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10 Interesting Cat Facts to Share With Your Friends

Posted June 10, 2021 in General, Pet Blog by Rachel Champion

10 Interesting Cat Facts to Share With Your Friends

There is no doubt that cats are interesting and unique creatures. From their sassy attitudes to their funny and finicky behaviors, there’s a reason why there are so many cat lovers in the world. To celebrate these amazing animals, we have compiled a list of interesting cat facts that will make you love and appreciate your furry feline even more.

1) One of the reasons cats bury their feces is to cover their traffic from predators

A black cat using a pink litterbox with a blue litter scooper on the ground next to the litterbox.

Did you know that covering their waste is part of a cat’s natural instinct? Cats use their waste to mark their territory, and they bury it to avoid catching the interest of predators. Indoor cats that use litter boxes at home still cover their waste just to be on the safe side. Covering their waste is also a sign that your cat views you as the “dominant cat” in the home, even if they don’t always act like it.

2) The deadliest type of cat in the world weighs about 2 to 6 lbs

An African black-footed cat outside at night on a gray rock.

Who would’ve ever thought that the deadliest cat in the world is smaller than an average domestic house cat? But it’s true. The deadliest cat in the world is called the black-footed cat. The feline weighs around 2 to 6 pounds and is native to southern Africa. Black-footed cats average a successful kill about every 50 minutes, killing between 10 to 14 small birds and rodents every night. Compared to other felines, black-footed cats have a 60 percent success rate when hunting.

3) Cats are not considered to be nocturnal

A black cat sitting upright on a couch beside a dim light source.

It is a common myth that cats are nocturnal, but for good reason. With many cats getting the “zoomies” in the early hours of the morning it’s easy to see why. However, all types of cats are considered crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. People may think cats are nocturnal because it’s common for cats to wake their owners up during the night and sleep all day. However, this could be due to dusk and dawn drawing near.

4) Male cats with a tortoiseshell fur pattern are extremely rare

A tortoiseshell-colored cat lying on the ground while looking up to the left.

Only around 1 out of 3,000 tortoiseshell colored cats are male, making the coat color extremely rare for male cats. Why is it rare? The genetic code for the color of a cat’s fur is determined by the same chromosomes that determine the cat’s sex. Female cats carry two X chromosomes, with each chromosome carrying the genetic code for either orange or black colors.

Male cats only have one X chromosome, and since male’s Y chromosome does not carry the genetic code for color, they will only be black or orange and not a mixture. In rare instances, a male cat is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome. The XXY combination causes the male to be born with both orange and black coloring, marking the distinct tortoiseshell fur pattern.

5) Cats are considered seniors when they are 11 years old

A senior calico-colored cat lying on an orange blanket with an orange background.

Unlike dogs, who are considered to be seniors at age 7, cats are considered seniors at age 11. If your cat is over 15 years old, they are considered to be a super senior. Compared to the equivalent human age, at age 11, a cat would be considered to be 60 years old. At 15, a cat is approximately 76 years old in human years. Remember,  it is important to adapt to your cat as they age, and make sure you take them to regular vet checkups!

6) White cats with blue eyes have the greatest risk of being born deaf

A white cat with blue eyes lying comfortably on a wooden floor.

Compared to other fur and eye color patterns, white cats with blue eyes are at the greatest risk of being born deaf. According to James Flander, DVM, “About 80 percent of white cats with two blue eyes will start to show signs of deafness when they are about four days old as the result of cochlear degeneration.”

However, if you have a cat suffering from hearing loss, there are plenty of ways to adjust and help them feel more comfortable. For instance, make sure to keep your cat indoors, signal when you are approaching to avoid startling them, and replace verbal cues with visual cues, to name a few.

7) Some cats are afraid of cucumbers

A tabby-colored Maine Coon lying down behind a large green cucumber.

Since cucumbers are shaped like snakes, they can cause a cat’s natural fear responses to kick in. This can cause cats to panic, often jumping high in the air and scurrying away. Jumping high in the air is a natural behavior that helps the cat avoid being bitten by a snake. However, please don’t scare your cats, as it can have long-lasting psychological effects.

8) Cats can be trained

A tabby cat being trained to high five their owner.

Another common myth about cats is they cannot be trained, but this is not true. In fact, in 2016, one cat named Didga from Australia performed 24 tricks in one minute. Ranging from classic tricks such as “sit” to riding a skateboard, this smart kitty truly shows that cats can be trained. Of course, training a cat, like many other animals, is not an easy task. Deciding to train your cat requires a lot of time, patience, and of course, treats!

9) Bobcats are smaller than a lot of people would think

A Bobcat standing alert in a grassy area with leaves.

An average adult bobcat weighs between 13-30 pounds and is between 30-50 inches long. On average, an adult cat’s length without including their tail is 15 to 20 inches long, and an average mixed breed cat weighs between 8-10 pounds. However, large cat breeds such as the Maine Coon can weigh up to 25 pounds, making them closer in size to an average-sized bobcat.

10) Cats have a hard time seeing up close

A close up of a orange cat's nose, mouth, and whiskers.

Did you know that cats cannot see as well up close as humans can? Although cats are considered nearsighted, they have a hard time seeing things right in front of them. This is because cats do not have the muscles to change the shape of their eye lenses, so they need things to be further away to see them clearly. So, if your cat is having a hard time seeing the treat you just threw in front of them, maybe try letting them smell the treat and then throw it further away where they can see it better.

We hope you enjoyed reading a few cat facts and maybe you even learned something new to share with your friends. Looking to learn more about cats? Check out Jeffers’ blog The All-Important Cat Play Sequence.

Do you know any interesting cat facts you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments down below!

Time to restock on your cat’s favorites? Check out Jeffers wide variety of cat supplies.

Sources:

LiveScience: “Why Do Cats Bury Their Poop?”

LiveScience: “Adorable, Remorseless Killing Machine Is World’s Deadliest Cat”

Reader’s Digest:  “Are Cats Nocturnal?”

The Spruce Pets: “7 Tortoiseshell Cats and Kittens”

International Cat Care: “Elderly cats – special considerations”

Cornell University: College of Veterinary Medicine: “Deafness”

ABC News: “Why These Scaredy Cats Are Absolutely Terrified of Cucumbers”

Guinness World Record: “International Cat Day: A timeline of the world’s most fascinating feline record breakers”

Big Cat Rescue: “Bobcat Facts”

Cat Checkup:  “Sizing Up: How Big Do Cats Get? (From Smallest to Biggest)”

LiveScience:  “Feline Vision: How Cats See the World”