Cats are some of the most popular pets in the world. They have been domesticated for thousands of years and there is a reason that they are so popular- cats are really cool! There are many cat facts that you might not know about but should. Check out this article to learn 10 things you did not know about cats!
1. Cats Like to Keep Things Clean
Cats spend about 1/3 of their lives grooming themselves. They use their paws to clean themselves, and lick parts of their body that are hard for them to reach. It is a natural instinct in cats, as it helps keep the fur healthy and free from parasites.
Grooming is also important for a cat’s mental health. Cats who are suffering from depression, for instance, may overgroom themselves to the point of injury. This behavior is called psychogenic alopecia. This is common in cats struggling with stress, such as separation anxiety.
2. Most Cats Don’t Hate Water
This cat fact exposes a common myth about our feline friends. Many cats enjoy taking baths and playing in puddles. They do not like to be wet for a long period of time, and they are always attracted by fluids that move quickly or have currents.
A common misconception is that cats hate the water because their fur has special oils which repel water. This is not true – any mammal’s fur will do this if it doesn’t get washed off. It’s always important to bathe our cats once in a while, especially when they’ve gotten dirty.
3. The Average Cat Sleeps for 16 Hours Per Day
Why do cats sleep so much? It is often said that this behavior is a result of cats hunting prey at night and conserving their energy during the day. There are other theories, however, such as cats evolving to sleep so much because it was more convenient for them when they were first domesticated – before we started feeding them on a regular basis!
So, if your cat sleeps a lot, know that it’s normal behavior for their species.
4. Their Ears Can Tell You a Lot About Their Mood
One way to tell if your cat is happy is by looking at the ears – one will be up, one down or both ears forward means the cat is content.
If you notice that one ear is turned back while the other faces forward, this means your cat could have an infection or some sort of physical injury. If both their ears are facing backward, this usually means they are stressed out!
This is just one of the many ways our cats communicate with us.
5. A Female Cat Can Have Upwards of 180 Kittens in Her Lifetime
Cats are domesticated animals, but if left unspayed and unneutered, they will procreate quickly. For instance, in the U.S., 1 unspayed female cat, her mate, and offspring can produce more than 2 million cats in just 8 years. Here’s a chart that shows how that works.
As you can see, it’s really important to spay and neuter your cats.
6. Cat’s Eyesight Isn’t as Good as Humans But They See Better Than Dogs in Low Light Conditions
Cats can see pretty well. In the dark, they can see six to eight times better than humans. Cat’s eyesight isn’t as good in daylight and their vision is blurry at close range.
Compared to dogs, cats see better in the dark because they have special light-sensitive cells called rod cells, which humans don’t have. This is what makes cats excellent night hunters.
7. Cats Can Hear Sounds as High as 85 kHz and Lower Than 48 Hz
One of our favorite cat facts has to do with their ears. Cats have excellent hearing. Compared to dogs, cats can hear higher frequency sounds – as high as 85 kHz or lower than 20 Hz.
Cats also have an internal ear structure that allows them to rotate their ears 180 degrees, which helps the animal locate the source of a sound. With that superpower, cats hear all kinds of things we cannot hear.
Cats can hear ultrasound, which is a frequency higher than the range of human hearing. The cat’s ability to detect vibrations and their sensitivity to sound is because they have 18 movable whiskers that function as antennae on each side of its face.
The big ears are not just for looks!
8. There are Many Ways to Describe Cats
Here’s a funny cat fact we bet you didn’t know: a group of cats is called a clowder, a male cat is called a tom, and a female cat is called a queen or molly. Why these silly names? A group of cats is called a clowder because the word is a combination of the two old English words “clow” and “der,” meaning animals that make a mess.
A male cat is called a tom because they are often close to home, or territory. A female cat is called queen or molly for similar reasons.
9. Cats Cannot See Directly Under Their Nose
They can’t see under their nose because they don’t have enough facial muscles for eye movement on both sides of their head at once. This small blind spot means they can’t see things directly in front of them, such as a bowl of food.
As we discussed before, a cat can see well, but if you place something right in front of them, they still may not see it!
10. The Average Lifespan for a Domesticated Cat is 12 to 15 Years
Cans can live a long time these days. With proper medical attention, cats live to be 15 years old. That was unheard of in the past. For example, in 1995, the average life expectancy was around 9 years.
If you want your cat to live a long life, here are some tips to keeping them healthy:
- Keep them on a diet of high-quality food with all the necessary nutrients.
- Clean their litter box every day to avoid any possible diseases being spread through the cat’s waste.
- Provide plenty of fresh water for your pet and keep it in an area where they feel safe. Water means life, so make sure that you always have enough for all the pets in the household.
- Prevent mental health issues by providing good stimulation and new things to explore.
- Keep your pet safe from any outside dangers, such as cars or other animals that could harm them.
- Lastly, love your cat as much as you can. They deserve it!
Cat Facts that Prove They Are Amazing Creatures
Cats are amazing creatures, and anyone who has one would likely agree. From their lifespan to their special vision and sight, there is so much to learn about cats. Hopefully, these 10 bits of information helped you learn a little more about this common species and beloved household pet.
If you have questions about any of our interesting cat facts, comment below!