53 Cat Facts: Paw-Full Of Interesting Facts About Your Cute Pet
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Did you know the cat (Felis catus) is a member of the Felidae family?
Cats purr when they are extremely happy and feel secure. However, they purr to communicate other emotions, like feeling sad, hurt, hungry, or scared.
Cats are known to be one of the most popular pets in the world. Cats are usually subtle, and they show affection in different ways. Want to know more about cats? Well, discover below.
Evolution
According to the genetic analysis of cats, a pet cat or family cat is the descendent of cats that lived in the ancient Egyptian era. House cats are, also called Felis catus, are the latest evolved species in the cat family. Here are some cat facts you may not be aware of.
Cat species are found in three groups, Panthera, Acinonyx, and Felis.
Panthera is a roaring cat, including tigers, lions, and leopards, while Acinonyx includes cheetahs. Felis includes all the small cats and pet cats.
Cats started to live with human beings 10,000- 12,000 years ago when human civilization happened.
Eventually, wild cats or Felix Silvesris Lybica moved out of the jungle searching for food and settled in towns with the humans.
Over the years, wild cats evolved into pet cats and feral cats.
Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats. They used to dress their cats in gold jewelry to show their status.
Initially, cats were owned by rich people. As their popularity increased, feral cats and domesticated cats headed to nearby countries.
In the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned a cat flap.
T.S. Eliot states that cats are more poetic than dogs. Musical cats are derived from Eliot's poem 'Possum's Book of Practical Cats.'
Black cats are often associated with witchcraft. Earlier, people used to kill black cats as they represented bad luck.
Historical figures like Mark Twain, Florence Nightingale, Pope Paul II, Bronte sisters are famous cat lovers, while Napoleon, Ceaser, Hitler, and Genghis Khan reportedly hated cats.
Abraham Lincoln was a big cat lover.
Today, CFA International has been one of the prominent cat shows globally since 1994. On October 18, 1963, French scientists launched Felicette, a feline, into space. She descended to the ground safely.
Characteristic
Did you know cats walk like camels or giraffes? Have you heard that ancient Egyptians shaved their eyebrows when their cats died? Let's dive into some cool cat facts that will surprise you.
Cats are carnivorous. They cannot live on a vegetarian diet.
Cats rub their face on the edges of furniture when they feel happy and secure.
A cat can jump up to 4-5 ft (1.23- 1.52 m), six times its height.
Male cats become more aggressive when they mature, while female cats become more loving.
Male cats are also known as toms or tomcats. They have a shorter life when compared to females.
Unlike human beings, cats cannot chew their food. A cat's jaw can only be moved up and down, whereas humans can move their jaw from side to side too.
Cat claws are hidden in their paws until they need to hunt or scratch.
If you observe a cat's paw, you will find an extra toe on the front paws. Cats have 18 toes, five toes on the front and four on the back.
Some cats will have more than eighteen toes, and these felines are called polydactyl cats.
A Persian cat is the superior breed of cats in the United States. They have long-thick fur, a flat face, a round head, and short limbs.
The famous Persian cats are Blue Point, Seal Point, Tortie Point, and Flame Point.
Both cats and human beings have cones and rods in their eyes; these are called color receptors. When humans have three cones, cats have only two cones limiting the range of colors they can see.
Cats have greater night and peripheral vision than humans, making them night hunters.
When compared to dogs, cats show affection subtly. They lick you when they feel loved or secure.
Senses And Behavior
Just like other mammals, cats have very advanced senses. From super eyesight to amazing hearing ability. Here are some super cat facts that you may not be aware of.
Cats tend to rub their face against their owner, wall, furniture when they are happy or feel secure.
Cats love to curl in tiny spaces.
To cats staring at someone is an act of showing affection.
Cats love rolling around when they feel safe. It could be their playtime with you, so play along.
A cat's tail helps them balance when climbing trees or during a sudden turn.
Cats usually wag their tails when they want to communicate.
Cats often wag their tails when they feel confident, scared, excited, annoyed, hungry, or secure.
Cats have whiskers above their eyes, chin, foreleg, ears, and upper lip. Cat's whiskers are called vibrissae. Whiskers have sensitive nerves, which will help cats to see in the dark.
A cat has a sharp tongue. Cats use their tongue to untangle their fur and also to groom.
