Cat Keeping in the US and UK Compared

This indoor lifestyle is reflected in other statistics. In Britain un-neutered toms are more acceptable as pets than they are in the US. An un-castrated tom makes for a pungent indoor-only pet! Conversely, un-spayed females are more common as pets in the States than in Britain; since indoor-only females don't risk unplanned pregnancies.

As a consequence of the indoor lifestyle, litter trays are big business. 70% of American cat owners buy commercial litter compared to less than 30% of British cat owners. Litters range from 'scoopable' and 'multicat formula' to 'reusable' and litter advertising is far more prominent in American magazines than in British ones.

American cat owners can choose between functional plastic litter trays, disposable biodegradable litter trays, 'flushing' Kitty Privvies, two-story kitty privies which prevent litter from being tracked all over the house or even products to train Kitty to use the toilet and eliminate the need for a litter tray altogether.

The Declawing Debate

The subject of declawing is the cause of much disagreement between cat lovers. This operation is more-or-less routine in many parts of the States and is often the first course of action for a destructive cat. Many other cats end up at humane shelters for the crime of clawing the furniture. Since so few cats get new homes, Kitty may well be better off with a home but no claws than with claws but no home.

A survey in the magazine CAT FANCY found that 31% of respondents had their cats de-clawed, some because the cats refused to use scratching posts while others seemed unwilling to try training their cats. One respondent summed up her reasons for declawing her cat:

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