Cats in the news (mews?) - felines can track their owner’s location, and 250,000 are feral in the UK

There has been a recent flurry of news stories in the UK media concerning cats, with some fascinating findings.



Researchers have discovered that cats have ‘the ability to picture the invisible in their minds’ with findings showing that they can imagine a mental representation of their owners even when they can’t see them. Studies at the University of Kyoto in Japan have discovered that cats can mentally map their location based on their owner’s voice through a series of experiments where cats cold hear only their owner’s voice. When the voice changed location, the cats appeared confused. It’s perhaps unsurprising given how important tracking and location is to cats in the wild, and how domestic cats associate food and security with their owner. 

More new research by the charity Cats Protection has found that around a quarter of a million cats (approximately the human population of Southampton) are currently unowned and feral, living in the UK’s streets. Unowned cats can pose problems as their numbers can expand rapidly if not controlled. Numbers vary across the country but are highest in densely populated and deprived areas. 

Cats Protection helps feral communities by neutering and finding homes for friendly unowned cats, and by giving local residents the means to looks after feral colonies in the community: for example, by building cat shelters and providing the materials to do so.  

Numbers of feral cats have increased as people return to work after lockdown, and some, sadly, are abandoned. It is good to know that Cats Protection is doing what it can to help the UK’s huge feral cat population.  

And lastly, a new social media superstar has arrived in the shape of Midas, a Russian Blue kitten from Turkey who has a recessive genetic mutation that gives her two sets of ears. Her hearing is unaffected, and she has been adopted, having originally been a rescue cat. You can follow Midas on Instagram at midas_x24.

Midas is pictured below, on her Instagram page, and has over 100,000 followers.

Keeping cats happy during lockdown – tips for contented felines

We’re all living in a strange new world at present as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What we once (recently) took for granted has become remote and different – we can no longer ‘pop outside’ whenever we wish, and for many of our feline companions this is the same.

Cat owners may be worried about possible transmission of the virus via their pet; all sorts of ‘information’ (and misinformation) is appearing on social media that is not necessarily helpful. There have even been instances of pets being abandoned at sanctuaries by fearful owners.

However, evidence currently shows that cats and dogs can’t catch the virus themselves, but if they are stroked by someone who has it, it may be possible to transfer it onto their fur.

This graphic, produced by World Animal Protection, is useful and reassuring.

You may feel safer keeping your cat indoors. For a cat who is usually an outdoor free-roaming feline this will be a big change. However, there are easy ways to make indoors fun and comfortable for cats. In Fun and Games for Cats by Denise Seidl there are lots of ideas for making indoor time enjoyable for your feline. You can even identify their personality type and find the games they are most likely to enjoy.

If you are keeping your cat indoors, make sure that you have a litter tray in an easily accessible place. If your cat isn’t used to one, you’ll need to show him where it is, and perhaps place him in it at regular intervals until nature calls. Place it away from the feeding area and in a quiet location.

Make time for your cat, interact and reassure him. Even older cats will play with encouragement, and the simplest things can become toys and give hours of entertainment. We all know that cats love boxes, so if you have an empty cardboard box let your cat explore it. Toys that can be chewed, chased and rolled on are what cats love best, especially if they are infused with catnip! If you don’t usually have toys around roll up some paper, even better if it makes a noise. String or ribbon is ideal, too, just attach it to something so that it can move.

Being indoors for days with your cat is an opportunity to really get to know him and strengthen your bond. Observe his behaviour. Talk to him and spend quality time pampering him. It will increase his trust and loyalty and make him more affectionate.

Would you like to better understand why your cat behaves as he does, and build a better relationship? Try reading The One Minute Cat Manager – sixty seconds to feline Shangri-La by Kac Young. It’s full of helpful tips and tricks to bond with your pet.

So, try to make ‘lockdown’ a time when both you and your feline reconnect. He may be delighted to be seeing more of you if you are usually out of the house during the day. Make time to play, enjoy each other’s company and enrich his indoor time. He can still watch the world outside through the window (as can we!), and with nature enjoying the quieter streets and gardens there will be more to observe. Birds, insects and wildlife are thriving at this time of year, and it’s fun to watch your cat watch creatures from indoors. His hunting instinct will still be there, but he can’t do any damage behind glass!

If you have a bit more time to read and love cats, try Miouw! Cats really are nicer than people by the late Sir Patrick Moore CBE FRS. It’s a lovely book about the cats who shared his life, full of anecdotes and happy memories.