Here are 20 interesting cat facts you probably never knew. Enjoy.
1.) The average cat weighs 12 pounds.
2.) A cat's normal body temperature is 101.5 degrees.
3.) An adult cat has 30 teeth.
4.) Cats eyes come in three shapes- round, slanted and almond.
5.) There are three main body types for a cat. Cobby type is a compact body, deep chest, short legs and broad head. The eyes are large and round. Muscular type is a sturdy body and round, full-cheeked head. Foreign type is a slender body, with long legs and a long tail. The head is wedge-shaped, with tall ears and slanting eyes.
6.) Ailurophilia (pronounced ai-lu-ro-phil-i-a) is the "love of cats."
7.) Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see. Their night vision is amazing!
8.) If your cat is near you, and his/her tail is quivering, that's the greatest expression of love your cat can give you.
9.) The domestic cat is the only cat able to hold its tail vertically while walking. All wild cats hold their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs while walking.
10.) Cats are the sleepiest of all mammals. They spend about 16 hours of each day sleeping. Normal cats sleep 2/3's of their life away.
11.) A cat will almost never "meow" at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans.
12.) A cat's ear pivots 180 degrees...that's half a circle. Cats have 30 muscles in each ear, and they use twelve or more muscles to control their ear movement.
13.) Cats are more active during the evening hours.
14.) Cats sense of smell is 14 times stronger than that of humans.
15.) Your cat loves you and can "read" your moods. If you're sad or under stress, you may also notice a difference in your cat's behavior.
16.) Have you ever tried to feed your cat food that was just taken out of the refrigerator? You really shouldn't. Most cats prefer their food at room temperature, and many will refuse any food that is too cold or too hot.
17.) There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with 33 different breeds.
18.) A cat can have up to five liters in 1 year. They can have 6 or more kittens each time. During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.
19.) Cats spend up to one-third of their waking hours grooming themselves.
20.) A cat has more bones than a human. An adult human has 206 bones, but the cat has 230 (and up to 250 bones because bones may fuse together as the cat ages).
Best Wishes,
Connie Edwards
Learn The Secrets Your Cat's Tail Reveals!
Your cat's tail is used for more than just balance. Cats use their tails as a sign of emotion and communication, and also to signal what kind of mood they're in. In a sense, our cats talk to us with their tails. If we learn to recognize the different messages their tails send us, we can communicate with them better.
Here is a list of various cat tail positions and what they mean.
Held High- A content, confident cat will hold their tail high in the air. A tail that is erect usually signifies a happy and friendly mood. If a cat approaches you with their tail high in the air and the end of their tail quivers, this usually means that he/she adores you.
Laying Low- A tail that is positioned straight down, parallel to the legs, may indicate aggression. So, when you see this, be careful when approaching the cat. Now, there are exceptions to this. Some breeds carry their tails lower like the Exotics, Persians and Scottish Folds.
Question Mark?- When the tail is bent in the shape of a question mark, your cat is in a playful mood. This is a good time to find one of their favorite toys and play with them.
Tucked Underneath- A tail that is tucked away, under the body between the legs, says that your cat is fearful and nervous. You should be careful when approaching.
Whipping Motion- A tail that whips rapidly back and forth can indicate both fear and aggression. That tail is saying stay away!
Twitcher- When your kitty's tail twitches at the tip, that means they're in a curious and exited mood.
Swishing- A tail that swishes slowly from side to side usually means that their attention is focused an a specific object. They will display this tail position right before they pounce on something...like a cat toy, an insect, a moving object etc.
All Puffed Up- I'm sure you've seen your cat's tail get thicker, and it looks fat and bushy...also called puffy. This means your cat is very agitated, scared or afraid. Cats do this to make themselves look bigger and scarier to other animals, usually other cats. It's a defense mechanism designed to confuse and scare away possible attackers.
Tail to Tail- When a cat wraps it's tail around another cat, he/she is displaying feline friendship. It's a sign of affection.
Well there you have it. You have just learned the tale of the tail. Learning these tail positions will help you better understand cat behavior.
Best Wishes,
Connie Edwards
Here is a list of various cat tail positions and what they mean.
Held High- A content, confident cat will hold their tail high in the air. A tail that is erect usually signifies a happy and friendly mood. If a cat approaches you with their tail high in the air and the end of their tail quivers, this usually means that he/she adores you.
Laying Low- A tail that is positioned straight down, parallel to the legs, may indicate aggression. So, when you see this, be careful when approaching the cat. Now, there are exceptions to this. Some breeds carry their tails lower like the Exotics, Persians and Scottish Folds.
Question Mark?- When the tail is bent in the shape of a question mark, your cat is in a playful mood. This is a good time to find one of their favorite toys and play with them.
