Depending on what age your cat is, its coat may be more or less thick. Cats shouldn't go bald or lose their hair, but by determining just how full their coat is you can narrow down their age. The coat of an older cat may be more thin than that of a younger one. Seasonal variations can occur. Summer coats are thinner than winter coats. If your cat is losing fur, visit with your veterinarian. There are some subtle differences in the texture of your cat's coat at different times in its life. By looking for these differences, you may be able to get a good sense of how old your cat is. Young cats will have smooth and full coats of hair. Older cats will likely have coarser hair. Some patches of gray hair may appear in older cats. As your cat ages, levels of activity will change. These changes to how active your cat is can lead to changes in its body shape. Judging the shape of your cat's body may give you a clue as to how old it is. Young cats tend towards being lean and muscular, due to their high levels of activity. Middle age cats may be more filled out and round. Older cats will likely have pronounced shoulder bones and loose skin.

Summary: Check your cat's coat for how thick it is. Feel the texture of your cat's fur. Notice your cat's body type.

If you're able to drive and have access to a vehicle, a road trip can be a wonderful bonding experience between you and your friends. Pack a bag, load up the car, and hit the road together to explore someplace new and exciting. If you are not yet old enough to drive, ask your parents about the possibility of taking a road trip together. Road trips take some planning (and money), though, so be sure to give your parents a few weeks to make arrangements. Decide in advance where you want to go. Driving aimlessly can be fun, but you can quickly find yourself lost, out of gas, or out of money. Choose whether to stay in hotels or camp. If you do camp, make sure it's feasible to camp in the conditions you'll be entering and plan for the weather wherever you'll be staying (which may mean preparing for snowy winter camping, depending on where you'll be). Make accommodation arrangements. If you'll be staying in hotels/motels, look into where you want to stay and consider booking a reservation. If you'll be camping, scout campgrounds and see if they accept reservations over the phone or online. Choose a scenic route to get to your destination, if it's possible to do so safely. Know the conditions you'll be facing. Remember that some areas require chains on your tires to drive through icy mountain passes, which may be too dangerous for you to travel. Get your car checked out before the trip to make sure it's in good working condition. Bring whatever supplies you'll need. That includes emergency supplies in case you get stranded: extra blankets, food, water, batteries, a flashlight, road flares, gas money, and an extra charger for your cellphone. Winter break is a great time to reconnect with friends you haven't seen in a while. Whether you've been off at college or simply burdened by your studies in your home town, it can be difficult to spend time with friends while you're in school at any level. Reach out to friends you don't see very often. Ride bikes together, play in the snow, or simply hang out watching movies or playing video games. Consider taking a trip to visit friends who live a few towns away or a state over. If you're not old enough to drive, ask your parents (and your friends' parents) about the possibility of taking an overnight trip. Have a sleep over with friends you've missed. Catch up on what's new with your friends. Get coffee together or go out for a meal. Depending on your financial situation, you and your family/friends may want to take a trip together to a warmer location. You can even take a trip alone, if you have sufficient funding and feel comfortable traveling solo. Spending a few days or a week on a warm, sunny beach might be just what you need to unwind from school and chase away the winter blues. Start saving early and budget your money. Decide whether you'll need a hotel/motel, a rental car, and tickets to a theme park or other destination, and work those costs into your budget. If you're still young, ask your parents about whether a fun vacation might be possible. This type of trip can take months to plan, though, so be sure you ask well in advance of your winter break. Avoid traveling on major holiday weekends, as prices for flights tend to surge during these busy periods. You'll certainly be able to find lodging at a nationally-renown beach, but you can save a lot of money if you plan to stay at a smaller beach community off the beaten path. Just make sure that the area has what you need, including transportation and recreation options. Find the best flight and/or hotel deals by searching a site like Expedia or BookingBuddy. These websites deliver prices from numerous travel pages to help you find the best prices, even on the same flight. Plan on bringing one outfit per day, or scale down your suitcase by re-wearing some items. Just be sure you bring clothing that will be comfortable and appropriate for your destination.

Summary: Plan a road trip. Visit friends. Consider a warm vacation.

When you're going out at night, even if you're just going around the corner, it's a good idea to carry some form of communication, so you'll be able to be in touch in an emergency. Make sure that you've got a fully-charged cellphone in your purse or in your pocket at all times. If you have an iPhone, set it up so your phone can be tracked via your Apple account, should you lose it, or it should be stolen. Sometimes, it's a good idea to keep your cellphone tucked away, unless you absolutely need to use it. If you've got the brand-new smartphone, it might be more attractive for muggers. It's always the best bet to stick with people when you're walking at night. Man or woman, young or old, you're safer if you've got some back-up. Don't walk late at night all by yourself. If you must walk alone, stick to well-lit areas, using reliable routes and get where you're going as quickly as possible. Call someone to let them know your travel plans, as soon as possible. If you go out drinking, make sure you get rides figured out before it gets late. If you end up downtown at 2am without a plan for getting home, you might end up in a sketchy situation. Avoid neighborhoods with high crime rates. Generally, you can contact the census in your area to find out which areas of your town are statistically more dangerous than others. Avoid these areas when you're walking alone. Try to keep in touch when you go out. You don't need to make a big deal out of checking in periodically with someone, just to be on the safe side. Let a parent, a close friend, or some other loved one know where you are, where you're going, and when you're likely to be back. At the very least, you'll keep people from worrying about you. . While it's not necessarily advisable for everyone, learning to safely carry pepper spray or mace can be an effective safety tool, if you absolutely must walk alone regularly. These deterrents are effective against assailants, stray dogs, and more importantly can help to keep you feeling safe as you walk around. Learn to use mace or pepper spray before you start carrying them. In many areas, it's illegal to carry these modes of defense without the proper training. Carrying concealed knives and guns can be more dangerous than safe, but if you're interested, learn to do it safely by enrolling in a personal defense course and learning to defend yourself properly. . Learning a bit about how to defend yourself in the event of a confrontation will help keep you feeling safe as you move through the world. You don't need to be paranoid, and you won't have to be if you're confident that you can defend yourself if it comes down to it. Avoid physical confrontations at all costs. The best way to win a fight is to avoid it entirely.
Summary: Carry a cellphone. Travel in groups. Let people know where you're going. Consider carrying some personal defense Learn to defend yourself confidently