Behaviour & Training

You’ve probably heard the rustling of a plastic bag when you’ve returned from the weekly shop, just to see your cat biting and shredding it with great enthusiasm. But why do cats gnaw or eat plastic? We’ve got it all explained below – including when it’s a cause for concern. Read on to find out all you need to know.

You’ve probably seen your feline friend resting peacefully in lots of different positions, but did you know that cat sleeping positions have meaning behind them? From being stretched out with their bellies exposed, to curled up in a cat loaf, it’s easy to wonder why they’re sleeping like that, and we have the answers for you! Whether they’re fans of their cat bed, or prefer the luxury of a sofa, we’ve listed all the cat sleeping positions for you here so you know what to expect at each stage of their sleep.

Whether you’re looking for help with training or to entertain your feline friend, cat apps are the perfect solution for this. But it can be hard to know which cat apps are suited for your dear feline, which is why we have a list for you. Check it out below!

Realising that you can no longer keep your cat and making the decision to rehome them is difficult. You’ve probably already spent time with your feline friend and grown to love them. However, in some situations, giving up a cat for adoption is the best thing you can do for both of you. If you’re finding yourself making the often-heart-breaking decision to rehome your cat, we put together this article on how to best deal with this tough choice. We’ll explore the challenges pet families face when deciding to give up their cat and offer advice and resources to help make the process as smooth as possible. Read on to learn how to make sure your feline friend finds the new home they need and deserve.

As your cat ages, their sleep patterns might change. Older cats may sleep more, with their energy levels simply decreasing with age. Other times, senior cats might sleep more during the day, saving their energy for evenings and nighttime explorations. While you might find this a little disruptive, it's a natural shift in their sleep cycle. Learn how to understand these sleeping patterns and create a cosy sleep haven to ensure they get the rest they need. Common Changes in Older Cats' Sleep Patterns

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. Ted Nude-Gent – Mr Bigglesworth from Austin Powers This cat’s name is almost as funny as his film appearance! Known as Dr. Evil’s hairless Sphynx Cat from the Austin Powers movies, this famous cat was apparently a big fan of Mike Myers, despite his owner being his arch nemesis in the series. It’s been reported that Ted loved Mike so much, that he would spend all of his time sleeping on his lap – which apparently delayed shooting many a time. Tardar Sauce – Grumpy Cat Grumpy Cat is quite possibly one of the most famous cats in history. She rose to fame in 2012 after a post of her face went viral on Reddit – at first, no-one believed her face hadn’t been altered but in truth her grumpy markings were real. And soon everyone fell in love. According to her owners she was a very happy cat (despite the expression) with a type of dwarfism, and although she looked like a Snowshoe or Ragdoll, her parents were a Calico Short Hair and a grey tabby! Cole and Marmalade – You Tube sensations Rescue cats Cole and Marmalade are a true rags-to-riches story. Cole came first and was found at the side of the road as a 6-week-old kitten, then Marmalade joined the family a little later as an unwanted kitten. As soon as the pair met, they became the best of friends and now these famous cats are You Tube stars. With over a million subscribers, their amusing videos are perfect for cat lovers who want an excuse to smile. Lil Bub – the perma-kitten Everyone’s heard of this adorable famous cat. She had a permanent kitten-like appearance which was due to a variety of genetic mutations, including teeth that never grew (which is why her tongue hung out of her mouth) and a type of dwarfism. Additionally, she also had a rare bone disorder known as Osteopetrosis and Lil Bub was the only cat in history known to be born with this. Thanks to her online fame, her owners were able to raise funds to help with her treatment, but sadly she passed away in December, 2019.

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. We often associate chewed-up furnishings and general mayhem with mischievous or anxious dogs, but a destructive pet with cat behaviour problems can do their fair share of damage too. As cats have evolved to be top-of-the-food-chain predators, aggression is an integral part of their behaviour. Cats use aggression for lots of reasons, such as catching and killing prey, defending themselves and their territory, and warding off competitors. Hopefully your cat shouldn’t show aggression towards you at home, but if they do there are certain things you can do to understand and resolve any issues. Why is my cat aggressive? If your cat is being aggressive, you need to ask why. Are they fearful or anxious about something? Are they in pain? Are they defending their territory? Are they simply playing too boisterously and not keeping their teeth and claws in check? Or does it seem that they’re pursuing you as if you’re their prey? There are many reasons why cats demonstrate aggressive behaviour, and most of them are normal, if not inappropriate for a home environment.

