52 Amazing Fun Facts about Cats (Surprising Facts)
Are you ready to discover amazing fun facts about cats? These are not ordinary facts, but the best trivia facts about cats you ever read. We are talking about remarkable, interesting, and strange facts about cats that even a cat lover will not be familiar with them.
Although both cats and dogs can be seen as adorable, cats cannot be tamed the way a dog can. Big or small, wild or domesticated, cats love and insist upon their independence. You are not the owner; instead, they own you even though they are still a very popular pet.
It takes a certain kind of person to truly love cats. If you have one of these quirky creatures at home or you are just curious about what makes them so unique, then read on to discover cool fun facts or even mind-blowing cats fun facts about these fascinating creatures that we love.
Best Fun Facts about Cats
1. First domesticated cat
While dogs may have been helpful to humankind when our ancestors were still hunter-gatherers, it is believed cats became useful once farming began. With that in mind, some researchers think cats may have been domesticated between 9,500 and 12,000 years ago, when people started raising crops, and there was a need for pest control.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
2. The curse of the black cat
In medieval times, black cats were considered “evil” companions of witches, leading to the killing of many such cats. Historians say that this reduction of black cats helped spread the bubonic plague, a deadly disease carried by fleas on rats.
Source: petinsurance.com
3. Cat cafés in Tokyo
In busy and highly populated Tokyo, it is difficult for residents to have pets of their own. This has given rise to cat cafés, where customers can sip tea or coffee while watching, petting, or playing with a variety of cats.
Source: timetravelturtle.com
4. When cats brought good luck
Many of their religion’s gods could transform into animals themselves in Ancient Egypt, making animal worship common. The cat was a particularly special animal as Ancient Egyptians believed it was magical and could bring good luck to its owners. So when a domesticated cat died, the family members shaved off their eyebrows as a mourning sign.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
5. Mail delivery
In the 1870s, one Belgian town came up with the novel idea to have cats deliver the mail. The mail was placed in waterproof bags around a cat’s neck, and it was sent on its way. Though the mail was delivered, it took longer than expected due to so many cat detours, so the idea was scrapped.
Source: meowingtons.com
6. The end of the Scottish Fold?
The Scottish Fold is one of the few cats in the world that has bent or folded ears. But though it is an adorable cat because of its round-headed look, some organizations are against the breed as the folded ear is a genetic problem that develops into painful arthritis for the cat. The issues are still up for debate because many still love the breed, including some famous artists like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.
Source: bbc.com
7. Black panther
Black panthers are not a specific species. These are just big cats (leopard or jaguar) that have nearly all-dark fur because of surplus melanin. While some think black panthers have a better advantage of hiding in the dark, experts say that it is easier to see a solid colored animal than one whose patterns are broken up.
Source: nationalgeographic.co.uk
8. A domestic cat that loves water
Most domestic cats dislike water on their fur, but the Turkish Van cat actually loves it. Called the “Swimming Cat,” it can happily spend a lot of time in the water. If you have a bathtub, don’t be surprised to see your Turkish Van cat jump in with you.
Source: hillspet.com
9. Need for a Chief Mouser
The UK Prime Minister’s home, 10 Downing Street, has been around since the 1700s. Although very stately, it does have a mice and rat problem. So many Prime Ministers have a cat around as their Chief Mouser to keep these vermin in check.
Source: historyextra.com
If you are a history lover, you will love the best 50 history fun facts.
10. The only breed from Canada: Sphinx cat
The Sphynx cat, formerly known as the Canadian Hairless, was bred in Canada in the 1960s. Aside from its impressive, suede-like body, this breed is quite people-friendly. But because it doesn’t have the usual fur protecting its skin, owners need to be careful about exposing it to very hot and cold temperatures.
Source: aspcapetinsurance.com
11. A sparkling cat
The Bengal cat breed first began in the 1800s when a domestic cat mated with an Asian leopard (a small wild cat that is found in Asia, but not a true leopard). Although it does have the black markings of a leopard, it has been domesticated. Something unique about this breed is that its fur has a glittery sheen that sparkles under the light.
