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Quiz: Fun Facts About Cats

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Cats are the most common pet in the United States.

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Cats are the most common pet in the United States.

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There were an estimated 93.6 million cats owned in the United States vs. 77.5 million dogs owned in 2008. Cats have an average life expectancy of 14 to 16 years, so they are a real commitment. The years of caring for them, though, may actually be good for your health. One study shows that people who owned cats are 40% less likely to have a cardiac-related death than people who did not. 

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Cats communicate with one another by meowing.

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Cats communicate with one another by meowing.

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Cats are not thought to have an innate ability to understand one another, though different vocalizations -- such as a purr, hiss, or shriek -- may be used in social interactions. Cats also use body posture and marking to communicate. Cats mark objects with scents from around their tail or face, urinations, or by providing visual cues to other cats through wood scratching.

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Cats can be right-pawed or left-pawed.

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Cats can be right-pawed or left-pawed.

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A study conducted in Turkey looked at paw preference with a food-reaching test. Researchers found that out of 109 cats, 49.5% preferred using their right paw, 40.4% preferred their left paw, and 10.1% were ambidextrous. 

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Chocolate is considered a special treat for cats.

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Chocolate is considered a special treat for cats.

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Cats aren’t really known for having a sweet tooth, and chocolate can be toxic for cats, just as it is for dogs. Chocolate contains the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, and too much of these can cause serious elevations in heart rate and blood pressure and even seizures.

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How high can a typical cat jump?

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How high can a typical cat jump?

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Cats in their prime years typically can jump about 5 feet off the ground, however, their jumping ability decreases as they get older. If you have a senior kitty, take note if his jumping behavior changes. Seventy-one percent of cats with osteoarthritis will be unwilling to jump, and 67% cannot jump as high. Medication, dietary supplements, and weight loss can help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

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In general, cats can squeeze their bodies through any space they can get their heads through.

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In general, cats can squeeze their bodies through any space they can get their heads through.

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Cats don’t have true collarbones, rather they have free-floating clavicles, so their heads are usually the widest part of their bodies. If the head can fit through a tight space, generally, the rest of the body can follow. Cats also have relatively loose skin, which allows for more flexibility. 

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A cat’s whiskers are about as long as his or her body is wide.

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A cat’s whiskers are about as long as his or her body is wide.

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Whiskers, also called tactile hairs, are much thicker than normal hairs and are surrounded by nerves that help detect nearby objects. Whiskers also may indicate mood: They point forward when a cat is feeling friendly, but lie flat on the face when a cat is feeling threatened or aggressive.

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All kittens are born with brown eyes.

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All kittens are born with brown eyes.

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All kittens are born with blue eyes, and their eyelids stay closed until they are 10 to 14 days old. They usually reveal their true eye color by eight weeks.

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Cats have a third eyelid.

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Cats have a third eyelid.

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Called the nictitating membrane, the third eyelid is the pink tissue at the inner corner of the eye. It helps protect the cornea and spread tears over the surface of the eye. They usually stay hidden unless a cat is sleepy. However, they often protrude in sick cats, especially cats with gastrointestinal problems.

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A 15-year-old cat has spent about how much of its life asleep?

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A 15-year-old cat has spent about how much of its life asleep?

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Cats typically sleep 12 to 16 hours per day. Like humans, they’re thought to experience three different phases: awake; non-REM sleep; and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It’s normal to see some twitching of facial and limb muscles, called “dream chasing.”

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Cats don't sweat.

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Cats don't sweat.

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Cats sweat, but not a lot. They have fewer sweat glands than people and sweat much less profusely -- and the small amount they do sweat is often masked by their thick coat of hair. They can stay cool by grooming, which results in evaporation of saliva from their skin and provides a cooling effect. 

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A female cat can have a litter of kittens only once a year.

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A female cat can have a litter of kittens only once a year.

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Cats are pregnant for about 65 days, and they can become pregnant again just a few weeks after weaning, so cats can have multiple litters in a year. This is especially true in temperate climates, because they usually need at least 10 hours of light a day to be fertile.

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More Reading on Cats

 

Reviewed by Audrey Cook, BVM&S

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