Cat Naps
Cats are nocturnal creatures, so they sleep about sixteen hours each day. Therefore, a seven-year-old cat has only been awake for about two years of its life.
The Pick of the Litter
When choosing a kitten look for the one that plays in the center of the litter. Research shows that this indicates good health and an amiable disposition.
Purr-fect Companions
Cats make such good house pets because they are willing to share affection when we are around and able to be self-sufficient when we're not. They're also superb listeners. One survey found that only 5 percent of all cat owners do not talk to their cats.
Cats and People
A study conducted by Temple University in the early 1980s found that when cats receive just a five-minute dose of attention of each day during early domestic
life, they will become more attached to people.
Cats with Heart
A cat's heart beats twice as fast as a human heart—110 to 140 beats per minute. The reason is, the smaller the animal, the higher the heart rate. Small animals also generally have a higher metabolic rate.
A Cat Tale
According to Russian folk wisdom, a person who brings home a cat should throw it immediately onto the bed. If the cat settles down promptly, it means the cat will stay with its new owner.
Black Cats
In the Middle Ages, cats were hunted and cursed as the devil incarnate.
Chow Time
According to experts, cats prefer the same food at the same time of day. The American Humane Society discourages feeding table scraps to pets, especially fatty and spicy foods. Some foods can even be deadly. Chocolate, for instance, contains the alkaloid theobromine, which is toxic to cats.
See What I Mean?
Most cats can see six times better than people can in the dark.
Kitties and Mom
In the first two weeks of a kitten's life, its eyes are closed; the newborn finds its mother's milk through smell and touch.
Cool Cat
One reason why cats are so laid back and independent is that they are considered predators, not prey, in the animal world. Dogs are predators, too, but they prefer company—human or canine—if given the choice.According to an article by Wendy Christensen in Cat Fancy magazine, 'cats have independent spirits. . . .' So the 'cool cat' syndrome probably results more from temperament than any environmental factor.
Cats and Snacks
Experts recommend that cat treats should comprise no more than 5 percent of a cat's daily food intake.
Big Cat, Little Cat
The largest breed of cat is the Ragdoll. Males weigh between twelve and twenty pounds; females ten and fifteen pounds.
The smallest breed is the Singapura. Adult females weigh about four pounds and males about six pounds.Persians are also small cats, usually weighing about six pounds, but they have so much hair they appear as if they weigh twice that amount.
If Your Cat Doesn't Come When You Call . . .
. . . it may not be ignoring you: Many white cats with blue eyes are deaf. According to the Cat Fancier's Association, a white cat with two blue eyes has the highest chance of being deaf. If it has green or gold eyes, it has the lowest chance of being deaf. And if a cat has one blue eye and one green eye, its chances of being deaf fall somewhere in the middle.Purebred white cats, however, are said to have a lower prevalence of deafness than mixed-breed white cats.
For Women Only
Wondering why even catnip and candlelight dinners can't get your calico cat in the mood for romance with Chlöe, the other calico on the block? Calico cats are always female, so you might try fixing her up with Rocky instead.
How Much Does That Kitty Really Cost?
According to 1997 figures from the American Veterinary Medical Association, vet bills for cat owners average about eighty dollars per year for the life of
their kitty.
Gesundheit!
An old Italian superstition says that a cat sneezing is a good omen for anyone who hears it.
Cat Scratch Fever
Cats don't scratch your furniture to annoy you or purposely ruin that armoire that's been in the family since 1943, but to sharpen their claws. Cats have scent glands in their paws that mark territory and warn other cats that 'This is my turf, so stay clear.'
Is That Call for Kitty?
When you're talking on the telephone, does your cat suddenly become playful? Does it rub up against your leg? Swipe at the telephone cord?
The reason many cats try to interfere with their owner's telephone conversation is that kitty thinks you're talking to her, so she responds in an appropriately friendly way. Cats have no understanding that there is someone on the other end of the line.
How Much Do You Love Your Cat?