Source: petinsurance.com
12. Snowy adaptations
As snow leopards live in an extreme environment, it has several features to protect it. One is that it has a specially designed nose (similar to a domestic cat’s nose) that heats the freezing air before it enters the lungs. Another is that it uses its very long tail as a scarf to protect its nose and legs against the cold when resting.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
By the way, if you love cats, you also love animals, right? Read our top 50 animal fun facts.
Crazy Weird Fun Facts about the Cat’s Anatomy
13. Landing on their feet
Something within the inner ear of a cat allows it to orient itself as it falls, which is why we often see cats landing on their feet. But this does not mean a cat will always survive a fall. Interestingly, a 1987 study of cat falls found that, statistically, cats that fell from a height above seven stories tall had a higher percentage of surviving (although with injuries) than cats that fell from a lower height.
Source: treehugger.com
14. Don’t trim the whiskers
A cat’s whiskers help it navigate its way around its environment, telling it if a space is big enough to fit in or how far it needs to jump to reach a certain spot. This is why you should NOT trim a cat’s whiskers as it will badly disorient it.
Source: webmd.com
15. Hard to sneak up on
Like dogs, cats (45 - 64,000 Hz) can hear a lot better than humans (64 - 23,000 Hz) for lower and higher-pitched sounds. Aside from that, the cat’s ear design naturally draws in sound, allowing it to hear distant sounds. It’s no wonder why it is difficult to sneak up on a cat.
Source: thesprucepets.com
16. To purr or to roar
For cats they can either purr or roar, but not both. Only the jaguar, leopard (except the snow leopard), lion, and tiger can roar, while other cats (domesticated or wild) purr. Anatomically, the roaring cats have a stretchable ligament in their voice box that allows them to produce the loud and low-pitched roar, possibly to defend their territory.
Source: discoverwildlife.com
17. Speed of a normal cat
The standard housecat can hit a speed of 30 miles per hour (48 kph), faster than your average human or even the top athletes in the world (22 to 27 mph). Though its legs may be shorter, its leg muscles and flexible spine allow the cat to cover much ground as it sprints forward.
Source: petfinder.com
18. Essentially the same kind of legs
Usually, when an animal species gets bigger, the body changes, especially the legs. But for cats, they are essentially the same, regardless if it’s a 9-pound house cat or a 400-pound lion. This is why, among mammals, big cats are the only ones that can crouch.
Source: theatlantic.com
19. Teeth of the cat
A cat’s teeth can stab, anchor, and cut. But it doesn’t have any teeth built for chewing, which is why it has to swallow what has been sliced up.
Source: britannica.com
20. Eyes of the cat
Similar to a dog, a cat cannot fully appreciate the entire spectrum of colors like humans. However, the cat’s advantage is that its eyes can better detect motion, even small movements, which help it hunt prey or flee from danger. Its pupils also can fully dilate, allowing it to better see in the dark.
Source: vcahospitals.com
21. Claws of the cat
For many cat owners, their cat’s claws can be a big issue for their furniture and even personal safety. However, declawing one’s cat should not be a part of anyone’s plans as a cat needs its claws to help it balance as it walks. If sharp claws are a real problem, there are some innovative products available to cover up your cat’s sharp tools.
Source: softpaws.com
22. Cat intelligence
The idea of many is that cats are intelligent and possibly even devious. But researchers have not been able to thoroughly study a cat’s IQ in the same way as a dog because cats, in general, are not interested in cooperating. But for sure, they are intelligent, impatient, and will walk away if bored.
Source: hillspet.com
23. Grooming and tongue
Cats love to spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Their rough tongues are specially designed to clean their bodies. Grooming untangles its fur, regulates its temperature, and helps it connect to other cats.
Source: noel.gatech.edu
24. Sense of smell
Though not as powerful as a dog, a cat’s sense of smell is a lot better than a human’s. Cats use this sense for survival and reproduction. During the mating season, a tomcat (A mature male cat) can smell a female cat in heat from over a mile away.
Source: thesprucepets.com
If you read so far, you are a true cat lover & animal lover. So don't forget to check the cat trivia quizzes and the animal trivia quizzes. You can also check the Quiz Beez home page to explore more topics.
Strange Facts about Famous Real Cats
25. Cat mayor
One town in Alaska has had a feline as its honorary “mayor” for 20 years. Stubbs, the cat, was chosen in 1997 and quickly became an attraction for the town Talkeetna. In his first year, people would drop by to inquire about the “mayor.”
