Fun Facts About Cats

There are more dogs than cats in the U.S.
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There are more dogs than cats in the U.S.
Sorry, cats, but canines dominate. In 2017-2018, there were about 77 million dogs compared to 58 million cats in U.S. households. Cats tend to live longer, though -- about 14 to 16 years.

Cats can be right-pawed or left-pawed.
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Cats can be right-pawed or left-pawed.
Just like people, cats can be lefties or righties. Researchers watched cats reach for food. Of more than 100 cats, about half reached with their right paw. About 40% used their left, and 10% used both their left and their right.

Cats talk to each other by meowing.
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Cats talk to each other by meowing.
Cats don't chat when they meow. In fact, most researchers think meowing is just for humans. But purring, hissing, and shrieking may be part of how they get messages across. They also use body language and mark things with their scent. They mark things by rubbing them with their tail or face or by spraying them. They even scratch wood sometimes to show they were there!

Chocolate is a special treat for cats.
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Chocolate is a special treat for cats.
Just like chocolate is really bad for dogs, it also can be toxic for cats. It can cause heart problems, increased blood pressure, and seizures. Stick with kitty food treats instead.

Cats can usually squeeze their bodies through any space their head fits.
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Cats can usually squeeze their bodies through any space their head fits.
A cat's collarbones are free-floating, so their heads are usually the widest part of their bodies. If your cat's head can fit through a tight space, generally, the rest of their body can follow. Cats also have loose skin, which gives them even more flexibility.

A cat’s whiskers are about as long as their body is wide.
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A cat’s whiskers are about as long as their body is wide.
Whiskers are much thicker than normal hairs and are surrounded by nerves that help sense nearby objects. Whiskers also may show your cat's mood. They point forward when they are feeling friendly. They lie flat on their face when they are feeling threatened or aggressive.

How high can most cats jump?
About 3 feet
About 4 feet
About 5 feet
How high can most cats jump?
Cats in their prime usually can jump about 5 feet off the ground. But, like people, they lose a bit of their spring as they get older. When arthritis sets in, 75% of cats simply won't jump. Most of those who still spring up can't jump as high. Medicine, supplements, and losing weight can ease your kitty's arthritis pain.

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

Cats have a third eyelid.
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Cats have a third eyelid.
The third eyelid is the pink tissue at the inner corner of a cat's eye. It helps protect the eye and spread tears over it. These extra eyelids usually stay hidden unless a cat is sleepy. Sometimes you see them in sick cats. If you see the third eyelid it may be trying to cover a scratch, ulcer, or something else wrong with the eye. If that's the case your cat should be seen by a vet.

How much of their life has a 15-year-old cat slept through?
6-8 years
8 to 10 years
10 to 12 years
How much of their life has a 15-year-old cat slept through?
They don't call them cat naps for nothing. Cats sleep whenever they can, adding up to about 12 to 16 hours a day. Like people, cats probably have three different phases: awake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM sleep. It’s normal to see your cat's face and leg muscles twitch when they sleep. It's called "dream chasing."

Cats don’t sweat.
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Cats don’t sweat.
Cats sweat, but not a lot. They have fewer sweat glands than people and sweat much less. The little they do sweat is often masked by their thick fur, although you may notice sweaty paw prints. They stay cool by grooming themselves. When they lick their hair, the saliva evaporates from their skin and cools them off.

A female cat can have kittens only once a year.
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A female cat can have kittens only once a year.
Cats are pregnant for only about nine weeks, and they can get pregnant again just a few weeks after weaning their kittens. If you don't spay your cat, they could have many litters in a year. This is really true in mild climates. Cats need at least 10 hours of light a day to be fertile.