Did you observe whether your cat is left pawed or right pawed? Bred in central Asia, its coat has a unique texture that makes it water resistant. Cats hate water and avoid it like a plague. Most cats had short hair until about 100 years ago, when it became fashionable to own cats and experiment with breeding. 30 Mind-blowing Facts about Cats Published by Persian Cat Lover on August 29, 2020 August 29, 2020. April 4, 2019. 6"Encyclopedia of Trivia." Legend says that tabby cats have an “M” for Mohammed on top of their heads because Mohammad would often rest his hand on the cat’s head. A typical giant panda spends over half of its day eating. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 15. “Unsinkable Sam” known to the Germans as “Oscar” was a cat that served on 3 warships, one German and two British, all sank in action. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Rats, mice and other small mammals are usually more active at nights. 16 Interesting Facts About Cats A cat is defined as a domesticated carnivorous mammal. They were stripped of their wrappings and carted off to be used by farmers in England and the U.S. for fertilizer. Fun facts about cats 1. Accessed: July 20, 2010. Their mysterious personalities and adorable looks have made them an incredibly popular pet, and according to a survey 18% of households in the UK alone are ruled by a cat. 9Frith-Macdonald, Candida. The oldest cat to give birth was Kitty who, at the age of 30, gave birth to two kittens. Most Popular. Best Heated Cat Beds – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Outdoor Cat Houses – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Window Perches – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Flea Treatment for Cats – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Harnesses – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Enclosures – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Automatic Cat Feeders – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Scratching Posts – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Litter – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Interactive Cat Toys – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Cat Carriers – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Gifts for Cat Lovers – Unique & Funny Gifts for Cat Owners, Gifts for Cat Lovers | Unique & Funny Cat Gifts (40 Ideas), Are you ready to take care of a cat? 7. Purring actually improves bone density and helps a cat heal. Approximately 1/3 of cat owners think their. Female cats tend to be right pawed, while male cats are more often left pawed. 21. Cats are deemed middle-aged at about 7 years where they are the equivalent of a human age of 40 years. It’s not uncommon, though, for cats to have extra toes. In the wild, cats are instinctively active at nights (from dusk to dawn), allocating daytime for sleeping and accumulating energy for the night time activities. Norwell, MA: Springer, 2005. In the original Italian version of Cinderella, the benevolent fairy godmother figure was a cat. The technical term for a cat’s hairball is a “bezoar.”. Cats are said to detect earthquake tremors 10 or 15 minutes before humans can. You can’t feed them onions, chocolate, raisins, grapes and – of course – alcohol. Let us know in the comments if any other interesting cat facts should be added to the list. 3. New York, NY: Ginee Seo Books, 2009. The largest pedigreed cats are, Some cats have survived falls of over 65 feet (20 meters), due largely to their “righting reflex.” The eyes and balance organs in the inner ear tell it where it is in. Cats are, in my opinion, the most beloved animal in the world. Scientists called it the. The saggy underbelly in some cats is caused by being fed with entirely dried food. A ‘tortoiseshell’ cat is a cat that has a mottled coat of red (ginger) and black. What time of the day cats are most active? NPR. It can be more than 12 feet (3.6 m) long (about the size of a small car) and weigh up to 700 pounds (317 kg). All cats have claws, and all except the cheetah sheath them when at rest. Cats sleep an average of 15 hours a day. Accessed: July 20, 2010. 13. The average lifespan for a cat is between 12 and 15 years. A cat that has reached 2 years of age has gone through the equivalent of human childhood and the teenage years and is in its twenties. On average there are 6 kittens in the litter. I keep my moms 17 year old who is so demanding. Are white cats with blue eyes more prone to deafness. The higher the fall, the more likely a cat is to survive it. 17. Who are the famous people who loved cats? The catnip (nepeta cataria), also known as catmint, produces a distinctive smell through the oil (nepetalactone) in its leaves which sends cats into a relaxed state of euphoria. Here’s 10 facts you might not know about cats. Source: news.xinhuanet.com. Yes, cats licking each other is known as ‘allogrooming’. A female cat is called a queen or a molly. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life. Does a black cat bring bad luck or good luck? Cats are deemed middle-aged at about 7 years where they are the equivalent of a human age of 40 years. May 12, 2014. Grass helps cats regurgitate ingested fur (which they accumulated during grooming). 