Buzz
Cats are extraordinary little beings. They’ve long captured the attention of the internet, winning the affection of those who engage with them online. In addition, they’ve maintained a prestigious legacy as beloved domesticated pets and cherished companions through the centuries. However, they are also closely related to wild predators like lions and tigers. Despite their charming appearance, cats still carry inherent predatory instincts and possess remarkable traits passed down through generations.
In this list, we will explore ten intriguing facts about our feline friends. These small, cuddly (and sometimes mischievous) creatures are endearing and comforting. Yet, they can also be amusingly prickly and sarcastic. It all comes down to their fascinating genetics. So, keep reading to discover the reasons behind their behavior and how they evolved into the cats we know today!
10. The Mystery of the Nose
Each cat’s nose is one of a kind. Much like a human fingerprint, a cat’s nose print consists of distinctive patterns, bumps, ridges, and valleys that form in an exclusive combination. No other cat has the same nose print. In fact, these unique prints are so individual that they could potentially be used to track cats and determine where they’ve been and what they’ve done.
Of course, we'd need to create a database of cat nose prints, similar to the fingerprint database used in human crime prevention and justice systems. Then, we'd have to figure out how to ensure every cat leaves its nose print by touching things, which isn’t always a given. This concept would only be useful if cats were out there committing crimes, but thankfully, that’s not the case—at least, we hope they aren't!
All jokes aside, it’s true that every cat on Earth can be identified by its one-of-a-kind nose print. Much like our fingerprints, no two cats have the same nose, which is what makes them uniquely theirs, even if we can’t detect it with our eyes.
9. The Fascinating World of Whiskers
Cats are experts at squeezing into and navigating through incredibly tight spaces. You might think your cat is a bit fluffy or even chubby, but they have an amazing ability to contort themselves and slip through small openings with ease. It's almost as if they instinctively know exactly how much space they need to maneuver through a narrow gap. And, in fact, they do!
Cats rely on their whiskers to assess whether they can fit into narrow spaces. Their whiskers are about the same width as their bodies, and when they approach a confined area, the sensation from their whiskers informs them about what’s ahead. Think of their whiskers as a form of radar—or even like a car’s backup camera!
Whiskers serve more purposes than one for cats. They not only help them with spatial awareness, but also assist in seeing objects at great distances. Cats have remarkable long-distance vision, allowing them to spot moving objects from afar. If you've ever noticed your cat staring out the window, observing birds and other creatures far off, you know this trait well. While they enjoy watching the outside world and tracking things from far away, their vision up close isn't as sharp. This is where their whiskers come into play!
A cat's whiskers act as a close-range sensor, almost like a radar system, helping them navigate nearby objects. By brushing their whiskers against something, they can instantly understand what it is and decide how to interact with it—since their vision isn't as effective at very close distances. Their whiskers send the gathered information directly to their brain, enabling fast and efficient processing of their surroundings.
8. The Cat’s Meow
Domestic cats rarely meow at other cats. Instead, they rely on a variety of body language to communicate with their fellow felines, which can include tail movements, subtle shifts in their body position, or changes in posture. These gestures are used to convey feelings and messages to other cats, providing a silent language between them.
Cats express a range of emotions, from anger to joy to calm, simply through their body movements. These subtle signals are well understood by other cats, but unfortunately, humans tend to miss these silent cues. As a result, cats often resort to meowing to get our attention, since we aren't as quick to pick up on their more nuanced forms of communication.
Cats have developed the ability to meow as a way of communicating with humans. Unlike wild cats such as lions and tigers, which do not use meowing as a form of communication, domestic cats have evolved this behavior over thousands of years specifically for interacting with humans. Their meows may be subtle, but they are meaningful and important.
According to animal behavior experts, cats have developed a 'vocabulary' of several dozen distinct meows. These meows serve various purposes, such as signaling to humans when they are hungry, thirsty, or upset. While we may not understand all of their vocalizations, we can often interpret their tone and pitch to understand their needs. In this way, cats truly do speak to us!
