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.

As with any pet you bring home, a new rabbit will need some time to get used to its new owners and environment. In most cases, rabbits settle in with few problems that are of any long-term concern, but unfortunately, some rabbits need a little bit more patience and attention before they can live comfortably, safely and happily in their new home. These rabbits may come across as aggressive and may bite, nip, kick and chase you. None of these actions are pleasant and may make you feel like you’ve done something wrong, but rest assured, it isn’t your fault. We know that all you want to do is give your new bun-buns all the love and cuddles she could possibly want, but first of all she needs to learn that you have no intention of hurting her.

The most obvious way to alleviate some of the aggression is to have your rabbit spayed or neutered. Doing this may solve the problem of an angry rabbit straight away, though sometimes, it doesn’t happen quite that easily. It might not just be hormones causing erratic behaviour and even if hormones are the primary reason, there is no guarantee that your rabbit will suddenly want to be stroked and held. Gaining the trust of your rabbit will still require a little more effort on your part.

When you pin down precisely what action triggers aggressive behaviour in your rabbit, you can successfully attempt to deal with it. There is a good possibility that, when your rabbit bites you when you move to stroke her, or when she lunges at you every time you walk into the room, she is simply exhibiting fear or annoyance. This is something that can take time to overcome, but the important thing to note is that it can be. Many experts suggest you simply ignore the aggressive behaviour and treat your rabbit like the best thing in the world. Always use a confident, excited tone and – wearing a glove that amply protects your fleshy fingers – continue to pat her head, even if she tries to bite you. If you do this every day, your rabbit will eventually realise you have no intention of hurting her and you can move on to gently and carefully stroking her head instead. When bun-buns is used to this, stroke her ears too, and on and on until she’s happy with the attention and even craves it.

Believe it or not, there is a big difference between a rabbit that bites and a rabbit that nips. Most often, the former is a show of aggression, whereas the latter may simply be a way of communicating something to you. Some rabbits will nip when they want attention, and some will nip when they want you to put them down. It isn’t necessarily an act of aggression. It’s likely that, when your rabbit bites you, she’s merely being defensive, maybe over food or over territory. Remember to always move slowly and cautiously. Fast, jerky movements may be a sign of aggression towards bun-buns and she may mistake your actions as threatening. Whenever you have to clean out the cage, give bun-buns the opportunity to leave before you drag her out. When you have to feed her, distract her by gently petting her while placing the food bowl in the cage.

Your rabbit may never end up the cuddle-monster you so desperately want her to be, but you can definitely take steps to encourage her to be loving and affection. Though it’s rare, unfortunately some rabbits never manage to overcome incredibly aggressive behaviour and though it may seem cruel, the best thing to do is to have your rabbit put to sleep. Rabbits have the ability to cause some very serious injuries and if she is so stressed and unhappy in her environment that she resorts to viciously biting and scratching , it is sometimes for the best.

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.