Your feline friend has a flexible body. They can lick their entire body without even moving.
Cats are famous for their super-hearing capacity. Cats can hear 100,000 hertz while a human can hear 20,000 hertz.
Cats have an intense sense of smell in comparison with humans. Cats have a vomeronasal organ in the roof of their mouth. It is also known as a scent organ.
Lifespan And Health
Are you a cat-loving person? If yes, have you ever been curious about your feline friend? Read on to know more intriguing cat facts.
Pet cats can live up to 18 years, while neutered cats live longer, as they are less likely to roam or fight.
Cats go through six stages of life which are, kitten (0-6 months), junior (6-12 months), prime (3-6 years), mature (7-10 years), senior (11-14 years), geriatric (15+).
Castration or neutering is a medical process of removing the testicles of male cats. This medical process will help your cat to live a long healthy life.
The food they eat, the amount of calorie intake, and environmental conditions will also affect the health and lifespan of your cat.
Cat's digestive system cannot tolerate carbohydrates. To cats, meat or fish should be an important meal.
It would be best if you gave cats enough playtime. Playing and exercising will help cats to maintain good muscles.
Cats can develop dental issues so it is really important to keep their teeth clean.
Water is vital for cats. You should provide enough fresh water for your cats daily to prevent dehydration and other urinal infections.
Although cats enjoy self-grooming, it is important to untangle their fur by brushing and combing.
It is vital to check on your cats. Many diseases can affect their healthy lifestyle. Some of the common illness includes diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, ringworm, to name a few.
You should provide your cats with regular health checkups.
Vaccination is the best insurance you can give to your cat.
Teach your cats to use the litter box to maintain good hygiene.
It will help if you use parasite preventives as they are contagious. Roundworms and fleas can spread and also will affect other people at home.
According to one Australian study, cat lovers have better mental health than humans without a pet. It is believed that petting a cat will help you lower blood pressure, stress, or depression.
Unlike dogs, cats are delicate, and they are the favorite companion of introverts. Are you still thinking if cats are purr-fect for you? Keep on reading for some more cat facts!
FAQs
How long do cats live?
Pet cats can live up to 18 years, while neutered cats live longer, as they are less likely to roam.
According to experts, cats reach adulthood between 18 months to four years. however, their growth completely depends on the amount of calorie intake, and diseases like born deformities can also affect their growth.
Why do cats lick you?
To cats, licking is a sign of showing affection, and they lick you because they love you.
Why do cats sleep so much?
Cats typically sleep during the day and are more active at night. Normally a cat would sleep around 13-16 hours a day. Even the big cats like the tiger cheetah also follow the same sleep pattern. Sleep is pivotal for cats to conserve their energy.
Why are cats afraid of cucumbers?
Cats are hypersensitive to their environment, and they are afraid of cucumbers as they resemble snakes.
Why do cats have whiskers?
Cats have whiskers above their eyes, chin, foreleg, ears, and upper lip. Cat's whiskers are called vibrissae. Whiskers have sensitive nerves, which will help cats to see in the dark.
How long do cats stay in heat?
Female cats stay in heat for four to seven days. Just like other female mammals, cats will have their menstrual cycle, and it is called Estrus. when female cats have Estrus, they are professed to be in heat and are ready for reproduction.
What colors can cats see?
Both cats and humans have cones and rods in their eyes; these are called color receptors. When humans have three cones, cats have only two cones limiting the range of colors they can see. Cats have better night vision and peripheral vision than humans, making them night hunters.
Cats usually wag their tails when they want to communicate. Cats often wag their tails when they feel confident, scared, excited, annoyed, hungry, or secure.
How many teeth do cats have?
Just like human beings, cats are born without teeth. Kittens will have their teeth at four to six months of age, and adult cats have 30 teeth like humans in two sets.
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With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.
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With a passion for American, British, and children's literature, Shruti is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Garden City University, Bengaluru. Her fluency in Nepali, Hindi, and Mandarin demonstrates her linguistic abilities and global perspective. In addition to her literary pursuits, she has a keen interest in non-fiction literature, aesthetics, early childhood education, and Egyptian history. Shruti's research paper 'Bringing Art Illustrations In Education And Pop Culture' showcases her proficiency in these areas and her dedication to academic excellence.
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