facts about cats..... for rahjah and maumau
Both humans and cats have identical regions in the brain responsible for emotion.
A cat's brain is more similar to a man's brain than that of a dog.
A cat has more bones than a human; humans have 206, but the cat has 230 (some cites list 245 bones, and state that bones may fuse together as the cat ages).
Cats have 30 vertebrae--5 more than humans have.
Cats do not have a collarbone, so they can fit through any opening the size of their head.
The cat has 500 skeletal muscles (humans have 650).
Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear (compared to human's 6 muscles each). A cat can rotate its ears independently 180 degrees, and can turn in the direction of sound 10 times faster than those of the best watchdog.
Cats' hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.
Cats' hearing stops at 65 khz (kilohertz); humans' hearing stops at 20 khz.
In relation to their body size, cats have the largest eyes of any mammal.
Most cats do not have eyelashes.
A cat sees about 6 times better than a human at night, and needs 1/6 the amount of of light that a human does - it has a layer of extra reflecting cells which absorb light.
Recent studies have shown that cats can see blue and green. There is disagreement as to whether they can see red.
A cat's field of vision is about 185 degrees.
Blue-eyed, white cats are often deaf.
It may take as long as 2 weeks for a kitten to be able to hear well. Their eyes usually open between 7 and 10 days, but sometimes it happens in as little as 2 days.
A cat has approximately 60 to 80 million olfactory cells (a human has between 5 and 20 million).
Cats have a special scent organ located in the roof of their mouth, called the Jacobson's organ. It analyzes smells - and is the reason why you will sometimes see your cat "sneer" when they encounter a strong odor.
A cat has a total of 24 whiskers, 4 rows of whiskers on each side. The upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows. A cat uses its whiskers for measuring distances.
Cats have 30 teeth (12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 canines, and 4 molars), while dogs have 42. Kittens have baby teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth around the age of 7 months.
When a cat drinks, its tongue - which has tiny barbs on it - scoops the liquid up backwards.
Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.
Domestic cats purr both when inhaling and when exhaling.
The cat's front paw has 5 toes, but the back paws have 4. Some cats are born with as many as 7 front toes and extra back toes (polydactl).
Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run.
Cats walk on their toes.
A domestic cat can sprint at about 31 miles per hour.
The heaviest cat on record weighed 46 lbs.
A kitten will typically weigh about 3 ounces at birth. The typical male housecat will weigh between 7 and 9 pounds, slightly less for female housecats.
Cats take between 20-40 breaths per minute.
Normal body temperature for a cat is 102 degrees F.
A cat's normal pulse is 140-240 beats per minute, with an average of 195.
Cat's urine glows under a black light.
Cats lose almost as much fluid in the saliva while grooming themselves as they do through urination.
Almost 10% of a cat's bones are in its tail, and the tail is used to maintain balance.
The domestic cat is the only species able to hold its tail vertically while walking. You can also learn about your cat's present state of mind by observing the posture of his tail.
If a cat is frightened, the hair stands up fairly evenly all over the body; when the cat threatens or is ready to attack, the hair stands up only in a narrow band along the spine and tail.
Maicis, the primitive ancestor of cats, was a small, tree-living creature of the late Eocene period, some 45 to 50 million years ago.
Cats respond most readily to names that end in an "ee" sound.
The female cat reaches sexual maturity within 6 to 10 months; most veterinarians suggest spaying the female at 5 months, before her first heat period. The male cat usually reaches sexual maturity between 9 and 12 months.
Female cats are "polyestrous," which means they may have many heat periods over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer and recurs at regular intervals.
A female cat will be pregnant for approximately 9 weeks - between 62 and 65 days from conception to delivery.
Female felines are "superfecund," which means that each of the kittens in her litter can have a different father.
Many cats love having their forehead gently stroked.
If a cat is frightened, put your hand over its eyes and forehead, or let him bury his head in your armpit to help calm him.
A cat will tremble or shiver when it is in extreme pain.
Cats should not be fed tuna exclusively, as it lacks taurine, an essential nutrient required for good feline health.
Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy and healthy - some cats will purr loudly when they are terrified or in pain.
Not every cat gets "high" from catnip. If the cat doesn't have a specific gene, it won't react (about 20% do not have the gene). Catnip is non-addictive.