Tucked Underneath- A tail that is tucked away, under the body between the legs, says that your cat is fearful and nervous. You should be careful when approaching.
Whipping Motion- A tail that whips rapidly back and forth can indicate both fear and aggression. That tail is saying stay away!
Twitcher- When your kitty's tail twitches at the tip, that means they're in a curious and exited mood.
Swishing- A tail that swishes slowly from side to side usually means that their attention is focused an a specific object. They will display this tail position right before they pounce on something...like a cat toy, an insect, a moving object etc.
All Puffed Up- I'm sure you've seen your cat's tail get thicker, and it looks fat and bushy...also called puffy. This means your cat is very agitated, scared or afraid. Cats do this to make themselves look bigger and scarier to other animals, usually other cats. It's a defense mechanism designed to confuse and scare away possible attackers.
Tail to Tail- When a cat wraps it's tail around another cat, he/she is displaying feline friendship. It's a sign of affection.
Well there you have it. You have just learned the tale of the tail. Learning these tail positions will help you better understand cat behavior.
Best Wishes,
Connie Edwards
People Foods You Should Not Feed Your Cat!
I want to tell you about some specific people / human foods you should not feed your cat. As you know, some cats will beg you for food while you're trying to eat. But be careful what you feed them.
Why? Because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good premium cat foods. Any "extras" will take away their appetites for their regular meals.
A sliver of turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill your cat, but you're helping him or her develop bad habits. Don't do it on a regular basis.
There are a number of people foods that are toxic, or poisonous to cats. In other words, there are foods that can cause your cat serious injury or death. For example, the gravy or stuffing that you poured over your Thanksgiving turkey may have onions in it, among other things. For humans, that gravy or stuffing might taste great and it's harmless. But, did you know that onions are very toxic to cats.
Here is a list of common people foods that can be harmful to cats.
Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables
Onions contain a substance called N-propyl disulphide which destroys red blood cells in the cat. This causes a form of anemia. Onions and onion products are not recommended for consumption by cats. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount.
Green Tomatoes, Green/Raw Potatoes
These foods are members of the Solanaceae (So·la·na·ce·ae) family of plants. They include the potato, tomato, eggplant and chili peppers to name a few. For humans, they're an important source of food, and also used for spices and medicine. But, some of these plants are poisonous. In particular, the leaves and stems of the plant. So be careful!
Chocolate
This is one you probably already knew about. Chocolate is made from the fruit, or beans of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. Theobromine is poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses among others because they are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively.
Grapes and Raisins
No one is 100% sure why grapes and raisins can be harmful to cats and dogs. But, the ASPCA (American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals) advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount.
Milk
I bet you're surprised by this one. Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have harmful side-effects. Many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products can cause upset stomach, cramps and gassiness. A small amount of milk or cream is okay 2 or 3 times a week. Buy catmilk too.
The bottom line is, feed your cat nutritious cat food, and cat treats instead of table scraps.
Best Wishes,
Connie Edwards
Why? Because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good premium cat foods. Any "extras" will take away their appetites for their regular meals.
A sliver of turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill your cat, but you're helping him or her develop bad habits. Don't do it on a regular basis.
There are a number of people foods that are toxic, or poisonous to cats. In other words, there are foods that can cause your cat serious injury or death. For example, the gravy or stuffing that you poured over your Thanksgiving turkey may have onions in it, among other things. For humans, that gravy or stuffing might taste great and it's harmless. But, did you know that onions are very toxic to cats.
Here is a list of common people foods that can be harmful to cats.
Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables
Onions contain a substance called N-propyl disulphide which destroys red blood cells in the cat. This causes a form of anemia. Onions and onion products are not recommended for consumption by cats. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount.
Green Tomatoes, Green/Raw Potatoes
These foods are members of the Solanaceae (So·la·na·ce·ae) family of plants. They include the potato, tomato, eggplant and chili peppers to name a few. For humans, they're an important source of food, and also used for spices and medicine. But, some of these plants are poisonous. In particular, the leaves and stems of the plant. So be careful!
Chocolate
This is one you probably already knew about. Chocolate is made from the fruit, or beans of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. Theobromine is poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses among others because they are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively.
Grapes and Raisins
No one is 100% sure why grapes and raisins can be harmful to cats and dogs. But, the ASPCA (American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals) advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount.
Milk
I bet you're surprised by this one. Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have harmful side-effects. Many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products can cause upset stomach, cramps and gassiness. A small amount of milk or cream is okay 2 or 3 times a week. Buy catmilk too.
The bottom line is, feed your cat nutritious cat food, and cat treats instead of table scraps.
Best Wishes,
Connie Edwards
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