Cats are probably the second most popular pets in the entire world and they are fascinating creatures that are full of many surprises. They continue to awe us with their tricks and some people are so impressed they leave their possessions behind for their cats after they pass so that their pets can have a good life.
Cat Fun Facts to Know About
There are still a lot of things we don’t know about cats, but here we have compiled some Cat fun facts we do know for your amusement.
1. Group of cats
The first of Cat fun facts is that a collective of grown up cats is addressed as a clowder and it has roots in a form of middle English that was used till the late 1400s starting after 1066. You can also see people referring to them as clutter and glaring.
2. Special kidneys
Cats have special kidneys which are adapted to urban environments and can easily filter salt out of water, but they should not be allowed to drink sea water.
3. Cat communication
Domestic cats have learnt to create similar vocalizations to match the frequency of human baby cry to get human attention.
4. Cat mayor
In the 1970s, Alaska voted for a cat to be their mayor and it served there for twenty years.
5. Desert Diet
Another one of these Cat fun facts is that sand cats are cousins to house cats but have evolved to survive deserts without water and get it from their prey.
6. Tiny toy
Tinker toy which is a Himalayan blue point Persian cat and it is the smallest on record
7. Egyptian cats
Cats are known as mythical creatures in Egypt and being in their good graces was considered good luck and we are sure they deserved a cool Cat Portrait painting.
8. Cats hate milk
Cats are usually lactose intolerant and they lack the necessary enzymes to digest it.
9. Kittens need sleep
Kittens sleep most of the day and it is essential for their growth until they are around two weeks old.
10. Cat compass
Scientists believe that cats can sense the magnetic field of the earth and can use it to get home.
11. No sweets
Cats are carnivores and that’s why they cannot taste sugar as well as they can taste meat.
12. Cat sounds
Cats can vocalize their thoughts in 21 different ways which is way more in comparison to dogs who have only five.
13. Catwalk
Cats can move their front and back legs in sync with each other which makes their walk unique.
14. Cat whiskers
Cats use their whiskers to measure if they can fit through a small space as they are connected to the cat’s nervous system.
15. Leftie or rightie
Cats can be left-handed or right-handed depending on their sex as male cats use their left paw and females use their right.
16. Cat memory
Cats can access their memories like humans and can also sit and daydream.
17. Grooming
Cats lick their coats in summers to stay cool and in winters they flatten their coats to insulate.
18. Egyptian mau
Mau was a rare breed of cat that descended from the Egyptian version of cats, characterised by their spotted coats.
19. Cat flap
Issac Newton was the one who discovered the cat flap to allow his cat to leave without disturbing him.
20. Cats and humans
Cats and humans both have similar brain structures, and they use their eyes the most.
21. Midsighted
Cats’ eyes are special, but they have midsightedness, so they use their whiskers to sense things close.
22. Scents
Cats have a special organ which they can use to draw scents into their mouths and sense them.
23. Cat jump
Cats can jump several times their height, and they can perform parkour-like movements as if they have been training since birth.
24. Spy cat
CIA spent 20 million dollars on a cat spy project but that cat got hit by a car on the first field test.
25. Purr
Not all cats purr, only small cats do, and cheetah is the only big cat that can.
26. Keep cats cozy
Many cats have thick coats but they do need warmth and will actively seek it out during winter.
27. Trichobezoar
Trichobezoar is the scientific name for the hairball of a cat and it means obstruction in the stomach.
28. Cats vs weasels
Ancient roman people discovered that cats are better than weasels at catching rodents.
29. Ear furnishing
The little ear tufts poking out of your cat’s head are called their ear furnishing.
30. Fenrir
Fenrir is a 18 inch behemoth of a cat which has the record as the tallest one.
31. Cats domesticated themselves
Cats are independent creatures that don’t need humans, but they still flock to us because they choose to.
FAQs
How long do cats live?
Cats can generally live a decade to almost 20 years but if taken care of well they can live to their early twenties.
Do cats dream?
Yes scientists have found that cats do dream and they go through different sleep cycles.
How many sounds do cats make?
Cats can make about 22 different sounds but some scientists have recorded over 100 types.
