Fascinating felines – 19 amazing facts about cats

Cats are usually synonymous for being aloof and mysterious. But these majestic beings make the perfect companion and have such unique things about their personality that you’ll be amazed. Celebrating our 19 Anniversary …. meow on….

By Kritika Manchanda On Sep 12, 2023

From the way they walk with poise and grace, to their unusual ways of showing love and affection, here are some amazing facts about cats, we bet you didn’t know.

1. Sleeping beauties – Cats spend 70% of their lives sleeping

Cats are champions in sleeping and spend 70% of their lives sleeping, which comes out to be 13 – 17 hours a day.

2. A total of 18 toes

Did you know that your feline friend has a total of 18 toes? They have 5 toes on each of their front paws, and four toes on their back paws.

3. Companions since centuries – The oldest pet cat existed 9500 years ago

It is believed that it was the Egyptians that first domesticated cats. Cats have a huge role in their culture and are considered a symbol of prosperity and good luck. But in 2004, French archaeologists discovered a 9500-year-old cat grave in Cyprus. This makes this the oldest known pet cat and it predates Egyptian art about cats by over 4,000 years!

4. Long live our feline companions

1 year of a cat’s life is equal to 15 years of a human’s life.

5. Jumping jacks – Cats can jump up to 6 times their height

Cats are excellent jumpers and can jump really high. They have very strong muscles in their legs which catapults them into the air.

6. Need space, quite literally – In 1963, the first cat went to space

Did you know that a feline friend went for a space mission on October 18th, 1963. Félicette was a stray Parisian cat who is the only cat to have been successfully launched into space.

7. Their nose print = our finger print

Just like each human has unique finger prints, cats have unique nose prints. A cat’s nose is formed of a unique pattern of ridges, which are very similar to the individual ridges of the human finger.

8. 32 muscles to keep them alert

Cats have a total of 32 muscles in each of their ears, alone! This allows them to swivel their ears to get an exact sound and be super alert even on the minutest noise. All these muscles help cats rotate their ears 180 degrees.

9. Egyptians and their love for cats

It is believed that ancient Egyptians used to shave off their eyebrows when their pet cats used to die.

10. Largest cat breed – A Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is one of the largest domestic cat breeds there is. In fact, the Guinness World Records gave Barivel, a Maine Coon, the award for being the longest domestic cat ever. Barivel is 120 cm long and lives in Italy.

11. Singapura, the small wonder

The smallest cat breed in the world is a Singapura. It originates from Singapore, that’s why the name. They are around half the size of a normal house cat.

12. Isaac Newton invented the cat door

Isaac Newton is most famous for his physics Laws and gravity. But did you know that he was the one who invented cat doors? When Newton was working on his experiments at the University of Cambridge, he was constantly interrupted by his cats scratching at the door. So, he called the Cambridge carpenter to saw two holes in the door, one for the mother cat and one for her kittens. Apparently, these holes can still be seen at the university today.

13. Known for their exceptional speed

If you have seen your kitten running all throughout the house and are wondering about his speed abilities, then you would be surprised to know that a house cat can speed up to 30 mph.

14. Old is Gold – Oldest cat in the world was 38 years of age

The oldest cat to have ever lived was 38 years and 3 days when he passed away. Creme Puff, born on 3rd August 1967 lived until 6th August 2005, and his owner Jake Perry also owned the previous oldest cat record holder, Grandpa Rex Allen, who passed away at the grand age of 34.

15. Paw preference

Just like humans can be left- or right-handed, cats can show a preference for using one paw over the other. This is known as “pawedness.”

16. So many cats, so little time

For cat lovers around the world, this is a big a problem. There are a total of 73 registered cat breeds all over the world. Each of them has their own unique characteristics. So which ones have you fallen in love with – Cornish Rex, Bengal, Scottish Fold, Sphynx, Maine Coon, or Japanese Bobtail???

17. Symbolic significance

In a study it was shown that your beloved feline friends share nearly 96% of their genetic makeup with tigers! Cats also exhibit many similar behaviours to tigers, including scent and urine marking, stalking and pouncing on prey.

18. Whisker fatigue

Cats can experience something called “whisker fatigue” if their whiskers are overstimulated by touching surfaces too frequently. This can make them irritable or agitated. Signs of whisker fatigue are – general stress, avoiding food bowl, head shaking or tilting, and irritability.

19. Iconic cats – Garfield and Tom

When talking about famous cats, the first name that comes to mind is Tom from Tom and Jerry. Their funny antics has won millions of hearts and made it a favorite cartoon of kids and adults alike.

Created by Jim Davis, Garfield is a lazy, lasagna-loving cat known for his humorous and relatable antics. He has been featured in various comic strips, animated series, and movies.

July Aug 2023