Cats are fascinating creatures. Adorable, full of personality, and often keeping their human companions on their toes. But there’s more to them than meets the eye. Here are some fun and surprising facts about our feline friends.
Whiskers
Did you know that cats not only have whiskers on their snout, but also on their legs? Whiskers, also called vibrissae, are incredibly important to the cat’s sense of touch. The whiskers are connected to muscles and nerve endings, allowing them to be moved and detect even the smallest changes in the environment, from air pressure, temperature, wind direction to air currents. The whiskers are located on the chin, above the eyes, near the ears, on the back of the forelegs, and above the upper lip. The whiskers are so sensitive, that some cats don’t like to eat from deep food bowls as they press on them, which disturbs them while eating. The whiskers should never be trimmed, and will shed on their own like the rest of the fur, at a rate of about 2 or 3 at a time.
White Cats and hereditary deafness
Did you know that white cats are more often deaf than cats with other coat colours. It’s not just the white coat that indicates an increased risk of hereditary deafness. Research has shown that in white cats, 17% to 22% are born deaf if they have two brown eyes. Once a cat has one blue eye and one brown eye (odd-eyed), which is called heterochromia, the percentage of white cats that are born deaf rises to 40%. Cats with two blue eyes have a 65% to 85% chance of being deaf.
Cats can’t taste sweet flavour
Did you know that cats can’t taste sweet flavours? The sense of taste is the cat’s weakest sense. They have about 473 taste buds, compared to the 9000 humans have. Cats can not taste sweet, but can distinguish the other four universally accepted basic tastes: sour, salt, bitter, and umami. Cats not being able to taste sweetness has everything to do with their diet. As obligate carnivores they don’t need to eat plant-based sugars(carbs), and not being able to taste sweet prevents them from seeking out high-carb foods that aren’t suitable for their body.
Red Males and Tortoiseshell females
Did you know that red cats are more likely to be male, and tortoiseshell cats are almost always female? This happens because cats and hamsters are the only mammals known where the genetic make-up for the coat colour is partly on the X-chromosome, which is one of the two chromosomes which determine if a cat is male or female. If you would like to know more about the genetics behind this, have a look at our article Linked Genetic Traits: Coat Colour in Female and Male cats.
Cats can’t see in full darkness
While it’s often said that cats can see in the dark, did you know that in total darkness their vision is the same as ours? When it’s said that cats can see in the dark, it actually means that they can see better in low light conditions. Cats can see better in low light conditions due to a larger number of receptors which detect brightness and shades of grey in their eyes, additionally they have a reflective layer at the back of the eye. Even though cats see better in poor light conditions compared to humans, cat’s can’t see in total darkness.
Cats have a homing instinct
All cats have a homing instinct, which is the ability to find the way home from a great distance through unfamiliar territory. The homing instinct will not be as strong for every cat, and some cats will be able to follow the trail home better than others. This means that many cats also will not find their way home, end up lost, or in the worst case injured or killed. There is still much unknown about how cats can find their way home over long distances, but evidence currently available indicates that they are able to use the earth’s geomagnetic fields to locate their territories, possibly in combination with the use of their fine sense of smell.
A purring cat isn’t always happy
While cats often purr when feeling happy and content, the total opposite might also be the case. Purring is also seen when a cat is experiencing pain, discomfort, nervousness, and/or stress. They do this for various reasons, one of them being that purring releases endorphins in the brain. Endorphins block the perception of pain, and hence act as the body’s natural painkiller. Endorphins also increase feelings of well-being. So by purring, a cat can help relieve their pain, and it helps them with self soothing.
Kittens are born with blue eyes
Did you know that all kittens are born with blue eyes, and from three weeks onwards the colour will slowly change. This is because the melanocytes within the eye aren’t mature yet, and hence don’t produce melanin. Between 3 and 10 weeks, these melanocytes will start to mature and produce melanin, which is the pigment that will determine the eye colour. The final colour will depend on how much melanin is made. Brown eyes will have the most melanin, while Light green eyes will have small amounts.
Conclusion
Cats are interesting animals, and by understanding them better, we can provide them with the care they require. Would you like to read more about cats, have a look at our blog on: https://pawpals.ae/category/about-cats