Fun Facts You Should Know About Cats

What are some cool cat facts you should know? Well, for starters, cats have been worshiped for thousands of years. Everyone from the great pharaohs of Egypt to the lonely suburbanites of America have owned and loved these fluffy creatures. But, what has made them so special after all these years to deserve such love and respect? Blame it on the purr! Cats have many qualities that make them lovable, and below you will find some of the quirkier cat traits and facts to keep handy in case of a cat trivia emergency. Checkout this list of the most interesting cat facts that may open your eyes to the reason cats are the most popular pet in American. Yes, you heard right! They have officially won the great debate (sorry, dog lovers).

This list of the most random cat facts will make you smile, while also teaching you something fun you didn’t know. We’ve always known cats to be pretty smart, but also very ornery. They are also extremely athletic and agile. But, did you know their jaws can’t move sideways? Or that they aren’t really supposed to eat raw fish or drink milk? Don’t worry though, they make up for all this in cool alternative abilities. This list of cat facts will help you learn more information about cats and the furry friends in your own home.

As you peruse the info about cats below, vote up the most awesome and informative cat fact on the list. And yes, licking themselves for multiple hours a day and then sleeping the rest of the day is totally normal. You are just jealous.

1. Cats Can Predict Earthquakes

Cats (and dogs) can predict earthquakes. Research suggests it is because of their advanced hearing. Most studies showed cats acting strange before an earthquake hit.

2. Cats Can Jump Six Times Their Length

Cats can jump six times their length, or over eight feet in a single bound. This is because their back legs are very strong.

3. Cats All Have Unique Noses

A cat’s nose is unique because each has different ridges and markings. This is their version of a fingerprint.

4. Cats’ Hearts Beat Twice as Fast as Humans’

Cats have a very fast heart that can beat around twice as fast as that of a human. A normal heartbeat for a cat is between 140-220 beats per minute.

5. There Are More Cats Than Dogs in the United States

There are approximately 77 million cats and only 65 million dogs in the US, putting to rest the dogs versus cats debate.

6. A Group Of Cats Is Called a Clowder

A group of cats is called a clowder, while multiple litters of kittens is called a kindle.

7. Cats Spend 50% of Their Waking Hours Cleaning

Cats spend 50% of their waking hours cleaning themselves. There are five qualities that define a perfect coat: shine, little dander, no black specks, no bald patches, and not a lot of dead undercoat.

8. Cats Shouldn’t Drink Milk

Despite what you’ve seen in movies and cartoons, milk causes severe digestive issues in cats. They really shouldn’t drink it.

9. Cats Make Over 100 Sounds

Cats make a lot more sounds than just purring and meowing. They have been documented making at least 100 sounds.

10. Cats Can Rotate Their Ears 180 Degrees

A cat’s ear is made up of 32 muscles. It’s these muscles that give them the ability to turn their ears 180 degrees.

11. A Cat Can Travel Up to 31 MPH

Cats can travel up to 31 MPH in short spurts. Their flexible spine is one of the contributors to this.

12. Cats Have a Blindspot Right Under Their Nose

Cats have great vision, however they have a blind spot under their nose. This is why they are not able to find tidbits on the floor.

13. Cats Have a Third Eyelid

Cats have a third eyelid that is normally only seen when they aren’t feeling well. It acts as a windshield wiper that will clear the eye of any dirt or debris.

14. Female Cats Are Right Pawed

Females tend to be right pawed and males tend to be left pawed. In addition, prenatal testosterone exposure was linked to other left handed occurences.

15. A Normal Body Temperature for Cats Is Over 100 Degrees

Cats temperatures usually run higher than humans. A body temperature between 100.5 – 102.5 is considered normal.

16. Cats Do Not Have a Sweet Tooth

They have a genetic mutation that has eliminated their ability to taste sugar. Scientists say it actually complements the species, since they eat large amounts of meat.

17. Cats Sweat Through Their Paws

Cats do sweat, but only through their paws. An especially frightened or nervous cat may leave wet footprints as they walk.

18. Cats Hate Water Because of Their Ancestors

Scientists believe that the reason cats hate water is because house cat owners shielded them from the elements at the earliest periods of domestication. In addition, they believe since their ancestors were mostly desert cats, they weren’t used to water.

19. Cats Can Drink Salt Water

Cat kidneys have the ability to expel the salt, but keep the water. However, they only drink salt water when they absolutely have to.

20. Cats Have Whiskers on Their Legs

Cats not only have whiskers on their face, but also on their front legs and jaw.

21. Cats Can’t Move Their Jaw Sideways

Cats aren’t able to move their jaw sideways like humans can, making it incredibly hard for them to eat large pieces of food.

22. Cats Shouldn’t Eat Raw Fish

Once again the cartoons lied and your cats should also avoid raw fish.

23. Cats Who Meow Nonstop Might Be Sick

If your cat is eight years old (or older) and constantly meowing, they might have cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which is similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. They meow because they are confused.

24. 700,000 People Are Bit By Cats Each Year on Average

Approximately 700,000 people in the US are bit by cats each year. On top of that, up to half become infected.

25. Cats Would Kill You If They Were Bigger

If you’ve ever been paranoid that your cat is trying to kill you… it turns out, you weren’t being paranoid. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have proven that house cats and big cats have similar aggressive traits. That means that even though your adorable little baby cat is tiny enough to curl up on your lap while you watch TV, it still has the neurotic and aggressive tendencies of a wild snow leopard.

Source: ranker.com