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Attention all cat lovers: get ready to sink your claws into some feline fun with a collection of cool facts about cats! These precious pets have been captivating the hearts of humans for centuries, and it’s no wonder why. Mysterious and independent, cats have a rich history and a host of unique qualities that, alongside dogs, make them an all-time favorite companion for humans. From their cunning hunting skills to their playful personalities, all about cats makes them endlessly fascinating, and the countless cat facts out there shouldn’t come as a surprise.

But there’s so much more to these adorable animals than meets the eye. Have you ever wondered what the oldest cat breed is or if cats can be potty-trained? Did you know that cats have been domesticated for over 9,000 years? Or that Freddie Mercury dedicated an album to his cats?

Today we’ll explore a wide range of fun facts about cats that will feed your love for felines and deepen your understanding of these incredible creatures. From their evolutionary history to their quirky habits, these cat trivia are the perfect tidbits of knowledge to satisfy your craving for all things feline. Whether you’re a seasoned cat lover or a curious newcomer, there’s certainly something you didn’t know on this list. So curl up with your furry companions, and get ready to get whisked away on a journey of fun cat facts!

#1

Freddie Mercury Dedicated His 1985 Album Mr. Bad Guy To His Cats

Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux, Switzerland

“This album is dedicated to my cat Jerry — also Tom, Oscar, and Tiffany, and all the cat lovers across the universe — screw everybody else!”
That's what Freddie Mercury wrote in the album’s notes.

wikipedia.org , natureofanimals.com Report

Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
Community Member
3 years ago

Rip Freddie 🥲

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    #2

    The Oldest Cat In The World Was 38 Years And 3 Days Old

    Ginger cat with one ear bent

    Creme Puff lived from 1967 to 2005. The same owner also had another cat, Grandpa Rex Allen, who was 34 years old.

    wikipedia.org , guinnessworldrecords.com Report

    Sydnie Laney
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    what does this power this owner has?

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    #3

    Welsh Folklore Says That Blacks Cats Bring Good Luck To A Home

    Black cat sitting near soft red and orange pillows

    According to Welsh folklore, black cats may also be able to predict the weather.

    gutenberg.org Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Britain and Ireland also consider them good luck. The gene that makes them black also protects them from some diseases. Scientifically, they're less likely to become sick. That's one reason why I PURRposely chose my MR.🦞 over the others.

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    #4

    Your Cat Knows Your Voice, But Most Of The Time Ignores It

    Ginger cat sitting near wooden bench

    springer.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Cats are honestly so relatable

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    #5

    The Cat Marlon Brando Was Holding In The Opening Scene Of "The Godfather" Was A Stray Cat

    Marlon Brando in a suit sitting near desk and holding a cat

    Francis Ford Coppola found the kitten on Paramount property. The cat wasn’t supposed to be included, and the purring even muffled some of Marlon Brando’s lines, which had to be looped.

    Peter Cowie Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    😻Cats make everything better. PURRfectly😻

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    #6

    A Cat Survived Three Sinking Ships In WW2 And Was Named Unsinkable Sam

    A cat is walking and a ship is in the background

    zmescience.com Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Taking a scared cat ... on water ... off a boat ... to another boat in water ... I can only imagine the scratches

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    #7

    Your Cat At Home Shares 95% DNA With A Tiger

    Tiger stretching in nature

    csmonitor.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Look at those murder mittens!

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    #8

    Adult Cats Meow Primarily To Communicate With Humans, But Rarely With Other Animals

    Cat with mouth open

    The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behaviour Report

    Deborah Harris2
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Thank you , one of my bans was based on me saying one of our cats talked to us !!!!!! JUSTICE ...finally :) x

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    #9

    Cats Can Solve Problems Better Than Dogs

    A golden retriever dog and a small gray cat in a room

    scholar.utc.edu Report

    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    They can create problems better than dogs too 🙃 Still cannot not love them..

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    #10

    Cat Called Stubbs Has Been Honorary Mayor Of An Alaskan Town For 20 Years

    Sleepy light ginger cat laying outside

    In case you’re wondering, Stubbs had no authority to make or enforce laws.

    upi.com Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Give Stubbs the authority! I trust him.

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    #11

    Cats Might Seek Out Boxes In Order To Cope With Stress

    Beautiful gray cat's face from the box

    A study conducted with shelter cats found that providing them with boxes helped them acclimate to their new environment more quickly, reduced their stress levels, and increased their interest in interacting with humans.

    sciencedirect.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    If you're trying to desensitize your cat to car rides, having a clean, empty vehicle will be detrimental for this exact reason. Fill the back seat up and let them hang out there instead.

