Cats are amongst the most loved pets in the UK (with over 8 million cared for in homes across the country), and the primary motive of owning a cat is generally their famed companionship. There is a large number of cat varieties, with the top breeds include the Bengal, British Short Hair, Burmese, Manx and Siamese alongside over 7 million non pedigree cats in the UK.

Cats are remarkably strong for their size and have very flexible bodies. They also have highly developed senses (at least when compared to those of humans) including excellent vision and a strong sense of smell and hearing. Their highly reflective eyes have also led to the invention of road “cat’s eyes”. Felines use their whiskers to help them navigate in the dark, judge distances between themselves and other objects, or for sensing air currents.

Cats are active both during the day and at night, although they do tend to sleep a lot - some cat naps can last between 12 and 16 hours (per day). A cat can spend hours cleaning itself by licking its coat, their tongues acting as a comb, and as a result of this technique cats may often regurgitate hairballs. These are balls of hair, sometimes a few centimetres long that have collected in the cat’s stomach after their grooming activities.

Pet cats can on average live to as much as 11 to 15 years, and although they may be very well looked after by their owners they are very active pets that have curious natures and will enjoy roaming their territory. It is perhaps not surprising that cats may be vulnerable to a variety of health conditions during their lifetime - from injuries, infections and diseases. Vaccinations are a popular pre-emptive treatment choice by cat owners, applied especially to kittens. There are a good number of highly qualified vets in the UK that are able to provide excellent levels of care and it is prudent to register your cat with the local veterinary to regularly monitor their health.

Cat insurance from a reputable company, can offer piece of mind for cat owners. Some providers can offer different levels of insurance to suit budgets as well as providing cover for the costs of potential visits to the vet as well as any un-foreseen medical bills (for cats up to an age of 11), from as little as £4.20 per month which would cover vets fees, quarantine costs and travel overseas.