Cats must have fat in their diet because they can't produce it on their own.
While many cats enjoy milk, it will give some cats diarrhea.
A cat will spend nearly 30% of her life grooming herself.
When a domestic cat goes after mice, about 1 pounce in 3 results in a catch.
Mature cats with no health problems are in deep sleep 15 percent of their lives. They are in light sleep 50 percent of the time. That leaves just 35 percent awake time, or roughly 6-8 hours a day. Cats come back to full alertness faster than any other creature.
A cat can jump 5 times as high as it is tall.
Spaying a female before her first or second heat will greatly reduce the threat of mammary cancer and uterine disease. A cat does not need to have at least 1 litter to be healthy, nor will they "miss" motherhood. A tabby named "Dusty" gave birth to 420 documented kittens in her lifetime, while "Kitty" gave birth to 2 kittens at the age of 30, having given birth to a documented 218 kittens in her lifetime.
Neutering a male cat will, in almost all cases, stop him from spraying (territorial marking), fighting with other males (at least over females), as well as lengthen his life and improve its quality.
Declawing a cat is the same as cutting a human's fingers off at the knuckle. There are several alternatives to a complete declawing, including trimming or a less radical (though more involved) surgery to remove the claws. Instead, train your cat to use a scratching post.
The average lifespan of an outdoor-only (feral and non-feral) is about 3 years; an indoor-only cat can live 16 years and longer. A female tabby named "Ma" lived for 34 years, making her the oldest reliably documented housecat.
Cats with long, lean bodies are more likely to be outgoing, and more protective and vocal than those with a stocky build.
A steady diet of dog food may cause blindness in your cat - it lacks taurine.
An estimated 50% of today's cat owners never take their cats to a veterinarian for health care. Too, because cats tend to keep their problems to themselves, many owners think their cat is perfectly healthy when actually they may be suffering from a life-threatening disease. Therefore, cats, on an average, are much sicker than dogs by the time they are brought to your veterinarian for treatment.
Never give your cat aspirin unless specifically prescribed by your veterinarian; it can be fatal. Never ever give Tylenol to a cat. And be sure to keep anti-freeze away from all animals - it's sweet and enticing, but deadly poison.
Most cats adore sardines.
It has been scientifically proven that stroking a cat can lower one's blood pressure.
In 1987, cats overtook dogs as the number one pet in America (about 50 million cats resided in 24 million homes in 1986). About 37% of American homes today have at least 1 cat.
If your cat snores, or rolls over on his back to expose his belly, it means he trusts you.
Cats respond better to women than to men, probably due to the fact that women's voices have a higher pitch.
In an average year, cat owners in the United States spend over $2 billion on cat food.
According to a Gallup poll, most American pet owners obtain their cats by adopting strays.
When your cats rubs up against you, she is actually marking you as "hers" with her scent. If your cat pushes his face against your head, it is a sign of acceptance and affection.
Contrary to popular belief, people are not allergic to cat fur, dander, saliva, or urine - they are allergic to "sebum," a fatty substance secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands. More interesting, someone who is allergic to one cat may not be allergic to another cat. Though there isn't (yet) a way of predicting which cat is more likely to cause allergic reactions, it has been proven that male cats shed much greater amounts of allergen than females. A neutered male, however, sheds much less than a non-neutered male.
Cat bites are more likely to become infected than dog bites - but human bites are the most dangerous of all, because people have more bacteria in their mouths.
Some notable people who disliked cats: Napoleon Bonaparte, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Hitler.
Some notable people who loved cats: Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, Robert E. Lee, Sir Isaac Newton, Mark Twain, composers Ravel and Chopin (one book reported that Chopin's cat walked across the keyboard and he liked the melody so much that he created an entire piece called The Cat Waltz around it; another website states that the title of the piece was The Cat Valse), Buddha, Mohammed, Jules Verne, Ernest Hemingway, Henry David Thoreau, Monet, and Renoir. Scarlatti and Liszt both composed pieces titled The Cat's Fugue, while Stravinsky wrote Lullabies for the Cat. Camille Saint-Saens was a noted cat lover: his Maestoso theme (Symphony No.3 in C- 'Organ') was the theme music in the movie "Babe". Albert Schweitzer was seldom seen without a feline companion.
