40 Awesome Cat Facts to Understand Them Better

BRIGHT SIDE

28 Mar 201912:14

Summary

TLDRDiscover the intriguing world of cats with this informative script. From their 4,000-year domestication history to their unique social behaviors and sensory abilities, cats are full of surprises. Learn about their complex vocalizations, the significance of their body language, and their remarkable adaptability. Uncover lesser-known facts like their aversion to sweets, their impressive jumping skills, and the story of Stubbs, the cat mayor. This script is a must for cat lovers, offering insights into feline physiology, psychology, and even their role in human health and happiness.

Takeaways

🐾 Cats have been domesticated for around 4,000 years and were once feared hunters.
👶 For a cat to be sociable, it should interact with humans between 2 to 16 weeks old; after that, it's hard to domesticate.
🐈‍⬛ A group of kittens is called a 'kindle', adult cats 'a clowder', female cats 'queens', and male cats 'toms'.
🗣️ Cats can produce up to 100 different sounds, with purring and meowing being just a small part of their vocal range.
🐱 Cats only meow at humans; they use other sounds like hissing and spitting for communication with other animals.
🦮 The first year of a cat's life is equivalent to 15 human years, with aging rates changing as the cat gets older.
🐾 Feline acne is common among cats, often manifesting as blackheads on their chins.
🌡️ Cats, being desert animals, handle heat well and can secrete sweat through their paws when hot or scared.
💤 Cats sleep about two-thirds of the day, with a 9-year-old cat being fully awake for only 3 years of its life.
👃 A cat's sense of smell is approximately 14 times greater than that of a human.
🤲 Cats often clean themselves to remove human scent, and they mark their owners by rubbing against them from nose to tail.

Q & A

How long have cats been domesticated?
-Cats have been domesticated for about 4,000 years.
At what age should a cat start interacting with humans to be sociable?
-A cat should start interacting with humans from about 2 weeks old to be sociable.
What is the term for a group of kittens?
-A group of kittens is often called a kindle.
How many different sounds can cats make?
-Cats can make up to 100 different sounds.
Do cats meow at other animals like they do at humans?
-Cats only meow at humans. With other animals, they hiss, spit, and purr, but never meow.
How is a cat's first year of life equated to human years?
-The first year of a cat's life is equal to the first 15 human years.
Why do cats secrete sweat through their paws?
-Cats secrete sweat through their paws if they feel especially hot or frightened.
What percentage of a cat's day is spent sleeping on average?
-Most cats tend to spend about two-thirds of their day sleeping.
How is a cat's sense of smell compared to that of a human?
-A cat's sense of smell is approximately 14 times greater than that of the average human.
Why do cats lick their fur to remove the scent of their owners?
-Cats lick their fur to remove the scent of their owners because it is a natural instinct to clean themselves, and they also want to mark their owners as their own.
Why can't cats taste sweets?
-Cats can't taste sweets due to a mutation in their key taste receptor.
What are some foods that are harmful to cats and should not be given to them?
-Onion, garlic, green tomatoes, chocolate, grapes, raisins, and milk are harmful to cats and should not be given to them.
What is the location of a cat's belly button?
-A cat's belly button is usually located about two-thirds of the way down a cat's belly.
Why do cats often ignore their owner when their name is called?
-Cats often ignore their owner when their name is called because they haven't been domesticated to listen to people's orders, unlike dogs.
What is the significance of black cats in various cultures?
-In England, Asia, France, and many other countries, black cats are considered to bring prosperity and happiness, contrary to the belief of bad luck.
What is the purpose of a cat's whiskers?
-A cat's whiskers are covered in numerous nerve cells and blood vessels, helping them detect changes around them and determine if they can fit into a certain space.
What is the name of the album created specifically for cats to enjoy?
-The album created specifically for cats to enjoy is called 'Music for Cats' by composer David Teie and animal scientists.
What is the name of the reflective layer in a cat's eyes that enhances their night vision?
-The reflective layer in a cat's eyes is called the tapetum lucidum.
What was the name of the cat who served as mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska?
-The cat who served as mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, was named Stubbs.
How many beats per minute does a cat's heart typically beat?
-A cat's heart typically beats 110 to 140 times per minute.
Which cat holds the record for giving birth to the most kittens?
-A tabby cat named Dusty holds the record for giving birth to 420 kittens.
How many neurons does a cat's cerebral cortex contain compared to a dog's?
-A cat's cerebral cortex contains 300 million neurons, compared to around 160 million in dogs.
What is the natural instinct of a kitten regarding its feces?
-The natural instinct of a kitten is to cover its feces, and if a cat doesn't do that, it's showing dominance in the household.
Do some ginger tabby cats have freckles, and if so, where are they located?
-Some ginger tabby cats have freckles around their mouth and even on their eyelids.
How many muscles do cats have in their ears compared to humans?
-Cats have 32 muscles in their ears compared to 12 in humans.
What was the name of the first cat sent to space?
-The first cat sent to space was named Félicette.
How many toes do cats typically have on their front and back paws?
-Cats usually have 5 toes on each of their front paws and 4 toes on their back paws.
What was the name of the calico cat who became a station master and increased passenger traffic?
-The calico cat who became a station master and increased passenger traffic was named Tama.
How many times their own length can cats jump?
-Cats can easily jump about 6 times their own length.
Do cats have a lower social IQ than dogs, and if so, how do they compensate?
-Cats have a lower social IQ than dogs, but they compensate with better long-term memory and the ability to solve difficult cognitive problems.
How is a cat's brain similar to a human's?
-A cat's brain is similar to a human's in that they have almost identical brain regions that take care of emotions.
What areas of a cat's face do they enjoy being touched, according to researchers?
-Cats enjoy being touched around their lips, chin, and cheeks.
What is the record lifespan of a cat, and what was the name of the oldest recorded cat?
-The oldest recorded cat was Creme Puff, who lived for 38 years.
What causes a cat to purr, and how is it produced?
-Cats purr due to a small group of thin bones located between the base of their skull and the root of their tongue. When they feel happy, the muscles contract, creating the vibration of the vocal folds.
Are most cats left-pawed or right-pawed?
-Most cats are actually left-pawed.
What personality traits are associated with cat owners, according to psychologists?
-Cat owners are described as logical, practical, and introverted.
How does living with a cat benefit mental and physical health?
-Living with a cat helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, which can lower blood pressure and protect against heart problems, including stroke.
What is the adoption rate of kittens from animal shelters, and what can be done to improve it?
-Only 24% of kittens from animal shelters get adopted. Adopting a kitten can help improve this figure.

