Cats can live for twenty years or more so they can be a big responsibility.

Cats need a safe area, like a garden, if they’re going to be outdoors most of the time. Cats can also wander onto busy roads and get run over, so you need to think about this too.

If your cat is going to be indoors most of the time, then it can become bored easily.

If you don’t live in a safe area and you don’t want to keep your cat indoors then perhaps it is better not to ask for a pet cat.

A cat or kitten will need a litter tray, food and water bowls, a carrying basket, a bed, toys and food.

All cats need regular brushing to remove loose hair. A cat licks its fur clean and any loose hair can form a fur ball inside the cat. Most cats don't need a bath because they spend a lot of time grooming.

Around 4000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians kept cats as pets. They thought cats were sacred and they even mummified dead cats!

The Romans brought the cat to Britain and people kept them as pets for years. Then during the Middle Ages, cats were associated with witches so people weren’t so fond of them. But today they are so popular that there are over 7 million in this country alone!

A cat has about twenty-four whiskers, twelve on each side of its nose.

Whiskers are twice as thick as ordinary hairs and have lots of nerve endings. This means whiskers are sensitive to the air and things they touch, so they help cats feel their way around. Because of this, cats can sense the size and shape of an object without looking at it.

DON'T ever trim a cat's whiskers or wash them, as any damage to a cat's whiskers will cause your cat discomfort.

Members of the cat family are called felines. There are big cats like tigers, and small cats like the domestic cat. This is another name we use for pet cat.

The smallest member is the rusty-spotted cat found in Sri Lanka. It is about half the size of a domestic cat. The largest is the tiger.

The lion is the king of the cats and likes to live in a group, called a pride.

The fastest cat is the cheetah. It is also the fastest land animal.

At the back of a cat's eye, there is a layer called the tapetum lucidum. It reflects light and causes cats' eyes to glow at night. The layer absorbs six times more light than human eyes, so a cat can see better than a human can in the dark.

Cats also have a good sense of smell and the tip of a cat's nose may be black, reddish, or pink, and is usually cool and moist.

A cat has thirty permanent teeth. The strongest and sharpest are the four large, curved, pointed fangs at the front. These are called the canines. Cats use their teeth as weapons and to chew food.

Cats also use their claws as weapons. They can pull their claws back into their toes. This means their claws don't get in the way all the time.

CATS ALWAYS LAND ON THEIR FEET

Cats instinctively fall on their feet and can survive falls from high places, but they can also break many bones in doing so. It is best to keep upstairs windows closed.

CATS HAVE NINE LIVES

Cats are amazingly agile and flexible and because of this they can escape from dangerous situations, making it seem as if they have nine lives. They haven’t really!

CATS SHOULD DRINK MILK EVERY DAY

Most cats like milk, but not all cats can drink milk without it upsetting their tummy. Milk can be a treat from time to time, but only in small amounts. Water, on the other hand, should be available for the cat to drink all the time.

Cats like being on their own and each one has its own marked place, called its territory.

Cats can often fight over their territories and this can mean a trip to the vets if the cat is scratched or bitten, because the wounds can become infected.

Cats also go to the vets for vaccinations to keep them healthy and protected against disease. Fur balls can also be a problem, as can fleas and worms. If you need advice on any of these then your vet is the best person to talk to.