the sand cat

Have you heard of the Sand Cat ?  It is  found mainly in Africa and burrows into the sand to protect itself from the heat of the sun during the day. Although they will drink when water is available, they can survive for months on the water in their food.  The Sand Cat is a relatively small, stocky chap with short legs, a long tail, and pointed ears.

the cat’s whiskers

Did you know that the top two rows of a cat’s whiskers can move independently of the lower two rows ?  This allows for maximum perception of the cat’s immediate surroundings.

sleeping again ? what is your excuse this time .. ?

Did you know that primarily, the reason that kittens sleep so much is because there is a growth hormone that is released only during sleep ?  What’s your cat’s excuse though .. !

a good brushing is crucial …

Look at the amount of dead hair that this little fellow has lost during his grooming session.  His tummy will thank him for it !

left or right pawed .. ?

According to a Queens University Belfast study, female domestic cats tend to preferentially use their right front paw while male cats more often rely upon their left front paw.

“Our results suggest that there are two distinct populations of paw preference in the cat that cluster very strongly around the animals’ sex,” said Deborah Wells, who led the study.

Researchers engaged the cats in various tasks, involving tuna and a fabric mouse, to reach this conclusion. The study findings were accepted for publication in the journal Animal Behavior.

dead hair and dandruff

… before the brushing

You can see from the photo below that on this short haired cat, the brushing and dry bath has really loosened the dead hair and dandruff.  The photo on the right is the same cat, before the grooming session.  It just goes to show that it is not always apparent that your cat is carrying such a dirty coat around with him

After a good brushing and dry bath …

did you know …? polydactyl or not ?

Did you know that historically, 40% of wild Maine Coons were polydactyl.  This is the highest percentage found in any naturally occuring breed throughout the world.  Polydactyl simply means extra toes, and these can be found on both front and back paws.  It’s much rarer these days to find a polydactyl and in the UK, polydactyls are outside the standard for cat showing.

moggies cat rescue, darwen

Moggies Cat Rescue in Darwen is an independently run, self funding concern.  On average, they rescue and re-home between 300 to 400 cats and kittens each year.  Their income is solely from fundraising and kind donations.  This helps to pay for vet treatment and buys food, bedding, equipment etc.  It goes without saying that there is no profit, and donations are always warmly received – whether this be food, litter or money.  The lady in charge works tirelessly in her fundraising efforts, holding various stalls at local events.  She is always on the look out for donations of high quality second hand items, that could raise funds for Moggies.  If you can help in anyway, please let us know

christmas gift vouchers now available

No idea what to buy for your friends or family for Christmas ?  Well, why not choose an exclusive EssentiallyPurrfect gift voucher ?   Available in denominations of £10, starting from £20.  Call us by telephone – or contact us by e-mail – to arrange the purrfect gift !

did you know …? the collective name for cats

A group of cats is known as a ‘clowder’ or a ‘glaring’