has spotted it a few weeks previously.

The correspondence began in September and Zack said the notes had been a highlight of the coronavirus lockdown. He has been sharing the story on Twitter.

Now the neighbours, who still haven't met, share recipes and Netflix recommendations. The unknown neighbour  even kitted little Billy out with a proper mailbag - which he promptly lost so a new one had to be made!

Olga said: "My favourite note was when she asked what she could treat him with - she was kind enough to say he could have salmon, and we let her know that he loves everything."

Zack added: "It's definitely something we look forward to - when the cat flap goes and we suddenly notice that the note isn't what we've attached and there's a new note.

"Billy is very cheeky and inquisitive - he doesn't do things by half - if he's sleepy he's sleepy and if he's playful he's playful.

"Billy himself has been a highlight of lockdown - and the notes, extra so - especially as the winter months drew in and we found it a bit tougher with fewer connections."

The delighted neighbour described Billy delivering their notes "like a carrier pigeon, but much cuter obvs".

A few of the notes.

Olga says she's happy that Billy, who comes and goes via a cat flap, has made friends with the neighbours, adding: 'He brings so much joy, so why not?'

And the story is a bit like united nations. The neighbour is Canadian, Olga is Russian and Zack is British.

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

            

Follow That's Purrfect on: Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    Instagram


*Take a look at The Best Cat Products In The World. You'll love them!


Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel below.

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