10 Bizarre House Cat Facts You Probably Don’t Know About

Everyone loves cats — they’re the most popular pet in the United States! There are 88 million cats living around the United States. One-third of American households are home to a feline friend.

Cats are wonderful companions and irresistibly adorable! The internet is full of videos of cute cats with millions of views.

But how much do you know about your kitty friends? We put together a list of the top 10 weirdest cat facts. Keep reading to learn more about your purring pet.

1. Cats are highly intelligent

Dogs are often praised for their high intellect. But did you know that cats are very intelligent? They may even be smarter than dogs.

Cats have over 300 million neurons in their cerebral cortex. A dog only has 160 million neurons in their cerebral cortex. Cats also have a better long-term memory than dogs.

Cat brains have a similar structure to human brains. In fact, over 90% of our brain is similar to a cat’s brain, and we have almost identical areas of our brains for controlling emotion.

In fact, cats are so smart that a third of cat owners think their cats can read their minds! Read more here about psychic cats and decide for yourself!

2. Cats Have a Cleanliness Obsession

Cats are constantly cleaning themselves. How much time does your cat spend grooming? It may surprise you that cats spend between 30 and 50% of their days keeping clean.

Regular grooming helps your cat stay cool and improves circulation. It’s also your cat’s way of soothing and comforting himself.

Occasionally your feline friend will groom you. That’s their way of showing how much they love you. Grooming also marks you as a member of their family group.

3. Cats are Good for Your Health

Cats have a reputation for being aloof, but they actually make amazing companions. Having a kitty around can even be good for your health.

Cats provide companionship that reduces stress in their owners. Just petting a cat can have profound effects on anxiety. They also require a lot less upkeep than dogs which makes your life a bit easier.

Owning a cat is also heart healthy. Cat owners are 30% less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke.

Some cats are also able to detect illness in their owners. An English woman’s kitten was able to detect cancer in her right breast an saved her life.

There are several studies that show curling up with a cat can even improve your sleep.

4. Cats Served in the Government

In recent history, cats have played some unique roles in the sphere of public service.

During the 1960s the CIA recruited a spy cat for the agency for “Project Acoustic Kitty.” They implanted a microphone into the cat’s skull so that she could gather intel from the Soviets for the US.

She survived the risky surgery, but on her first mission a taxi ran her over.

In July 1997, Stubbs, an orange shorthair cat, became mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska. Stubbs held office for 15 years until his death at the age of 20 years and three months old.

In 2013, Morris — a black and white cat from Mexico — ran for the mayorship of Xalapa, Mexico. Morris received 12,000 votes and placed 4th in the 11 candidate race.

5. Cats Are Masters of Persuasion

Our feline friends are experts at getting us to do what they want. Did you know that adult cats don’t meow to communicate with other cats? Domestic cats only meow to communicate with humans.

Cats have incredible vocal flexibility — they can make over 100 different sounds! They use their incredible voices to imitate the sound of human crying. That’s why we feel compelled to feed them when they make that annoying hunger sound. Its frequency is in the same range as a baby cry!

6. A Cat’s Whiskers Tell Him A Lot

Your cat’s whiskers are an amazing sensory tool that enables your cat to be the agile creature you know and love! Cats use their whiskers to see in the dark and to determine if they’re able to fit in a small space.

Cats also use their whiskers to claim things by marking them with their scent. When your kitty rubs up against you it’s actually marking you with your scent to claim you.

7. Cats Purr for More Reasons Than You’d Think

Everyone loves cuddling up next to a purring kitty cat. Most cat owners recognize their cat’s purr as a sign of happiness and contentment.

Purring communicates a cat’s feelings of happiness and safety. They also purr in situations where they aren’t so happy or safe, however.

Cats purr when they are giving birth, wounded, sick, nursing, or just plain stressed out.

The constant rhythmic breathing and sound that comes with purring actually serves to calm your cat during stress. The frequency of cats purring improves bone density.

So, purring is a form of self-healing and communication!

8. Domesticated Cats Have Been Around For Thousands of Years

Domesticated cats date back to as early as 4400 B.C. when wild cats started hanging around Fertile Crescent farming communities. Humans welcomed cats into communities to control the rodent population.

Ancient Egyptians loved their cats and elevated their feline friends to divine levels. It was illegal to kill a cat in Egypt and families mourned the death of their beloved housecats by shaving their eyebrows off!

African cats from Egypt spread into the rest of the Old World starting in 1500 B.C. Cats want on trading vessels to control mice and for companionship and took off in popularity!

9. Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness

Sweet treats are completely lost on your feline friends. Unlike dogs, cats don’t have the ability to taste sweetness.

Cats have a genetic defect on a portion of their sweet taste receptor. This receptor has two subunits: T1R2 and T1R3. Cats have a defective T1R2 protein receptor — so they can’t taste sweetness.

Domestic cats aren’t the only felines with this defect. Neither cheetahs nor tigers can taste sweets either!

10. Cats Have Amazing Physical Abilities

Cats may not have nine lives, but they sure are versatile and resilient.

Cats can survive falls from exceptional heights with minimal injuries. There is even a story of a cat surviving a 32 story drop! Cats are able to turn in mid-air so they always land on their feet.

They are able to survive these falls because their strong, agile legs serve as shock absorbers.

You cat can also jump six times its own body length and run up to 30mph!

Bonus Cat Facts

Ten cats facts just isn’t enough! Here are a couple more awesome cat facts:

• A group of cats is a clowder.
• Cats can move their ears separately.
• Only 24% of cats in shelters find homes — so adopt another cat today!

What did you think of our cat facts? Leave us a comment below!

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