According to The Humane Society of The United States:

--The number of animal shelters in the United
States - between 4,000 and 6,000.

--The number of cats and dogs entering shelters
each year - 8 to 12 million.

--The number of cats and dogs euthanized by
shelters each year - 4 TO 5 million

--Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters
each year - 3 to 5 million

--Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners
from shelters each year - between 600,000 and
750,000 (15% of animals entering shelters)

--The average number of litters a fertile cat
can produce in one year - 3

--The average number of kittens in an average
feline litter - 4 to 6

--In seven years, the number of cats one female
and her offspring can theoretically produce -
420,000!

--FALLING FELINE FACTOID:
We've all heard amazing stories of how cats have fallen from heights of 120 feet and much more and have lived to meow about it. Yet on the other hand, we hear stories of how cats have fallen only one or two stories and have not survived the landing. Why is that?
The reason probably has something to do with what the cats are able to do as they are falling. First of all, they have to use their sense of balance and vision to twist their heads into the proper alignment so they can right themselves. When that's done they can get the spine into the normal position and straighten the hind legs. Cats also need enough time to free fall while spreading out the legs and relaxing. If there is not enough time to accomplish this important step, then the chances for a very serious or even fatal injury are much more likely. So then, having a greater distance to fall would allow the time needed to get everything "done" before meeting the ground.
(This does not mean that they won't escape any kind
of injury, however.) Hopefully the only thing wounded would be their pride!



* THE FIRST CAT SHOW WAS ON BROADWAY:

The first cat show in America took place on
March 6, 1881 at a museum on Broadway in New
York City. According to published reports of
the time, the cats in the show were not very
happy about being put on display. It seems
there was a whole lot of hissing, scratching,
and clawing going on during the judging.

--CAT Quiz: FACT OR FICTION:

Are the following statements about your kitties based
in reality or myth? See how you do...

--1. Cats can see in the dark.

--2. Cats naturally kill mice and rats.

--3. Cats rub their paws against you (kneading) because
they think you are their mother.

--4. Cats can always see better than humans.

--5. Cats and dogs can't get along.

--6. Cats are fine in hot and cold outdoor weather.

--7. All Persians look pretty much the same.


--Answers to Cat Quiz: FACT OR FICTION:


--1. Cats can see in the dark.
FALSE. There has to be some light for a
cat to see. They use their sensitive noses,
ears, and whiskers to navigate, but they cannot
see in total darkness.


--2. Cats naturally kill mice and rats.
FALSE. No, they naturally CHASE them. They have
to learn from their mothers when they are kittens
to kill and eat what they've captured. Some turn
rodents into toys; other into meals.


--3. Cats rub their paws against you (kneading) because
they think you are their mother.
TRUE. Kittens stimulate the flow of milk by kneading
against their mother. They've transferred this
caring motion to you, their surrogate mothers.


--4. Cats can always see better than humans.
FALSE. During the day, humans can see better.


--5. Cats and dogs can't get along. FALSE
If they are raised together, they can get along
just fine.


--6. Cats are fine in hot and cold outdoor weather.
FALSE. Actually, their fur coats aren't that
protective.


--7. All Persians look pretty much the same.
FALSE. For starters, there are more than 50
different colors of Persian cats.

--WE LOVE LEFTIES: YOU PUT YOUR LEFT PAW IN...
Cats have a tendency to be southpaws, or lefties, leading more often with the left paw than with the right. This fact was discovered after patient observation by Professor J. Cole of Oxford University

--SOME REAL "CAT"CHY EXPRESSIONS: WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

Our language today is full of descriptive phrases that refer to cats. We use them frequently without realizing the rich and colorful history that lies behind them.
Here's a few of the most common ones you probably use quite frequently:

--CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?:
This refers to asking why someone is so quiet or why they are not talking. The phrase originated hundreds of years ago in the Middle East. When people were caught lying, their punishment was to have their tongues ripped or cut out and fed to the king's cats.


--LIKE A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF:
This phrase refers to someone who is jumpy and nervous. This is the title of A Tennessee Williams' play. The characters behave like cats would if they were literally up on a hot tin roof of a house.

Going further back in time, there was an English expression, "Nimble as a cat on a hot bake stone."
A bake stone was a large flat stone that was heated and used to bake bread. If a cat were to walk on it when it was heated, he would certainly be in a hurry to get away from it.

