By Cats Protection
Do you know what to expect?
Cats are one of the most popular pets in the UK and - they make a wonderful addition to any household.
For new cat owners, the experience can be daunting however Cat's Protection, the UK's leading feline welfare charity has put together five top tips to help new owners.
Food
Cats should be fed a complete, balanced, good quality meatbase food; they cannot be vegetarians. There are a multitude of different brands of cat food on the market, but there are two main types to choose from; wet and dry.
Water
Cats generally don't need to drink lots every day. However, always ensure fresh, clean drinking water is available at all times. This is best placed away from their food, as cats generally prefer not to eat and drink in the same place.
Play
Keeping your cat amused with toys can help to keep them happy, provide good exercise and strengthen your bond with your cat. Play is more fun if you get involved too - you could use fishing rod toys with feathers on a string to mimic their prey!
Find a vet
You'll need to register your cat with a vet as soon as possible. A recommendation from a friend or neighbour is a great place to start; otherwise you could phone around or pop in and see them before making your choice.
Toilet training
Being clean creatures, cats don't like using dirty or soiled trays, so make sure the litter tray is cleaned at least once a day. If using clumping litter you can remove solids once or twice daily.
With some other types of litter, you may need to replace all the litter on a daily basis.
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A host of celebrities have donated one-of-a-kind 'paw prints' raising an impressive £873 for the UK's leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection.
The ninth annual Celebrity Paws auction saw the likes of London Grammar, Susan Boyle and Dermot O'Leary put their creative skills to the test.
Each celebrity was asked to draw around their hand, decorate it and then sign it to create a unique work of art.
Members of the public were encouraged to bid on individual Celebrity Paws over the 10- day online eBay auction that ended on 29 November.
This year saw bids fly in from cat lovers across the UK, with the highest bid made for Rachel Riley's expressive drawing raking in £197.
Spokesperson for Cats Protection, Louise Waters, said: "We were all really overwhelmed by the response that we received this year, it was great to see so many people get involved. We would particularly like to thank all of the celebrities for getting their creative juices flowing and of course everyone who bid for a paw. We hope they enjoy their unique celebrity creations, which would make the perfect gift this Christmas."
Cats Protection is the UK's largest cat charity, helping over 205,000 cats every year through a nationwide network of 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 adoption centres.
All proceeds from the auction will help the charity feed, neuter and rehome each cat that passes through its doors. Those interested in adopting from Cats Protection can visit the charity's website at www.cats.org.uk