Can cats get sunburned?

Cats, like humans, can burn in strong sunshine, with white and pale coloured felines being the most a risk. If you have a pale coloured cat make sure that he has sun block on his ears and nose, the two areas most likely to burn. Use a waterproof non-toxic sun scrren which your cat can’t lick off and reapply the cream throughout the day. Ask your vet for a suitable sun cream to use. Try to keep your cat indoors between 10am and 3pm this is when the sun is hottest. Always provide a shady retreat for hot cats.

How can I keep my cat's teeth clean and healthy?

Many adult cats suffer from heavy build-up of plaque or calculus on their teeth which causes them great discomfort when eating and will eventually lead to a refusal to eat and/or teeth loss.

Plaque and calculus can be removed by a veterinary surgeon while the cat is under a general anaesthetic. You can also buy food which loosens plaque and calculus whilst eating and teeth cleaning products are available. Many cats do not like having their teeth brushed; however, if brushing is started when they are young kittens tolerance levels increase.

Do lilies pose a threat to my cat’s health?

Lilies are extremely poisonous to cats. Signs of poisoning can include continued vomiting, blindness, paralysis, renal failure, coma and death. It is not only the ingestion of the plant that can cause such signs in cats, brushing past the flower and then grooming the pollen from the fur can also have the same effect.

Identified as the most dangerous types of lily are: the Easter Lily (Lilium Longiflorum), the Tiger Lily (Lilium Tigrinum), the Rubrum Lily (Lilium Speciosum), the Stargazer Lily (Lilium Orientalis), the Japanese Show Lily (Lilium Lancifolium), Asiatic Lilies and species of the Day Lily (Hemerocalis), but do take care with all types of lily.

Lilies are becoming increasingly popular in bouquets and incidents of poisoning are increasing according to the RSPCA, but do not panic, just use your common sense when dealing with lilies and avoid including them in bouquets. The RSPCA is currently campaigning for clearer labeling about the dangers to cats on bouquets and plants.

The history of cats

The cat, also known as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from other felines, is a small predatory carnivorous species of crepuscular mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin, snakes and scorpions. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.

A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. It can be trained to obey simple commands. Individual cats have also been known to learn on their own to manipulate simple mechanisms, such as doorknobs. Cats use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting.Cats may be the most popular pet in the world, with over 600 million in homes all over the world. They are also bred and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is known as the "Cat Fancy".

Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal. However a 2007 study found that all house cats are probably descended from a group of as few as five self-domesticating African Wildcats Felis silvestris lybica circa 8000 BC, in the Near East.

The Present

In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one’s other commitments: 　　Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. 　　But the other four balls family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How? 　　Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. 　　Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. 　　Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless. 　　Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life. 　　Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. 　　Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together. 　　Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. 　　Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings. 　　Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going. 　　Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. 　　Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. 　　Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. 　　Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift: that’s why we call it ‘The Present’.