--IT'S RAINING CATS AND DOGS!
This means a very hard downpour of rain. One explanation of this phrase goes back to the 1500's when houses had thatched roofs made of thick straw piled up high without wood support underneath. Since the roof was the warmest spot in the house, the household's cats and dogs, (along with mice, rats, and bugs,) would all nestle in the roof. However, when it rained, the roof became very slippery and the animals would slip and fall off to the ground below.

--CATCALLS:
These are the boos the audience gives to the performers for bad acting in the theater. Back in the time of Shakespeare, people would demonstrate their dislike for the stage actors' performances by making noises that sounded like an alley full of howling cats.

--LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG:
This phrase means to disclose a secret. In Medieval England, piglets were sold at the market in bags for ease in transporting by the buyer. Dishonest sellers often tried to trick buyers by putting a cat in the bag. If a careful buyer inspected the bag and found a cat, then he would literally "let the cat out of the bag," exposing the fraud.

So the next time you hear one of these "cat-chy" phrases or use one yourself, you'll be able to tell people all the fascinating history behind it!

--Cats shed more in the light. It seems that even the
glow from a TV can cause more cat hair to fall out.

--Cats groom more in sunlight. It could be that they
need to deposit more saliva to keep them cool.

--Cats in colder climates tend to be larger so that they
can hold body heat.

--Cats eat more in cold weather and less when it's hot.

*****************************

--PEOPLE FOOD:


--TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT? - THAT'S THE KITTY'S QUESTION:


Can you name 20 people foods your little feline should
not eat? How about 10? Okay, 5? Let me help you with
this list:


--NOT TO EAT:


--Uncooked bread dough:
This causes gastric problems and intoxication from the
fermentation. Get to the vet ASAP if you cat eats any.


--Baby food:
This has low nutritional value for cats and has onion
powder that causes anemia in cats.


--Onion:
It tastes good to cats, but is toxic because it has a
a chemical that harms red blood cells and (leads to
anemia.)


--Cooked goldfish (?): Well, this may not qualify as
people food unless you're a show-off college student.
Haha! It bears mentioning here because cats are often
depicted as hovering over the goldfish bowl looking
for a quick snack. The goldfish contains an enzyme
that destroys vitamin B, but if your cat should eat
one, she's not in any danger.


--Raw fish:
These can cause vitamin deficiencies if eaten in large
quantities.


--Cooked fish:
Give this to your cat only occasionally because,
unfortunately, there are too many pollutants in our
fish these days.


--People tuna:
Tuna can make cats sick if fed regularly because it lacks
the nutrients cats need. It also has too much fat and
salt. (Buy only high quality cat tuna.)


--Milk or cream:
This is dangerous even in small quantities because a cat
cannot digest the lactose in them - and this causes severe
diarrhea. You can give them an occasion treat of lactose
free milk.


--Cheese:
It contains too much fat, and like milk, causes diarrhea.


--Raw or undercooked eggs:
These are not good for people, either! This can cause
a salmonella infection. Raw egg whites can destroy certain
vitamins, leading to skin problems. (Scrambled eggs are
okay, if well cooked.)


--Liver:
Rare or partly raw liver can lead to hypervitaminosis,
which doesn't sound good at all! Well cooked liver is
okay as an occasional treat. Liver flavoring is okay.


--Fish bones:
These are more dangerous than any other kind of bone!


--Turkey and chicken bones:
Avoid these as well, unless you've cooked them in a
pressure cooker and they are very soft, not brittle.
In this case, they are good for your cat, especially
the marrow.


--Table scraps:
Avoid feeding your cat from the table. For one
thing, it makes them finicky!


--Seasonings and preservatives:
Always avoid feeding these to your cat. Try to cut
down on them yourself, especially the salty stuff!


--Fats, salt, and sugars - you know - the "good" stuff:
These are all the fatty, greasy, salty, and sweet foods
that we shouldn't eat either, but they give us so much
comfort, don't they! (There's noting like a nice hot
dog or a couple of strips of bacon!) They cause obesity,
tooth decay and digestive problems in cats (yes, and
in people, too.)


--A totally vegetarian diet:
We've talked about this in the past - Cats are carnivores
and need their meat and fish! Vegetarian diets, though
good for humans, can be lethal to your cat.


--Candy and chocolate:
Sugar can cause obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.
The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more
deadly it is for your cat. 16 ounces of chocolate is
a fatal amount. (This also includes cocoa.)


--Caffeine:
Do not feed your cat coffee, colas, tea, or any other
caffeinated foods.