Six-toed kittens are so common in Boston and surrounding areas of Massachusetts that experts consider it an established mutation.
The silks created by weavers in Baghdad were inspired by the beautiful and varied colors and markings of cat coats. These fabrics were called "tabby" by European traders.
Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be acquired in pairs whenever possible.
Historical
Phoenician cargo ships are thought to have brought the first domesticated cats to Europe in about 900 BC.
The first true cats came into existence about 12 million years ago.
The ancient Egyptians were the first to tame the cat (in about 3000 BC), and used them to control pests.
Ancient Egyptian family members shaved their eyebrows in mourning when the family cat died.
In Siam, the cat was so revered that one rode in a chariot at the head of a parade celebrating the new king.
Cats have been domesticated for half as long as dogs have been.
The Pilgrims were the first to introduce cats to North America.
The first breeding pair of Siamese cats arrived in England in 1884.
The first formal cat show was held in England in 1871; in America, in 1895.
The Maine Coon cat is America's only natural breed of domestic feline. It is 4 to 5 times larger than the Singapura, the smallest breed of cat.
There are approximately 100 breeds of cat.
The life expectancy of cats has nearly doubled since 1930 - from 8 to 16 years.
Cat litter was "invented" in 1947 when Edward Lowe asked his neighbor to try a dried, granulated clay used to sop up grease spills in factories. (In 1990, Mr. Lowe sold his business for $200 million.)
Cats lived with soldiers in trenches, where they killed mice during World War I
In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death.
In ancient Egypt, mummies were made of cats, and embalmed mice were placed with them in their tombs. In one ancient city, over 300,000 cat mummies were found
Like birds, cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can return to it. But if a cat's owners move far from its home, the cat can't find them.
Hunting is not instinctive for cats. Kittens born to non-hunting mothers may never learn to hunt.
Ten human years translate to about 60 cat years. A one year old cat is similar in age to an 18 year old human.
"A Celtic belief was that kittens born in May were badly behaved and troublesome. In Celtic Mythology, the month of May was a time of illomen."
"It is said that a cat looking out of the window is looking for rain."
- Mark Twain
"If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but deteriorate the cat"
-Unknown
"Dogs come when they are called, cats take a message and get back to you".
am a cat."
Jaclyn M. Gardner University of California, San Diego
A Cat with connections was Wilberforce who lived at No 10 Downing Street under the tenancy of 4 Prime Ministers. He first moved in 1973 under Edward Heath and was still there when Margaret Thatcher came into power. He died in 1988.
A real Presidential Cat was Shan who lived in the White House under
Well-known British author born in West Hartlepoole on the North East coast of England, Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972) was the president of the
The author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Caroll 1832-1898 born in Cheshire, England features the famous Cheshire Cat who had a habit of slowly disappearing - its smile disappearing last.
Nostradamus the French Astrologer 1503-1566 had a cat named Grimalkin
Iris Murdoch born in 1919 - best selling British author has had a lifelong interest in cats and has published a book with the title "Particularly Cats and More Cats" and telling people about the cats she has lived with throughout her life. Now she is being owned by one cat names General Butchkin. She also entertains a bunch of visiting strays.
Williamina, a white cat belonging to British author Charles Dickens produced a litter of kittens and all exept one found a home. Because of its devotion to its master the little kitten remained and was called "The Master's Cat". In order to gain his attention at night this little cat would sniff out the authors candle and Charles Dickens acknowledged the hint and happily complied with a cuddle of his favorite cat.
Rudyard Kipling 1865-1936 an English Story Writer and poet (Mooglie) was particularly sensitive to cats. In the Story in "The Cat That Walked by Himself" from the "Just So" stories he succeeds in summing up the feline psyche: "I am not a friend and I am not a servant. I am the Cat that walks by himself and I wish to come into your cave."
Peppy, a grey cat lived in Hollywood and was a true star in the motion picture world. She worked in classic movies with Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and Keystone Kops.
