Orbs 'r' Us

CAT FACTS:

-The female cat reaches sexual maturity within 6 to 10 months; most vets suggest spaying at 5 months, before her first heat period. The male usually reaches maturity between 9 & 12 mons.

-Female cats are "polyestrous", which means they may have many heat periods over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4-7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat last longer and recurs at regular intervals.

-If left to her own devices, a female can have 3 - 7 kittens every 4 months.

-Spaying a female before her 1 or 2 heat will greatly reduce the threat of mammary cancer and uterine disease. A cat does not need to have at least one litter to be healthy, nor will they miss motherhood. Records have it that one cat gave birth 420 kittens in her lifetime and another gave birth at the age of 30 to 2 kittens.

-Cat pregnancies last about 9 weeks - between 62 & 65 days from conception to delivery.

-Female cats are "superfecund" which means that each of the kittens in her litter can have a different father.

-Neutering a male cat will, in almost all cases, stop him from spraying [territorial marking], fighting with other males [at least over females], as well as lengthen his life and improve its quality.

-The indoor cat has a longer lifespan than an outdoor cat. A cat that has never been outdoors will not miss what it doesn't know.

CAT QUOTES:

"No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens"
...Abraham Lincoln