Cats make excellent pets and describing why is never easy. They just do! Charles Dickens said, “What greater gift than the love of a cat.” They live life by their rules, and they are comfort connoisseurs. But what about people who don’t like cats? They must have been mice in previous lives. As temperatures rise, so do the number of cats. They breed in warm weather, and most cat litters contain four to six kittens. Here are some more interesting cat facts.
Interesting Cat Breeds
Maine Coons are the largest breed of domestic cats. They can weigh as much as 24 pounds. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to Maine’s US state, where it is the official state cat. Owners of Maine Coon cats say this breed is one of the best pets to have.
Ever seen a cat with webbed feet? The Peterbald is a cat breed of Russian origin. It has webbed feet and resulted from experimental breeding in St Petersburg in 1994 by Olga S. Mironova.
The Selkirk Rex cat breed has a thick coat of woolly-looking curls. Their nickname is the cat in sheep’s clothing. They slowly lose their naturally-born curly fur, but it grows again when the cat is around 8 months.
The Turkish Van cat is a rare breed that dates back to ancient times. It is a natural breed from the Middle East’s rugged, remote, and climatically varied region. Unlike most other cat breeds, they love water, which is why their nickname is the “swimming cat.” It’s not unusual to find him splashing in ponds, pools or any other water he can find.
Ragdoll cats live up to their name; they will literally go limp, with relaxed muscles, when lifted by a human. These kitties tend to be more interested in humans than most breeds of cats. They will run to greet you at the door and follow you from room to room.
Somebody discovered a kitten with green fur in Denmark in 1995. Originally thought to be a genetic mutation, scientists later determined the high copper levels in the water supply caused it.
Oldest cat breed
Perhaps the oldest cat breed on record is the Egyptian Mau, which is also the Egyptian language’s word for cat. They are one of the few breeds of domesticated cats that are naturally spotted. The Mau’s spots are formed by the coloring on the tips of their coat’s hairs. It is considered a rare breed.
According to the International Species Information Service, there are only three Marbled Cats still in existence worldwide. One lives in the United States. Although not domesticated, they are docile and easily tamed in captivity.
Historical Cat Facts
According to Terry Pratchett, cats were worshiped as gods in ancient times, and they have not forgotten this.
Interesting ancient cat facts: Punishment for killing a cat in the ages of Pharaoh was death.
When a household cat died in ancient Egypt, its owners showed their grief by shaving their eyebrows.
Sir Isaac Newton, among his many achievements, invented the cat “flap” door.
Cat facts about feeding
Cats will not eat something they dislike — they would rather starve themselves. This means they will refuse nutritionally complete food for a prolonged period if they don’t like the taste.
Cats who eat too much tuna can become addicted, causing a Vitamin E deficiency.
They prefer their food at room temperature — not too hot, not too cold.
Cats cannot make fat in their bodies, an essential nutrient that owners must add to their diet.
Eating grass rids a cats’ system of any fur and helps with digestion.
Other interesting bits about cats
A cat’s heart beats between 110 and 140 beats per minute — almost twice the rate of a human heart.
Some cats can survive falls from as high up as 65 feet or more. However, they always land on their feet. They have balance organs in their ears, and with the help of their eyes, they can turn in the air to make sure they land upright.
Just like humans, cats can be lefties and righties. However, many of them are ambidextrous.
Cats use their whiskers to measure openings, indicate mood and for general navigation.
Cats have 24 more bones than humans.
Most kittens are born with blue eyes, which then turn color with age.
The teeth of cats are sharper when they’re kittens. After six months, they lose their needle-sharp milk teeth.
Cats have over 100 sounds in their vocal repertoire, while dogs only have 10.
We call a group of kittens a “kindle”, and “clowder” is a term that refers to a group of adult cats.
Another name for a female cat is a “queen” or a “molly.”