The rivalry between cats and dogs is world renowned and many believe that the two species can't get along because they're just too different. Keep reading to discover the reasoning behind why they generally dislike each other and find out if it's possible for them to be friends. The rivalry between cats and dogs is one that’s known around the world. It’s depicted time after time in cartoons and films and you’ve probably heard of the saying ‘they fight like cats and dogs.’ Many believe that the two species can’t get along and that it’s just a simple case of them being too different from one another, as dogs are exuberant and full of energy, while cats are solitary creatures that prefer peace and quiet. But what’s the actual reason behind the clash and most importantly, can they ever get along? Keep reading to find out about the possibility of cat and dog friends and discover the reasoning behind why their personalities usually clash.

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.

Everyone's heard the saying 'cats always land on their feet', but is there any truth in it? Keep reading to find out how they manage to do it and the amazing science behind it. Everyone has heard the saying ‘cats always land on their feet’ and that this ability means they can survive falls from incredible heights. Some people think it’s due to cats’ incredible balance, and others secretly think it’s magic. It’s a phenomenon that has certainly puzzled scientists for centuries! But is it true, or simply an urban legend? Keep reading to find out if cats always land on their feet and how they do it. Do cats always land on their feet? Cats have an inbuilt balancing system called the “righting reflex” that allows them to orient themselves and land on their feet. But while cats are often able to land the right way up, it’s not the case that they always land on their feet. The height of the fall can affect their ability to land safely. For a long time, cats’ ability to seemingly always land on their feet has had scientists baffled. However, a French scientist called Etienne-Jules Marey in 1894 discovered this was not the case. Using a chronophotographic camera, he managed to capture 60 frames a second of a cat’s fall, then he was able to watch in slow-motion and see how cats land on their feet. How do cats land on their feet? The way cats manage to land on their feet is called the righting reflex.

As humans we love music, but do our cats feel the same? Find out how your furry friend feels about music and the research behind it with Purina. We all like to make our pets happy, and we’ve all seen those adorable You Tube videos of our favourite superstar kitties rocking out on the piano! Listening to music can provide mental stimulation, a sense of contentment, or even just a relaxing background vibe—for humans! So it makes sense that we would want to share one our favourite pastimes with our pets—but do cats like music? And are they getting anything out of listening to it? Do cats like music? Have you ever tried to play your favourite song for your cat? You might have noticed that, no matter how hard the beat drops, your cat shows little to no interest in the music that you are playing to them. In rare circumstances, some cats have found specific music to be calming. Occasionally, cat shelters will choose to play classic music to their residents, believing that it creates a soothing atmosphere. Although cats don’t run away from music (unless you turn it up very loud!), there isn’t a lot of evidence to show that this is the case. If the cats listening to classical music are lying around having a snooze, it’s probably more likely that they were ready for a catnap, rather than lulled to sleep by the likes of Mozart!

Cats are independent creatures with no particular desire to get in your good graces, but they are also incredibly intelligent and ready to learn various behaviours if a good reward is waiting for them. This is exactly what cat clicker training is based on. Read on to find out more about this method of training your cat. What is cat clicker training? Cat clicker training is a fast and easy way to shape your cat's behaviour and even teach them a few useful tricks. A small plastic clicker device is used to identify the good behaviour you want your cat to learn. The clicking sound is immediately followed by a special cat treat rewarding the feline for performing well. The most important part of the cat clicker training routine is the sequence ‘click and reward’. This will help the cat associate particular actions with favourable consequences which is how good behaviour is ultimately learned. Why use a clicker for cat training? There are a few reasons why using a clicker is more effective that just voice commands. A human voice doesn’t sound the same every time as mood or circumstances can change your pitch or intonation, making your voice inconsistent and therefore unreliable as a signal for cat training.