Six Surprising Facts About Cats
Felines have lived among us for 10,000 years, yet we still have much to learn. Join us as we explore six surprising facts about cats.
Cats are alluring creatures, aren’t they? Perhaps that goes some way towards explaining the first of our surprising facts.
This article includes six surprising secrets about these endearing creatures who snuggled their way into our hearts. And even reveals the word used to describe those of us who are nutty about all things feline.
1. Ailurophile
The noun that describes a cat lover is ailurophile. This compound word glues together the Greek word ‘ailouros,’ which means cat, and the suffix ‘phile,’ meaning lover.
The result is the word ailurophile, meaning one who loves cats. And if you’re anything like us, this word is a purrfect fit!
Up n’ Go
On average, a cat can jump up to six times its body length from a standing start.
Nap Star
Most domestic house cats will spend more than two-thirds of their life asleep.
Gap Nav
A cat’s whiskers tell it whether or not the rest of its body will fit through a gap.
2. Fifteen going on Twenty-Five
Humans develop at different rates. Some people appear to be much older than their years would suggest, but no human can compete with the humble house cat.
The first year of a cat’s life equals the first fifteen years of a human. And at the end of its second year, a cat is the equivalent of a twenty-five-year-old human.
And it doesn’t end there. Each subsequent year of a cat’s life equals around six human years.
3. Absent Eyelashes
Some women love to fatten their eyelashes with makeup, while others bedazzle with false eyelashes. And yet, if our feline fatales are anything to go by, women may be wasting their time.
The plain fact is that an absence of eyelashes hasn’t reduced the perennial appeal of cats.
4. The Nose Knows
A cat can’t see anything directly under its nose. It uses its sensitive nose to detect and its whiskers to locate items it can’t see because its nose is in the way.
You can see this yourself by placing a tasty treat directly beneath your kitty’s nose. It will sniff about and place the morsel in space before scooping it up.
5. Ambidextrous
Two out of every five cats is ambidextrous, meaning they don’t favor their left or right paw over the other. Female felines tend to favor their right paw, while males tend to lean left.
While most cats, like most humans, tend to favor either their left or right paws, forty percent are ambidextrous and favor neither.
6. Good Listeners
Every cat owner knows their felines have excellent hearing, especially when it comes to a can being opened or the alluring rustle of a treat packet.
What isn’t so well known is the degree to which cats hear better than humans. Felines have, on average, five times better hearing than humans.
Summing Up Six Surprising Facts About Cats
Our love of felines has led us to study them and uncover various surprising facts about cats. Whether we’re marveling at the speed with which they grow, their lack of eyelashes, or their impressive hearing, they continue to astonish us with their antics.
We can’t help but wonder what our furry friends make of us. Do they marvel at our ability to easily open a tin can and produce food as if by magic? If so, perhaps that explains why they appear to love us as much as we love them.
