SECRET LIVES OF CATS REVEALED THANKS TO GPS TRACKERS
A BBC Horizon programme called The Secret Life Of The Cat that aired in 2013 used GPS trackers and tiny cameras attached to pet cats to reveal how territorial felines are.
It followed a group of 50 cats every move for one week in the picturesque Surrey village of Shamley Green.
Despite disappearing from their homes for hours at a time, very few of the moggies ventured further than 164 feet (50 metres) away.
Instead, they stuck to distinct, well-defined patches, that the team of experts turned into a fascinating map.
A cat named Claude caught on camera stealing another felines food, may not have been concerned about sneaking into a neighbour’s kitchen, but rarely strayed more than five doors down the road.
The only exception was seven-year-old Sooty, who roamed two miles a day over an area of more than seven acres.
‘We had always been curious about what he got up to,’ said Sooty’s owner, 17-year-old A-level student Tom Townsend-Smith, who lives in Shamley Green with his parents and sister.
‘He disappears for long periods of time – now we know why.’
It was revealed that Sooty descends from a line of farm cats, accustomed to roaming for miles around.
The others may not have travelled far, but were remarkably proprietorial about their territory, marking it with distinctive-smelling chemicals which are secreted when they rub up against trees and rocks.
Even the most placid moggies were found to invade others’ territories under the cover of night.
Janet Williams, a 50-year-old book-keeper, was surprised to learn that her mild-mannered ten-year-old tomcat Ginger was moonlighting as the local trespasser after she had gone to bed.
‘We’d always thought he was quite a laid back cat. He might go next door or something, but no further than that.’
In fact, Ginger was making regular 4am trips into the garden of another cat, Tigger, further down the road – much to Tigger’s dismay.
“While it’s great to take them out, dogs do get bored being walked in the same park every day. “They need to follow scents and sniff things, which is hard for humans to understand, but they need the chance to be dogs, to experience different terrain and textures and explore new things.”
Experts said the findings showed how important it was for dogs to explore varying and unfamiliar terrain and to be allowed off their leads.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Off lead exercise is extremely important for a dog’s general health and fitness, so we would encourage owners of well trained and socialised dogs to exercise their pets off lead at least once a day.
The GPS that had plotted Chester’s “exploratory” path showed that he had run 8.8 miles (over 14 km) as he looped and zig-zagged around his owners through undergrowth and wild flora.
Louise Glazebrook, an animal behaviourist and founder of the Darling Dog Company, said that dogs need constant stimulation.
Dog Walking Needs By Breed
| Breeds | How often? | How long? | How far? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Herding Dogs |
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| Cattle Dogs, Shepherds, Sheepdogs, Collies, Corgis | Two or three times a day. These clever dogs like to get out a few times so they don’t go stir crazy. | At least 120 minutes plus additional activities for larger breeds, 60 minutes for corgis. | 8 to 10 miles minimum, up to 20 or more for larger breeds. 5 to 8 miles for corgis. |
|
Sporting Dogs |
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| Pointers, Spaniels, Retrievers, Weimaraner, Vizsla. | Twice a day. These dogs like a good solid walk but also may get bored inside after a long walk. | At least 100 minutes plus additional activities for larger breeds, 60 minutes for smaller spaniels. | 10 to 12 miles minimum, up to 30 miles for large breeds, 8 to 10 miles for smaller spaniels. |
|
Hound Dogs |
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| Greyhounds, Afghans, Coonhounds, Foxhounds, Dachshunds, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolfhounds. | Once a day. These dogs are usually happy to take it easy after a good long walk, with outside play and other activities as well. | At least 120 minutes for larger breeds, 30 to 60 minutes for smaller breeds | 12 to 15 minimum, Up to 20 miles for larger breeds. 5 to 10 miles for smaller breeds. |
|
Rat and Small Game Terriers |
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| Airedale, Hairless, Border, Schnauzer, Fox, Rat, Scottish, Kerry Blue, Lakeland, Manchester. | Twice or more a day. These active little dogs like to get out and see what is going on a couple times a day. | 60 minutes for most breeds, up to 120 for larger breeds. | 3 to 5 miles for most breeds, 8 to 10 minimum and up to 20 for larger breeds. |
|
Large Terriers and Working Group |
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| Staffordshire, Bull terriers, Boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Mountain dogs, Husky. | Once a day. These dogs would rather a good long hike with another activity in the morning or evening when they aren’t walked. | 60 to 80 minutes for most breeds, up to 180 for high energy breeds like huskies. | 5 to 10 miles for most breeds, up to 20 miles for active breeds. |
|
Non-Sporting and Toy Group |
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| Eskimo, Bichon, Shar-Pei, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Poodle, Schipperke, Lhasa Apso, Maltese. | Twice a day. These dogs thrive with a couple of strolls morning and evening. | 30 to 60 minutes for most breeds, Dalmations and schipperkes need up to 120. | 2 to 5 miles for most breeds. Dalmations should cover up to 10 miles a day, while schipperkes need up to 8. |
This dog will walk in slow motion and then scare his owner @NicholasJamesEmmizzie
How often should your small, medium or large furry friend be walked? Click here to read our dog walking guide and find out.
Dogs need exercise every day to keep them healthy, happy and mentally stimulated. A simple walk can improve your furry friend’s social behavior and strengthen the bond that ties you together.
How long should you walk a dog? While breed, age and health conditions are big influencers in how much physical activity your pooch needs, size is also an important factor. A small dog will likely get more benefit out of a short stroll than a large canine. Read our dog walking guide below to learn how often and how long you should walk your pet, depending on its size.