You may already know that you have a tiny predator in your home, but have you noticed just how interesting cats actually are? Check out these 10 fun facts about cats to get a better understanding of your cat’s health, behavior and needs.
Your cat’s ability to open their pupils wide, the rods in their eyes and the reflective layer in the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum grant them wonderful night vision. However, your cat is nearsighted, and their vision may not be as good as yours in direct light.
Cats have a minimal-to-nonexistent ability to detect sweet tastes. They have a natural preference for meaty or savory tastes and smells, and they have a strong aversion to bitter tastes. Cats actually have far fewer taste buds than humans—only a few hundred compared to the over 9,000 that humans have.
Some studies suggest that female cats are more likely to be right-pawed while males are more likely to be left-pawed. It’s also possible for cats to be ambidextrous!
A lot of people know that dogs have dreams while sleeping, but cats do, too! Like us, cats dream during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. While sleeping, your cat may have paw movements and muscle twitches or make little sounds.
Sensitivity to catnip is hereditary, so some cats don’t have the genes that make them respond to catnip. For cats who do respond, catnip is a great form of enrichment! For those who don’t, you may have better luck focusing on ways to incorporate interesting smells into their play and entertainment routines.
Most cats have 18 toes, with five on each front foot and four on each back foot. However, polydactyl cats are born with extra toes. Being born with extra toes is a genetic abnormality that can be passed on to offspring. Some polydactyl cats have over six toes on each foot! Although polydactyly can make trimming a cat’s nails a little more time consuming, having extra toes is not usually harmful to the cat.
One bite from a true lily (Lilium species) can cause life-threatening kidney failure in a cat. A cat can be harmed by any part of the plant, as well as the water in a vase. If you have an indoor cat, it is much safer to consider alternative flowers.
Cats are considered obligate carnivores, which means they have nutritional requirements that can only be met by eating animal products. For example, cats need to receive taurine from animal products. Without taurine, your cat could develop heart disease or blindness. Your cat’s natural diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
Asthma in cats can be characterized by trouble breathing, exercise intolerance, coughing and wheezing. Like in humans, cat asthma is often treated with an inhaler.
The conical shape of your cat’s teeth and the foods they eat decrease how likely your cat is to develop cavities, called dental caries. Instead, cats are more likely to experience other dental diseases, such as periodontal disease, stomatitis or tooth resorption.
Now that you’ve learned these interesting facts about cats, you’re ready to spread the news of how “purr”fect your feline friend is!