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    #12

    Siamese Kitten Fur Color Changes Depending On Body Temperature

    Beautiful Siamese kitten

    Siamese cats have an albino gene that activates when their body temperature increases above 30°C. As a result, if a Siamese kitten lives in a hot environment, the fur will remain light instead of turning into the characteristic darker coat.

    sciencedirect.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I didn’t know this either! But it makes sense

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    #13

    Cats Spend Between 12 To 18 Hours Sleeping A Day

    A cat lying on concrete near a wooden door

    As cats age, they tend to sleep for longer periods of time each day than they did when they were younger.

    pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    ima cat v2
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    As a cat, I can confirm.

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    #14

    About 200 Feral Cats Roam The Disneyland Grounds, Where They Help Control The Theme Park's Rodent Population

    The cat is walking and a Disneyland in the background

    disneylandcats Report

    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 years ago

    Oh god, MICKEY!??

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    #15

    Aoshima Is Probably Japan's Most Famous Cat Island

    Many cats

    Known as “Cat Island,” it truly lives up to its name, as about 220 cats live there — far outnumbering the human population of just six residents.

    reuters.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I’d like to visit

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Cats Also Have Whiskers On The Back Of Their Front Legs

    Cat's front legs

    vcahospitals.com Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I didn't know that, let me go look for it.

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    #17

    Researchers Found That Upwards Of 65 To 85% Of White Cats With Blue Eyes Are Deaf

    White blue-eyed cat

    If the cat has one blue eye, the percentage drops to 40%.

    lsu.edu Report

    RoanTheMad
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    but how can we be so sure they aren't just using their superpower of selective hearing? (jk, if this is true, its interesting, but kind of sad. I wonder why that is, is there something that went wrong with people trying to breed them for aesthetic, because that wouldnt surprise me :/)

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    #18

    A House Cat Is Much Faster Than You And Can Reach Speeds Of Up To 30 Mph

    Cat is running outside

    petfinder.com Report

    Thorsten Massow
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Everybody who tried to catch a cat knows this.

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    #19

    Cats Run Around After Using A Litterbox Due To Instictive Behavior Against Predators

    Grey long-haired cat in grass

    It’s part of cats’ instincts to try and confuse predators who smell their feces.

    pethealthnetwork.com Report

    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 years ago

    Plus they're feeling lighter!

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    #20

    Abraham Lincoln Kept Three Cats In The White House

    A person holding three white cats

    smithsonianmag.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    So sad that these little killing machines are probably deaf😿

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    #21

    Oscar The Cat Appeared To Be Able To Predict The Imminent Death Of Terminally Ill Patients

    A person giving high-five to a cat

    It seems that Oscar could notice the lack of movement in some patients. Another theory affirms he was able to smell the biochemicals released from dying cells.

    nejm.org Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That’s morbidly cool

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    #22

    Scientists Still Don't Fully Understand How Cats Generate And Control Purring

    Cat face

    While it is known that cats purr through the use of their larynx and diaphragm muscles during both inhalation and exhalation, the specific mechanism by which these muscles work together to produce purring remains unknown to researchers.

    zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com Report

    OBee
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Did they try a CAT scan?

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    #23

    Cats Have Over 400 Taste Buds

    Cat showing its tongue

    purina.co.uk Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    And they can taste something that we can't... Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is present in all living tissue. I guess that, for an obligate carnivore, that is good to have.

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    #24

    An Average Sized Adult Cat Can Jump 5 To 6 Times Its Height

    Cat is jumping

    cat-world.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Which is 5-6feet/150-180cm. Some can jump as high as 8ft/240cm!!!

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    #25

    Kittens Start Dreaming Very Young, As Early As Week Old

    Sleepy cat

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    How do you know it's dreaming?

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    #26

    Some Cats Lack The Gene That Makes Them React To Catnip

    A ginger cat is on the tiled ground and a small blue pillow near

    bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Cats also respond differently. Some mellow out and watch the pretty colors ... others become angry drunks

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    #27

    Most Adult Cats Are Lactose Intolerant

    Three cats licking milk

    pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    It can cause nausea, bloating, cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. And is one cause of those mystery stains behind the couch and in your closet. Animals tend to hide their pain and illness due to their "Survival of the Fittest" mentality. Cats bury the evidence. Sitting in a corner and staring at the wall also means that they're probably not feeling well.

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    #28

    Egyptian Mau Is The Oldest Known Cat Breed

    Egyptian Mau cat lying on bed

    Egyptian Maus were found mummified and placed alongside pharaohs. They were thought to act as companions and guides in the afterlife for the late kings.

    onlinelibrary.wiley.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    From what I've read, the Egyptians, in general, didn't worship animals. They saw them as representative of the divine aspects of their gods. They appreciated their rodent, snake & scorpion hunting prowess, of course. And some believed that they'd be able to inhabit the cat's body in the afterlife. I still don't think that they should've killed the cats.

