Cats have been worshipped for thousands of years, from ancient Egyptian pharaohs to suburban American pet owners. So, what makes them so special? For starters, their purr is irresistible. Cats have many lovable qualities, and here are some quirky traits and facts to keep in mind. They're the most popular pet in America, and it's easy to see why. Cats are smart, ornery, athletic, and agile, but they also have some surprising limitations - like jaws that can't move sideways. And despite their reputation, they shouldn't eat raw fish or drink milk. But don't worry, they have some cool alternative abilities to make up for it. Browse this list to learn more about your feline friends, and vote up the most awesome cat fact. And yes, it's completely normal for them to spend hours licking themselves and then snoozing the day away - you might even be a little jealous.
About this list
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Cats and dogs can predict earthquakes. Research shows their sharp hearing causes this. Most studies show cats act strangely before an earthquake strikes.
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Cats can jump six times their length, or over eight feet in one leap. Strong back legs allow this.
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Each cat's nose is unique. It has different ridges and markings, like a fingerprint.
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Cats have a fast heart. It beats about twice as fast as a human's. A normal cat heartbeat is 140-220 beats per minute.
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The US has about 77 million cats and 65 million dogs. This settles the debate over which animal is more numerous.
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A group of cats is a clowder. Multiple litters of kittens make up a kindle.
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Cats clean themselves for fifty percent of their waking hours. Five things make a perfect coat: shine, little dander, no black specks, no bald patches, and little dead undercoat.
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Cats make many sounds beyond purring and meowing. They have been documented making at least 100 sounds.
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A cat's ear has 32 muscles. These muscles let the cat turn its ears 180 degrees.
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Cats move up to 31 MPH in short bursts. Their flexible spine helps with this.
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Cats have great vision, but they have a blind spot under their nose. This prevents them from finding small things on the floor.
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Female cats usually have right paws; male cats usually have left paws. Exposure to testosterone before birth linked to other left-handed traits.
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Cats' body temperatures usually run higher than humans. A normal temperature sits between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees.
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A genetic change removed cats' ability to taste sugar. Scientists think this helps the species since they eat lots of meat.
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Cats sweat, but only through their paws. A scared or nervous cat might leave wet footprints while walking.
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Scientists think house cat owners shielded them from the weather early on. They also believe ancestors, mostly desert cats, did not get used to water.
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Roughly 700,000 people in the US get bitten by cats yearly. Up to half of those bites result in infection.
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If you worry your cat is trying to kill you, you are mistaken. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh proved house cats share aggressive traits with big cats. Your small cat can be cute, but it still has the aggressive nature of a wild snow leopard.
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