Source: edition.cnn.com
26. The first cat in space
In 1963, Félicette, the cat, was sent into space by France. Before the space cat, France had sent rats, whereas the USSR had sent dogs, monkeys, and a chimpanzee. Unlike the first dog in space, Félicette survived its flight, returning safely to Earth.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
27. The infamous Tsavo lions
In the late 1800s, railway laborers in Tsavo, Kenya, were terrorized by two man-eating lions, nicknamed “The Ghost” and “The Darkness.” The two man-eaters reportedly killed between 35 and 135 people within a year. Modern researchers think they know why these lions hunted people instead of animals: damage to the lions’ mouths might have made humans better prey that the big, strong animals they would usually hunt.
Source: livescience.com
28. Nora the piano cat
A popular cat on the internet is Nora the Piano Cat, who became a sensation when videos of her playing the piano were posted on YouTube in 2006. Her piano-playing prowess attracted the attention of talk shows and other media outlets, making her even more famous. Thousands follow her YouTube channel.
Source: heguardian.com
29. Snowball the cat
While looking for a link between a bloody jacket and a possible killer, police found white hairs inside the article of clothing. The hairs were sent to a US lab, where the DNA was confirmed to belong to Snowball, the cat, whose owner was a prime suspect. DNA from cats in the area were also tested to prove that DNA matching works for animals just like it does for humans, leading to new police protocols concerning animal evidence when at a crime scene.
Source: animals.howstuffworks.com
30. Grumpy the cat
Another internet sensation was Grumpy, the cat, who became a viral meme because of its very grumpy look. Aside from becoming an internet star, Grumpy (real cat name “Tardar Sauce”) also got into merchandising, becoming a model for Friskies and the design for one of Skechers’ shoes.
Source:edition.cnn.com
Weird but True Facts about a Cat’s Behavior
31. Attacking the feet
A foot or ankle attack by the cat is something owners may find annoying, especially if one is doing something important. Cats seem to playfully attack our feet as they are roughly the size of the prey they would normally hunt in the wild. If you happen to like fluffy slippers or socks that make your feet look even more like a small creature, expect your cat to attack your feet even more.
Source: hillspet.com
32. Don’t like cold food
When a cat eats, it prefers food that is around the temperature of its tongue (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Cold food generally doesn’t agree with them. So if you placed something in the ref, warm it up first before serving.
Source: catsinternational.org
33. Thieving behavior
Ever notice that your cat loves to play with other items around the house other than its toys? Cats can be attracted to particular textures or appearances, so they regularly want to swat such things around or chew on them. If a cat realizes that its efforts are always being thwarted, it may attempt to sneakily “steal” such items to play with them in secret.
Source: vetstreet.com
34. Head bunting
When a cat bunts its head against things and people in its home, it is not simply marking its territory. It is expressing its love. A cat does this to things and people it likes, while also sharing a bit of its scent on the person or object.
Source: petmd.com
35. A butt in your face
A gesture that not everybody understands is when a cat intentionally places its butt in its owner’s face. The anal glands produce scents that tell much about the cat, which is why cats sniff one another’s rear to gauge how the other is doing. So if your cat does that to you, it might simply be saying “hello.”
Source: discovery.com
36. The cat sneer
You might see your cat “sneering” at times. No, it is not laughing at your or thinking of world domination; instead, your cat is just processing a particular smell. Termed the Flehman response, your cat is curling its upper lip to allow the scent to be processed by a special organ in its mouth, increasing its smelling power.
Source: petmd.com
37. Sucking on wool or other soft fabrics
It has been noted that a kitten that is taken away from its mother at a very young age may tend to suckle wool or other soft fabrics as a substitute “nipple.” This behavior may even continue as a source of comfort to a cat, especially when stressed. Owners should just be wary about possible ingestion of the fabric, especially in kittens.
Source: thesprucepets.com
38. The sleepy cat
On average, cats may sleep 15 hours a day, with kittens and seniors sleeping more than that. It is believed that they sleep so long to recharge for a possible “hunt,” even if they are served food regularly. Although cats are generally alert at dusk and dawn, the times when prey may not be so alert, the schedule of a domesticated cat may change according to the patterns set at home.