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    #29

    99.9% Of Calico Cats Are Female

    Beautiful Calico cat portrait

    wikipedia.org , windhavenocicats.com Report

    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    The males must have a lot of work maintaining the line 🥵

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    #30

    Cat Claws All Curve Downward, Preventing Them From Climbing Down Trees Headfirst

    White long haired cat in a tree

    Felines don’t know how to properly climb down and must resort to going backward. Others may know how to do it, but their claws, designed for climbing upwards, don’t provide sufficient support for a safe descent.

    petcoach.co Report

    HelluvaHedgehogAlien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    My cat usually just aim for my head and jump down from the tree, scratching my face

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    #31

    Wealthiest Cat Had A Fortune Of £7-Million

    Close up of black cat portrait with yellow eyes

    In May 1988, a wealthy man from the UK passed away, leaving his cat, Blackie, an estate worth £7 million.

    guinnessworldrecords.com Report

    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 years ago

    Cat: "Bring me the finest tuna in all the sea. All of them."

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    #32

    Cat Hair Helped Solve A Murder Case

    White cat lying

    Shirley A. Duguay, who lived on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and owned a white cat went missing from her home. The police believed that Douglas Beamish, the father of Duguay’s three children, had killed her. When they examined Beamish’s jacket, they found it was covered in Duguay’s blood and white cat hair. This evidence was strong enough to convince a jury that Beamish was guilty of murder.

    nytimes.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    When I read the title my first thought was that a cat killed someone

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    #33

    Cats Have A Special Nasal Organ Called Jacobson’s Organ That Detects Specific Chemicals

    A cat sniffs a plastic box of oats

    Jacobson’s organ’s odor receptors do not respond to ordinary smells. The receptors detect chemical substances with no odor.

    vcahospitals.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    So that’s why you see all the stories about the cats saving their owners from like natural gas leaks in their house and stuff?

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    #34

    Cats Can Drink And Process Salt Water

    Cat licking water

    journals.physiology.org Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That must be how the cat survived 3 sinking ships.

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    #35

    The Oldest Known Domestic Cat Lived 9,500 Years Ago

    Statue of the Sphinx at Cleopatra's Needle, London

    In 2004, French researchers discovered a 9,500-year-old cat grave in Cyprus, making it the oldest pet cat ever found. This discovery is 4,000 years older than any known cat-related Egyptian artwork.

    nationalgeographic.com Report

    Markus Weiler
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    a domesticated cat is an oxymoron

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    #36

    80% Of Orange Tabby Cats Are Male

    Portrait of orange tabby cat

    The color of a cat’s coat is often linked to the X chromosome. As females have two X chromosomes and males have an X and a Y chromosome, male cats only need to inherit the orange gene from their mothers to be ginger-colored. This means that male cats are more likely to pass on this trait to their offspring.

    catster.com Report

    BluEyedSeoulite
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I rescued 2 ginger kittens. I had read this, hoped they were male. Nope. I managed to find 2 girl gingers. I only cared because spaying is more expensive than neutering

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    #37

    Maine Coon Called Stewie Still Holds The Record For The Longest Domestic Cat At 123 Centimeters

    Brown cat is stretching

    Stewie’s full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan. Sadly, he passed away in January 2013.

    guinnessworldrecords.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That looks more like an Abyssinian to me. Nothing like a Maine C o o n cat. C'mon BP, you can do better than that🤦‍♀️

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    #38

    Ernest Hemingway Gathered Polydactyl Cats

    Ernest Hemingway and two young boys with polydactyl cats outisde

    In the 1930s, Hemingway adopted his first cat and continued to adopt many more throughout his lifetime. Today, about 40-50 polydactyl cats roam the Hemingway Home estate.

    atlasobscura.com Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I have to admit that's why I visited the estate ... for the polydactyl cats ... not Hemingway

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    #39

    Isaac Newton Is Anecdotally Attributed With The Invention Of Cat Door

    Black cat going through cat door

    Newton’s cats would often interrupt him by scratching at the door, so he requested that a hole be made to allow them to come and go as they pleased. One hole was made for the adult cat and a smaller one for the kitten.

    books.google.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    "And a smaller one for the kitten." 😹🤣😹 As if it couldn't use the bigger hole🤦‍♀️

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    #40

    The Loudest Purr By A Domestic Cat Is 67.8db(A)

    Cat laying on the floor and sunbathing

    guinnessworldrecords.com Report

    Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That’s like as loud as a motorcycle! (According to google, correct me if I’m wrong)

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    #41

    Male Cats Are More Likely To Be Left Paw-Dominant

    Light cat laying on the grass with its paws up

    Females are instead more likely to be right-paw dominant.

    nationalgeographic.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    😺👍Can verify. Mr.🦞, my Polydactyl kitten, always grabs things in his left paw when he runs away carrying them.

