Less than 1% of the cats in the *world* are pedigreed cats - Most cats are  simply part of the melting pot called felis domesticus or "domesticated cat" which as we know can be turn out an infinite variety of cats.  

 Cats are among the oldest mammals found on the planet, with    fossil records from early cats dating back 35 million years ago.

• Cats were domesticated about 3,000 B.C. in Egypt. In Ancient Egypt cats were so revered it was been discovered that their Egyptian owners shaved their eyebrows in mourning when their cats died
• Cats were brought to the Americas by colonists to protect their granaries.
• As settlers moved inland, cats accompanied them.
• There are 33 breeds of domestic cats and over 500 million domestic cats in the world.          

 There are over 77 million cats in the United States. There are 65 
      million dogs.

• There are more bones in a cat’s body compared to a human’s. A cat has 230 while a human has 206.
• A cat is able to gauge your mood. A change in your mood might result in a change in your cat’s mood too.
• With powerful leg muscles, especially in their hind legs, the domestic cat has been known to reach running speeds of up to 30 miles an hour. -while the fastest  human can only run up to 27.89 mph.
• Cats have about 30 muscles to control their ears compared to the 6 that humans have. In fact, cats can rotate their ears a full 180 degrees. Not only do cats have better hearing than dogs, while a human’s hearing stops at 20 kilohertz, cats can hear at  65 kilohertz.

  Studies have shown that cats have better memories than dogs,
       monkeys or orangutans.

• Cats grow two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first set comes in around four weeks and includes 26 deciduous teeth known as milk teeth.
• The second set includes 30 permanent teeth that come in completely around six months of age.
• Cats sleep an average of 14 to 16 hours per day - At that rate a seven year old Cat has spent 5 years of its life sleeping.
• Unlike dogs and humans, the cat is unable to move its jaws side to side, or laterally.
• A cat has 30 teeth, which consist of 12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 canines and 4 molars.
• A layer of extra reflecting cells which absorb light is responsible for the cat being able to see six times better than a human.

 Cats sleep an average of 14 to 16 hours per day - At that rate a 
        seven year old cat has actually spent 5 years of its entire life 
        sleeping.

• A cat’s field of vision is a little less than 200 degrees. This allows for excellent peripheral vision and aids in detecting the movement of potential prey.
• Cats also see well at night because of a reflective layer behind the retina. This layer allows more light to pass into the retina and also causes those giant glowing spheres that appear when you take a flash photo of your cat.
• A cat has a third eyelid called a haw, which is only visible when it's not feeling well.   

 French researchers claim that the domestic cat has a vocal   
     range of as many as sixty notes, from a gentle purr to growls
     of varying intensity to the howl

• A cat’s whiskers, eyes and ears will tell you the cat’s mood.
• A cat has 24 whiskers, which it uses for measuring distances.
• Cats can move their upper and lower whiskers independently of each other. Each row of whiskers can move through the use of separate muscles.
• Cats are predators and use their whiskers for environmental scanning. A cat’s whiskers can detect the slightest of changes in the breeze which helps them to  track prey.
• A cat uses its tail to maintain balance
• A cat is unable to taste sweet.
• Cats almost never "purr" at other cats. The sound is reserved for humans.

 

Cats should drink milk everyday.
Fact: Most cats like milk, but do not need it if properly nourished. Also, many will get diarrhea if they drink too much milk. If it is given at all, the amount should be small and infrequent.

Cats that are spayed or neutered automatically gain weight.
Fact: Like people, cats gain weight from eating too much, not exercising enough or both. In many cases, spaying or neutering is done at an age when the animal's metabolism already has slowed, and its need for food has decreased. If the cat continues to eat the same amount, it may gain weight. Cat owners can help their cats stay fit by providing exercise and not over-feeding.

Cats cannot get rabies.
Fact: Actually, most warm-blooded mammals, including cats, bats, skunks and ferrets, can carry rabies. Like dogs, cats should be vaccinated regularly according to local laws.

Indoor cats cannot get diseases.
Fact: Cats still are exposed to organisms that are carried through the air or brought in on a cat owner's shoes or clothing. Even the most housebound cat ventures outdoors at some time and can be exposed to diseases and worms through contact with other animals feces.

Tapeworms come from bad food.
Fact: Pets become infected with tape worms from swallowing fleas, which carry the parasite. Also, cats can get tapeworms from eating infected mice or other exposed animals.

Putting garlic on a pet's food will get rid of worms.
Fact: Garlic may make the animal's food taste better but has no effect on worms. The most effective way to treat worms is by medication prescribed by a veterinarian.

Pregnant women should not own cats.
Fact: Some cats can be infected with a disease called toxoplasmosis, which occasionally can be spread to humans through cat litter boxes and cause serious problems in unborn babies. However, these problems can be
controlled, if the expectant mother avoids contact with the litter box and assigns daily cleaning to a friend or other
family member.

A cat's sense of balance is in its whiskers.
Fact: Cats use their whiskers as "feelers" but not to maintain their balance.

Animals heal themselves by licking their wounds.
Fact: Such licking actually can slow the healing process and further damage the wound.



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