National Pet Awareness Month - 10 Cat Facts You May Not Have Known
To celebrate National Pet Awareness Month it is time to learn some facts about your feline friends that you may not have known already. There are over 10 million domestic cats in the UK with around 20% of the population playing home to a pet cat, but how well do we know our pets? As with many animals, there are many facts that are not common knowledge, and your cat is capable of things that we have no idea about. In this article, we will showcase our 10 favourite cat facts you may not have known. From the interesting to the absurd, there is more than meets the eye with our cats.
A cat's nose is as unique as a human fingerprint
Everyone knows that the human fingerprint is unique to the person it belongs to, but did you know that the print of a cat's nose is very much the same (Purina, 2024). No two cats will share the same nose print. Whilst fingerprints are used to identify someone for many different reasons, a cat's nose print does not share the same uses as it would be very difficult to get a cat to sit and have its nose inked! If you can get your cat's nose printed then the noseprint can be used as a form of identification.
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The spine of a cat has many more vertebrae than that of a human
Whilst it can take humans hundreds if not thousands of hours of practice to become flexible, a cat is simply born with abilities gymnasts would kill for. When a human is born, they have 33 vertebrae in their spine. As they grow, these can fuse together. A cat on the other hand can have up to 53 vertebrae including the tail (eHow UK, 2024). The spine of a cat is much more flexible than that of a human, meaning that they can actually contort themselves into spaces and gaps that we would never attempt.
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Cats can drink seawater without getting ill
When we go swimming in the sea, everyone will know the disgusting taste of swallowing seawater. Humans cannot survive by drinking seawater, and consuming too much can even make you ill. For cats, however, they can actually survive by drinking sea, or saltwater. The kidney of a cat, unlike a human, can actually filter out salt from seawater, naturally purifying it and making it digestible. However, a cat should always drink fresh water and giving a cat salt or seawater should never be the first choice for any pet owner (Cats.com, 2023).
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Adult cats should not be given milk
Everyone has seen the classic ‘cat with a bowl of milk’ scene from countless movies and tv shows, and whilst this is completely fine for kittens, many adult cats are actually lactose intolerant. When a cat is born, their bodies will contain the enzyme needed in order to break down lactose. As a cat ages, the majority will lose this enzyme, and thus will lose the ability to break down lactose (Animal Friends Pet Insurance, 2024). For adult cats, the best thing that they can drink is regular fresh water.
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The oldest ever cat lived to 38 years old
According to Guinness World Records, the oldest ever recorded cat was 38 years and three days old when it passed away in 2005. Creme Puff lived in Austin, Texas, and was born on the 3rd of August 1967. Creme Puff’s owner, Jake Perry, was also the owner of Grandpa Rex Allen, the former holder of the award. During Creme Puff’s life, they saw the moon landing in 1969, Live Aid in 1985, and the turn of the millennium in 2000.
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There are less than 100 breeds of cats, depending on who you ask
There are obviously well-known cat breeds that are commonly seen in homes across the UK. The most popular cat breeds include Siamese, Persian, Ragdoll, Burmese, and Maine Coon, amongst others. However, there are actually over 100 cat breeds, allegedly (Whiskas, 2024). The actual number depends on who you ask and where you get your information. Many different associations recognise different numbers of breeds. Encyclopedia Britannica recognises just 17, whereas the Cat Fanciers Association recognises 41. It all comes down to whether or not the chosen association recognised different factors, such as pedigree and non-pedigree breeds.
12 presidents have brought cats into the White House
Pets are commonplace in the most famous political residence in the world, and there have been no shortage of cats in the Oval Office. The first president to bring a cat into the most powerful office in the world was Abraham Lincoln, who brought his two cats, Tabby and Dixie, with him when he became president in 1861. Since then, 11 further presidents have brought their cats with them (9Lives® Cat Food, 2024). Names such as Gerald Ford and his cat Shan, Ronald Reagan and his two cats Cleo and Sara, and more recent names such as Bill Clinton and his cat Socks, and current president Joe Biden whose cat is called Willow.
Cats only have four toes on their back paws
Strangely, cats will have five toes on their front paws and only four toes on their back paws (Cats Protection, 2021). The most common amount of toes for a cat to have is 18, as mentioned, five at the front and four at the back. However, it is not uncommon for some cats to have significantly more. Many cats will have a physical condition known as polydactyly, which is Greek for many digits.
Cats can either be left or right-handed (pawed)
On the topic of toes, cats obviously have four paws. However, the front paws of a cat are special. Much the same as a human, cats will have a dominant hand (or paw). Keep an eye on your cat when they are playing or grooming themselves and make a note of which paw they use, the chances are that this is their dominant paw. It is more common that female cats will favour their right paw and male cats will often use their left paw more.
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Feral cats are kept at Disneyland California to control pests
It may be the happiest place on Earth, but the pests of Disneyland will need to be kept at bay somehow. Whilst there are many mice running around, the park will only want the ones of the big-eared variety to continue entertaining guests and visitors. As a way of combatting a rat or mouse invasion, a team of feral cats are deployed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California (The Cats of Disneyland, 2024). These cats are used to significantly reduce the number of rodents and pests at the park.
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Cats are an important part of many families around the UK and the world. There is much more than meets the eye when it comes to feline friends. You can purchase a number of different products for your cats online from UK Pets. If you want to look after your cat as best you can, sign up to PocketVet today.
PocketVet vet Dr Rachel Louise Keane BVSc BSc MRCVS of PocketVet also believes that you should always get your cat insured:
“Cats have been domesticated and kept as pets since around 7500 BC and in the UK, 26% of adults are the proud owner of a cat with an estimated 10.9 million pet cats as of 2020. Although smaller than many breeds of dogs, cats also have the ability to get into scrapes due to their naturally curious nature, so it is always advisable to get your cat insured, as unexpected vet bills can be very expensive.”