Outlines

00:00

😺 Fascinating Feline Facts

This paragraph delves into the intriguing world of cats, highlighting their unique behaviors and characteristics. From the way they greet each other by touching noses to their ability to rotate their ears 180 degrees, cats possess a range of surprising traits. It covers their domestication history, the importance of early socialization, and the specific terms used to describe groups and genders of cats. Additionally, it touches on their extensive vocal capabilities, their selective meowing behavior, and the fascinating comparison of a cat's age to human years. The paragraph also addresses common health issues like feline acne, their heat tolerance, and their sleeping habits. It concludes with insights into a cat's superior sense of smell and their self-cleaning behaviors, which serve to remove human scent as a form of territorial marking.

05:04

🎶 Musical Cats and Whiskered Wonders

This section explores the relationship between cats and music, revealing that while most music is unwelcome to feline ears, a special album called 'Music for Cats' has been created to cater to their auditory preferences. It also discusses the unique anatomy of a cat's eyes, featuring a reflective layer that significantly enhances their night vision. The narrative then shifts to notable feline achievements, such as Stubbs the cat's tenure as mayor and Dusty the tabby's record-breaking litter sizes. The paragraph further examines the neurological complexity of cats, comparing their cerebral cortex neuron count to that of dogs, and the rare occurrence of identical twin kittens. It also touches on kittens' natural instincts, the distinctive features of ginger tabby cats, and the remarkable flexibility and hearing ability afforded by a cat's multiple ear muscles.

10:06

🚀 Feline Feats and Preferences

This paragraph celebrates the extraordinary lives of cats, from Félicette's historic space journey to the record-breaking agility and strength of cats like Tama the station master and the calico cat with an impressive jump span. It discusses the physical peculiarities of cats, such as the varying number of toes on their paws and the unique social and cognitive attributes that set them apart from dogs. The similarities between human and feline brains are noted, along with the preferences and aversions cats have towards being touched. The paragraph concludes with the longest-lived cat on record, the reasons behind cats' purring, the prevalence of left-pawed cats, and the psychological profile of cat owners. It also underscores the mental health benefits of living with a cat and the low adoption rates from shelters, encouraging viewers to consider adoption.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Domesticated

Domesticated refers to the process by which animals are brought under human control through selective breeding over many generations. In the video's context, it highlights that cats have been domesticated for about 4,000 years, transitioning from feared hunters to companion animals. This term is central to understanding the history and evolution of the human-cat relationship.

💡Sociability

Sociability is the quality of being sociable or friendly, particularly in the context of how animals interact with humans or other members of their species. The script mentions that kittens need to interact with humans from about 2 weeks old to be sociable, emphasizing the importance of early socialization for domestic cats.

