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Cats are owned by 18% of UK households, but there is still so much we don’t know about them. We bet you haven’t heard some of these fascinating feline facts, from the peculiar manner cats walk to the size of the largest cat! So, have a look at our fascinating cat facts down below.
Cats are a mystery that has caught people’s hearts for thousands of years. Their intriguing personalities and adorable appearances have made them a very popular pet, and according to one survey, cats govern 18% of households in the United Kingdom alone. With so many cats around us, surely everyone knows everything there is to know about them, right? Wrong! There are numerous fascinating facts about cats that you may not be aware of, ranging from the world’s largest cat to the unusual way they walk.
Continue reading to learn more. We’re guessing you’ve never heard some of these cat facts!
Cat facts that are entertaining and informative
1. The oldest documented pet cat lived 9,500 years ago.
This fascinating cat tidbit is sure to impress your guests at your next dinner party. Did you know that the Egyptians were supposed to have domesticated the cat? However, French archaeologists unearthed a 9,500-year-old cat cemetery in Cyprus in 2004. This makes it the oldest known pet cat, predating Egyptian cat art by approximately 4,000 years!
2. Cats sleep for 70% of their lives.
You’d be correct if you assumed cats spend the majority of their time napping. According to Veterinary Hub, cats spend 70% of their lives resting, which equates to 13-16 hours every day. It’s the life of a cat!
3. For 20 years, a cat served as Mayor of an Alaskan town.
Stubbs, an orange tabby cat, was the mayor of Talkeetna, a small town in Alaska, for 20 years! He won multiple uncontested elections, and although not having any legislative power, he was popular with both people and tourists.
4. The longest cat ever measured is 48.5 inches.
Domestic cats are typically thought to be petite and delicate creatures. But did you know the world’s longest cat was a 48.5-inch-long Maine Coon named Stewie? Arcturus, on the other hand, held the record for tallest cat at 19.05 inches! Those are some massive cats.
5. The world’s wealthiest cat had? seven million
According to Guinness World Records, Blackie is the world’s richest cat. When his rich owner died, he declined to include his family in his will, instead leaving his seven-million-pound inheritance to Blackie! We cannot believe that fascinating cat truth!
6. Cats walk in the manner of camels and giraffes.
Have you ever noticed that cats walk in the manner of camels and giraffes? They walk with both right feet first, then both left feet, moving half of their body forward at once.
The only other creatures that walk this way are camels and giraffes. Still not convinced? Check out this video!
7. The cat door was invented by Isaac Newton.
The scientist is best known for calculating gravity, but he is also credited with inventing the cat door. According to How Stuff Works, Newton was regularly stopped while working on his experiments at the University of Cambridge by his cats scratching at the door. So he hired a carpenter in Cambridge to cut two holes in the door, one for the mother cat and one for her babies! These holes, it appears, can still be observed at the university today.
8. A cat got to space in 1963.
You’ve probably heard of monkeys and dogs in space, but did you know that a cat also ventured into the wide unknown? Felicette, commonly known as ‘Astrocat,’ was the first and only cat to travel to space on October 18, 1963.
9. When their cats died, the ancient Egyptians shaved their brows.
According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, Herodotus stated in 440BC that when a pet cat died, family members would shave their brows in mourning. That’s an intriguing cat fact!
10. House cats and tigers share 95.6% of their genetic composition.
This cat truth will absolutely wow you. According to one study, our domestic cats share 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers!
They also exhibit many of the same behaviors, including scent and urine marking, prey tracking, and pouncing.
11. A domestic cat may achieve speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
You may have noticed your small feline dashing around the living room when they’re feeling energetic, but you won’t believe this cat fact. They can reach speeds of around 30mph, which is fast enough to defeat Usain Bolt in a 200-meter dash!
12. The world’s oldest cat was 38 years old!
When he died, the oldest cat in history was 38 years and 3 days old. Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967, survived until August 6, 2005, and his owner Jake Perry also had the previous oldest cat record holder, Grandpa Rex Allen, who died at the grand age of 34! Jake Perry is doing everything correctly!
13. The loudest purr ever recorded is 67.8db (A)
Merlin, a black and white cat from Torquay, UK, now holds the record for the loudest purr by a domestic cat. His purr is 67.8db(A), which is about the same volume as a shower! Most cats purr at about 25 decibels.
14. Didga In one minute, the cat can execute 24 tricks.
If you think cats can’t do tricks, you’ll be surprised by this cat fact. A cat can perform the most tricks in one minute: 24! Didga performed a variety of acrobatics, including rolling over and jumping a bar while on a skateboard!