Orangey was a sensational motion picture and television superstar. She was an orange tiger who made her debut in the role of "Rhubarb"in 1952 and won the Patsy Award 19952 and 1962. Orangey also appeared in "Gigot", Breakfast at Tiffany's and in the television series "Our Miss Brooks"
Unlike dogs the cat has no desire to serve any master. Most cats refuse to learn tricks but are often capable of accomplishing quite difficult feats to obtain their ends!
America's most popular friend
In the mid 80s cats replaced the dog in America. It is estimated that there are around 61 Million cats in 31 Million households in America today. Cats fit better in todays lifestyle, cats are easy to maintain and low maintenance and they don't need their daily walk. Thanks to B.J. in NY.
The average life span of a cat is twelve years and it is said that you could multiply the cat's age by seven to compare it to human years.
According to legend, the "M" marking on the forehead of the Tabby Cat was created by the prophet Mohammed as he rested his hand lightly on the brow of his favorite cat, a Tabby.
Another legend: There is a legend that many little kittens were thrown into a river to drown. The mother cat wept and was so distraught that the willows on the bank felt compassion and held out their branches to the struggeling kittens. The little kitten clung on to them and were saved. Ever since that time, each spring the willows wears grey buds that feel as soft and silky as the coats of these little kittens. Thus trees were called "Pussy Willows".
At the end of the 16th century the Angora Cat arrived in Europe. She came to France with a French Scientist by the name of Claude Fabri de Peirese. This beautiful cat came from the Turkish City of Angora today it is called Ankara. It is much admired for its graceful charm, its long body and oriental type. An English writer in 1868 describes the cat "as a beautiful variety with silvery hair of fine texture, generally longest on the neck but also on the tail". The white variety was felt was the only true variety of the breed and the Ankara Zoo established a breeding colony of white Angora Cats. In its homeland the Angora is known by different names - according to its color. A
-red tabby is a sarman
-the silver tabby a teku
-the oddeyed white a Ankara kedi
Another variety is the Turkish Van living in th high mountain regions near the lake Van, an expert swimmer - earning the name "The Swimming Cat"!
Probably the oldest known female cat was Ma, from Devon, who was 34 when she died in 1957.
The next Chinese Year of the Cat is in 1999
In the mid80s cats replaced the dog in America. It is estimated that there are around 61 Million cats in 31 Million households in America today. Cats fit better in todays lifestyle, cats are easy to maintain and low maintenance and they don't need their daily walk. Thanks to B.J. in NY.
Tylenol and chocolate are both poisonous to cats.*
The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wild Cat which still exists today.*
In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death.
In ancient Egypt, mummies were made of cats, and embalmed mice were placed with them in their tombs. In one ancient city, over 300,000 cat mummies were found.
In the Middle Ages, during the Festival of Saint John, cats were burned alive in town squares.
The first cat show was in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London.
Today there are about 100 distinct breeds of the domestic cat.
Genetic mutation created the domestic cat which is tame from birth.
Like birds, cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can return to it. But if a cat's owners move far from its home, the cat can't find them.
Hunting is not instinctive for cats. Kittens born to non-hunting mothers may never learn to hunt.
Cats bury their feces to cover their trails from predators.
Mother cats teach their kittens to use the litter box.
Among other tasks, cats can be taught to use a toilet, come, sit, beg, eat with their paws, heel, jump through a hoop, play a piano, play dead, roll over, open a door, hide food in boxes, shake, and fetch.
Cats sleep 16 to 18 hours per day. When cats are asleep, they are still alert to incoming stimuli. If you poke the tail of a sleeping cat, it will respond accordingly.
In Great Britain, black cats are thought to bring good luck.
Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson's organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.
Cats can't taste sweets.
The chlorine in fresh tap water irritates sensitive parts of the cat's nose. Let tap water sit for 24 hours before giving it to a cat.
The average cat food meal is the equivalent to about five mice.
The catgut formerly used as strings in tennis rackets and musical instruments does not come from cats. Catgut actually comes from sheep, hogs, and horses.
A large majority of white cats with blue eyes are deaf. White cats with only one blue eye are deaf only in the ear closest to the blue eye. White cats with orange eyes do not have this disability.
Neutering a cat extends its life span by two or three years.
Pregnant women are advised not to come in contact with cat feces, because it can contain an organism which can affect the unborn child and even cause miscarriage.