💡Kindle

A 'kindle' is a term used to refer to a group of kittens. This word is part of the rich vocabulary associated with cats and contributes to the script's exploration of feline terminology, adding a layer of interest and specificity to the discussion of cat groups.

💡Vocal Abilities

Vocal abilities pertain to the range of sounds an animal can produce. The script reveals that cats can make up to 100 different sounds, challenging the common perception that cats primarily communicate through purring and meowing. This concept is key to understanding the complexity of cat communication.

💡Feline Acne

Feline acne is a common skin condition in cats, characterized by blackheads on their chins. The script uses this term to illustrate a specific health issue affecting cats, providing viewers with a piece of practical knowledge about cat care.

💡Desert Animals

Desert animals are those that have evolved to survive in arid, desert environments. The script notes that cats are desert animals, explaining their ability to cope with heat and their unique method of sweating through their paws, which is an adaptation to their evolutionary background.

💡Cerebral Cortex

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher brain functions, including perception, thought, and decision-making. The script compares the number of neurons in a cat's cerebral cortex to that of a dog, suggesting that cats have a complex cognitive capacity that contributes to their problem-solving abilities.

💡Taste Receptor

A taste receptor is a cell or group of cells that is sensitive to certain chemicals in food, allowing an organism to detect different tastes. The script explains that cats have a mutation in their key taste receptor, which is why they can't taste sweets and are not attracted to them.

💡Identical Twins

Identical twins result from the splitting of a single fertilized egg, leading to offspring with identical genetic material. The script mentions the rare occurrence of cats giving birth to identical twin kittens, adding an interesting fact about the biological possibilities in cat reproduction.

💡Tactile

Tactile refers to the sense of touch. The script discusses how cats have a highly developed sense of touch, with 32 muscles in their ears, allowing them to rotate their ears 180º and detect sounds from a distance, which is a significant aspect of their hunting and survival instincts.

💡Tabby

A tabby is a term used to describe a specific pattern of stripes, spots, or swirls found on the coats of cats. The script uses the example of a tabby cat named Dusty, who is known for having the most kittens in her breeding life, to illustrate the impressive reproductive capacity of this cat pattern.

Highlights

Cats have been domesticated for around 4,000 years and were once feared hunters.

Cats need human interaction from 2 weeks old to become sociable, with a critical period up to 16 weeks.

A group of kittens is called a 'kindle', and adult cats are referred to as a 'clowder'.

Cats can produce up to 100 different sounds, with purring and meowing being just a small part.

Cats only meow at humans, using other sounds like hissing and spitting for communication with other animals.

A cat's first year is equivalent to 15 human years, with aging rates changing as they get older.

Feline acne is common among cats, often appearing as blackheads on their chins.

Cats, evolved from desert animals, can handle heat well and secrete sweat through their paws.

Cats spend about two-thirds of their day sleeping, with a 9-year-old cat awake for only 3 years of its life.

A cat's sense of smell is 14 times greater than that of a human.

Cats groom themselves to remove human scent, which they pick up when marking their territory.

Cats lack the ability to taste sweets due to a mutation in their taste receptors.

Cats have sensitive stomachs and should avoid certain foods like onions, garlic, and chocolate.

Cats have belly buttons that are hard to find and are located about two-thirds down their belly.

Cats understand their names but may choose to ignore them, reflecting their independent nature.

Black cats are considered symbols of prosperity and happiness in many countries, contrary to the belief of bad luck.

Cats' whiskers are highly sensitive, with numerous nerve cells and blood vessels, aiding in spatial awareness.

Cats generally dislike music but may respond positively to the album 'Music for Cats' by David Teie.

The tapetum lucidum in a cat's eyes allows them to see six times better in the dark than humans.

Cats can jump up to six times their body length, thanks to their powerful back leg muscles.

Cats have a lower social IQ than dogs but compensate with better long-term memory and problem-solving skills.

Cats' brains are biologically similar to humans, sharing regions responsible for emotions.

Cats prefer being touched on their faces and dislike being petted at the base of their tail.

The oldest recorded cat, Creme Puff, lived for 38 years and is remembered in the Guinness World Records.

Cats purr due to the contraction of muscles creating vibrations in their vocal folds.

Most cats are left-pawed, indicating a preference in their 'handedness'.

Cat owners are often logical, practical, and introverted, and they enjoy sharing stories about their pets.

Living with a cat can help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, and potentially lower blood pressure and heart problems.

Only 24% of kittens from animal shelters get adopted, highlighting the need for more adoptions.