Discover each nation's favorite furry friend
Are you a cat owner? Do you love and admire these discerning and impeccably well-groomed animals? Then you probably think you know everything there is to know about these intelligent and elegant pets. But there's more to your little feline friend than meets the eye. A lot more.
Curious? Click through and read up on these amazing cat facts.
Did you know that a house cat's genome is 95.6% tiger? That makes every domestic feline a big cat in their eyes!
Cats can't taste sweetness. In fact, it's believed that they are the only mammals on Earth that don't have a sweet tooth.
Cats are nearsighted: they have a very small range of sharp middle vision. But their peripheral vision and night vision are much better than that of humans.
Lithe and supple, a cat can jump up to six times their length.
The domestic cat's skeleton is not so different from the human skeleton. The cat has more bones—230 as opposed to 206—but many are identical to those in the human body.
Cats have the largest eyes relative to their head size of any mammal.
Cats use their whiskers to guide themselves through daily functions. These specialized hairs aid vision and help a cat navigate its environment, providing additional sensory input. Tip: never cut or trim whiskers.
Cats move both of their right feet first, then move both of their left feet. The only other animals that walk this way are camels and giraffes.
While they are not as water-loving as canines, cats can swim. Most, however, will do anything to avoid doing so.
According to the Sleep Foundation, cats typically sleep between 12 and 18 hours a day.
A domestic cat's average life expectancy ranges from 12 to 18 years. Factors such as diet, health care, and environment can have an impact. Some cats have been known to live for up to 20 years. As a rule, cats live longer when they stay indoors.
Cats can spend up to a third of their waking hours grooming. Sharp, tiny cones on cats' tongues give their coats and skin a deep clean.
Generally speaking, cats' purring may be a self-soothing behavior, an expression of happiness and contentment. But a purring cat can also signal anxiety, or another emotion.
Contrary to popular belief, most cats are actually lactose intolerant. That bowl of milk or smudge of butter may do more harm than good.
Some foods are dangerous or toxic to cats. These include onions and garlic, grapes and raisins, chocolate, raw meat, and dairy products.
Keeping your cat active during the day by playing with it will ensure your pet gets a good night's sleep.
Catnip targets feline "happy" receptors in the brain, the active chemical ingredient nepetalactone producing an effect similar to LSD or marijuana. Male cats are the most sensitive to catnip.
Generally, it's considered safe to spay or neuter kittens when they're between eight weeks and five months old. Studies have found that spaying and neutering can extend a cat's life.
A cat displaying a tail shaped like a question mark is asking, "Hey, want to play?"
The slow blink of a cat is a sign of trust. This "kitty kiss" also denotes contentment. If made with a purr, you've a friend for life.
Cats have up to 100 different vocalizations—dogs only have 10. Furthermore, cats have a unique 'vocabulary' with their owner, meowing as a way to communicate exclusively with humans.
Cats claim you as part of their territory, demonstrated when they rub their faces and bodies against you where scent glands are located.
Hissing is a defensive gesture cats employ when feeling threatened or when in distress. It's not necessarily a sign of aggression.
If a cat approaches you with a raised, almost vibrating tail, it's definitely pleased to see you!
Kneading is an instinctive trait in cats where they'll "make dough" by pushing in and out with their paws, alternating between right and left. Kittens knead their moms when they are nursing to stimulate the let-down of milk.
Cats are no fans of citrus fruits. With their extremely sensitive sense of smell, felines find the aromatic tang of lemons, limes, and oranges quite overwhelming.
Did you know that a group of kittens is called a kindle? Sounds kind of cute, eh?
Sources: (Time) (NPR) (Cats Protection) (WSU Extension) (Sleep Foundation) (Blue Cross) (AAAS) (Today's Veterinary Practice) (Pet Assure)
See also: Insanely cute miniature animals from around the world
Their reputation for being curious notwithstanding, each cat's nose print is unique, much like human fingerprints.
White cats with blue eyes are prone to deafness. This is due to a shared gene that is connected to inherited deafness in cats.
Cats love napping in laundry baskets, which they regard as hiding spaces with peep holes. Likewise, a cat will often curl up in a cardboard box where it feels safe and secure.
Amazing cat facts that will leave you in a flap!
Curious about your furry friend?
LIFESTYLE Feline
Are you a cat owner? Do you love and admire these discerning and impeccably well-groomed animals? Then you probably think you know everything there is to know about these intelligent and elegant pets. But there's more to your little feline friend than meets the eye. A lot more.
Curious? Click through and read up on these amazing cat facts.