Have you ever wondered about those strange sayings involving cats? Here are a few:
"while the cat's away the mice will play"!
"like herding cats"
"Catnapping," and
"like a cat with its tail on fire."

Cats rarely do exactly what owners want, hence "like herding cats" refers to a job made difficult by everybody trying to go in different directions and originally applied to software engineers.

Another feline saying from the world of work is attributable to "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams - "about as pleasant as combing your hair with a feral cat" indicates a task which is very unpleasant indeed.

"A cat's lick" is a half-hearted wash, though cats wash most thoroughly and that quick lick simply attends to an irritating area of fur while "before the cat can lick its ear" refers to something impossible as the cat must wash its ear using a licked paw! .

"Catnapping" refers to the cats ability to become fully alert from a daytime doze, or from a cat feigning sleep to deceive its prey into moving so that the cat can continue the chase.

Cats hate to relinquish a favorite sunning place, even when it gets uncomfortably hot. A fidgety person is like "a cat on hot bricks" or "a cat on a hot tin roof". Hot cats also give us "like a cat with its tail on fire" and "like a scalded cat" (or "like a scorched cat") which could relate to cats getting too close to the fire.

Another saying with a similar sentiment is "like a cat with the wind up its tail" which refers to the skittish behavior of a cat on a windy day, cats generally dislike gusty weather, especially if the wind does literally catch them "up the tail."

Catnapping may mean a cat feigning sleep or lack of interest to deceive its prey (which may be playing dead) into moving. Such hunting tactics give us the 14th Century "as the cat plays with a mouse" and the more modern "playing cat and mouse" which was used in reference to politics. Remember "while the cat's away the mice will play"! The Scottish version is "well keens the mouse when the cat is out of the house". It means when the supervisor's attention is elsewhere, others are free to get up to unseen mischief. :-)

Q: When my cat wags its tail does that mean she is happy?

A: Unlike dogs, cats do NOT wag their tails when they are happy - they wag their tails when they are aggravated. This is different from a gently swaying tail, and can be a prelude to an aggressive act.

Q: What is cat body language?

A: Body language remains the favored, logical method for cats to communicate with other cats and people. The whole body can be used to send signals and also to indicate complete relaxation. For all forms of visible communication the ears and tail are the cat’s most expressive parts. Though your cat may seem aloof, this often-reclusive creature is really quite the chatterbox, if you know what to look for. Your cat uses body language almost exclusively to communicate. Watching how your cat carries itself will help you to understand how it's feeling. As you learn, you'll be able to predict its behavior as well. Your cat is talking all the time; it's just a matter of knowing how to listen

Q: Why does my cat rub it’s head against me?

A: Rubbing cheeks acts not only as a means to pick up or leave scent markers, but also a means to create a relationship based upon physical contact. Although cats have earned a reputation of being aloof, they too need bodily contact for reassurance and affection. Aromatic markers called pheromones help establish and maintain a cat's territory. These powerful scents are critical elements in communications between cats, and are emitted by different glands located strategically throughout the cat's body. Cats will also use contact to communicate urgency, from gentle reminders of feeding time to a demanding insistent rub. Rubbing or butting may also be a signal of social rank

Q: What are some signs of Ill Health

A: Only a healthy pet is a happy companion. Assuring your pet's daily well-being requires regular care and close attention to any hint of ill health. The American Veterinary Medical Association therefore suggests that you consult your veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following signs: * Abnormal discharges from the nose, eyes, or other body openings * Loss of appetite, marked weight losses or gains, or excessive water consumption * Difficult, abnormal, or uncontrolled waste elimination * Abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, or lethargy * Abnormal lumps, limping, or difficulty getting up or lying down * Excessive head shaking, scratching, and licking or biting any part of the body * Dandruff, loss of hair, open sores, and a ragged or dull coat. * Foul breath or excessive tarter deposits on teeth

The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) (Felis bengalensis) is a small, exotic, wild, spotted feline. Although they are much smaller, they do bear a striking resemblance to their larger cousins, the Ocelot and the African Leopard. These beautiful, wild felines are a small breed weighing, on average, about 10 to 12 pounds. They are primarily a cat of the forest, nocturnal and generally very shy. Although extremely wild they are not an aggressive cat and will flee rather then fight.

Describe The Asian Leopard Cat’s appearance

I suppose it is understandable that, at first, people have the mistaken idea that the ALC is a big cat, on the order of the better known African leopard or South American Jaguar. In fact the ALC is much closer in size to the domestic cat. This small wild cat ranges in weight from as little as 5 pounds to as much as 18 pounds, depending on the species. The males usually weigh 2 to 4 pounds more than the females. They appear larger then a domestic cat due to the length of there body and somewhat longer legs.

The head is small compared to the rest of the body and the ears are small and rounded. The body length varies from twenty-five to thirty plus inches with a thick tail that is approximately eleven to fourteen inches long.

They have a variable background Color depending on what subspecies and where they originate from, but typically it is a golden brown to tawny brown. The belly is typically a very stark white with spots (one of the hardest traits to carry over into the latter generations of Bengals). The tail is normally spotted with the spots forming rings towards the tip.

Leopard Cats do not make good pets. Being a wild animal and solitary in nature, they do not welcome being touched or handled by humans. Also due to their wild nature, they could pose a threat to children and other pets. Many states require special permits to have wild cats.

Bengal cats have a striking appearance that reminds us of an ALC, but, the Bengal is not a wild cat! It is a domestic breed of cat created by selectively breeding the ALC with several domestic breeds. The Asian leopard is one of a few species of wild cats that will breed with domestic cats. Therefore, the domestic Bengal cat does retain a strong physical resemblance to the beautiful, wild ALC together with the gentle sweetness of the common house cat.