I. Did You Know? Fun Feline Facts

Fun and Fascinating Cat Facts and Statistics

  • The title of Most Popular goes to the mixed-breed, or domestic shorthair. If you're talking specific breeds, the Persian's number one.
  • Do, re, me...ow! When purring, adult cats can reach up to three different notes.
  • "Ears" looking at you! Cats have excellent hearing, and can discern noises several octaves above the range of humans. That includes high-pitched sounds in particular, like the eek-eek squeak of a mouse.
  • If you think that all cats do is sleep, you'd be right—most of the time! The average cat can sleep 13-18 hours a day.
  • Move over, Morris! The three most popular names for cats in the United States are Kitty, Smokey, and Tigger.
  • The majority of cats don't like water, but some kitties love to make a splash. Turkish Van cats, originally found near Turkey's Lake Van, have been known to swim in the harbor.
  • The average lifespan of a cat is 15 years—but we've heard of many who've made it to the ripe old age of 20.
  • The whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth... Kittens begin to lose their baby teeth at about 3 1/2 to 4 months of age.
  • Cats are no night owls. They're actually crepuscular by nature, which means they're most active at dawn and dusk.
  • How old is your cat in people years? It's easy to figure out: By the end of his first year, a cat is equivalent to a 21-year-old person. After that, every cat year is 4 people years.
  • What's up with whiskers? These facial appendages do more than just add character to a cat's face. They guide him in low light, help him sense the presence of prey, and serve as tools of communication with other cats.
  • The outgoing Havana Brown boasts a glossy chestnut coat and a snazzy personality. (And P.S. He's got brown whiskers, too!)
  • Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have to eat meat to stay healthy.
  • Make no bones about it—cats can choke on cooked bones from chicken and fish. Bones in raw meats are usually not a problem.
  • Ever see little specks of black in your cat's fur? Uh oh—sounds like you, and she, have fleas. Consult with your veterinarian for an appropriate flea control program.
  • Cat anatomy 101: Your kitty's comprised of 517 muscles, 290 bones and a small amount of fat.
  • Cool cats: Felines have sweat glands only in their paw pads. They can also beat the heat by licking their fur.
  • Cats are fastidious groomers—but the only place they can't reach is directly behind the head, between the shoulder blades.
  • Tabby cats are said to take their name from the black-and-white striped silk sold at the Attabiah district of old Baghdad.
  • Fur-ever friends: Cats were first domesticated sometime between 4.000 and 8,000 years ago, in Africa and the Middle East.
  • The most common kitties are black-and-white, with all-black cats in second place, and tabbies in third.
  • Keep your feline friend away from poisonous plants, including aloe, lilies, English ivy, rhododendron and foxglove.
  • How do you say "cat" in Egypt? It's "kut" in the land of Tut!
  • Ever seen a statue of a cat with a raised paw in a Japanese restaurant? That's known as a maneki neko, and is thought to attract customers—and prosperity.