Behaviour & Training

Over the years, cats have baffled just about everyone – from owners to behaviourists and even scientists. Because of their mysterious nature, there are numerous cat myths and rumours that are commonly believed, but just how true are they? Cats are enigmatic creatures that many people struggle to understand. Over the years, this has seen our furry friends shrouded in a variety of myths, including some outlandish rumours that even reported that they were in league with the devil! The majority of cat myths have since been debunked thanks to science and lashings of common sense. Keep reading to find out the truth behind the butter on cats’ paws rumour, if black cats are bad luck and more.

Choosing a cat bed can be difficult. And, of course, finding the right cat bed is important. You want your kitten to be cosy, warm and happy when they are sleeping—and you want the cat bed to be a space that they can call their own. All owners must make this decision at some point: the trick is to watch your cat’s habits and choose a bed accordingly. We’ve put together a guide to choosing the best cat bed for your cat so that they feel happy, pampered and can sleep like the royalty they are. Types of cat beds Because cats love to curl up and sleep wherever they can, there are many different kinds of cat beds available in the market. Do not worry about which one is the best – there is no the ‘best’ cat bed. Instead, choose one that would suit your cat’s preferences and daily habits. Below are a few options for the types of cat beds you can find. Pads/Cushions This type of cat bed is a cushion filled with soft and comfortable down. There are various fillings for this kind of cat bed – such as fleece or high-fibre polyester – but as long as it is plush and comfortable, it does not really matter! Pods This new style of cat bed is gaining popularity. Cats seem to like curling up with these egg-shaped pods, which are usually made of plastic or hard fabric and lined with something soft and cosy. Window perches If your cat’s favourite place is the window and they like to fall asleep in whatever sunlight they can find or you find them dozing in front of the view, then a window perch cat bed is the best cat bed. These cat beds attach as perches on the window and allow your cat to sleep in her favourite spot.

It’s no secret that cats love to scratch. This is a natural urge, and should not be discouraged. Yet many new cat owners can be at a loss when it comes to how to prevent their cats from scratching the furniture or tearing cushions with their claws. The answer is, of course, a scratching post – a post dedicated to your cat’s scratching habits that she can make her very own. In this article, we will offer you a guide on how to choose the best scratching post for your cat. What is a scratching post? A scratching post is usually a vertical wooden post covered with different kinds of material. This material offers resistance to your cat’s claws, which makes the process of scratching satisfying for them. Scratching posts come in different shapes and sizes. Some scratching posts are simple vertical pillars on solid wooden bases. Others can be shaped as cactuses or castles – anything you can think of, in fact. They can also have horizontal platforms attached to them at varying levels for your cat to climb and rest. Today, scratching posts do not actually have to be posts. There are wooden frames with your cat’s favourite scratching material in their centre. These can be attached to the wall at a height your cat can reach, allowing her to scratch away to her heart’s content.

Playing games and spending time with your cat is an important part of being a cat owner. Playing with them is not only a fun form of exercise for both of you, but it also helps to keep your cat stimulated. Take a look at our five fungames for catstoget ideas for keeping both you and your furry friend entertained for hours. 1. Games for catswith bubbles Bubbles aren’t just for kids; they make for a great game for cats too! Bubbles come number one on our list because they are so much fun for both you and your cat. Remember that you should buy bubbles that are pet-friendly. Not all bubble fluid is safe for pets, somake sure you’re buying products that are designed for cats. Most cats try to pounce on the bubbles once they land; this is because their unpredictable movement can appeal to a cat’s natural hunting instinct. Some cats even jump in the air and try to catch the bubbles before they land! 2. Chasinggames for cats A love of chasing things is ahunting behaviourthat your feline friend loves to live up to. That’s one of the reasons a mousetoyis so much fun for them to play with. There are lots of types of toys you can use like the‘mouse on a string’ toy, or make your own with anything that dangles. To kick things offwavethe mouse in front of your cat. This should gain their attention and get them ready to take part. Once they are interested, start dragging the mouse slowly on the floor - your cat should either start chasing the mouse or begin to try and pounce on it. Lastly, move around the room while pulling the mouse along the floor, as this will get your cat moving and encourage them to exercise. You could also try dimming the lights when you play; after all, cats naturally prefer to hunt at night. 3. Using a cardboard box As many owners know, cats love to hide either under (or inside) a whole range of household objects. Boxes are no exception, and they can provide your car or kitten with hours of fun. All you have to do is place your box on the floor and watch as your cat investigates. Most cats will try and go inside the box; once inside, why not run a toy along the floor in front of the opening to the box? This will encourage your cat to pounce out of the box and try and catch the toy. If you are going to play this game make sure you use a toy on a string, so your feline friend won’t accidently scratch you when trying to grab the toy. Find outwhy cats love boxesso much with our fun article.

Cats have captivated the hearts of humans for many years, we’re obsessed with these fluffy critters and this kitty love has seen many famous cats crop up. From Grumpy Cat – the living oxymoron, to Lil Bub the perma-kitten, find out who made our list of the top 10 most famous cats. There’s just something about cats, isn’t there? Their magical toe beans and saucer-like eyes have captivated humans across the globe throughout history and we just can’t get enough of them. Cute cats fill our screens and this, combined with our obsession with their adorable fluffy faces, has seen the rise of famous cats. From Instagram influencers that have us tapping the like button to famous cats in movies that are more worthy of an Oscar than most celebs, these kitties are the star of every show.

