Feline Facts

According to The Dell Encyclopedia of Cats, there is a legend of how the Pussy Willow was named. Once, many kittens were thrown into a river to drown. The mother cat wept and was so unhappy that the willows on the river bank felt compassion and held out their branches for the kittens to cling to. The kittens clung to the branches and were saved. Each spring since that time, the willow wears grey buds that feel as soft and silky as a kitten's fur. Thus the trees are called pussy willows.

° Many cats in a group are called a clowder. This is the variation on the term clutter.

° A Marmalade cat is a feline that is ginger or orange in colour usually with Tabby markings. Marmalade cats are usually sturdy males that make very good house pets.

° A Tonkinese cat is a mixture of Siamese and Burmese cats. This cat has a sleek look, very close to that of the Siamese.

° The tongue of a cat has little hooks on the upper side of it. The underside of the cat's tongue is very smooth. The hooks on the tongue help the cat to groom itself and to grasp food.

° Before starting you car engine on cold days, open the hood of the car or thud on it nosily with your hand to startle any cats sleeping there.

Cat Stats

° There are 5,000,000 cats in Canada.

° These cats kill 50,000,000 birds and 90,000,000 other wildlife. The state of nutrition has nothing to do with the numbers killed. In cats the hunting instinct supersedes the need for food.

° The percentage of proven rabies in the U.S.A. showed that cats were 5% of the total of animals. Since the advent of raccoon rabies and considering the nocturnal habits of cats it is not surprising that the number has risen to 29.4%

° There are at least 30000 cats in Kitchener with owners.

° There is an uncounted feral cat population out there reproducing frantically.

° The kitten mortality rate in feral cats is thought to be 80%.

° One pair of cats can under good conditions produce approx. 7000 offspring in a seven year span.

° Less than 10% of stray cats are claimed by owners, this means that the other 90% are not lost but ABANDONED.

° Only 20% of cats ever see the inside of a veterinarians office.

° We spend approx. $60,000 per year on veterinary costs, not counting labour, shelter or any other associated costs.

A Responsible Owner Neuters His Cat And Keeps It At Home

Why You Should Keep Your Cat Safe At Home
Keeping your cat at home ensures that it will not be crippled or killed by traffic vehicles, disease or other animals. Research has shown that free roaming cats have a life expectancy of 4 years as compared to an average of 14 years for the indoor pet. There are more cats killed on the roads than any other animal including skunks raccoons and squirrels.

The chances of overpopulation are markedly decreased. More than 3000 cats and puppies are born every hour in North America. One pair of cats can grow to a total of 7000 in 7 years. Only 5% of lost cats are reclaimed by owners. Be responsible.

Each year millions of birds chipmunks and other wildlife fall prey to well-fed domesticated cats. There is a long list of extinct species of birds whose demise is wholly or partially due to cats. The estimated 5 million cats in Canada are responsible for nearly 150 million wild animal deaths per year. Studies have shown that over 50 million of these are robins, song thrushes, blackbirds and sparrows. Well fed cats are just as avid and successful hunters as are hungry feral felines. Hunting is an instinct uncontrolled by the state of nutrition in cats.

We Recommend Spaying, Neutering, Vaccinating And Keeping Your Pet Indoors.

Cats have been domesticated for approx. 9000 years. They were first allowed house-room in the Middle East and have ever since provoked a mixed reception. In the Far East and Egypt they were worshipped while in Europe after the beginning of the Christian era, because of their association with witches and pagan religions they were undeservedly persecuted. During the Black Death across Europe because of their rat destroying skills they fortunately regained some of their former status.