Ten human years translate to about 60 cat years. A one year old cat is similar in age to an 18 year old human.
A cat's brain is more similar to a man's brain than that of a dog.
A cat has more bones than a human; humans have 206, but the cat has 230 (some cites list 245 bones, and state that bones may fuse together as the cat ages).
Cats have 30 vertebrae--5 more than humans have.
Cats do not have a collarbone, so they can fit through any opening the size of their head.
The cat has 500 skeletal muscles (humans have 650).
Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear (compared to human's 6 muscles each). A cat can rotate its ears independently 180 degrees, and can turn in the direction of sound 10 times faster than those of the best watchdog.
Cats' hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.
Cats' hearing stops at 65 khz (kilohertz); humans' hearing stops at 20 khz.
In relation to their body size, cats have the largest eyes of any mammal.
Most cats do not have eyelashes.
A cat sees about 6 times better than a human at night, and needs 1/6 the amount of of light that a human does - it has a layer of extra reflecting cells which absorb light.
Recent studies have shown that cats can see blue and green. There is disagreement as to whether they can see red.
A cat's field of vision is about 185 degrees.
Blue-eyed, white cats are often deaf.
It may take as long as 2 weeks for a kitten to be able to hear well. Their eyes usually open between 7 and 10 days, but sometimes it happens in as little as 2 days.
A cat has approximately 60 to 80 million olfactory cells (a human has between 5 and 20 million).
Cats have a special scent organ located in the roof of their mouth, called the Jacobson's organ. It analyzes smells - and is the reason why you will sometimes see your cat "sneer" when they encounter a strong odor.
A cat has a total of 24 whiskers, 4 rows of whiskers on each side. The upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows. A cat uses its whiskers for measuring distances.
Cats have 30 teeth (12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 canines, and 4 molars), while dogs have 42. Kittens have baby teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth around the age of 7 months.
When a cat drinks, its tongue - which has tiny barbs on it - scoops the liquid up backwards.
Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.
Domestic cats purr both when inhaling and when exhaling.
The cat's front paw has 5 toes, but the back paws have 4. Some cats are born with as many as 7 front toes and extra back toes (polydactl).
Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run.
Cats walk on their toes.
A domestic cat can sprint at about 31 miles per hour.
The heaviest cat on record weighed 46 lbs.
A kitten will typically weigh about 3 ounces at birth. The typical male housecat will weigh between 7 and 9 pounds, slightly less for female housecats.
Cats take between 20-40 breaths per minute.
Normal body temperature for a cat is 102 degrees F.
A cat's normal pulse is 140-240 beats per minute, with an average of 195.
Cat's urine glows under a black light.
Cats lose almost as much fluid in the saliva while grooming themselves as they do through urination.
Almost 10% of a cat's bones are in its tail, and the tail is used to maintain balance.
The domestic cat is the only species able to hold its tail vertically while walking. You can also learn about your cat's present state of mind by observing the posture of his tail.
If a cat is frightened, the hair stands up fairly evenly all over the body; when the cat threatens or is ready to attack, the hair stands up only in a narrow band along the spine and tail.
Maicis, the primitive ancestor of cats, was a small, tree-living creature of the late Eocene period, some 45 to 50 million years ago.
Cats respond most readily to names that end in an "ee" sound.
The female cat reaches sexual maturity within 6 to 10 months; most veterinarians suggest spaying the female at 5 months, before her first heat period. The male cat usually reaches sexual maturity between 9 and 12 months.
Female cats are "polyestrous," which means they may have many heat periods over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer and recurs at regular intervals.
A female cat will be pregnant for approximately 9 weeks - between 62 and 65 days from conception to delivery.
Female felines are "superfecund," which means that each of the kittens in her litter can have a different father.
Many cats love having their forehead gently stroked.
If a cat is frightened, put your hand over its eyes and forehead, or let him bury his head in your armpit to help calm him.
A cat will tremble or shiver when it is in extreme pain.
Cats should not be fed tuna exclusively, as it lacks taurine, an essential nutrient required for good feline health.
Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy and healthy - some cats will purr loudly when they are terrified or in pain.
Not every cat gets "high" from catnip. If the cat doesn't have a specific gene, it won't react (about 20% do not have the gene). Catnip is non-addictive.
