Some facts & myths about cats!

The name ‘ Quean ‘, (not Queen), is derived from the Elizabethan word for a slut, or loose woman.

When changing homes a cat should have butter smeared on its paws and it can be let out immediately!

FALSE: Occasionally a cat will return to a new home but the butter has nothing to do with it. Usually it is the cat’s familiarity with a long established owner that brings it home.

Cats use the width of their whiskers to measure a gap before going through it!

FALSE: A cat can draw in its body width and go through the narrowest gap. On one occasion a cat climbed through a narrow hole into a cavity wall. They use their whiskers to detect heat and vibrations.

A female cat should be allowed to have one litter of kittens before being spayed. It makes them sweeter natured!

FALSE: Neutering a cat actually calms the cat down and usually prevents them from wandering. There are already too many unwanted kittens in the world and indiscriminate breeding spreads diseases.

Tomcats stray more readily than female cats!

FALSE: All unneutered cats are liable to stray. Neutering removes their desire to wander far.

Tomcats are territorial. Female cats are not.

FALSE: In the wild, the female finds a territory that will provide plenty of food and shelter for her to have kittens. She will not tolerate other cats in her area unless she is in season. Males, on the other hand, will live in a community.

Cats can see well in the dark.

FALSE: A cats eyes can make better use of available light than a human’s can. In utter darkness a cat would see no better than a human. But their hearing is very acute and the detect vibrations with their whiskers.

Their sight is poor close up but they see extremely well at a distance.

Cats cannot see colours, but see the world in black, white and shades of grey!

FALSE: We have ample evidence of cats choosing objects of particular colours. Also of having a dislike of other cats of a particular colour.

Cats with FeLV, (feline leukaemia), should be put to sleep.

FALSE: Please read the article about Sadie, in ‘The Cattery’.