Cats are incredibly cute, funny, and playful pets. Unlike some other animals, cats are mysterious and secretive so it can be challenging to find out information about them or understand them. Over the years scientists and veterinarians have figured out some incredibly interesting traits that are exclusive to this adorable household pet.
20 Fun Facts About Your Cat
Every cat is wonderful and unique. They have their own personalities and merisms that are unique to them. However, there are a few similarities that all cats share:
- Cats dream- Just like humans, cats experience vivid dreams. While we can never know exactly what they dream about, scientists believe that they dream about hunting, food, toys, and their families.
- Cats sleep for 12-16 hours per day- This sleep schedule was historically used by cats who lived in the while and needed to conserve energy so that they could hunt. While many domestic cats don’t hunt anymore, they still follow this sleep pattern.
- Cats can’t taste sugar- While humans have tastebuds that detect the presence of sugar, cats do not have tastebuds that recognize the taste of sugar. Cats actually prefer the opposite taste, that of salt and umami.
- Cats have around 250 bones- It may be hard to believe that your little cat has more bones than you but they do! Cats have extra bones in their spine which allows them to be more flexible and agile.
- Cats have unique nose prints- You may have heard that every human has a different fingerprint, but did you know that cats all have different nose prints? The print of their nose is one of a kind and can be used to identify them.
- Cats can be potty trained- Cats are incredibly smart and clean animals. They are relatively easy to potty train and may prefer it to using a litter box.
- Purring doesn’t necessarily mean your cat is happy- While many people believe that purring is a sign that your cat loves you, purring actually has many different meanings. Most often purring is used as a self-soothing tool for cats.
- Cats have amazing peripheral vision- No human can match the accuracy of a cat’s peripheral vision. It is reported that cats have 20% better peripheral vision compared to humans.
- A lot of cats are lactose intolerant- Many forms of media show cats drinking milk from saucers. While they are kittens, cats enjoy drinking milk from their mother however, as they age the majority of cats lack the enzyme required to break down lactose.
- Cats flick their tails as a sign of annoyance- When dogs wag their tails it is a sign that they are happy and energetic. When a cat flicks or wags their tail it is because they are being annoyed. If you are petting your cat and they flick you with their tail it is a sign to stop and let them be.
- Cats have amazing hearing- Due to a cat’s triangular ears, they are able to more easily grab soundwaves and process them. They can hear many frequencies that humans and other animals cannot hear.
- Many cats don’t like catnip- The love for catnip is an inherited gene. If a kitten’s parents like catnip then the kitten is likely to grow up and also love catnip. The gene isn’t very common so most cats are indifferent towards catnip.
- Cats can make around 100 different sounds- There are so many different tones, frequencies, and variations in a cat’s verbal cues. Their vocal range is very diverse compared to other animals. For reference, dogs can only make around 10 different sounds.
- Cats’ collarbones aren’t attached to their other bones- Unlike many other animals, cats have a collarbone that is essentially free-floating. Of course, there are muscles and other limbs holding it in place, but the benefit of it being detached is that it gives cats the ability to compress themselves and squeeze into small areas.
- Cats sweat through their paws- Just like humans, cats sweat when it’s hot outside. Though, they can only sweat through their foot pads as they are the only area on the cat’s body that has sweat glands.
- Domestic cats share 95% of their genes with tigers- You may have noticed the way your cat stalks, pounces, and hunts items in your home, these are all traits that they share with larger cats like tigers.
- Cats can run up to 30 mph- Cats run around a lot and may even surprise you with how fast they are. They typically don’t run at high speeds around the house but they can make it up to 30 mph if they wanted to! They are faster than any human runner throughout history.
- Cats can jump up to 6 times their length- It’s common knowledge that cats are great jumpers and they can be found on top of refrigerators, in cabinets, and in other high places. It has been found that cats have the potential to jump 6 times their length because of the incredibly strong muscles in their back legs.
- Cats only meow around humans- When cats are with each other, they typically don’t speak. Meowing is a way for cats to communicate with their owners and other humans. Meows can communicate their need for food, water, treats, or attention.
- One year of a cat’s life is like 15 years of a human’s life- In the first year of your cat’s life, they learn so much about life and their environment. After your cat turns 2, they will age to around 25 in human years, then will age 7 years every additional year.