Cats must have fat in their diet because they can't produce it on their own.
While many cats enjoy milk, it will give some cats diarrhea.
A cat will spend nearly 30% of her life grooming herself.
When a domestic cat goes after mice, about 1 pounce in 3 results in a catch.
Mature cats with no health problems are in deep sleep 15 percent of their lives. They are in light sleep 50 percent of the time. That leaves just 35 percent awake time, or roughly 6-8 hours a day. Cats come back to full alertness faster than any other creature.
A cat can jump 5 times as high as it is tall.
Spaying a female before her first or second heat will greatly reduce the threat of mammary cancer and uterine disease. A cat does not need to have at least 1 litter to be healthy, nor will they "miss" motherhood. A tabby named "Dusty" gave birth to 420 documented kittens in her lifetime, while "Kitty" gave birth to 2 kittens at the age of 30, having given birth to a documented 218 kittens in her lifetime.
Neutering a male cat will, in almost all cases, stop him from spraying (territorial marking), fighting with other males (at least over females), as well as lengthen his life and improve its quality.
Declawing a cat is the same as cutting a human's fingers off at the knuckle. There are several alternatives to a complete declawing, including trimming or a less radical (though more involved) surgery to remove the claws. Instead, train your cat to use a scratching post.
The average lifespan of an outdoor-only (feral and non-feral) is about 3 years; an indoor-only cat can live 16 years and longer. A female tabby named "Ma" lived for 34 years, making her the oldest reliably documented housecat.
Cats with long, lean bodies are more likely to be outgoing, and more protective and vocal than those with a stocky build.
A steady diet of dog food may cause blindness in your cat - it lacks taurine.
An estimated 50% of today's cat owners never take their cats to a veterinarian for health care. Too, because cats tend to keep their problems to themselves, many owners think their cat is perfectly healthy when actually they may be suffering from a life-threatening disease. Therefore, cats, on an average, are much sicker than dogs by the time they are brought to your veterinarian for treatment.
Never give your cat aspirin unless specifically prescribed by your veterinarian; it can be fatal. Never ever give Tylenol to a cat. And be sure to keep anti-freeze away from all animals - it's sweet and enticing, but deadly poison.
Most cats adore sardines.
It has been scientifically proven that stroking a cat can lower one's blood pressure.
In 1987, cats overtook dogs as the number one pet in America (about 50 million cats resided in 24 million homes in 1986). About 37% of American homes today have at least 1 cat.
If your cat snores, or rolls over on his back to expose his belly, it means he trusts you.
Cats respond better to women than to men, probably due to the fact that women's voices have a higher pitch.
In an average year, cat owners in the United States spend over $2 billion on cat food.
According to a Gallup poll, most American pet owners obtain their cats by adopting strays.
When your cats rubs up against you, she is actually marking you as "hers" with her scent. If your cat pushes his face against your head, it is a sign of acceptance and affection.
Contrary to popular belief, people are not allergic to cat fur, dander, saliva, or urine - they are allergic to "sebum," a fatty substance secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands. More interesting, someone who is allergic to one cat may not be allergic to another cat. Though there isn't (yet) a way of predicting which cat is more likely to cause allergic reactions, it has been proven that male cats shed much greater amounts of allergen than females. A neutered male, however, sheds much less than a non-neutered male.
Cat bites are more likely to become infected than dog bites - but human bites are the most dangerous of all, because people have more bacteria in their mouths.
Some notable people who disliked cats: Napoleon Bonaparte, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Hitler.
Some notable people who loved cats: Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, Robert E. Lee, Sir Isaac Newton, Mark Twain, composers Ravel and Chopin (one book reported that Chopin's cat walked across the keyboard and he liked the melody so much that he created an entire piece called The Cat Waltz around it; another website states that the title of the piece was The Cat Valse), Buddha, Mohammed, Jules Verne, Ernest Hemingway, Henry David Thoreau, Monet, and Renoir. Scarlatti and Liszt both composed pieces titled The Cat's Fugue, while Stravinsky wrote Lullabies for the Cat. Camille Saint-Saens was a noted cat lover: his Maestoso theme (Symphony No.3 in C- 'Organ') was the theme music in the movie "Babe". Albert Schweitzer was seldom seen without a feline companion.
