Owning a cat probably means you know some basic cat facts. But many interesting cat facts may not be so obvious. Cats have been a part of human civilization for over 9,500 years, both wild and domesticated. This makes it one of the oldest relationships between humans and animals. For over 1,000 generations and continuing to this day, humans have been captivated by the adorable quirks and behaviours of cats.
From the way they act to their physical traits to the mythology surrounding them, there’s almost nothing that hasn’t been written about these lovely creatures. Here are 13 cat facts of them.
13 Interesting Cat Facts
1. A cat’s tail helps it to keep its balance
You know that cats have a fantastic sense of balance, which helps them land on their feet when they jump from high places. The reason for this is that the tail acts as a counterweight. This is how your cat uses its tail to help itself stay balanced.
Another use for the tail is as a signal to other cats. When your cat wags its tail, it’s showing that it’s feeling friendly or playful; if it flicks its tail up and down quickly, it’s angry with you (or something else).
2. The cat family origin
The cat family originated in Asia and spread globally but didn’t reach North America until the 16th century. Cats are not native to Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar or Hawaii.
Cats were considered so important that ancient Egyptians revered them as gods and goddesses. They even tried to make a lion look like a beautiful woman with their artistry.
3. Cats can run at speeds of 30 mph
Cat speed is determined by various factors, including breed and age. Younger cats are generally faster than older ones, though some breeds (including the Maine Coon) tend to maintain their speed well into adulthood. The cat’s size also determines how fast it will run; more giant cats may be slower than smaller ones because they need more time to build momentum.
Cats have been known to reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour! This means that they can outrun dogs, humans, and even horses (which usually top out at 25 mph) or cheetahs (which can hit 65 mph). Of course, not all cats are capable of such speeds.
But for those who are fit enough, there’s nothing quite like chasing after a mouse with all four legs at full throttle.
4. Grooming takes up 30% of cats’ waking hours
A cat’s coat is one of the first things people notice about these animals. It can be sleek, smooth, fluffy, thick, or somewhere between. Cats often spend a significant amount of time grooming themselves to keep their coats looking good and healthy, so we should give them a helping hand now and again by brushing them regularly.
A well-groomed cat will have fewer problems with mites, fleas and other parasites than an unkempt one. Grooming also helps maintain their skin’s elasticity, so they stay supple longer, and who doesn’t want that? In addition to being beneficial for cats’ appearance and health, cat grooming helps communicate with other cats (or humans). They’re marking us as theirs when they rub against us while we’re petting them or laying down next to us on the couch. Don’t forget that this applies both ways.
5. The first advertising slogan
The first known advertising slogan for cat food was, “Good for those who love their cats”. It was used in 1894 by the Pet Milk Company. This is the first known instance of a company using a slogan to promote a product. The slogan was used for marketing their canned cat food product.
Before this time, companies did not use slogans as part of their advertising campaigns and relied solely on print ads and billboards to promote their products or services.
6. 100 breeds of domestic cats one of the best Cat facts
Cat breeds like Persian, Siamese, Orange tebby cat and Maine Coons are most popular in the United States.
- Persians (also called “orientals”) are muscular cats with large ears and eyes that give them a perpetually surprised look. They have long fur and short legs, which make them look like they’re always on stilts.
- Siamese cats have pointy faces with bright blue eyes and black markings on white fur (or sometimes white markings on coloured fur). Their coat is short and glossy, but they tend to shed quite a bit due to their dense undercoat. If you’ve been watching Instagram’s most-followed pet accounts, you might have seen one recently. They’re trendy among animal lovers.
- The Maine Coon is an athletic cat with long hair covering its body; it’s also known as the American Longhair because of its lengthiness compared to other cat breeds. It was named after the state where it originated because early settlers brought these felines from Europe along with other domesticated animals such as cattle or sheep during colonial times – these days, many people keep Maine Coons as pets simply because they want something. Big enough for cuddling.
7. The hearing range of cats is 65 kHz, while the hearing range of humans is 20 kHz
Cats can hear frequencies that humans cannot hear. Cats can detect sounds up to two octaves higher than us. That’s why you’ll often notice your cat running for cover when you turn on the vacuum cleaner or blender, even if it’s in another room!
It’s also thought that cats can hear ultrasound, which is between 20 and 80 kHz (the same range as bats).
8. A crime was punishable by death
- Egyptians often mummified and buried cats with their owners when cats were revered as gods.
- In ancient Egypt, killing a cat meant death since cats served as the symbol of the god Bastet (Bast). This was done by drowning the offending party in the Nile River or burning them alive at stake.
- Domesticated cats were used for pest control and kept homes free of mice and rats; they were so well-loved that their owners would even feed them with solid gold bowls.
9. Domestic cats weight
Domestic cats are one of the best cat facts, usually weigh between 8 and 10 pounds, though some male cats can weigh up to 20 pounds. Domestic female cats can weigh anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds. The giant domestic cat weighed 40 pounds, while the smallest weighed only 1 pound at maturity.
10. Cat’s reproduction
Here are some exciting cat facts that you may not be aware of:
- In just seven years, one pair of cats and their kittens can produce up to 420,000 kittens.
- Each kitten in a litter can reproduce within 18 months after birth, and cats can have up to 12 kittens in a litter.
- A female cat can give birth 3 times per year if she mates with multiple males or 2 times per year if she only mates once with one male. This means that one female cat could produce 21 litters in her lifetime! It also takes about two months for a litter to be born and raised, so they must have access to food since they don’t store fat reserves like humans do (they burn off energy instead).
11. Pregnant cats should be fed one meal per day
Pregnant cats should be fed one meal daily until they give birth but once or twice daily after the kittens are born.
High-quality soft dry cat food is essential for a healthy pregnancy and breast milk for newborns. As carnivores, cats need nutrients found only in animal products. During pregnancy, cats need fresh water at all times, especially when it’s hot outside. If your cat is on a canned diet, then you can increase her water intake by feeding her smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal at night.
12. 40 recognized breeds
Approximately 40 breeds of domestic cats are recognized worldwide. The most popular cat breed is the Persian, and the least popular is the Birman.
The first domesticated cats were found in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). Early farmers probably kept cats as pets because they kept small rodents away from their grain stores; this helped keep the food free of pests so that farmers could eat well and have healthy offspring who would be able to grow up and tend crops.
13. All cats have claws, except the cheetah sheath them when at rest
All cats have claws. Cats can extend their claws when they are at rest while sheathed. Cat claws are used for various purposes, including catching prey and defence. Claws are used by cats to scratch territory and mark it. However, they don’t sharpen them on furniture as many people believe (or as many people are fond of saying).
Conclusion
The cat is one of the most amazing animals on earth. They have been around for a long time, and they still fascinate us today. There is so much to learn about our feline friends, but here are some fun cat facts that will help you get started on your quest.
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