You love your cat. You love your cat so much that when it started to jump on your bed and sleep next to you at night when it was young, you thought it was cute and just let the little guy continue doing it. However, now your kitty is full grown and actually takes up quite a bit of your bed space when he is catching his z's. So much so that sometimes you cannot get comfortable enough to get a good night sleep. Well, you can avoid feeling guilty about kicking him off the bed and providing him a cat bed that will give him his own special place to sleep.

Most male animals that are not used for breeding purposed are castrated, neutered, so that they can no longer impregnate a female. For cats especially, this is crucial, since there are hundreds of kittens every year that go without homes. There are many advantages to neutering your male cat, and the process is quite safe, so you should consider it if your furry feline friend is male and not yet neutered.

American interest in the cat is often said to have originated within the 20th century, since the advent of exhibitions and the taking up of the cat-cult by the public. This impression is not borne out by facts. The first cat-shows were held in Maine between 1860 and 1870, even before the great exhibition instituted in London in 1871 by the well-known animal painter, Harrison Weir. But cat-shows in America were not known outside of Maine until one was held in the Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1895.

If you are shipping cats by rail or air, first check with the carriers and find out their rules for health certificates and suitable shipping containers. It is not advisable to give cats tranquilizers. Some cats can become very aggressive on this type of medication while others become sick.

Many serious, even potentially fatal, illnesses can be prevented by vaccination. Some inoculations are compulsory while some are optional, but it is essential that you check with your veterinarian for the best course of preventive medicine.

Cats can also be vaccinated against feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a complex and often fatal virus that can attack the bone marrow and can cause cancer, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease that causes the chest or abdominal cavity to fill up with fluid. These vaccinations may not be necessary for isolated indoor cats, which are unlikely to be exposed to these diseases. Although the chance of exposure of indoor cats to rabies is very small, all cats should be vaccinated against the disease.

Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. Equipped with basic knowledge, you will find that providing the best possible nutrition for your cat is neither difficult nor complex.

Every town has them... stray cats, wandering around back yards, alleys, walking down the road, robbing trash receptacles or other yard-pets' bowls in order to survive.

Pedigreed cats are a source of joy and pride for their owners. Besides their gorgeous coats, beautiful lines, and great disposition, these animals offer companionship and entertainment to those who love them. Choosing a pedigreed cat is not easy, but knowing the most popular breeds of pedigreed cats may help.

Cats are born with claws, the same way that humans are born with fingernails and toe nails. Cats need claws in order to mark or scratch a specific place or territory that they have been in.