Cat Facts

Come see Cat Facts and Cat Quotes - you know you want to

Bailey the black cat

As everyone who is owned by cats knows, they are endlessly fascinating creatures. Here are some of my favourite facts and quotes.

I presently have two cats Bracken and Bailey - most people think they are black but they are actually chocolate brown. Although they are from the same litter, they have two very different characters as well as the fact that one is smooth-haired and the other long-haired.

My dream if I ever win the lottery? To have a very special cattery. Well I also want to keep hens, rescued battery hens of course and I wouldn't mind some Angora goats, as long as I am dreaming.

In the photo Bailey takes a private moment to pray (probably for food)

All Photographs by AnnMackieMiller
Copyright 2014
Starring
Bailey
Bracken
&
Minnie
autographed photographs available on request 

The Eyes Have it 

Minnie the tabby cat

Facts about cat's eyes

A kitten can't see or hear at birth. They open their eyes after 5 days and develop sight and hearing around 10 days.

The color of a kitten's eyes will change as it grows older.

Cats eyes come in three shapes: round, slanted and almond.

Cats need less light that humans do to see - they only need around 1/6th. It has an extra reflecting layer of cells.

Cats can see up to 120 feet away.

Cat's peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.

Cats can see in color but are probably colour blind - reds appear green and so on. How do they know that?

Cats don't see "detail" very well. To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.

• Cat's Eyes
  Wild Cat Facts & FAQ Why do cats eyes glow in the dark?

Well I never knew that - Cat Facts

Bracken and Bailey on the computer

Cats have 290 bones in their bodies, and 517 muscles.

A cat has more vertebrae in her spinal column than a human does.

An indoor cat lives longer than an outdoor cat.

The average age of a cat is 8 to 15 years.

A cat's body temperature is 101.5 degrees - warmer than a human's but you know that - right? Well you would if your cat insisted on sleeping on top of you on a hot summer night.

A cat has 5 toes on her front paws and 4 on her back.

A cat's urine will glow under a black light.

A cat loses as much fluid in cleaning herself as she does in urine.

The average cat sleeps an average of 16 hours a day.

A cat spents 30% of the time they are awake grooming themselves.

Cats don't meow to each other after they are adults - they have learned to meow at us to communicate. 

Did You Know?

Most cats are allergic to milk?

They are lactin intolerant! - dairy products will give them diarrhoea.

Ear Ear

Minnie the Minx: Tabby Cat

Facts about cat's ears

1. A cat has about 30 muscles in each ear.

2. Around 12 muscles are needed for each movement of the ear.

3. A cat's ear can rotate by 180 degrees.

4. The hairs inside a cat's ears are called furnishings.

5. Newborn kitten's ear canals do not open until around ten days.

6. A cat can communicate its feelings via ear signals.

A happy and RELAXED cat will sit with her ears forward and titled only slightly back. Don't be fooled though, they are always listening for interesting sounds.

Listening mode will change to ALERT when something interests her. The ears become more pricked. The ears may twitch or swivel - like radar trying to pick up the wave sounds.

If she is AGGITATED, twitching of the ears may become more pronounced.

When threatened the cat will flatten the ears fully against the head. Generally thought to be a DEFENSIVE move so the ears are not damaged in a fight.

If she is really AGGRESSIVE, her ears will be rotated, backs visible from the front but not fully flattened. She's ready to fight. But you'll know that - she'll be hissing like crazy!

Did You Know?

The ridges on the nose pad of a cat are as unique as fingerprints are for adults

Minnie the cat with tail raised in welcome

 

Cat's Tail Facts

• Your cat or kitten will raise her tail upright when she comes to greet you. It tells you they don't see you as a threat. 
• Cats wag their tails when in a stage of conflict. The cat wants to do two things at once, but each impulse blocks the other. For example: If your cat is in the doorway wanting to go outside, and you open the door to find it raining, the cat's tail will wag because of internal conflict. The cat wants to go outside, but doesn't want to go into the rain. Once the cat makes a decision and either returns to the house or leaves into the rain, the tail will immediately stop wagging.
• The tip of the tail is the most expressive part.
• Some cats will curl the tip of their tail around your arm in a gesture of affection and comfort.
• They may also use the tip of their tail to 'caress' your arm while sitting beside you.
• An angry or frightened cat will bush out their tail to make themselves look bigger and more threatening.
• A rapidly switching tail is a sign of imminent attack.
• Twitching the tip is usually playful.

Minnie the Tabby Cat

Questions you ask about cats

Why do cats knead? It is a left over reflex from suckling a kitten kneads her mother when receiving milk. Later on she kneads when she is happy.

Do cat's really always fall on their feet? Mostly. When a cat falls it aligns itself. First the head will rotate, then the spine twists and the rear legs come into alignment, then the cat will arch her back to lessen the impact of the landing. PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - trust me - it is true.

Why talk to a cat - it won't understand you? True but a cat gets its sense of security from your voice. The more you speak to them the more they respond. If you are lucky you can have a complete conversation with a cat - about what? who cares?

Why do cats rub against you? They are marking you as 'theirs'. They have scent glands between the ear and eye in the temple region. They also learn very quickly this show of affection is usually rewarded  with food.  

And to finish - Cat Tales

A pair of cats were left $415,000 in the early 1960s.

A white alley cat inherited $250,000.

Zoro the cat escaped a watery death when rescued from a working washing machine in Germany - none the worse for wear but extremely indignant!

In America, a wild cat survived 10 days with it's head stuck in a peanut butter jar.