Six-toed kittens are so common in Boston and surrounding areas of Massachusetts that experts consider it an established mutation.
The silks created by weavers in Baghdad were inspired by the beautiful and varied colors and markings of cat coats. These fabrics were called "tabby" by European traders.
Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be acquired in pairs whenever possible.
Historical
Phoenician cargo ships are thought to have brought the first domesticated cats to Europe in about 900 BC.
The first true cats came into existence about 12 million years ago.
The ancient Egyptians were the first to tame the cat (in about 3000 BC), and used them to control pests.
Ancient Egyptian family members shaved their eyebrows in mourning when the family cat died.
In Siam, the cat was so revered that one rode in a chariot at the head of a parade celebrating the new king.
Cats have been domesticated for half as long as dogs have been.
The Pilgrims were the first to introduce cats to North America.
The first breeding pair of Siamese cats arrived in England in 1884.
The first formal cat show was held in England in 1871; in America, in 1895.
The Maine Coon cat is America's only natural breed of domestic feline. It is 4 to 5 times larger than the Singapura, the smallest breed of cat.
There are approximately 100 breeds of cat.
The life expectancy of cats has nearly doubled since 1930 - from 8 to 16 years.
Cat litter was "invented" in 1947 when Edward Lowe asked his neighbor to try a dried, granulated clay used to sop up grease spills in factories. (In 1990, Mr. Lowe sold his business for $200 million.)
Cats lived with soldiers in trenches, where they killed mice during World War I
In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death.
In ancient Egypt, mummies were made of cats, and embalmed mice were placed with them in their tombs. In one ancient city, over 300,000 cat mummies were found
Like birds, cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can return to it. But if a cat's owners move far from its home, the cat can't find them.
Hunting is not instinctive for cats. Kittens born to non-hunting mothers may never learn to hunt.
Ten human years translate to about 60 cat years. A one year old cat is similar in age to an 18 year old human.
"A Celtic belief was that kittens born in May were badly behaved and troublesome. In Celtic Mythology, the month of May was a time of illomen."
"It is said that a cat looking out of the window is looking for rain."
- Mark Twain
"If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but deteriorate the cat"
-Unknown
"Dogs come when they are called, cats take a message and get back to you".
am a cat."
Jaclyn M. Gardner University of California, San Diego
A Cat with connections was Wilberforce who lived at No 10 Downing Street under the tenancy of 4 Prime Ministers. He first moved in 1973 under Edward Heath and was still there when Margaret Thatcher came into power. He died in 1988.
A real Presidential Cat was Shan who lived in the White House under
Well-known British author born in West Hartlepoole on the North East coast of England, Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972) was the president of the
The author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Caroll 1832-1898 born in Cheshire, England features the famous Cheshire Cat who had a habit of slowly disappearing - its smile disappearing last.
Nostradamus the French Astrologer 1503-1566 had a cat named Grimalkin
Iris Murdoch born in 1919 - best selling British author has had a lifelong interest in cats and has published a book with the title "Particularly Cats and More Cats" and telling people about the cats she has lived with throughout her life. Now she is being owned by one cat names General Butchkin. She also entertains a bunch of visiting strays.
Williamina, a white cat belonging to British author Charles Dickens produced a litter of kittens and all exept one found a home. Because of its devotion to its master the little kitten remained and was called "The Master's Cat". In order to gain his attention at night this little cat would sniff out the authors candle and Charles Dickens acknowledged the hint and happily complied with a cuddle of his favorite cat.
Rudyard Kipling 1865-1936 an English Story Writer and poet (Mooglie) was particularly sensitive to cats. In the Story in "The Cat That Walked by Himself" from the "Just So" stories he succeeds in summing up the feline psyche: "I am not a friend and I am not a servant. I am the Cat that walks by himself and I wish to come into your cave."
Peppy, a grey cat lived in Hollywood and was a true star in the motion picture world. She worked in classic movies with Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and Keystone Kops.
Orangey was a sensational motion picture and television superstar. She was an orange tiger who made her debut in the role of "Rhubarb"in 1952 and won the Patsy Award 19952 and 1962. Orangey also appeared in "Gigot", Breakfast at Tiffany's and in the television series "Our Miss Brooks"
Unlike dogs the cat has no desire to serve any master. Most cats refuse to learn tricks but are often capable of accomplishing quite difficult feats to obtain their ends!