7. Back to Bed!
If you live with a house cat, you’ll know that one of their favorite activities is sleeping. It may seem like your cat is always lounging and enjoying a lazy life, and in many cases, you’d be correct. A typical house cat spends about 70% of its life sleeping.
On average, a cat sleeps anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day, often in multiple intervals. However, their need for sleep is not merely a sign of laziness. Their sleep patterns are the result of millions of years of evolutionary biology, which have shaped their habits.
Cats are known for being 'crepuscular,' a term that means they’re most active during dawn and dusk. This behavior traces back millions of years, as their ancestors hunted during those times, when prey animals were most active. Prey would avoid midday hours, and cats adapted to this schedule to hunt effectively.
The traits of their ancestors have carried over to modern-day house cats, influencing their habits. Cats don't nap for long stretches; instead, they take short 15-20 minute naps, often referred to as cat naps. After each quick rest, they wake up, ready to see what’s going on in their environment.
Despite sleeping much of the day, cats are not truly lazy. They conserve energy in preparation for the next hunting opportunity. It's a natural instinct shaped by their genetic makeup to rest during the day and be alert when nightfall comes.
6. Lots of Toes!
Most cats have 18 toes, though some may have even more! These cats are known as 'polydactyls.' This rare genetic trait causes them to be born with extra toes on their paws, and in some cases, these extra toes even resemble human thumbs.
It may seem a bit strange, but polydactyl cats are actually seen as symbols of good fortune and luck. This belief stems from their historical significance. In centuries past, these cats were highly valued because they were brought on long ocean voyages to help control rats and mice. They also served as loyal companions to sailors.
Interestingly, polydactyl cats were especially favored because sailors believed these cats had better balance during storms when ships rocked in rough seas. As a result, captains in the Middle Ages and the Golden Age of Sail specifically sought out polydactyl cats for their vessels. Even the Puritans brought these cats to the New World in the 17th century, which allowed the gene to spread, leading to more polydactyls through breeding.
Today, Key West, Florida, is home to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, where around 60 polydactyl cats live. Hemingway himself was given one of these unique cats, and it became so beloved that it stayed and had numerous polydactyl offspring. The cats currently residing on the museum's property form one of the largest groups of polydactyl cats known to animal experts.
For the record, the most toes ever found on a cat is 28, held by two cats—Jake from Canada and Paws from the United States. Guinness World Records recognized both cats for having an astonishing 28 toes—ten more than the typical cat's paw!
5. Make Sure You Use the Right Terminology!
When cats gather together in a group, it's known as a 'clowder.' While it might sound like the name of a soup, it’s actually a term used for a group of cats that share trust and familiarity with each other. If the cats are uncertain or even aggressive toward one another, the correct term is 'glaring.'
Kittens have their own special names too. While 'litter' is the common term for a group of newborn kittens, there’s another, more specific term for a group of kittens playing and interacting: a 'kindle.' This term comes from the verb 'to kindle,' meaning to give birth to a batch of young ones. And, in today’s world, it also refers to reading on an e-reader.
Another important term to learn is 'trichobezoar.' This may sound complex, but it’s just the scientific name for a hairball, a common occurrence for many cats.
While most of us simply call it a hairball when our cat brings up a lump of phlegm, the scientific term for it is 'trichobezoar.' This word is made up of 'trich,' meaning hair, and 'bezoar,' a term for any foreign substance that obstructs a living creature's digestion.
4. Losing the Collarbone
There’s a well-known saying that cats always land on their feet, even when falling from great heights. But this isn't just an old myth or a piece of folklore—it's actually scientifically true!
Cats possess a righting reflex that helps them orient themselves when they’re falling or jumping. This reflex is a genetic trait that begins showing up in kittens as early as 3-4 weeks old. By the time they are about two months old, they’ve pretty much mastered the skill. The rest, as they say, is history!
