Amazing Facts About Cats

Mom couldn't sleep so we told her to find some interesting information on cats to share.  This is what she found from various websites based on cats.

The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.

During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.

The largest known litter (with all surviving) was that of a Persian in South Africa named Bluebell.  Bluebell gave birth to 14 kittens in one litter!

Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the principles of gravity, also invented the cat door.

The oldest cat on record was Puss, from England, who died in 1939 just one day after her 36th birthday.  (We wish we could have them all that long!)

The weirdest cat on record was a female called Mincho who went up a tree in Argentina and didn't come down again until she died six years later.  While treed, she managed to have three litters with equally ambitious dads.

The greatest number of mice killed by one cat?  28,899!  Towser, a tortoise-shell tabby in charge of rodent control in Scotland, killed 28,899 mice in her 21 years.  This is about four mice per day, every day, for 21 years.  Towser died in 1987.

Give your cat a quality scratching post to deter her from scratching your furniture.  Still scratching?  Try putting lemon scent or orange scent on the area.  Cats hate these smells.

Cats get their sense of security from your voice.  Talk to your cats!  And be mindful of your tone of voice.  Cats know when you're yelling at them (though they may not care).

The richest cat in the Guinness Book of World Records is a pair of cats who inherited $415,000 in the early '60s.  The richest single cat is a white alley cat who inherited $250,000.  (Now that will buy a lot of catnip!)

It is believed that a white cat sitting on your doorstep just before your wedding is a sign of lasting happiness. 

Many experts report that cats will purr when feeling any intense emotion (pleasure or pain).

Cats spend 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.

Your cat is probably either a "righty" or a "lefty."  Only 40% of cats are ambidextrous while another 40% are either right-pawed or left-pawed.

According to myth, a cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather is coming.

Egyptians shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning when they lost a beloved cat.

Stings to the mouth can be very dangerous to cats.  If your cat is stung, or ever experiences any type of sting to the mouth, take her to the vet immediately.  As her mouth swells from the sting, she may be unable to breath.  Stings require urgent medical care.

Cats have a top speed of about 30 mp/h (48.28 km/h).