Study: Income is Major Factor When Owners Avoid Sterilizing Cats (via VPN)

Veterinary Practice News 15 December 2016: "A study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found regular veterinary visits by low-income cat-owning households to be a luxury most say they cannot afford.

In fact, nearly 70 percent of people who divulged their annual household income as less than $25,000 said they never took their cat to a veterinarian before they visited a low-cost sterilization clinic.

The study was conducted by Valerie Benka, MS, MPP, of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University and Emily McCobb, DVM, Dipl. ACVAA, a clinical associate professor in the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
» Read more and see the study results

Your cat is barely not a wild animal

www.techinsider.io 24 March 2016: Cats live in our homes and eat the food we provide for them. But they can also be aloof, disinterested in our affection, and difficult if not impossible to train.

So are cats actually domesticated? And how did they get here, anyway? These are questions that scientists are still asking today, and for good reason.

Most of the animals we've domesticated serve a food or utility purpose, such as providing milk or meat or transportation. But Felis catus, as researchers refer to your pet, occupies a unique niche amongst the other animals we've brought into our sphere — namely, that they don't do much.

Contrast that to dogs, our oldest creations: They're our hunting partners, livestock herders, and security guards, all in a friendly, furry package that constantly (sometimes annoyingly) seeks our affection and approval.

For the most part cats play none of these roles. They do provide pest control and companionship, but as cat owners will admit, they do it on their own terms. It's rare to have a cat that follow commands.
So why did we let them into our homes in the first place?....read more.

Animal Matters: Not all feral cats are wild

Frankie was thought to be a feral but he was so
tame he was able to find a loving home.

The News Herald (US) 1 March 2016: Feral cats are not given a chance when they are taken to most Animal Control facilities. They are killed almost immediately and never considered for release and/or adoption. Feral cats are domestic cats. They have the same bloodlines as their tamer relatives. In fact, many of them are the offspring of the pet your neighbors tossed out when they moved away.

Unprotected, un-neutered, this previously protected cat adds to the birthrate and produces kittens that are not used to a human touch. Many of the cats that are deemed feral and automatically killed at Animal Control facilities throughout the world are not feral. Countless numbers are so frightened that they cringe from human contact when taken to Animal Control because of the scary noises and scents: loud barking dogs, wailing cat cries, and the horrible smell of fear. These kitties are automatically deemed feral and aren’t even offered to any group or individual for rescue. Most aren’t kept alive long enough for observation to determine whether they are...read on.

Cat Facts Part 1

“A cat is the only domestic animal I know who toilet trains itself and does a damned impressive job of it”-Joseph Epstein  This is a fact that all cat people know, here are ten more feline features:

1. A group of cats is called a clowder.

2. Cats sleep 70% of their lives.

3.  A cat’s purr may be a form of self-healing, as it can be a sign of nervousness as well as contentment.

4. Similarly, the frequency of a domestic cat’s purr is the same at which muscles and bones repair themselves.

5. Female cats are typically right-pawed while male cats are typically left-pawed

6.  Cats have 1,000 times more data storage than an iPad.

7, A cat can jump up to six times its length.

8. Cats can move their ears 180 degrees.

9. They can also move their ears separately

10. Cats have inferior daytime sight, but during their night vision need seven times less light than humans.

Bum, the cat with worried eyes

Bum was brought  to a shelter in San Diego when he was just four weeks old, and immediately captured everyone’s heart with his worried expression. But don't fret—this cross-eyed tabby has already become part of a family!

Bringing Your New Cat Home

Congratulations! You have a new cat. No doubt you're looking forward to years of happy companionship. But what do you do now?

This informative video from Singapore’s SPCA should give you some helpful tips.

Video: 7 Things You May Not Realize About Your Cat

Did you know that cats can subtly modify their purring to manipulate their owner? Watch more ...

Welcome to the Islands of Cats

A new kitten on the blog! We are an author and a photographer, with a shared passion for the Maltese Islands. We moved here in 2012, and soon observed that the Islands were also home to an abundance of cats! No matter where we went, we would meet cats bathing in the sun, or lying leisurely in shady corners. Even though  their permanent residence is in the streets, it doesn't go unnoticed that the strays are well fed and in top condition, gleaming with glossy fur and bright eyes. It is rare to see one that is unkept and sickly. Investigating even further, we noted ‘feeding stations’ where plates and bowls with food and water had been left for the feral cats.

We were as curios as a cat. Who was sustaining the purry felines?

In search of the answer, in October 2015 we embarked on an enlightening quest through the Maltese Islands, meeting persons from both genders and walks of life who, with a huge amount of self sacrifice, have not only  committed themselves to the welfare of their feline fellow residents, but in doing so have silently helped the Maltese environment.

And we are still travelling! Our journey will lead to a book dedicated to these devoted men and women. Introducing the reader to some of the individual caregivers, delve into their history and the reason for their chosen vocation. In the mean time, this blog shall serve as a permanent platform for stories and news about cats in Malta and around the Globe.