47 Amazing Facts About Your Cat

1.Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear. A cat can rotate its ears independently 180 degrees, and can turn in the direction of sound 10 times faster than those of the best watchdog.

2.Cats have 500 skeletal muscles, while a human have 650. < p>

3.A cat has a total of 24 whiskers, 4 rows of whiskers on each side. The upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows. A cat uses its whiskers for measuring distances.

4.A cat sees about 6 times better than a human at night, and needs 1/6 the amount of of light that a human does - it has a layer of extra reflecting cells which absorb light.

5.Studies have shown that cats can see blue and green. There are disagreements as whether they can see red.

6.Blue-eyed, pure white cats are frequently deaf.

7.It may take as long as 2 weeks for a kitten to be able to hear well. Their eyes usually open between 7 and 10 days, but sometimes it happens in as little as 2 days.

8.Cats have 30 teeth, while dogs have 42. Kittens have baby teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth around the age of 7 months.

9.A cats jaw goes only up and down motion, it does not have a side to side motion, like dogs and humans do.

10.Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.

11.Cats walk on their toes.

12.A domestic cat can sprint at about 31 miles per hour. The heaviest cat on record weighed 46 lbs.

13.A kitten weighs about 3 ounces
at birth.

14.Almost 10% of a cats bones are in its tail, and the tail is used to maintain balance.

15.When a cat drinks, its tongue - which has little barbs,scoops the water up backwards.

16.Cats take between 20-40 breaths per minute.

17.Normal body temperature for a cat is 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

18.Cats respond more readily to names that end in an e sound.

19.Cats lose almost as much fluid in their saliva while grooming themselves as they do through their urination.

20.You can also learn your cats state of mind by observing the posture of his tail.

21.If a cat is frightened or scarred, the hair stands up evenly all over the entire body.

22.A female cat reaches sexual maturity at 6 to 10 months, most veterinarians suggest spaying your female at 5 months, before her first heat period. A male cat usually reaches sexual maturity between 9 and 12 months.

23.A female cat will be pregnant for approximately 9 weeks, between 62 and 65 days from conception to delivery.

24.Many cats love having their forehead stroked.

25.If a cat is frightened, put your hand over its eyes and forehead, or let them bury their head in your armpit to help calm them.

26.A cat will shake or shiver when it is in extreme pain.

27.Cats should not be fed tuna exclusively, as it lacks taurine, an essential nutrient required for good feline health.

28.Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy and healthy, some cats will purr loudly when they are terrified or in pain.

29.Catnip is not addictive.

30.Cats must have fat in their diet because they can't produce it on their own.

31.While many cats enjoy milk, it will give some cats diarrhea.

32.When a domestic cat goes after mice, about 1 pounce in 3 results in a catch.

33.Older cats with no health problems are in deep sleep 15 percent of their lives. They are in light sleep 50 percent of the time.That is 35 percent awake time, or approximently 6-8 hours sleep a day.

34.A cat can jump 5 times as high as it is tall.

35.Neutering a male cat will, in almost all instances, stop territorial marking (spraying), fighting with other cats, as well as lengthen his life and improve his quality.

36.Declawing a cat is the same as cutting a human finger off at the knuckle. Train your cat to use a scratching post.

37.Cats with long, lean bodies are more likely to be outgoing, and more protective and vocal than those with a heavier build.

38.It is estimated about 50% of today's cat owners never take their cats to a veterinarian for health care. Cats tend to keep their problems to themselves, many owners think their cat is perfectly healthy when actually they may be suffering from a life-threatening disease. Cat's therefore on an average, much sicker than dogs by the time they are brought the veterinarian for treatment.

39.Never give your cat aspirin unless specifically prescribed by your veterinarian,it can be fatal. Never ever give Tylenol to a cat.

40.Most cats adore sardines.

41.Cats respond better to women than to men, probably due to the fact that women's voices have a higher pitch.

42.If your cat pushes his face against your head, it is a sign of acceptance and affection.

43.Cat bites are more likely to become infected than dog bites.

44.Cat families like playing in even numbers. If possible cats and kitty's like being in pairs.

45.Cat litter was invented in 1947 when Edward Lowe asked his neighbor to try a dried, granulated clay used to sop up grease spills in factories.

46.Cats lived with soldiers in trenches, where they killed mice during World War I.

47.When your cats rubs up against you, they are actually marking you as theirs with their scent.