Cat lovers everywhere will tell you just how wonderful it can be to own a cat. But our four-legged furry friend may be hiding a few secrets. Cats have been a part of our lives for thousands of years. But there’s a lot that you might not know about them.
Below, you will find 5 surprising facts about cats that may intrigue and fascinate you.
- Someone Owned A Pet Cat 9,500 Years Ago
In Cyprus in 2004, a team of French archaeologists discovered a grave with a cat in it. The cat was thought to be an amazing 9,500 years old.
Back then, the cat’s owner would not have had pet insurance, cat nip toys, or videos for cats to watch. However, it’s likely that the kitty’s owner would have loved it as much as we love our cats.
- The Longest Cat Was 48.5 Inches
While most domestic cats are quite small, the longest cat was 48.5 inches long. This kitty was a Maine Coon who went by the name of Stewie.
Stewie was longer than:
- 6 pencils lined up next to each other
- 4 rules lined up next to each other
- A man’s size 16 shoe
Stewie was no doubt a sight to behold and it’s likely he’ll be in the record books for some time.
- Cats Cannot Taste Sweetness
Most of us love a sweet treat now and again. However, our four-legged friends cannot taste sweetness.
This is because cats simply don’t have receptors on their tongues that detect sweetness very well.
Cats do have taste buds just the same as we humans do. However, they need a meat-based diet. This means that no matter what they like to eat even if it’s sweet they cannot detect it.
This is probably why you won’t ever see sweet cat treats for sale anywhere.
- A Cat’s Top Speed Is 30 Miles Per Hour
If you have ever seen your kitty run you’ll know it can probably run quite fast.
But did you know that a cat’s top speed is 30 miles per hour?
We’re not talking about wild cats here, we’re talking about house cats.
The kitty in your home could get the zoomies and reach an impressive 30 miles per hour.
- Cat’s Whiskers Aren’t Just On Their Face
Everyone knows that cats have whiskers on their face. Whiskers exist to help cats navigate their environment. They work to provide extra sensory input.
However, cats don’t just have whiskers on their faces. There are also whiskers on the back of a cat’s front legs.
The whiskers on a cat’s front legs are also there to help provide sensory input. The whiskers on this part of a cat’s body aren’t as wide as those found on its face. However, they do the same job and are a very useful tool for a kitty to have.
Now you know a few more facts about your furry feline you may be feeling impressed. Our four-legged friends don’t just have a pretty face, there’s more than meets the eye.