What is your first thought when you say cat? For us, a cat represents elegance, power, wisdom—but also stubbornness and just a hint of mischief. All jokes aside, knowing cats all your life does not mean you actually know or understand them. Here are some facts we guarantee you didn’t know about cats, and honestly, for some we were also a bit surprised.
1. Cats do not have a collarbone!
Are you familiar with the saying, “If the head goes through, so will the body”? Well, this perfectly describes cats. Cats do not have a collarbone, and their spine is so flexible they can go through unbelievably tiny spaces and holes. Remember this next time you see your cat stretching, when it might look like a piece of spaghetti to you.
2. Cats know exactly what their name is!
You can obviously name your pet cat however you want, but will they answer when you call them? Now let this sink in a bit and think about the next thing carefully. Scientific research has shown that cats do recognize their names among many other words. They simply choose not to answer when they don’t want to. Or, so to say, they basically ignore you—and there is not much you can do about it.
3. Facts about cats - Whisers are very important!
Maybe you thought whiskers make cats ultra-cute or funny. Maybe you thought they are just antennas that help cats sense things. And maybe you are almost there with the guess. Whiskers are, truth be told, a very important feature of all cats. Without whiskers—which are ultra-sensitive sensors, by the way—cats wouldn’t be able to judge distances or spaces properly. For the sake of your cat and yourself, please do not play with their whiskers.
4. Cats can survive falls from huge heights!
Have you ever heard the expression “cats love heights”? Or have you ever noticed cats high up in a tree or on a roof? Some people even build playgrounds for their cats almost as high as the ceiling. Cats do love to sit up high and are not afraid, but what if they were to fall? What would the damage be? If a cat falls from a very great height, of course there is a chance of injury—low to high risk—but here is something you might not have known. Cats often survive falls from great heights or upper floors because they relax mid-air and spread their bodies to soften the impact. That phenomenon is called high-rise syndrome.
5. Cats can’t taste sweets!
As we all know, animals do not eat candy. I mean, yes, they can, but it is not good for their health. Therefore, our beloved dogs and cats are prevented from eating sweets. But here is a fact that can blow your mind: cats do not have receptors for sugar. So cakes, chocolate, or candy in general have no taste for cats.
6. Cats can dream—did you know?
Have you ever watched your pet when it is taking a nap or in deep sleep? If not, take a look next time, because it is really fascinating. During the REM phase of sleep, cats’ brains show the same patterns as human brains. So, when you see your cat twitching its paws and tail in their sleep, maybe they are hunting a mouse in their dream.
7. Tiny nose marks equal fingerprints!?
Okay, so we all have different fingerprints, right? For us, that is an absolutely normal fact—it is actually what makes us stand out. The same goes for cats—but no… I am not talking about paws. It’s their tiny nose! Yes, you read that correctly. Cats have a pattern or marking on their nose which is unique for each cat—there aren’t two cats with the same print.
8. Facts about cats - Not every purr is a happy purr!
You all know the familiar sound, and I think we can all agree it is soothing. But what if I told you that not every purr from your cat is a happy purr? Cats purr in many situations. For instance, when they are happy and relaxing with their owner on the couch—or when they feel stressed out for some reason. Unfortunately, they also purr when they are hurt and even when dying. This is sad, but a very interesting fact to know. One of the benefits for cats themselves is that purring can help them calm down and even speed up wound healing.
9. Cats meow only to us humans!?
Now this is really weird, but on the other hand, so cool. Adult cats will not meow to each other most of the time. They would rather use body language, smells, and sounds—like purring, growling, or even hissing at times. That is their way of understanding each other. But then why do they meow? For us humans, yes! Cats meow to us in order to communicate, and probably get annoyed if they have to “explain” something twice—or pardon me, meow twice.
10. Facts about cats - Cats have a GPS?
Cats are never truly lost—they do whatever they want and come and go as they please. It is in their nature. Some cats can wander miles from home, and the moment you start worrying about where your pet is, it shows up. They seem to have a GPS in their mind. Let me break it down: it is believed that cats can orient themselves using the Earth’s magnetic field, thanks to magnetite in their brains.
