You might remember that a few weeks ago, we discussed the most common dog behaviour, anything from tail wagging to rolling over. This week it’s the turn of the cats and you might find yourself learning some very interesting bits of information that even experienced cat owners never knew!

1. Purring – now, you may think that purring can only be a good sign when it comes to cats and kittens, but contrary to popular belief, cats will also purr when they are in pain or feel unwell. It can be taken as a sign that they are in distress and need our help, however, it usually signals the cat is happy and relaxed.

2. Furniture scratching - most cats tend to do this to help renew their claws. They are probably using the furniture because they haven’t been trained to use a scratching post.

3. Tail wagging - unlike when dogs wag their tails, a cat wagging its tail may well be showing signs of anger or aggression. It can also suggest a cat is busy deciding or thinking about what it wants to do next, akin to us tapping our feet!

4. Kneading – kneading is a throwback from kittenhood. Kittens tend to knead their mother’s teats in order to  encourage milk and owners who experience a kneading cat while sitting on their lap are usually seen as a surrogate parent! It’s a sign that your cat feels very safe, secure and happy.

5. Face  and leg rubbing – this is actually really rather sweet. Cats tend to greet one another by rubbing faces with eachother and they imitate this behaviour when they’re saying hello to us, too. When they wind around our legs, this is also a show of greeting and they may well be scenting at the same time.

6. Grass eating - similarly to dogs, cats will eat grass when they feel the urge to vomit, usually to help get rid of and dislodge hairballs.

7. Freezing and crouching – more often than not, this is a signal a cat is stressed or frightened. They sit very still and make themselves very small to avoid being spotted, perhaps because they feel they are in danger.

8. Hissing and spitting – this is a sign of defensive aggression. A cat that is unhappy with a situation may well hiss, spit and even try to bite and scratch because they are frightened or feel threatened.

We understand what it’s like when you decide you’re going to get a new pet for yourself or for the family. It conjures the image of Christmas morning, the kids coming down to an adorable bundle of fluffiness raring for love and attention. Sadly, not many of you are even aware that there are thousands of pets that are either abandoned or given away that desperately seek new homes and new families to care for them. To say we are a nation of animal lovers, there has been a steady rise in abandoned pets over the past couple of years with owners offering myriad unjustifiable and often utterly bizarre excuses for the neglect and cruelty of their animals, anything from ‘my dog hurts my leg when he wags his tail’ to ‘my cat doesn’t match my carpet’

The recession hasn’t helped matters, and a staggering number of pet owners can no longer cope with the cost of keeping an animal. Thankfully, not all of these individuals will leave their poor pooch or cute kitten on the side of the road and they will do the right thing and take them to the RSPCA, but there is still the problem of finding them new homes.

The common misconception is that animals that have been left with the RSPCA have behavioural problems that make them aggressive and unpredictable, but this is not true. Many larger pets like cats and dogs find themselves in the hands of the RSPCA simply because their owner couldn’t afford to keep them any longer, or worse, because they have been mistreated and abused. It’s not just cats and dogs that find themselves in need of new homes, though. Various pet shops around the country provide a specific area that is exclusively for pets that have had previous owners and are in dire need of a new one. Rats, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals are often overlooked because they’ve grown up and no longer have the more appealing appearance of a baby. These animals are the ones that need a home more than any of the others. A life spent in a small cage in a pet shop without anyone to give them the attention they deserve is no life at all, so think twice before you decide to buy a baby. The chances are, a puppy, a kitten or any other young animal is destined to find a home very easily, but an older animal needs one more. Have a heart. They can’t take care of themselves…

With the people of Britain having spent over £27 million on their pets last Christmas, it comes as no surprise that there are some exceptionally weird and wonderful products out there for your animal companion to get its paws, claws, talons or fins on. This week we’re going to show you just some of the craziest pet products we have ever seen and we’ll give our honest opinion on how useful they are.

• You probably weren’t aware you can get prozac for your pooch to help perk them up if they spend a long time alone while owners are out or at work. The drug, called Reconcile, apparently works the same way as the human version, increasing the level or serotonin produced in the brain to improve mood. If you ask us, this is taking things a little too far. If your dog is suffering from some kind of mental disorder caused by separation from their beloved owner, you have to wonder if they should have gotten a dog in the first place. Not everything should be solved with pills, least of all where animals are concerned.

• This next product is actually a pretty nifty little gadget. The Litter Robot is for those people who squirm at the thought of cleaning up after their moggy. This handy, spacecraft-esq machine does the job for you. Not only does it quickly hide away the cat’s undesirables, it also prevents odours. The inventors also claim it will save you 50% of the cost of buying litter and the only other thing you need is a regular old binbag to line the tray. You will, however, have to get off your lazy backside to empty that.

• So, this isn’t exactly a product for your pet. This is, in fact, a product made out of your pet – no animal cruelty here, of course. Or at least, we hope not. The Fur-Ever Keepsake can be anything from a glove to a coat made entirely out of – you guessed it – the fur of your pet. So if being apart from your darling little chihuahua Tootsie is just too much for you to handle, have a pair of gloves knitted from her fur and take her with you everywhere you go. You can even get that fresh, wet dog smell when you get caught in the rain.

• One of the most pointless inventions out of all of these products is probably the Goldfish Walker. Basically a fish tank on wheels that allows you to show your marine critters the sights. Like we said, pointless.

• Now, despite being yet another utterly useless item, if you’re a big beer drinker it is actually kind of quaint. Beer….for your dog. Happy Tail Ale, it’s called. Luckily it contains no alcohol, is non-carbonated and, unlike beer for human consumption, is actually pretty healthy. It’s also flavoured with drippings to make it taste like a dog’s favourite food, given the choice. Beef. Mmm…yum…

• So, we’ve saved the best for last. This is also the most risque of our featured products and it goes by the name of the Hotdoll, a doggy shaped doll that keeps your rather affectionate dog away from your leg. We’re sure you have vivid imaginations. You can work out the rest for yourselves.