years, but many may live for longer.

Toys don’t have to be expensive. A cardboard box with holes cut into it provides a fun hiding place. Even a ball of tin foil makes a perfectly adequate toy, as long as the cat can’t swallow it.

Play is more fun if you get involved too – you could use fishing rod toys with feathers on a string to mimic their prey! Allow them to catch and ‘kill’ the toy periodically to avoid frustration.

Try making some homemade toys. A squashed piece of paper makes a good toy or toilet rolls taped together with tasty treats hidden in them is a very cheap way to entertain your cat.

Hide some dry food or treats around the house so your cat can search them out. You can also try making some puzzle feeders instead of feeding your cat in bowls. Older cats will love playing three or four times a day, while younger cats will be happy to play ten times a day or more. Very short games of one to five minutes are fine.

However, play can easily turn into aggression, so here are some tips to help you both enjoy it:

 Don’t allow your cat to chase or

bite your fingers or toes, it may really hurt and you don’t want them to learn that this is what they should play with!

They need to learn to play with toys instead to prevent any issues developing in the future. Use cat toy wands if you want them to chase toys. These are great for children to use as it keeps the cats teeth and claws away from delicate skin!

 Swap toys around regularly to keep them interesting.

 Limit time with any toys that encourage over-excitement/ stimulation.

 Try cat trees, novelty cat boxes and activity centres.

 If your cat gets over excited and bites or scratches you, stop the play and move away from the cat.

Leave the room if necessary.

Cats naturally use objects to scratch, to mark their territory, strengthen their muscles and sharpen their claws.

A scratch post will give your cat a place to do this, which is not your furniture!

Provide your cat with a sturdy scratching post that is tall enough for them to use fully stretched, especially if they don’t go outdoors.

Cat Nip, a natural herb which cats love, can help persuade your cat to use a scratcher.

Cats love to observe their surroundings from height so cat trees are a great resource for cats and they absolutely love them. The bigger and higher the better!

Cats like to stretch and scratch after they wake up and after they eat so try placing the scratch post in these areas. To deter your cat from scratching in inappropriate places, cover them with plastic or tin foil.

Remember to praise the cat when she uses the scratching post.

Provide enough resources

If you have more than one cat, make sure you provide enough litter trays, toys, scratching posts or mats, beds and hiding places for all of them, as well as enough space for them to get away from each other if they want to.

You should always provide a spare, so if you’ve two cats/kittens, provide three of everything, spaced out around the house, in different rooms.

Cats also see their owners as a resource so make sure you devote time to them daily, and divide your time equally between your cats, if you have more than one

The way a cat behaves depends on their age, personality and past experiences – frightening experiences and punishment can lead to behaviour problems.

4. A stress and fear free life

A new home, moving house and new additions to a family of the human and animal variety can be very stressful for a cat. They are very sensitive to change and noise. Cats do not show their emotions as well as some other species and tend to withdraw and become quiet rather than 'act out' their anxieties.

It therefore becomes necessary for owners to appreciate the subtle signs of stress in their own cats in order to provide the best possible care. Chronic stress can suppress the immune response, causing a broad range of illnesses.

Here are some signs of stress you'll want to watch out for in

your cat, especially if they occur suddenly. If you see any of these signs consult your Vet straight away.

 Urinating outside the litter tray.  Diarrhoea, constipation or other digestive issues.  Excessive grooming.  Excessive scratching.  Isolation/hiding.  Excessive vocalization.  Decrease in appetite.  Increased sleeping or lethargy.  Aggression towards other animals.  Aggression towards people.

Why are some cats shy or fearful?

Shy or fearful behaviour is most often caused by negative associations made in early life. If a cat doesn’t interact with people often or experiences abuse or trauma, later, he may be afraid to trust humans. Other shy or fearful cats may be that way simply because they’re genetically predisposed to be that way.

What are common fear triggers?

 A loud noise or a quick movement.  A strange environment.  A strange person or animal.  An active child.  A stressful event, such as a move or a trip to the vet.

When cats feel threatened, they usually respond in three ways to the object, person or situation they perceive as a threat: fight, flee or freeze. Each cat has his/her preferred way of dealing with a crisis.