Source: purina.co.uk
39. Left-pawed or right-pawed
Like humans, researchers have observed that many animals seem to prefer the right or left. Gender-wise, it seems that female cats prefer the right paw, while males choose the left. Owners can confirm this for themselves based on the paw a cat first uses when reaching for something or even going up the stairs.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
40. Drinking from the faucet
Generally, cats do prefer to drink from running water, which is why some cats love drinking from a faucet. There are some proposed reasons for it, such as they can’t see still water as clear as running water, or nature has caused them to be wary of stagnant water. But one other possibility is that running water tastes better than water that has been left in a bowl for quite some time.
Source: cathealth.com
41. Tail-wagging
One way to tell your cat’s mood is by observing its tail. The position (up or down), look (puffed up or in a question mark), and movement (thrashing, quivering, thumping) can tell you many things about its current disposition. Owners should understand these signs so they can both alleviate their cat and avoid unwanted scratches and bites.
Source: petmd.com
42. Kneading
Another interesting behavior of cats is to see them kneading their bedding, pillow, or your clothes. Kittens knead their mother to stimulate their mother’s milk. But for adult cats, researchers think kneading is done as a form of remembrance of happy times, while others believe it is an intuitive method of a cat claiming a spot for itself.
Source: animalplanet.com
43. Reaction to catnip
In case you use it for your cat, catnip contains oils that cause a cat to behave as if an artificial pheromone has stimulated it. You may see it rub its head on the source of the smell, jump or roll around, or vocalize its pleasure. Fortunately, catnip is generally safe and not addictive.
Source: scientificamerican.com
44. What Is A Group Of Cats Called? it called a clowder
Yes - cats love to be in groups sometimes. This is of the weird cat facts since people think they love to be alone. However, they can feel more secure in a group. A group of cats can also be called a clowder or a glaring
Source: wikipedia.org
45. The largest cat or more accurate the biggest domestic cat
Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat. It’s not a hybrid with a wild cat. A distinctive characteristic of this cat is the smooth, shaggy coat. This breed loves attention, and it loves to play.
Source: petfinder.com
Cool Fun Facts about Popular Fictional Cats
46. Garfield
The lazy, sarcastic, lasagna-eating Garfield has been amusing readers since 1978. For those wondering what kind of cat he is, the author never intended Garfield to be a specific type. But looks-wise, some say he seems to be a cross between a tabby cat and a Persian cat.
Source: petskb.com
47. Puss in Boots
Before becoming a Shrek companion, Puss in Boots was already a hero as retold by Charles Perrault in 1697. Originally a female cat, Puss has become a swashbuckling tomcat for the current generation of fans.
Source: rwsentosablog.com
48. Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat was a very popular silent cartoon in the early 20th Century. In fact, a Felix doll was the first image broadcasted by NBC studios on TV. Although he’s not on screen as much, his image is still a hit among merchandisers today, particularly the nostalgic ones.
Source: felixthecat.com
49. Tigger
Even though he looks like a bouncing tiger, Tigger is never referred to as one in any of the stories. He is just a “Tigger.” The original stuffed tiger toy that inspired the character can be found at the New York Public Library, together with the other inspirations for Winnie the Pooh.
Source: celebrationspress.com
50. Tom Cat
Even now, you can still see Tom Cat chasing his nemesis Jerry. Premiering in 1940, the show went for all-out comedic “violence,” which was different from what Warner Bros and Disney were doing at the time.
Source: smh.com.au
Do you love Disney? Read the best 50 Disney fun facts!
51. Cheshire Cat
Another popular fictional cat is the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. This strange cat can make its body disappear, leaving a big grin behind before it vanishes completely. Although much of its advice may seem confusing, it is one character in the story that actually listens and advises Alice.
Source: alice-in-wonderland.net
52. Pink Panther
The animated pink panther was first seen in the opening of the 1963 movie The Pink Panther. The name actually refers to a very expensive diamond in the film, which was the film’s bad guys’ target. Because of interest in the animated character, the Pink Panther later had his own cartoon series in the 70s and 80s.
Source: lifestyle.iloveindia.com
Those were the 52 best cats fun facts. We hope you uncovered something new about these adorable yet very independent creatures. Thank you for reading!
