By Chelsea Reed
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Cats are amazing! No one can convince us otherwise. They’re soft, snuggly, and undeniably cute. They’re independent thinkers, free roamers, and made plenty of history. No matter how long we’ve lived with cats, there is always something new to learn about them. Do you know these cat facts? Test your feline reflexes and find out!
Fact #1: Cats Greet Each Other by Touching their Noses
Aw, how cute! They also do a ton of communicating with their tails. Over 10% of a cat’s bones is in his tail. That’s how he can move it around in so many directions. It’s also why cats don’t like their tails grabbed. The next time you talk to your kitty, pay attention to her tail. She likely has a lot to say!
Fact #2: The Cat Door was Invented by Isaac Newton.
Yes, you read it right – the Isaac Newton, founder of the law of gravity. It’s said that he was constantly interrupted by his cats wanting to go outside while he worked on his experiments. So he told a carpenter to cut two holes in the door – one for the mother and the other for her kittens. The holes in the door are still visible at the University of Cambridge today.
Fact #3: 95.6% of a House Cat’s Genes are the Same as a Tiger!
It’s true – much of a tiger’s mannerisms are the same as a domestic cat. They both purr, stretch, walk and even meow the same way. The Tabby cat is thought to be the closest breed related to the housecat’s wild ancestors. It’s no wonder their stripes look similar.
Fact #4: The Longest Cat was Over Two Feet Tall.
Cats can stretch pretty long, but the longest cat ever recorded was a Maine Coon called Stewie. He measured 48.5 inches! The record of the tallest cat belongs to Arcturus at 19.05 inches tall. Now that’s called living large!
Fact #5: The First Kitty in Space was also the Only One.
Her name was Felicette, and she became the first and only feline to travel through space. On October 18, 1963, the French kitty flew almost 100 miles orbiting Earth alone in a rocket. She briefly experienced weightlessness and traveled 6 times the speed of sound! After 15 minutes in space, she safely landed on Earth in a space capsule tied to a parachute. Her journey helped pave the way for humans landing on the moon. Tres bon!
Our facts may be over, but the feline fun has only begun. Check out Seaside Art Gallery’s Animals in Art Show to see more kitty cat goodness. A portion of each piece sold with an animal in it goes to the Coastal Humane Society to help fellow cats in need. The show runs through the month of February. Thanks for your patronage!
Chelsea Reed is a copywriter who writes online content, articles, blogs, and websites from her base in North Carolina.