When you make a purchase through the links in our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Credit: Amanda Campion
Cats possess captivating qualities and unique abilities that set them apart from other pets, enabling them to adapt to diverse surroundings.
With over 30 years of experience as a feline behaviorist, I have been endlessly intrigued by their behaviors. Cats have evolved significantly, becoming the agile, intelligent, and independent creatures we admire today.
From their remarkable physical capabilities, such as purring, to their peculiar habits like chirping, here are some surprising and delightful facts about cats that I find fascinating.
My Top Cat Facts:
1. A cat’s whiskers are as sensitive as a human fingertip
Credit: Getty Images/RyanJLane
A cat’s vibrissae, also known as whiskers, serve as highly sensitive touch receptors that provide vital information about their environment.
Whiskers are deeply rooted in a cat’s skin, connected to nerve endings, making them as sensitive as a human fingertip. Trim them can lead to confusion and disorientation, so it’s best to leave them intact.
Whiskers aid cats in measuring spaces, sensing air currents, and detecting nearby objects without physical contact, enabling them to navigate in darkness easily.
When offering food, it’s important to use bowls with a wider circumference to prevent whisker fatigue, which can be uncomfortable and cause cats to avoid eating from the bowl.
For more information, you can read our feature on why cats have whiskers.
2. Cats can’t taste sweetness
Credit: Getty Images/Daniel Lozano Gonzalez
Contrary to humans and dogs, cats lack the taste receptors for sweetness. This is due to their status as obligate carnivores, necessitating a meat-based diet for optimal health.
Evolution has honed their senses to prioritize protein and fat over sugar, which holds no nutritional value for them. Although cats may show interest in sugary foods based on texture or smell, they do not experience sweetness similarly to humans.
3. Purring possesses healing properties
Credit: Getty Images/Drazen_
While we often associate a cat’s purring with happiness, it serves a broader purpose. Cats may purr when in pain, stressed, or even as they approach death.
Research indicates that the frequency range of a cat’s purr, from 25 to 150Hz, offers therapeutic benefits, aiding in muscle and bone repair, as well as tissue regeneration.
Some studies suggest that these frequencies can contribute to human healing, which could explain why the presence of a purring cat is comforting. Cats seem to possess an innate self-healing mechanism, making them even more extraordinary.
4. Cats exhibit paw preference like humans
Credit: Getty Images/Daisy Hutchinson
Just as humans are left or right-handed, cats also display a dominant paw. Studies suggest that male cats are more inclined
Cats possess exceptional hearing abilities due to the 32 muscles in each ear, compared to a human’s six. These muscles enable cats to rotate their ears independently up to 180 degrees, assisting them in accurately locating sounds. This heightened sense of hearing is crucial for their hunting instincts, as cats heavily rely on sound to detect prey even in darkness. Additionally, cats can perceive frequencies beyond the range of human ears, allowing them to react to sounds that are inaudible to us. Studies suggest that cats can even hear the electric current passing through a plug when we switch on electrical appliances.
When cats make chirping noises, it is believed to be linked to their hunting instincts. Some researchers theorize that cats mimic the sounds of their prey to attract them, while others suggest that chattering is an involuntary response to excitement or a way to prepare their jaw muscles for a quick kill. This behavior showcases their deep-rooted hunting instincts.
While walking, cats move both right legs followed by both left legs, a gait shared by only a few other animals like camels and giraffes. This unique walking pattern helps cats maintain balance and move stealthily, allowing them to approach prey silently.
The slow blink is a gesture of affection and trust from a cat. When a cat looks at you and slowly closes its eyes, it signifies that they feel safe and trust you completely. This action is vulnerable for cats, making it a significant display of affection and trust. By reciprocating the slow blink, you can strengthen your bond with your feline companion.
Polydactyl cats have extra toes on their paws, resembling thumbs, which can make them more dexterous. This extra digit allows them to perform tasks like opening doors or grasping objects more effectively than typical cats. Although polydactylism is a harmless genetic trait, it adds a unique charm to cats that have it.
Each cat’s nose has a distinctive pattern of ridges and bumps, similar to a human fingerprint. This unique nose print makes each cat’s nose as unique as a human fingerprint, potentially serving as a form of identification. Scientists have yet to determine the purpose of this unique nose print, but it could be useful for identification purposes in the future.
“y” authored by Megan Milstead.
