The domestic cat is the same as the North African wildcat in terms of genetics; they both have 19 pairs of chromosomes (38 total). Therefore the domestic and wildcat can mate and produce fertile hybrids. But there are major fertility … continue reading…
A study has concluded that the brains of domestic cats have shrunk during the time that they have been domesticated. And having shrunk I have concluded that domestic cats are probably more stupid today than they were at the time … continue reading…
The Telegraph journalist who reported on a study has got the headline wrong I believe: “How to tell if your cats are fighting or playing, according to scientists”. For domestic cats – most often kittens – inter-cat play (between cats) … continue reading…
Choosing a cat bowl is a familiar decision for all newcomers to domestic cat caregiving and also for experienced owners. As all cat bowls are inexpensive or relatively inexpensive compared to most household items it does not pay to buy … continue reading…
Summary of a scientific study: “Emotion Recognition in Cats” The report concerns the results of a study on cats’ ability to recognize and respond to emotional expressions in both conspecifics (other cats) and humans. The study found that cats were … continue reading…
This is one of those moot topics. It is very difficult if not impossible sometimes to even look at the interior of a domestic cat’s mouth never mind clean the teeth and massage the gums. The vets and experts dish … continue reading…
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was a famous English novelist, poet and artist. For cat lovers (and even non-cat lovers) his best-known book is ‘The Cat That Walked by Himself’. The illustrations are memorable and remarkably by him. A talented man. Dr … continue reading…
A study described the use of space and patterns of interaction among a group of 14 unrelated domestic cats living in a single-story house. Although I am referring to a scientific study, cat owners should not be put off by … continue reading…
A study (2017) discussed the differences in health and longevity between purebred and random-bred (also known as crossbred) domestic cats. It mentions that purebred dogs have been extensively studied and have wide variation in longevity and common diseases across breeds. … continue reading…
The title sounds too negative. It almost sounds as if it was written by a cat hater. But no, the words come from the world’s most prolific and best-known veterinarian/author in one of the best books on the domestic cat: … continue reading…
Here is an infographic on strange cat behaviour. Due to its size, it is limited to six forms of strange behaviour. There are more. You can read about more about cat behaviour in general and ‘strange behaviour’ by clicking on … continue reading…
Yes, domestic cats can and do mate (breed) with wildcats. There is a slight complication in answering the question to do with definitions. The word ‘wildcat’ means the species of wild cat called ‘wildcats’! They are one species of small … continue reading…
To answer the question, you have to break it down into categories which I’ve done. There’s a difference between the behaviour of the wildcat ancestor which is the same species as the domestic cat and from which we can learn … continue reading…
I can think of 6 reasons for cat food rejection or to put it another way your cat rejects the food you give him, and you believe that he is a finicky eater. And sometimes a pain in the rear … continue reading…
Can Bengal cats live in apartments? No, in my opinion. I mean they can and do. But it is just not right as far as I am concerned. Why? Because they are wildcat hybrids. They are more active than the … continue reading…
