The Lifestyle Of The 21st Century Cat Reprinted with Express Permission from Masterfoods. www.whiskas.co.uk
Early Days - Cuddly Kittens There is still something about the big eyes and fluffy coats of kittens that is totally irresistible. 92 percent of all cats in the UK are moggies and with over 50 breeds of pedigree (pure breed) cats to choose from, there is every possible reason to get a cat as a pet. On average there are around 500,000 kittens born in the UK every year. Although kittens look fully-grown from six months old, they are still developing on the inside and should remain on a kitten diet until 10-12 months old when they are fully-grown - a kitten's weight will increase 40-50 times during their first year (see chart below).  The typical growth of kittens at the Waltham Centre: Kittens experience the fastest growth period in the first 24 weeks and after their first year they often settle down in their new home and with their new family and will not be as hyperactive as they are in the first six months. Case Study - A day in the life of a Whiskas kitten - Sheridan, aged four months... "Sheridan is extremely cheeky and mischievous! He has mad periods of furious play and activity before falling asleep with the other kittens in a big ball of fluff! His favourite trick at the moment is to take his toys and hide them around the room and in his bed, before watching everyone else trying to find them all! With Sheridan it really is all or nothing - fast and furious or crashed out asleep. There is little in between." - Caroline Harris, London Top Kitty Tips The key socialisation period in cats occurs between seven and nine weeks of age - when a kitten is most receptive to people and situations. This period is an important time to nurture and play with a kitten to ensure that they interact well with people and are better adjusted for a happy life. It is important to teach kittens the house rules and remain consistent once you have made the rules, so as not to confuse. A kitten's behaviour tends to be the most difficult at around six months of age when they can be destructive and hyperactive. How your kitten's personality develops has a lot to do with their breed. Every breed has different traits and characteristics, but even with the UK's huge moggy population it's the way they are handled, talked to and played with will have a strong influence on how a cat behaves and their happiness throughout adult life. It's a cats life - Cat Characteristics
Coming Of Age - The Active Adults There are currently around 3.9 million adult cats in the UK who have an average age of seven years. As cats get older, they are likely to slow down and sleep more. Adult cats spend an average of 18 hours a day sleeping and the rest of the day is spent playing, eating and hunting. By adulthood, cats are at their most confident, with an air of deviousness and they tend to feel that they rule the roost vs owners, which proves the famous quote: "Dogs have owners, cats have staff." - Anon Like the average adult cat in the wild, domestic cats will pounce up to 30 times a day! An adult cat will enjoy the hunt, so it is important to take the time to play and interact with them on a daily basis to help keep their joints moving and to ensure that they stay youthful and healthy through play. Adults cats are often more active at dusk and dawn. This originates from when cats in the wild would hunt when it was dark enough to hide but light enough to see their prey! Case Study - A day in the life of a Whiskas adult cat - Mitzi, aged seven years: "Mitzi is a tortishell cat who looks just like Bagpuss with beautiful huge eyes that gaze into mine when trying to get my attention. When we play she loves to kneed her padded bed and purr and loves to roll and have her tummy tickled. When I get her favourite fishing rod and mice out she gets so excited and often launches herself across the room chasing after it. She can play like this for 20 minutes or so before she's ready to move onto something else. She certainly has a mind of her own and enjoys her independence! She also has her favourite cosy bed where she will curl up and sleep once we have finished playing." - Avril Mott, Essex Golden Oldies - Senior citizens! Cats become senior cats at around eight years of age and by this stage of their life they have built a close and trusting relationship with their owner. This allows owners to easily spot any changes, such as deterioration in eyesight and hearing. Sue Parslow, editor of Your Cat Magazine, comments, "By the time a cat is elderly, there will be quite a bond between cat and owner. It becomes easier to notice any changes in behaviour, which could be a sign of a possible problem." Senior cats often prefer to stay indoors and spend a good part of their day sleeping, to enable older cats to enjoy the best of both worlds, position their bed up high by a window so they can enjoy viewing the outdoor world in the comfort and safety of their home. They often become attached to their surroundings and find it difficult to adapt to change. This may become apparent with difficult trips to the vet. Senior cats benefit greatly from social contact and regular play sessions for their joints and for a general workout for body and mind. As they get older a senior cat's fur loses its shine and lustre. Regular grooming will rejuvenate a senior cat's fur and can be a good way to check for any other abnormalities. Case Study - A day in the life of a Whiskas senior cat - Becs, aged 14 years: "Becs is now a mum to 14 cats, which are now fully grown adults themselves. Even though Becs is a senior cat she still loves playing with her favourite toys - a black fluffy spider and ping-pong balls. She is typical of an older cat, as she loves cuddles and attention and will sit for hours on a warm lap being quietly stroked and cuddled. She is such a loveable cat and still very cheeky in her old age." - Joan Shedden, Wiltshire |
