Cats reach sexual maturity between four and 12 months, but unlike hooman females, queens do not have an oestrus ‘cycle’ as such. Estrus, the time at which they are receptive to mating, is rarely accompanied by any swelling of the vulva or discharge. In the Northern hemisphere, felines are likely to be ready to mate
Dogs reach sexual maturity between six and 24 months, and like hooman females, dams have an oestrus cycle. This completes fully approximately twice a year, and there are four stages. The first of these is proestrus, lasting an average of nine days. The sire is attracted to the dam, but she is non-receptive. She may
Most cat owners have experienced buying their furry friend an expensive gift, only to find she is more interested in the box it came in. Felines are renowned for their love of tight, confined spaces, as they simulate the safe, secure place they would seek out naturally in the wild. When totally surrounded by an
A dog’s sense of smell is at least 10,000 times better than his hooman’s, given that he has 300 million scent sensors compared with our meagre six million. These olfactory capabilities are highly tuned in breeds such as the Bloodhound, Basset Hound, Beagle, German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. But why are canines obsessed with each
