My cat has gone missing

It is always very difficult for an owner when their cat goes missing, but it is important not to give up hope. The first thing to do should your cat go missing is thoroughly search your house and garden, looking in warm spots (under beds, in cupboards, behind wardrobes). When searching call out your cat's name and use strong food smells to lure him out. Ask neighbours to check their sheds, garages and outhouses for signs of your cat too.

If your search proves fruitless start phoning around local veterinary surgeries (an injured cat may have been handed in), phone local animal rescue organisations and the local council. Put up lost cat posters in your area (use a photo if you have one and include a telephone number). You could also consider placing an advert in the local paper, offering a reward could encourage more response. Don't give up, cats can reappear many months after disappearing.

What behavioural signs does an unneutered tom display

Unneutered toms tend to be larger and generally more confident than neutered males. They tend to maintain a large territory area, as they will cover a large area looking for females that are coming into season. Because it is so important for toms to maintain a large territory to reproduce, they are more likely to fight with other cats and leave urine spray marks inside or outside.

When can a female cat start reproducing?

Puberty usually occurs around five to eight months in cats, although it can happen as early as four months and as late as 18 months depending on the breed of cats. Cats Protection recommends neutering both male and female cats from four months of age. However, it is important to note that the vet responsible for your cat will specify when they are prepared to carry out the neutering operation (usually between four and six months of age). Your vet will consider each case on its own merits.

Choose your cat

Cats come in several colors and sizes, shorthaired, longhaired, and even no hair, with many breeds to choose from. After you decide what you are looking for, you must decide if you are going to purchase it as a pet, or if you are going to be a breeder. When making the decision to be a breeder, analyze your facilities, your market, your costs, and your time. These factors work together so you can perform an adequate job. Whether you breed, or just buy a pet, you must be a responsible cat owner. A pet-quality kitten should be spayed or neutered as soon as it is old enough. Responsible breeders should not breed their females too often, just for economic gain. The responsible breeder will sell their kittens with a Spay/Neuter contract, withholding the kitten's registration papers until the new owner gets it spayed or neutered. Animal shelters that place kittens up for adoption also encourage the new owner to spay or neuter their kitten by covering one-half of the cost of the procedure.
When choosing your kitten, be sure its health is optimal. Remember to ask the breeder or owner what the kitten eats, if it is litter trained, and whether it has had any shots. It is recommended that you keep the kitten on the food that it is eating or, if you are going to change the brand, do it gradually by combining the old food with the new food until the kitten is eating only the new food. If the food doesn't agree with the cat, diarrhea may result.
When you get home, make the kitten comfortable by providing it a safe environment, its own bed in a quiet place, and a litter box. To soothe the kitten during the first days at home, you may want to place in its bed a hot water bottle for warmth and a wind-up clock to substitute for its mother's heartbeat. Keep the litter box nearby, but away from the cat's food and water. Although kittens sleep for two-thirds of the day, toys and a scratching post should be provided to occupy its time when it is not sleeping. Slowly introduce the kitten to your other pets. Your kitten will quickly adapt and will become an irreplaceable friend in no time.

A Lesson In Life

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be - your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. 　　And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity - all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. 　　The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience - they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. Those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones. 　　If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. 　　Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. 　　Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it. 　　　　"People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."