Even though you may adore your cat, you might not realize how awesome she is or how wonderful cats are in general.
People have been fascinated by cats for thousands of years. Did you know that 18% of households in the UK alone are dominated by cats due to their mysterious personalities and beautiful appearances? With so many cats around us, you’d think that everyone would be knowledgeable about them. Not really! There are several intriguing cat-related facts that you may not be aware of, including the largest cat in the world and its peculiar gait.
Let’s check them out:
1. Cats Walk like Giraffes and Camels
Have you ever noticed how cats walk similar to giraffes and camels? They move half of their body forward at once by walking with both right feet first, then both left feet.
2. Issac Newton Was the One Who Invented Cat Door
Although Isaac Newton is most known for his work on gravity calculations, it’s also thought that he created the cat door. Newton’s investigations at the University of Cambridge were frequently hampered by his cats scratching at the door. And so, he hired a carpenter to make two holes in the door—one for the mother cat and one for her kittens. According to reports, the university still has these gaps.
3. The oldest Cat in the World Is 38 Years
The oldest cat in the world is 38 years and 3 days old. Grandpa Rex Allen, the previous record-holder for oldest cat, died at the ripe old age of 34, and his owner Jake Perry also owned Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967, and lived until August 6, 2005.
4. Cats Spend 70% of Their Lives Sleeping
We all know cats love to be lazy all day and sleep. You would be correct if you assumed cats slept most of the time. Cats actually sleep for between 13 to 16 hours a day, or 70 percent of their lifespan.
5. Cat Whiskers Are More than Just For Cuteness
Cats’ whiskers play a very significant role in helping them navigate their surroundings, especially at night. They aren’t only for aesthetic purposes. Whiskers serve as touch receptors since they are deeply embedded in the cat’s body and connected to its delicate neurological and muscular systems. A cat’s whiskers enable it to recognize changes in its environment and react to them. Some cats also use their whiskers to judge if they can navigate through a hole.
6. Cats and Their Memory
Both short-term and long-term memory is present in cats. This indicates that they have a short-term memory span of up to 16 hours. Compared to dogs, cats tend to be pickier. They only retain information that is useful to them.
7. Cats Have a Third Eyelid
The third eyelid of your cat protects its cornea by acting as a shield. The little pink fold of tissue in the corner of your eye is thought by scientists to be the remnant of a third eyelid that humans previously possessed.