22. 2. The heaviest cat on record is Himmy, a Tabby from Queensland, Australia. Accessed: May 27, 2019. They help cats sense the movement and temperature changes. There are up to 60 million feral cats in the United States alone. Females weigh between 10 and 15 lbs (4.5-6.8 k). 21-25 Interesting Facts About Cats. Cats like to scent mark the various object and even people to communicate other cats and different animals their ownership of a territory. That means that she can produce up to about 18 kittens in that period. Their task is to enable the cat to clean off any flesh from the bones of prey as well as to enhance grooming. The richest cat is Blackie who was left £15 million by his owner, Ben Rea. A 20 years old cat is equivalent to a 100-year-old human. The oldest known pet cat existed 9,500 years ago. November 20, 2006. 13“Pussy.” Online Etymology Dictionary. Researchers are unsure exactly how a cat purrs. 11Lang, Cady. A cat is sick if its temperature goes below 100 ° or above 103 °F. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Interestingly, while 90% of humans are right handed, the remaining 10% of lefties also tend to be male. About 60 cat breeds are recognized by various cat registries. This interesting fact about cats is guaranteed to wow at your next dinner party. Cats are the most popular pet in the United States: There are 88 million pet cats and 74 million dogs. A ‘feral’ cat is a name given to a domesticated cat that has partially regressed back to the wild. Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear (humans have only 6). Thank you both for reading and commenting. Tinker Toy was 2.75 inches (7 cm) tall and 7.5 inches (19 cm) long. The cat with the most toes known had 32—eight on each paw! On holy days, people celebrated by tossing cats from church towers. Even though the domestication of a cat turned it to a day-active animal, by instinct cats are nocturnal animals. Read on for some interesting facts about cats that may surprise you. There are many foods which are toxic to cats. 22. A cat can jump up to five times its own height in a single bound. 4“Cat World Records.” Cat World. To do this, a muscle in the larynx opens and closes the air passage about 25 times per second. There are lots of cats across the world as they are one of the most popular pets to have. A cat lover is called an Ailurophilia (Greek: cat+lover). A cat has 24 whiskers, 4 rows of whiskers on each side. A cat spends an average of 17 hours a day sleeping. 3. interesting facts about cats> Cats are an enigma that have captured the hearts of people for thousands of years. A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the same way. Cats can tell when a thunderstorm is coming Cats and many other animals are more sensitive than humans to sounds, smells and changes in atmospheric pressure, and their heightened senses can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming well before their owners catch wind of it. Any cat that is beyond this age can be considered to be heading for old age. A green cat was born in Denmark in 1995. After that, your cat tends to develop more slowly and ages about four to five human years every 12 months. 12Piven, Hanoch. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2006. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Your cat’s second year is roughly equal to the first 25 of a human's. Cats are often lactose intolerant. The cat survived each sinking, floating away on wooden planks to rescue. The cat who holds the record for the longest non-fatal fall is Andy. One of the most surprising cat facts is that cats can actually make almost 100 different sounds. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Some of the famous people who have adored cats include: Honoré de Balzac, Brigitte Bardot, Charles Baudelaire, Catherine the Great, Bill Clinton, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, Thomas Hardy, Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo, John Lennon, Lenin, Abraham Lincoln, Freddie Mercury, Montaigne, Florence Nightingale, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Alan Poe, Theodore Roosevelt, Torquato Tasso, Mark Twain, William Wordsworth. Kittens typically meow to their mother for milk, but most adult cats are only known to meow in the presence of humans. Cats and humans have been living in symphony for more than 10,000 years. It can be more than 12 feet (3.6 m) long (about the size of a small car) and weigh up to 700 pounds (317 kg). Ruff Day? But you gotta love them. The cat’s tongue has a rough texture because it’s covered with many tiny, hooked ‘papillae’. Humans only have 34. We are not veterinary professionals and we suggest that you always consult one before treating your cat or another pet. Most cats give birth to a litter of between one and nine kittens. Relax with our fun dog facts to learn how these adorable animals became our best friends and if they really love us as much as we love them. BuzzFeed. 10“How Many Dogs and Cats Are Eaten in Asia?” Animal People Online. Cats are predominantly nocturnal animals and it’s natural for them to sleep long hours during a day in order to restore their energy after a night full hunting for the pray. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. It is better because cats can see in much dimmer light and they have a wider peripheral view. Collar Bones Almost 4 million cats are consumed every year as a delicacy in China. That behavior is connected to hunting. 2. He hid for seven weeks behind a panel on the airplane. A commemorative tower was built in Scotland for a cat named Towser, who caught nearly 30,000 mice in her lifetime. During her life, she gave birth to 218 kittens. As clumsy and slow as it may look, the safest way for a cat to descend the tree is to do it backward due to the position if its claws. Answer these five questions. The gestation in cats lasts for around 65 days. Cats have about 130,000 hairs per square inch (20,155 hairs per square centimeter). A cat’s nose is as unique as a human’s fingerprint. Learn more about the beloved black and white omnivore with interesting and cute panda facts. © 2021 Fact Retriever LLC. Did you know that cats who fall five stories have a 90 percent survival rate? February 21, 2019. The oldest cat on record was Crème Puff from Austin. The adoration of cats started in ancient Egypt and has lasted for centuries up until today. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2006. The clouded leopard does not roar like other big cats, nor does it groom or rest like small cats. ‘Tom’ is a name given to an un-neutered (uncastrated) male cat and ‘queen’ is a name given to an un-neutered (unspayed) female cat. Cat. Aside from fish, cats are the most popular pet of choice in American households today.Approximately 94 million cats in the United States are the proud owners of humans, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! During the Middle Ages, cats were associated with withcraft, and on St. John’s Day, people all over Europe would stuff them into sacks and toss the cats into bonfires. Is it normal for cats to lick each other? Grown cats have 30 teeth. A cat’s hearing is better than a dog’s. Catyums. Officially, it’s a clowder. 31. Do domesticated cats live longer than feral cats? There are cats who have survived falls from over 32 stories (320 meters) onto concrete. Here are ten amazing facts about cats. Their prominent characteristics of affection, love, and friendliness have long defined them as the best companion for human beings. Bestofmycat.com – We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All rights reserved. 10. According to PDSA, in the UK, 51% of adults own a cat! Zeus, who is 90% ALC and 10% DSH, has an asking price of £100,000 ($154,000). Cats are supposedly the most popular pets around the world. The term “puss” is the root of the principal word for “cat” in the Romanian term pisica and the root of secondary words in Lithuanian (. However, the more births the cat gives the more strained its organism becomes and exposes the cat to various health conditions. How many litters can a cat have during its lifetime? How many kittens can a cat give birth to in a year? The most popular pedigreed cat is the Persian cat, followed by the Main Coon cat and the Siamese cat. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But in 2004, French archaeologists discovered a 9,500 year old cat grave in Cyprus. Get ready for an overload of cuteness with these interesting ferret facts. An effect of the shiny cat eyes in the dark is really a reflection of light. 1Bidner, Jenni. By the time he was discovered, he had traveled nearly 373,000 miles (600,000 km). Domestic cats usually weigh around … The biggest wildcat today is the Siberian Tiger. 3. 21. He weighed nearly 47 pounds (21 kg). 1. 11. With the ability to disappear, this mysterious character embodies the magic and sorcery historically associated with cats. 3“Cat.” Online Etymology Dictionary. New York, NY: Parragon Books Ltd, 2008. Accessed: July 20, 2010. 25. Researchers say your cat *does* know her name. 4. A cat’s urine glows under a black light. 10 Interesting Facts about Cats! The mutual grooming can occur between adult cats where there is trust and confidence between them. For how long does the cat mother care for her kittens? To get down from a tree, a cat must back down. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc, 2004. The first year of a cat’s life is roughly equal to the first 15 years of human life. A group of kittens is called a kindle. Browse through our fun and interesting guinea pigs facts to find out! What Cats Are Made Of. [1] Cats have 300 million neurons; dogs have about 160 million. Cats may be quiet and fond of their alone time but there is much more to them than meets the eye. "Cats Might Not Act Like It, But They Know Their Names As Well As Dogs, Study Says." – Source. 1. Cats have flexible bodies and teeth adapted for hunting small animals such as mice and rats. A domesticated cat lives twice as long as the feral cat due to less exposure to dangers and hazards. On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. There are 88 million cats compared to 74 million dogs. To scent mark their perceived territory cats can use almost all parts of their body, especially the head, flanks, paws, scent glands, especially in the anal area. Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor, was left stranded on a deserted island, but survived for over 4 years, partly by using feral cats to protect him from ravenous rats that attacked during the night. The claws on the cat’s back paws aren’t as sharp as the claws on the front paws because the claws in the back don’t retract and, consequently, become worn. 15Schwartz, Matthew. The most expensive cat was an Asian Leopard cat (ALC)-Domestic Shorthair (DSH) hybrid named Zeus. Cats spend nearly 1/3 of their waking hours cleaning themselves. Egyptians encouraged wild cats to live in their grain barns in order to reduce the number of rats, mice, and locusts. There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with approximately 40 recognized breeds. Time. Where do cats take their personalities from? The Egyptian Mau is probably the oldest breed of cat. Here are 21 interesting cat facts that kids -- and grown-ups -- may … The little tufts of hair in a cat’s ear that help keep out dirt direct sounds into the ear, and insulate the ears are called “ear furnishings.”. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A cat rubs against people not only to be affectionate but also to mark out its territory with scent glands around its face. Cat’s personality is passed on in the DNA by its parents (accounts for 75% of personality makeup), modified by the learned behavior and environmental circumstances of its birth and early life (accounts for 25% of personality makeup). A cat’s back is extremely flexible because it has up to 53 loosely fitting vertebrae. 8Fogle, Bruce. The tiniest cat on record is Mr. Pebbles, a 2-year-old cat that weighed 3 lbs (1.3 k) and was 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) high. Cats have been for many mysterious creatures throughout the centuries. "'Keeping Up With the Kattarshians' Is the Cat Reality TV Show You Never Knew You Needed." 19. Its dagger-like teeth can be as long as 1.8 inches (4.5 cm). The Hungarian word for "quotation marks" is "macskaköröm," which literally translates to "cat claws. ". Young male cats become fertile at about 6 months of age, whereas young female cats become fertile at between 5 and 7 months of age. The largest known litter ever produced was 19 kittens, of which 15 survived. In just seven years, a single pair of cats and their offspring could produce a staggering total of 420,000 kittens. Accessed: July 20, 2010. Grooming also serves as a sign of affection between two cats, and it’s thought that saliva contains enzymes that serve as a natural antibiotic for wounds. And 15 percent of the day grooming. Each cat has different features which differ from breed to breed, but they all generally have soft fur, short snout and retractable claws, and are very well known for their hunting abilities. From a symbol of divinity in ancient times to a cursed symbol of a devil in the middle ages, these elegant and agile animals haven’t stopped to fascinate us. 4. alphagirl- I had two cats, both have passed, my 18 yr old Ethel recently and I miss so many of their little quirks. The smallest pedigreed cat is a Singapura, which can weigh just 4 lbs (1.8 kg), or about five large cans of cat food. A cat can either be a house cat, a farm cat or a feral cat; the latter ranges freely and avoids human contact. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The cheetah is unique because it is a. The ideal number of litters would be no more than one or two litters per year during a period of five to seven years. Scientists suggest that deafness in white-haired cats (long and short-haired) is indicated by those with blue or odd-colored eyes. Did you know that originally it was thought that Egyptians domesticated the cat? 2. Cats are extremely sensitive to vibrations. Cats are king in America, beating dogs as the most popular pet in the country with 88 million catsliving in American households compared to 74 million dogs. 1. The females are less than 20 inches (50 cm) long and can weigh as little as 2.5 lbs (1.2 kg). The lightest cat on record is a blue point Himalayan called Tinker Toy, who weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces (616 g). 8. In the USA, a black cat is associated with bad luck, conversely, in the UK, a black cat is associated with good luck. In the 1930s, two Russian biologists discovered that color change in Siamese kittens depend on their body temperature. What’s the equivalent of cat years to human years? Cats sweat through their paws. We get our knowledge about cats from the following expert cat books: How many cats are there estimated to be in the world? Facial whiskers act for cats as sensory extensions. Many people in China consider cats a "warming" food that is perfect to eat during the winter, Cats are the world's most popular pets, outnumbering dogs by as many as three to one, Cats have 300 million neurons; dogs have about 160 million, Cats have "nine lives" thanks to a flexible spine and powerful leg and back muscles, Like humans, cats tend to favor one paw over another, Cats control the outer ear using 32 muscles; humans use 6, Cat paws act as tempetature regulators, shock absorbers, hunting and grooming tools, sensors, and more. A cat would rather jump from a tree than climb down with its head first down. