Cats are now Britain’s favourite pet: there are 7.7 million cats as opposed to 6.6 million dogs.

One un-neutered female cat can, in five years, be responsible for over 20,000 descendants. Female cats can have their first litter as young as six months and can have up to three litters each year—with five or six kittens in each litter.

Ever wondered why kittens can all be different colours and look so different from their mums? The fact is that one in four pregnant cats carries kittens fathered by more than one mate. A fertile female may mate with several tom-cats, which fertilise different eggs each time.

A sexually-active feral tom-cat "owns" an area of about three square miles and "sprays" to mark his territory with strong smelling urine.

Most cats killed on the road are un-neutered toms, as they are more likely to roam further afield and cross busy roads.

Ninety-two per cent of cats are "Moggies", or, non-pedigrees. How did the name "Moggie" come about? One theory holds that it comes from old English dialect, where "Moggie" was used to designate a loose woman or prostitute. It is thought that this name was given to cats because they mate repeatedly with different males when they are in season.

Why do people have cats? One survey that looked into the reasons people have cats found the following:

	companionship/comfort 27%
	stress/blood pressure relief --22%
	something to love/feel needed— 9%
	lifts depression/boosts moods 10%
	subject of communication/stimulates interest 8%

The oldest cat on record was probably "Puss", a tabby owned by Mrs. Holway of Clayhidon, Devon. Having celebrated his 36th birthday on November 28, 1939, Puss died the following day.

The smallest breed of domestic cat is the Singapura or "Drain Cat" of Singapore. Adult females weigh in at an average of 4lbs.

A cat’s normal temperature varies around 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

On September 6,1950, a four-month-old kitten belonging to Josephine Aufdenblatten of Geneva, Switzerland followed a group of climbers to the top of the 14,691 -ft. Matterhorn in the Alps.

The largest breed of cat is the Ragdoll with males weighing in at 1 5 to 20 lbs. The heaviest domestic cat on record was a neutered male tabby named Himmy from Queensland, Australia who weighed 46 lbs. 1 5 oz.

Cats’ eyes shine in the dark because of the tapetum, a reflective layer in the eye, which acts like a mirror.

Among many other diseases, cats can suffer from anorexia, senility, feline AIDS and acne.

On February 28, 1 980 a female cat climbed 70 feet up the sheer pebble-dash outside wall of a block of flats in Bradford, Yorkshire and took refuge in the roof space. She had been frightened by a dog.

British cat owners spend roughly £550 million yearly on cat food.

A cat named Dusty, aged 1 7, living in Bonham, Texas, USA, gave birth to her 420th kitten on June 23, 1952.

A cat’s appetite is the barometer of its health. Any cat that does not eat or drink for more than two days should be taken to a vet.

Cats can be prone to fleas in the summertime: 794 fleas were counted on one cat by a Cats Protection volunteer in the summer of 1 992.

Edward Lear, author of "The Owl and the Pussycat", is said to have had his new house in San Remo built to exactly the same specification as his previous residence, so that his much-loved tabby, Foss, would immediately feel at home.