Your cat probably has lots of quirky habits, which is one of the many reasons they’re so much fun to be with. But sometimes their behaviour can surprise you – maybe yours has been scratching and clawing things you don’t want them to, for example, or shredding an innocent pair of curtains. However, some of these behaviours can pose a danger to people, such as aggressive-related behaviours, for example. Aggressive cats can not only cause serious injuries to people, but they can also transmit diseases that can lead to a serious health problem (i.e., cat scratch disease). Cats use aggression for many reasons, such as catching and killing prey, defending themselves and their territory, deterring competitors, out of fear, or because they are ill. As cats are predators, aggression is an integral part of their behaviour when they are hunting. However, it is important to note that hunting and other forms of aggression are neurophysiologically very distinct. Additionally, during play, they may exhibit hunting-like behaviours that can trigger challenging moments with the family. For all these reasons, it is crucial that if your cat displays aggressive behaviours, you consult with your vet specialized in behavioural medicine as soon as possible. Hopefully your cat shouldn’t show aggression towards you at home, but if they do there are certain things you can do to understand any issues.

Our cats seem to spend most of their lives asleep, so it's only reasonable for us to wonder, do cats dream? Find out what your feline thinks about when they drift off to dreamland with Purina. Cats are known for being notorious nappers. They seem to spend most of their lives asleep, either curled up on our laps or hidden in their favourite secluded place. It may surprise you to learn that they sleep twice as much as humans and on average spend around 15 hours per day asleep, but for extremely tired cats this can easily be up to 24 hours. With so much time spent resting, it’s reasonable to assume that they dream and have nightmares just like we do. But is that true? Keep reading to discover whether cats do dream and what it means when your cat twitches in their sleep.

Cats are notorious night owls, so we've long thought that they have excellent night vision, but is this actually true? Find out everything you need to know about your cat's night vision with our guide. Cats seem to do all of their best hunting at night. Many cat owners are familiar with being woken up with little gifts – such as a mouse or possibly even a sock – or the hyperactive run around the house many cats have in the middle of the night. These night-time antics pose the question: can cats see in the dark? Many people believe that felines are nocturnal and so can see in the dark perfectly, but it may surprise you to learn that cats are actually crepuscular. This means that generally they’re more active around dawn and dusk. So, if they’re not actually nocturnal, how good is cat’s night vision really? Keep reading to discover the secrets behind your four-legged friend’s intelligent eyes. Can cats see in the dark? The short answer is not exactly. Where it’s been widely thought that cat’s have their own built-in set of night vision goggles, they actually require at least some level of light to see. However, they only need one-sixth of the amount of light that humans do and can see in very low light. Cats won’t be able to see in the dark, in the rare event that absolutely all light is blocked out, but their sight is much more advanced than that of humans for all of their night time adventures. Their eyes are intelligently designed According to Catster, the reason cats’ night vision is so excellent is because of the intelligent design of their eyes. They possess a curved cornea and large lens, and in low light their pupils can dilate to full circles to allow in maximum light.

Whether you enjoy a soothing meow every now and then or you’re growing impatient with all your cat’s attempts to make conversation, the reasons why cats meow are just as fascinating as the kittens themselves. Find out more here. As a proud cat owner, you are by now probably used to the daily soundtrack of meows and purrs your cat shares with you. But did you know that the way cats communicate with other cats is mainly via scent, and cat meowing is a language reserved for humans only? That’s to say, cats don’t meow at each other, only at humans, and meowing is a learned behaviour. Different meows tend to mean different things too and a subtle difference in one meow to another can indicate your cat is talking to you for a very different reason! Why would cats, who are better known for their “can’t be bothered” attitude, go to all the trouble to communicate with us? They must have something important to say. So if your cat won’t stop meowing and you need help deciphering what this means, here are the top reasons why cats meow.

Cats are funny balls of fluff and often make us laugh with their mischievous antics, so it’s really not surprising that they’re the source of so many great jokes. We’ve put together a list of our top 30 favourite cat jokes that we think are totally paw-some. Our cats provide us with endless entertainment. Whether they’re running around the house like a lunatic at 3am, smacking our possessions off of counters or just being their fun-loving cheeky selves in general. Cats are hilarious by nature, so it should come as no surprise that there are loads of great cat jokes out there. We’ve put our brains together and come up with the ultimate list of cat jokes which includes everything from witty cat puns to knock-knock jokes. Keep reading for our favourite cat jokes and puns that will have all your friends saying ‘you’ve cat to be kitten me!’

The question of cats’ eyesight, and how much they can see, has been one that’s fascinated owners and scientists alike. Not only have many of us wondered about their apparently incredible night vision, the question of whether cats can see colour or not has often been discussed with some thinking that cats live an exclusively monochrome existence. But what’s the truth? Are cats' colour blind or can they appreciate a rainbow of hues just like we can?

Cats are one of the internet’s favourite creatures and you can’t scroll through social media these days without seeing a whiskered face looking back at you. But this love of felines isn’t just a new fad - prior to the internet craze there were (and still are!) a number of famous cartoon cats that stole the show. Here’s the list of our 14 favourite famous cartoon cats from comic books, films and TV shows. We’re sure you’ll recognise a face or two!