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    #42

    Cats Like To Smell Green Olives

    Cat sniffs green olive leaves

    Olives contain an active compound similar in structure to nepetalactone, which is found in catnip.

    hillspet.com Report

    deathrose
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Yeah, I am very aware of this fact from personal experience.

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    #43

    Cats Use Whiskers To Measure Space

    The cat's tail comes out of a rectangle hole in the concrete wall

    petmd.com Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Yes! So please never interfere with them or for christsake trim them.

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    #44

    Cats Have A Unique Pattern On Their Nose, Which Can Be Used To Identify Them

    Grey cats nose

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Cows, pigs and dogs do too! Zebras have unique stripe patterns. Whales are identified by their tail markings. Gorillas and chimps have unique fingerprints like us. And Koalas too, they've confused Australian forensic teams before😹🤣😹

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    #45

    In The 1750s, Europe Introduced Cats To The Americas As A Form Of Pest Control

    Cats face and a mouse near

    worldhistory.org Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    They are still used today as pest control. Especially on a farm.

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    #46

    A Cat's Heart Beats Twice As Fast As A Human Heart

    A person in a grey sweater holds a cat

    pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Awwwww look at how adorable.

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    #47

    Some Ancient Egyptians Shaved Their Eyebrows When Their Cats Died

    Sphynx cat sleeping in its bed house

    worldhistory.org Report

    RoanTheMad
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Also note that Sphynx cats aren't egyptian. heh. (they're a relatively new breed bred in the 60's in Canada iirc) realistically, the egyptian sun would be awful for their skin ;-;

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    #48

    A Study Discovered That Cats Don't Have Taste Buds For Sweetness

    A white cat standing on a table and putting its head in a pink teacup

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    So those videos with the cat having cake or ice cream...what do they taste?

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    #49

    In Case Of An Emergency Cats Can Recieve Dog Blood

    Two light dogs and black cat on bed

    After receiving a transfusion, it takes 4 to 7 days for cats to develop antibodies to dog blood. This means using dog blood for life-saving procedures in cats can be deadly if done more than once.

    rvc.ac.uk Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Dogs and cats have blood types, just like we do. But we can't transfuse across species. This dog to cat procedure is ONLY done in rare, extreme cases where cat's blood isn't available and it is a life-threatening situation.

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    #50

    Cats Can Be "Potty-Trained"

    Cat inside big light pot

    whiskas.com Report

    Sydnie Laney
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    i must find out how to train my cat, she still cant use the potty in the litterbox (shes three!)

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    #51

    Cats Have A Third Eyelid

    Cats Have A Third Eyelid

    Cats, along with many other mammals, have a third eyelid called the “nictitating membrane.” This third eyelid serves as a protective shield for the cornea.

    aristopet.com.au Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I've always enjoyed saying "nictitating membrane"... it tickles my mouth😸

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    #52

    Research Suggests Cats Can Predict Earthquakes

    Research Suggests Cats Can Predict Earthquakes

    A study suggests that cats may be able to detect earthquakes before they occur due to their advanced hearing abilities, showing strange behaviors before a disaster hits.

    pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Report

    Sydnie Laney
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    actually its because cats are able to feel vibrations in the ground, and can fell them from several miles away.

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    #53

    Cats Are Capable Of Rotating Their Ears 180 Degrees

    Cats Are Capable Of Rotating Their Ears 180 Degrees

    pets.thenest.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    The position of a cat's ears is one of the ways that they communicate with us. The ability to read them is an important skill to have as a cat servant. 🐱🧎🏼‍♀️🧎🧎‍♂️

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    #54

    "The Boxing Cats" (1894) Is The First Cat Video

    "The Boxing Cats" (1894) Is The First Cat Video

    Thomas Edison’s studio produced this short film.

    archive.org Report

    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Not sure I agree with this ... kind of like C**k fighting

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    #55

    Félicette, The First And Only Cat Was Part Of A 15-Minute Space Mission In 1963

    Félicette, The First And Only Cat Was Part Of A 15-Minute Space Mission In 1963

    Félicette’s achievements are now recognized by the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.

    smithsonianmag.com Report

    TheAnimalLady
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    She was a stray tuxedo cat. They killed her afterwards so they could research her brain and the electrodes that they implanted before the flight😿

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