America's most popular friend
In the mid 80s cats replaced the dog in America. It is estimated that there are around 61 Million cats in 31 Million households in America today. Cats fit better in todays lifestyle, cats are easy to maintain and low maintenance and they don't need their daily walk. Thanks to B.J. in NY.
The average life span of a cat is twelve years and it is said that you could multiply the cat's age by seven to compare it to human years.
According to legend, the "M" marking on the forehead of the Tabby Cat was created by the prophet Mohammed as he rested his hand lightly on the brow of his favorite cat, a Tabby.
Another legend: There is a legend that many little kittens were thrown into a river to drown. The mother cat wept and was so distraught that the willows on the bank felt compassion and held out their branches to the struggeling kittens. The little kitten clung on to them and were saved. Ever since that time, each spring the willows wears grey buds that feel as soft and silky as the coats of these little kittens. Thus trees were called "Pussy Willows".
At the end of the 16th century the Angora Cat arrived in Europe. She came to France with a French Scientist by the name of Claude Fabri de Peirese. This beautiful cat came from the Turkish City of Angora today it is called Ankara. It is much admired for its graceful charm, its long body and oriental type. An English writer in 1868 describes the cat "as a beautiful variety with silvery hair of fine texture, generally longest on the neck but also on the tail". The white variety was felt was the only true variety of the breed and the Ankara Zoo established a breeding colony of white Angora Cats. In its homeland the Angora is known by different names - according to its color. A
-red tabby is a sarman
-the silver tabby a teku
-the oddeyed white a Ankara kedi
Another variety is the Turkish Van living in th high mountain regions near the lake Van, an expert swimmer - earning the name "The Swimming Cat"!
Probably the oldest known female cat was Ma, from Devon, who was 34 when she died in 1957.
The next Chinese Year of the Cat is in 1999
In the mid80s cats replaced the dog in America. It is estimated that there are around 61 Million cats in 31 Million households in America today. Cats fit better in todays lifestyle, cats are easy to maintain and low maintenance and they don't need their daily walk. Thanks to B.J. in NY.
Tylenol and chocolate are both poisonous to cats.*
The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wild Cat which still exists today.*
In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death.
In ancient Egypt, mummies were made of cats, and embalmed mice were placed with them in their tombs. In one ancient city, over 300,000 cat mummies were found.
In the Middle Ages, during the Festival of Saint John, cats were burned alive in town squares.
The first cat show was in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London.
Today there are about 100 distinct breeds of the domestic cat.
Genetic mutation created the domestic cat which is tame from birth.
Like birds, cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can return to it. But if a cat's owners move far from its home, the cat can't find them.
Hunting is not instinctive for cats. Kittens born to non-hunting mothers may never learn to hunt.
Cats bury their feces to cover their trails from predators.
Mother cats teach their kittens to use the litter box.
Among other tasks, cats can be taught to use a toilet, come, sit, beg, eat with their paws, heel, jump through a hoop, play a piano, play dead, roll over, open a door, hide food in boxes, shake, and fetch.
Cats sleep 16 to 18 hours per day. When cats are asleep, they are still alert to incoming stimuli. If you poke the tail of a sleeping cat, it will respond accordingly.
In Great Britain, black cats are thought to bring good luck.
Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson's organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.
Cats can't taste sweets.
The chlorine in fresh tap water irritates sensitive parts of the cat's nose. Let tap water sit for 24 hours before giving it to a cat.
The average cat food meal is the equivalent to about five mice.
The catgut formerly used as strings in tennis rackets and musical instruments does not come from cats. Catgut actually comes from sheep, hogs, and horses.
A large majority of white cats with blue eyes are deaf. White cats with only one blue eye are deaf only in the ear closest to the blue eye. White cats with orange eyes do not have this disability.
Neutering a cat extends its life span by two or three years.
Pregnant women are advised not to come in contact with cat feces, because it can contain an organism which can affect the unborn child and even cause miscarriage.
Ten human years translate to about 60 cat years. A one year old cat is similar in age to an 18 year old human.