‘Did You Know’: 30 Facts About Cats That You Might Not Have Heard Of
Interview With Author
If you own a cat, you probably never get bored. Looking at them pouncing, bouncing, stalking, and purring is a source of entertainment right there. And if we have to name a few things the internet is obsessed with, it has to be our beloved feline friends and the never-ending supply of fun facts. So what if we combine these two?
Figgy The Feline is a TikTok account dedicated purr-ely to two fluffy goofballs, Figgy and Juliet. With their informative clips, they’re teaching more than 233.1K followers lesser-known tidbits about them and their mysterious logic.
So if you’re looking for some cool and interesting facts to share with your fellow cat-loving friends, we’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling, upvote the ones you didn’t know about, and share your thoughts in the comments below! Psst! If you consider yourself a true feline fan, be sure to check out our most recent posts about them right here and here.
@figgythefeline We do love a good cat fact #DidYouKnow #fyp #viral #catsoftiktok ♬ Because of You - Ne-Yo
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Cats sometimes yawn to end confrontation with another animal. It is basically their way of saying "whatever, not worth my time". Cats are so sassy.
Cats are considered "obligate carnivores," Dogs are "facultative carnivores". Obligate carnivores MUST eat meat to thrive, facultative carnivores need meat but are able to survive on some non-meats. (Cats should never be on a vegan/vegetarian diet.)
Guinness World Records no longer records "fattest cat". There was (valid) concern that cat owners would intentionally overfeed to get the record.
We managed to get in touch with Rachel Wolfe, Figgy and Juliet’s human and founder of the account. She was kind enough to talk about her adorable furballs and why people always want to learn more about their beloved pets. "We joined TikTok in the early days of the pandemic to pass the time," she told Bored Panda.
While today the account has collected more than 5M likes, Rachel knew almost nothing about the platform once she started. "I was under the assumption that the app was mostly dancing and lip-syncing videos, and thought that a cat being on the app was a completely novel idea."
The creator explained that Figgy often stands up on his back feet while playing, so her "original vision for his page was to use those clips to make it appear as if he was dancing". She quickly found out that "'Cat TikTok' not only existed but was one of the larger niche groups on the platform."
Ancient Egyptians would shave their eyebrows when their cats died. It was a sign of mourning. They would mourn the loss of the cat until the eyebrows grew back. Cats were worshiped in ancient Egypt. They were believed to be magic beings.
When cats slowly blink at you, they're basically saying "I LOVE YOU". In the wild, cats slow blink with each other as a way to show trust.
Cats developed a special type of meow in order to get their way with humans. The "irresistible" sound is a combo of purring and meowing. The sound frequency is similar to an infant crying, and our brain struggles to ignore it.
Rachel was eager to tell us more about her beloved pets. "Figgy (aka The Figster, Mr. Fig, and Figs) is an almost-5-year-old domestic shorthair—although his cat DNA test results show he is most genetically similar to the Maine Coon." She found him a few days after graduating college "as a teeny tiny kitten stranded in the rain. He has been living the spoiled cat life ever since."
"His eyes add so much emotion to his face and he seems to always have the perfect expression in any scenario," the creator continued. "He often looks cranky and a bit intimidating, but he is such a sweet cat and loves to make friends with everyone he meets."
Exactly four years ago, Rachel adopted a second cat and called her Juliet. "She is about the same age as Figgy and is tiny, tailless, and extra floofy. Figgy has grown to love her very much, although he would never admit it if he could talk," she jokingly added.
A group of cats is called a CLOWDER.
A group of wild cats is called a DESTRUCTION.
There is a train station in Japan that employs cats as stationmasters.
The depicted cat was the old stationmaster "Tama" (her name is on the collar, too), but has since passed at the age of 16 in 2015. Since then "Nitama" (Second Tama) took over Tama's duties. There are also Sun-tama-tama, and Yontama.
Cats walk in a unique way. They move both right feet first and then both of their left feet. The only other mammals that walk this way are camels and giraffes.