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cats have a natural ability to land on their feet called the “righting reflex”. The superstitions around cats are related to religious ideology. 1. When a cat chases its prey, it keeps its head level. He fell from the 16th floor of an apartment building (about 200 ft/.06 km) and survived. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. From the peeps of kittens to the meows of adults, cats have a wide range of vocalizations. Some Siamese cats appear cross-eyed because the nerves from the left side of the brain go to mostly the right eye and the nerves from the right side of the brain go mostly to the left eye. Why some cats have a saggy underbelly? Which part of its body does a cat use for scent marking? You might notice that your feline friend spends most of the day snoozing and only comes out at night! Cat Facts | 35 Interesting Facts about Cats (You didn't Know). Many Egyptians worshipped the goddess Bast, who had a woman’s body and a cat’s head. The cat (Felis catus) is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. May 24, 2017. Get to know these fascinating animals better with our 35 cat facts! Cats are America’s most popular pet even surpassing the dogs. Keeping Up With the Kattarshians' Is the Cat Reality TV Show You Never Knew You Needed, Cats Might Not Act Like It, But They Know Their Names As Well As Dogs, Study Says, Female Cats Are Right-Pawed, Males Are Lefties. 5. A cat can independently rotate its ears 180 degrees. This reflex allows cats to quickly assess which way is down and rotate their bodies while in mid-air. Which territory has the biggest population of cats? Any cat that is beyond this age can be considered to be heading for old age. Accessed: October 29, 2019. He had four cats that lived in the White House with him. 33. He died at the age of 10. A litter mother with a strong maternal instinct will care for her kittens throughout the 9 or 10 weeks of their early life, usually until her milk begins to dry up. 5Clutton-Brock, Juliet. The normal body temperature of a cat is between 100.5 ° and 102.5 °F. A ‘cobby-shaped’ cat refers to cats that are short and small-bodied. The Turkish Van, however, is one cat that likes swimming. During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Pope Innocent VIII condemned cats as evil and thousands of cats were burned. While it is commonly thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, the oldest known pet cat was recently found in a 9,500-year-old grave on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. In 1888, more than 300,000 mummified cats were found an Egyptian cemetery. Kittens have about 26 temporary teeth, which they lose when they are about 6 months old. She just doesn't care. Bestofmycat.com – We are a participant in the Chewy Affiliate Program. It’s estimated that there are 200 million cats in the world. 2. The only cat breed that likes water, and even swims, is Turkish Van. Cats have ears which can swivel around up to 180 degrees, thanks to a series of intricate muscles that allow them to hear in virtually all directions. Their kidneys have the ability to expel the salt, while allowing water to re-hydrate the feline. 1 year of cat’s life is an equivalent of 7 human years. At Best Of My Cat we provide knowledge about cat care and in-depth reviews about cat products. Encyclopedia of Cats. 2Botham, Noel. One of the most surprising cat facts is that cats can actually make almost 100 different sounds. A mature female cat can have up to three litters of kittens in a year. A cat’s eyesight is both better and worse than humans. It’s worse because they don’t see color as well as humans do. Cats can't climb with their heads down. According to Hebrew legend, Noah prayed to. Most veterinarians believe that a cat purrs by vibrating vocal folds deep in the throat. While the human’s vision covers roughly 210 degrees, the cat’s vision covers 285 degrees. The greatest number of cats is in the USA – 25% of a total cat population! Scientists believe grass appears red to cats. However, because the cat’s eyes are placed more widely on its face, the cat has a larger field of vision than a human. Tortoiseshell-patterned cats are almost always females, as this type of coloration is linked to the lack of an X chromosome. Many of us cat lovers are intrigued by all things feline, so we’ve done the homework for you and dug up some purrfect cat facts for you to share with other connoisseurs of kitties. The earliest ancestor of the modern cat lived about 30 million years ago. Facts about cats. Kids love cat facts, and cat-loving adults do, too! This website is for information purpose only. 14Rochlitz, Irene. Do you know that cats can drink sea water to re-hydrate themselves!! Accessed: February 8, 2020. Domestication of the cat begun in the ancient Middle East, in Egypt. In fact, the breed is so ancient that its name is the Egyptian word for “cat.”. Cats sleep for around 16-18 hours a day. Approximately 24 cat skins can make a coat. 5. These cookies do not store any personal information. Are you having a cat? "Cats have a sense of smell 14 times greater than a human," says Jim Carlson, DVM, owner and holistic veterinarian at the Riverside Animal Clinic & Holistic Center.