--Dog food:
I know, this is not a people food (well, at least for
nobody I know personally), but it deserves a mention
here. If you have a dog in the household and think that
it's a good idea to feed the cat its food, too - think
again! Dog food causes blindness in cats because it
is deficient in taurine, which is an essential nutrient
for felines. Also, a dog food diet for a cat can cause
heart failure.


I know, you've probably heard stories from others who
have fed their cats some or most of the above, and they
are doing just fine! I guess there are exceptions to
every rule. It seems to be the same with people, too.

--Most cats eat what they need and then stop. But both
neutered male and female tend to eat more than they need.
As a result, they can become a little "portly" and develop
a somewhat unsightly sagging belly. Just look at poor Marlee...


--Most white, blue-eyed cats are deaf. White cats with
only one blue eye may be deaf only in the ear on the
same side as the blue eye. White cats with orange eyes
generally don't have this disability.


--If you give your cat tap water, it is best to let it
sit for about 24 hours before serving. The chlorine in
fresh tap water will irritate the sensitive parts of
most cats' noses.


--It has been said, "You can take a cat out of the wild,
but you can?ake the wild out of the cat." A kitten
hand raised inside still retains her hunting abilities.

--FELINE FIRST AID:


Cats do have accidents; they may be hit by a car,
fall from a considerable height, get burned, bitten,
or become wounded in any number of ways. So as a
responsible cat owner, you should know a couple of
basics about handling an emergency.


Administering first aid to a cat is, without a doubt,
a challenge for the average non-veterinarian cat owner.
But being able to give some kind immediate attention
to an injury could mean the difference between life
and death for your precious feline companion. It's
certainly not the time to be faint of heart! So it
is important that you know what to do in certain
situations.


Your best bet is to call your vet immediately, or
better yet, have someone else call the vet while you
attend to your cat. Keep the phone number of your vet
and the location of the 24 hour animal hospital in a
place near the phone, (or entered into your cell phone).


Here are just a few of the basics:


--What to do if your cat has stopped breathing:
Open the cat's mouth, check for obstacles to breathing,
and remove with your fingers to remove anything you see
that is blocking the airway. You could even try swinging
your cat by the hind legs.


--What to do if your cat gets burned:
Apply cold water or ice to the injured area. If you
know that chemicals are involved, wash the site thoroughly,
using large amounts of water.


--What to do if your cat is bleeding:
Try to stop the flow by applying pressure to the area.
Cover the wound with a gauze pad soaked in cold water
(known as cold water compress) and then apply pressure.


--What to do if your cat has suffered a blow and is
unconscious or very weak:
Keep your cat in a horizontal position. Do not lift
her head, as blood, vomit, or saliva could flow back
and block her airway. Your first priority is to move
her out of harm's way, using a blanket as a stretcher.


--What to do if your cat has ingested poison:
If your cat has ingested poison, she will probably
collapse. The proper response depends on the particular
type of poison. Some types will require an emetic,
while others will not. Try to keep a sample of whatever
your cat has consumed, so that the vet can determine
the exact nature of the poison.


If your cat has consumed poison by licking fur, then
prevent her from additional licking by wrapping her in
a blanket, leaving only her head sticking out.


If your cat is in shock, she will feel cold and will
have a rapid pulse. Keep her warm by wrapping her in
a blanket.


All first aid is an interim to veterinary attention.
Your vet will give you further instructions over the
phone about what to do immediately in each given
situation. Try to keep your head and stay calm so
you can follow directions correctly. Your kitty will
be counting on you!

--About 10 percent of a cat's bones is in its tail. The
cat's body contains 245 bones. But as they age some of
the bones fuse together and the number of bones decreases.

--The average life expectancy of a cat is between 15 to
18 years. The oldest cat on record lived to be 36 years
old. (And that's way off the age comparison chart!)

--The normal body temperature of a cat is 102 degrees.

--Cats respond better to women than men. A possible reason
is that since women have higher pitched voices, it reminds
cats of a mother cat calling her kittens. (So they say!)

--Don't feed your cat raw egg whites because they
contain an enzyme that breaks down the vitamin biotin,
which is essential to your cat's health.

--Cats with white fur and skin on their ears are very
prone to sunburn. Frequent sunburns can lead to skin
cancer. Many white cats need surgery to remove all or
part of a cancerous ear. Preventive measures include
sunscreen, or better, keeping the cat indoors.

How to determine a kitty's age