Purrfectly spoilt

DOGS are loyal, but cats can be bought – and Boris Becker's old love, Patrice Farameh, knows just how to do it.

CATS surely deserve a treat after enduring Crufts last month. It was absolute hell for them, being forced to watch all those uncouth beasts lumbering around, tongues lolling and tails ticking back and forth like wonky metronomes.

Just don't let them see Luxury for Cats, by former Boris Becker squeeze, Patrice Farameh. It features treats from around the world designed to get even the most disgruntled feline back on side – and give it ideas above its station. You'll find here a cat bed made from scraps of kimonos, feline aromatherapy products, even a red velvet throne.

It would seem that, after 130,000 years of living alongside humans, cats are still number one in the pet charts. "They're definitely more popular than dogs," says Sue Parslow, editor of Your Cat magazine.

"The UK population of cats is 9.5 million, as compared to 6.8 million dogs. We think that's because they suit our lifestyle better than dogs, who are more demanding about their daily routines."

Cats may appear to need us less than dogs, but we still want to spoil them rotten. George Mikes, author of Tsi-tsa: Biography of a Cat, says, "A dog will flatter you but you will have to flatter the cat." Providing a scratch behind the ear, a napping spot on the divan and regular mealtimes will usually do it.

However, the trend, according to Luxury for Cats, is to treat your feline pets like "fur-babies" – a term coined by columnist and author Liz Jones to describe her four-legged "infants".

"People today consider their cats as surrogate children," says Farameh. "And the increase in the amount of money they are prepared to spend to spoil their four-legged family members has spawned a booming industry for the more luxurious products that cater to an owner's personal sense of style." The demand for superior cat carriers, collars and even clothes has been met by top designers including Louis Vuitton, luxury luggage manufacturer Goyard, Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy – pieces from each are featured in Farameh's glossy coffee-table book.

Most of the kitty clothes say more about the vanity of owners than they do about the comfort of their feline friends. One can only imagine the struggle they had, shoehorning the feisty-looking ginger tabby, pictured in the book, into its Pocahontas costume. Also, we may be anthropomorphising slightly, but a hairless Sphynx, shown resplendent in a rabbit outfit complete with bunny ears and a catnip carrot, looks to have a face like thunder.

When it comes to putting on a fancy dress costume, cats just aren't as compliant as dogs. If you even attempt to carry them around in your handbag, like a chihuahua, expect to have your Hèrmes Birkin ruthlessly clawed to shreds. But that doesn't seem to be deterring many of us.

"Some cat luxuries, such as glamorous collars or T-shirts, are really for fun and, to be honest, more for the owner," says Parslow. "Some clothing items, though, are useful for breeds with very fine hair, such as some Rex cats and the hairless Sphynx, which can really feel the cold."

It's not just about designer clothing. The luxury market for cats is as diverse as the human one.

"The general rule today is: if it's sold to humans, it's also available for your furry friend," says Farameh. "If you think pet fashion simply means a coloured collar with a personalised tag, you're already out of fashion."

Trends are all very well, but surely what we really want is a gift to inspire adoration from our cats? They may be less demonstrative than dribbly dogs but that extra love-blink, or nudge of the side of their head along our hand, is a subtle gesture to show that they appreciate us.

The reality is – and, deep down, we all know it – that the only sure way to a cat's heart is through its stomach. The book offers a selection of cupboard love-inspiring recipes to cook up at home, including "tasty tuna balls" and "scrumptious sardines". It also looks at the growing feline health food industry – you can now buy organic, handmade and 100 per cent natural treats. And if you think you need something to empty those macrobiotic snacks into, Luxury for Cats showcases the many bowls available. These include designer pieces by Alessi, a luxury travel bowl by Goyard, as well as a fun selection by Chrome Bones printed with the legends Sushi Breath, Fuzz Butt, Mr Attitude and, most aptly, The Boss.

Dinner is of the utmost importance to a cat because, whereas dogs will happily eat cowpats, cats have refined tastes. Which is surprising, considering that they only have 473 tastebuds (compared with dogs, which have more than 1,700, and humans, who have 9,000). A cat's sense of smell and taste are closely linked, thanks to an extra gland called the Jacobson's organ, which is located in the roof of the mouth and is connected to the nasal passage. When an interesting aroma fills the air, a cat will slightly open its mouth and inhale. Then it will rub its tongue over the roof of its mouth, thus passing the smell/taste onto the Jacobson's organ for evaluation. Fascinating. So, don't go thinking their lack of tastebuds means you can fool them with supermarket own-brand fishy suppers, when what they want is a gourmet treat.

"Cats definitely enjoy luxury foods and will happily persuade their owner that they cannot possibly eat an 'inferior' brand," says Parslow.

No wonder owning a cat can be an expensive business. Still, when you've bought them that fake fur cushion, invested in a state-of-the-art scratching post and stocked your cupboards with Beluga caviar, they'll be the happiest felines in the world. Won't they?

Sadly, seven out of ten cat experts don't agree.

"They will always reserve the right to be fickle and change their minds about something," says Parslow.

"It's just their way of keeping us owners on our toes."

Luxury for Cats, by Patrice Farameh, is out now from teNeues Publishing, priced £37.50. Scotsman readers can buy a copy for £28 (a discount of 25 per cent), including postage and packing. Call 01476 541080, quoting the reference "Scotsman/Luxury for Cats Offer".