Probably a lot, right? But the ancient Egyptians were really crazy about cats. They worshiped them as gods, literally, and anyone caught hunting or mistreating them in any way was put to death.Many cat lovers take their pets everywhere, but the ancient Egyptians took it one step farther. They hoped to take their pets with them after death. Prince Tuthmosis of Cairo, for instance, was buried with his cat, Mit. Provisions for the long journey into the afterlife were left for him and his Mit. Names of pets were found inscribed on ancient Egyptian tombs. According to Dennis Doxey of the Egyptian section at the University of Pennsylvania's museum, this shows that their owners wanted to help bring the animals into the afterlife with them.
Show Time
The first cat show in the United States was held at New York City's Madison Square Garden in May 1895.
Cats Make History
On June 19, 1997, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats became the longest-running Broadway musical of all time.
In fifteen years, 2,706 pounds of yak hair have been used to make those fluffy cat costumes for the 231 actors who have appeared in the New York production.
According to USA Today, the makeup shop has gone through 603 eyeliners, 12,240 creme sticks, 4,119 powder puffs and 225 gallons of makeup remover.
Odder still is that they've also used 48,451 condoms, for which they've created a special use—to keep sweat off their body mikes.
Veggie Cat
While the health benefits of a vegetarian diet for humans are well documented, for a cat there is nothing worse. Given a steady diet of veggies, a cat will become sick and eventually die a very miserable death. Cats are carnivores; they love meat and must have it to live healthy lives.
Super Cats
In Philadelphia a cat risked its own skin to save the lives of its young. Without the slightest hesitation, a mother cat rushed into a burning building and, one
by one, pulled out her litter of kittens, incurring serious burns in the process. All of the kittens, however, were saved. Stories like this one that relate the heroic efforts of mother cats are common. In 1996, a similar incident occurred in Brooklyn. Firefighters who responded to a report of a burning building discovered five tiny kittens purring outside the flame-engulfed building. Nearby was the mother cat, who had pulled them out one by one, according to witnesses. She finally collapsed with severe burns on her face and paws. She eventually recovered and offers of adoption and financial assistance poured in from as far away as Japan.
To Declaw or Not to Declaw
Is it cruel to have a cat declawed? Some people think so, for a number of reasons. Declawing a cat eliminates its natural means of self-defense. Second, claws are an important grooming tool; and third, they're used for hunting and climbing, which are essential for cats with an outdoor life. Other people think that indoor cats don't need claws since they don't hunt or use them for self-defense.So if you're thinking about declawing your cat, think about whether Fluffy is an indoor or an outdoor feline.
Why Cats Seem to Like People Who Dislike Them
When a cat lover makes a noisy fuss over a pretty cat, the cat finds such behavior offensive, sometimes even threatening. It doesn't like loud, shrill sounds. The person who ignores the cat, however, wins it over because the cat interprets this as friendly behavior.
Clean Cats
Cats do not normally need baths because they clean themselves with their rough tongues; they spend about 30 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves.
Nevertheless, all cats benefit from regular grooming. Longhaired cats should be brushed once a day; shorthairs once a week. This helps keep their coats healthy and lustrous, and prevents them from swallowing too much fur when they wash. A bristle brush and a metal comb work best.
Eye Feel Sick
A possible sign of illness is when you can see your cat's nictitating membrane, or 'third eyelid,' at the corner of its eye. Other signs include refusal to eat, diarrhea, a messy coat, reclusive behavior and listlessness. If these symptoms appear for more than a day, take your cat to the vet.
Who's Smarter, Cats or Dogs?
Cats have long been given a bum rap in the intelligence department, at least when compared to dogs. One reason for this is that they don't train as easily. Another is that they don't score as high on 'intelligence tests.' But this is because dogs tend to think more like people. Cats are more complex.
Your cat can be trained just as effectively as a dog if you use the proper means of communication. So it may be the trainer's, not the cat's, intelligence that's at issue.
A Cure for Naughtiness
Hitting and spanking a cat aren't advisable—and usually not very effective because the cat will run away or fi...