In addition to their righting reflex, cats are able to land on their feet with ease because they don’t have collarbones and their spines are extremely flexible. Unlike humans and many other animals, cats lack clavicles, which allows them to twist and adjust their body quickly and always land upright. This also gives them the ability to squeeze into incredibly tight spaces.
Ever wonder how your cat manages to squeeze behind the washer or slip into other impossibly small spaces? The secret is that cats can collapse their shoulders into an incredibly tight configuration. Without collarbones, they can fit into spaces that seem far too small for even the slimmest feline.
3. Enhanced Senses
Cats are truly remarkable little creatures—think of them as superheroes, at least when it comes to their senses. In all aspects, cats are extraordinary, surpassing humans in their sensory abilities and even outshining many other animals.
For instance, cats have an incredibly sharp sense of smell. Their noses contain around 200 million odor receptors, compared to the mere five million in humans. This gives them an extraordinary ability to detect scents. Cats also open their mouths when sniffing, enhancing their ability to process the information their nose is gathering.
But that's not all! Cats also have scent glands on their cheeks, paws, and the base of their tails. When they rub against things, they’re using these glands to mark their territory. And when they rub their faces against you, it's their way of marking you as their special person!
Smell isn't the only area where cats excel. As we’ve seen, their vision is sharp, especially for spotting prey from a distance. Their hearing is equally impressive and adaptable. Cats can rotate their ears up to 180 degrees, allowing them to precisely locate the source of sounds and decide whether to fight or flee.
2. The Extra Eyelid
While humans and many animals only have two eyelids, cats possess an extra, third 'secret' eyelid that serves several purposes. We’re familiar with our own upper and lower eyelids, which blink every few seconds to keep out dust and dirt and protect our eyes from bright lights and reflections.
But cats go a step further with what's called a 'haw' or, more formally, a 'nictitating membrane.' This third eyelid not only helps keep a cat's eyes moist but also shields them from various dangers, particularly due to their naturally curious nature of poking their face into places they perhaps shouldn’t.
This eyelid moves horizontally from the inner corner of the cat’s eye and covers it. You can usually spot it when a cat is just waking up from sleep and slowly opening its eyes. If you pay close attention, you might catch a glimpse of this third eyelid flashing across its eye. Pretty eerie!
Normally, though, you won’t see this extra eyelid, as it stays mostly hidden when cats are awake and moving about. But that’s not the only peculiar thing about a cat's eyes—they also have a reflective layer behind their retinas.
This layer is called the 'tapetum lucidum,' and it reflects light back through the retina to improve night vision. If you’ve ever noticed your cat’s eyes glowing in the dark or reflecting light in dim conditions, that’s why. This is also why cats have such excellent vision at night!
1. The Catnip Conundrum
Cats generally react quite well to catnip. This powerful plant, scientifically known as Nepeta cataria, has mood-altering effects on felines. Some cats become mellow when exposed to it, while others may get playful, energetic, carefree, or simply happy just by being near the herb.
The leaves and stems of catnip contain an oil called nepetalactone. When the plant is crushed, this oil is released, and its scent is detected by a cat’s keen sense of smell. This triggers a series of mood-altering reactions in the cat’s brain, causing them to feel euphoric as their receptors link to pheromones through the catnip response.
However, not every cat is affected by catnip. In fact, a large number of cats don’t respond to it at all! The ability to react to catnip is hereditary, and not all felines carry the gene that allows them to experience its effects. Studies suggest that over half—possibly up to 70%—of cats respond to catnip, which still leaves around 30% of house cats unaffected by Nepeta cataria.
Kittens also take time to develop a response to catnip. Most will only begin to feel its effects after they reach three months old, though some may need to be as old as six months before reacting. And even then, not all kittens will grow into the catnip response—about a third of cats remain indifferent to it.
