Ultra Oil’s Top Ten Fun Facts About Cats
Did you know that the average house cat shares about 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers? This is only one of thousands of mind-blowing reasons that cats are considered to be amongst the most interesting animals in the world.
Here are Ultra Oil’s Top Ten Fun Facts About Cats:
1. Why do cats meow?
Contrary to popular belief, cats actually meow as a way to communicate with humans, not other animals. Domesticated cats have learned that meowing can be used as a way to catch attention when feeling hungry or wanting to be petted.
2. Are those with a cat allergy allergic to the fur?
People with cat allergies are actually not allergic to their fur, but to a protein called Fel d 1. According to the National Center for Biotech Information, this unique protein is specifically found in the dander, saliva, and urine of cats.
3. Why do cats love boxes?
Cats have a natural instinct to hide from predators, a need satisfied by playing in boxes and enclosed spaces.
4. Why do cats scratch things?
Scratching is essential to the overall well-being of a cat. The Humane Society mentions that by scratching things, cats are working to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, therefore sharpening them. Scratching also gives cats a chance to stretch out their back and shoulder muscles.
5. Why do cats naturally know how to use the litter box?
Cats instinctively feel the need to bury their waste as a way to avoid giving away their location to predators looking to hunt and eat them.
6. Why do cats have rough, sand papery tongues?
Cats have backwards-facing spines on their tongues, scientifically known as filiform papillae. As explained by National Geographic, these tiny barbs allow their tongues to serve as a “comb” for grooming fur, untangling knots and scraping animal meat off of
bones. Historically, it was also important for cats (being small, solitary hunters) to minimize their scent from predators by regularly grooming themselves.
7. Why do cats have whiskers?
Whiskers are used by cats to feel and navigate the world around them, just as we humans use our five senses. Generally, whiskers tend to be the same width as the cat’s body.
8. How high can cats jump?
The average cat can get as high up as 8 feet—nearly 6x the length of their own bodies!
9. Why do cats purr?
Cats normally purr to express their feelings of content. They may also purr as a way to calm themselves down or heal. The low-frequency vibrations of purring help them to ease their breathing patterns and soothe tension.
10. Are cats nocturnal?
Not necessarily. Cats are crepuscular animals, meaning that they take advantage of the world during both the day and at night. True nocturnal animals, like owls and raccoons, are only active when the sun is set. The most popular feline hunting hours tend to be dusk and dawn.
Sources:
• National Center for Biotech Information