• The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak to you.
• 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!)
• The Giraffe, Camel and Cat are the only animals that walk by moving both their left feet, then both their right feet, when walking.  This method of walking ensures speed, agility and silence.
• It is believed that a white cat sitting on your doorstep just before your wedding is a sign of lasting happiness.  White cats are a symbol of good luck in America, while black cats are a sign of bad luck.
• Cats can see in color!
• Cats are partially color blind.   They have the equivalency of human red/green color blindness.  (Reds appear green and greens appear red;  or shades thereof.)
• Cats don’t see “detail” very well.  To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.
• Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see.  Their night vision is amazing!
• Cats can see up to 120 feet away.   Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.
• Cats eyes come in three shapes:   round, slanted and almond.
• The color of a kitten’s eyes will change as it grows older.
• At birth, kittens can’t see or hear.   Cats open their eyes after five days and begin to develop their eyesight and hearing at approximately 2 weeks.  They begin to walk at 20 days.
• Kittens begin dreaming at just over one week old.
• A cat’s ear pivots 180 degrees.   They have 30 muscles in each ear, and use twelve or more muscles to control their ear movement.
• A group of kittens is called a “kindle.”
• A group of grown cats is called a “clowder.”
• Cats rub up against other cats, and people, in an attempt to “mark” them with their scent glands.  They most often use the scent glands between their eye and ear (near the temple area) or their scent glands near the base of their tail.
• Have you ever tried to feed your cat food that was just taken out of the refrigerator?  Most cats prefer their food at room temperature, and will boldly REFUSE any food that is too cold or too hot.

And, although I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, the most important piece of knowledge to retain is that the very best food available for your cat is Life’s Abundance from Wholesome Pet Supply.

From the May, 2008, HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance Newsletter:

Special Message from Dr. Jane

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Cats are very interesting members of the animal kingdom. Some of them stay wild in the thick forests while others live tamed in our homes. Wherever they are, cats are very fascinating creatures and possess really exquisite characteristics. How much do you know about cats? Well, with this series I hope to add to your fount of (possibly useless) cat knowledge:

• Ailurophilia is the “love of cats.”
• The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.
• There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with 33 different breeds.
• The American cat population reached nearly 68 million in 1996.  American Demographics magazine estimates that’s about 200 million kitty yawns per hour and a whopping 425 million catnaps each day!
• A cat’s heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.
• The largest cat breed is the Ragdoll.   Males weigh twelve to twenty pounds, with females weighing ten to fifteen pounds.   The smallest cat breed is the Singapura.  Males weigh about six pounds while females weigh about four pounds.
• Calico cats are almost always female.
• If your cat is near you, and her tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you.   If her tail starts thrashing, her mood has changed — Time to distance yourself from her.
• Cats wag their tails when it is in a stage of conflict.  The cat wants to do two things at once, but each impulse blocks the other.  For example: If your cat is in the doorway wanting to go outside, and you open the door to find it raining, the cat’s tail will wag because of internal conflict.  The cat wants to go outside, but doesn’t want to go into the rain.  Once the cat makes a decision and either returns to the house or leaves into the rain, the tail will immediately stop wagging.
• Don’t pick a kitten or a cat up by the scruff of its neck;  only mother cats can do this safely, and only with their kittens.
• Cats knead with their paws when they’re happy.
• Your cat loves you and can “read” your moods.  If you’re sad or under stress, you may also notice a difference in your cat’s behavior.
• The domestic cat is the only cat species able to hold its tail vertically while walking.  All wild cats hold their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs while walking.
• An average cat has 1-8 kittens per litter, and 2-3 litters per year.
• During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.
• In 1952, a Texas Tabby named Dusty set the record by having more than 420 kittens before having her last litter at age 18.
• 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!
• A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.
• More than 35,000,000 kittens are born in the U.S. each year.  Spay or neuter your cat.
• Cats have 290 bones in their bodies, and 517 muscles.
• A cat has five more vertebrae in her spinal column than her human does.

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Introduction

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This article came from The Sydney Morning Herald in Sydney, Australia. Be aware that some of the Internet links point to non-US web sites and that the currency is in Australian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Save face with a pet project

Anne Fawcett
January 7, 2008

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Hyperthyroidism has become a frequently diagnosed illness in cats in recent decades. And new research implicates an environmental source.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), chemicals used only in recent decades as a flame retardant, have been shown in research to cause injury to the feline nervous system, as well as interfere with the production of certain hormones. Scientists are concerned that these chemicals could also lead to similar symptoms in humans, too.

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Dr. Jane Bicks, DVM
HealthyPetNet Veterinarian Formulator

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Even though I am sure that you keep a close eye on your companion animal when outdoors, a number of things can happen to separate you.  If this does take place, the proper identification will help reunite you with your pet.  Animals without ID tags are often mistaken as strays and they are sometimes treated differently, so make sure your dog or cat has the proper identification.  I suggest a sturdy, yet comfortable, breakaway collar with an ID tag containing your pet’s name plus your name, address and phone number.  Also, hook your pet’s  rabies tag on the collar.

As some collars can fall off and others break away if caught on an object, a microchip is a good idea.  This is a very small device that your veterinarian can inject under the skin around the shoulder blades.  The chip has a number that is registered with the manufacturer and other local, state and nationwide agencies.  Many shelters and vets have scanners that read the number on the microchip.  Then, it’s a simple call to the manufacturer or agency to get your name and phone number for a happy ending.