With their random personalities and wacky stunts, cats rule the web. Whether it’s videos about dancing, life advice, or general knowledge about our feline friends, followers of this account sure seem to enjoy their content. "I think Figgy’s lovable little face has a lot to do with it, but we also try to sprinkle a little bit of fun facts about cats into all of our content."
Many people believe that cats are mysterious and strange creatures that are the perfect source for creating such clips. Even though they tend to act a bit weird, "those quirky things almost always stem from an instinct and we try to share information about that in the video’s captions and comments on both TikTok and Instagram."
Does your cat ever lick you? Congrats, they are in love. Grooming others is very important in the social world of a cat.
Cats have an extra organ. It's called the vomeronasal organ and it allows them to "taste" air particles. (Has your cat ever stared at you with their mouth open? They are using that organ.)
Huh. I knew the action was called flehmen but not the rest. Apparently horses do it, too?
Cats instinctively prefer to drink running water. In the wild, cats avoid stagnant water because it is likely to be contaminated.
According to Rachel, interesting tidbits of knowledge about our four-legged friends help many to grow closer with and better understand their pets. "Each time we share information about common cat behaviors such as dropping toys in their water dishes, chattering while watching birds out the window, or kneading and 'making biscuits' on blankets, we receive comments from cat parents who didn’t know other cats did those things as well."
Studies suggest that cat owners are healthier than dog owners. Cat owners have been found to be less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, likely because of cats’ calming effects.
Cats domesticated themselves!
Cats chose to stick around humans because they hunted the rodents that their crops attracted.
Feral, unspayed cats can have litters of 3 - 7 kittens every 4 months. Those kittens have kittens. Their kittens have kittens, and so on. Spaying and neutering halts this process and prevents THOUSANDS of kittens.
"We always joke about how we basically have wild animals living in our house: so many of the things indoor cats do mimic the hunting or survival instincts they would be using out in the wild," the creator said. "It is fun to watch them stalk a mousey toy or knead their bed before laying down, knowing they would be doing very similar things if they were out on their own."
Even though our felines amuse and confuse us, it’s all part of their charm. So if you’re always eager to learn the lesser-known facts about the little lion in your living room, make sure to give the account a follow.
Cats can dream. They are probably dreaming about hunting, according to scientists. Cats also have nightmares about bad experiences.
One time my cat was apparently having a nightmare because she woke up hissing!! 😂😂
A cat's nose has a unique "print" like a human fingerprint. No two cats have identical nose prints (even litter mates have unique prints)
Cats spend roughly 2/3 of their day sleeping. This means that a 3 year old cat has only been awake for about 1 year of its life.
People sleep for 1/3 of their day. This means that a 3 year old human has been asleep for about 1 year of their life. (Actually more, cos kids sleep more than adults)
About 40% of cats are either right or left “pawed” just like humans.
Males are more likely to be left pawed, females are more likely to be right pawed.
Cats do not like their water being located near their food. In the wild, cats do not drink water near their food (dead animals) because it could be contaminated. This instinct is present in house cats.
Cats actively choose to ignore us sometimes. Studies suggest that cats often hear us call for them but decide to ignore us. They believe it is because they were not bred to listen to humans, like dogs.
Cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 63 animal species. This has landed them a spot on the "100 worst invasive species" list.
A house cat is over 95% tiger (genetically).
They have many of the same behaviors, like play hunting, scent marking, and pouncing.
Humans and sea urchins share 70% of DNA and a common ancestor so I'm not sure this is as meaningful as the poster thinks
Cat whiskers are WAY MORE than just cute.
They pick up vibrations that help cats navigate their environment and determine spaces they can fit through (they are about the same width as their body).
Trimming a cat's whiskers causes them to become very disoriented.
My cat burned half his wishers off and became really clumsy, now I know why!
Cats get the "zoomies" from built up energy. They are like a wind-up toy: once energy is built up, they must let it out.
After a strenuous day of napping, grooming, eating and being otherwise adorable, my big boy tends to get the zoomies around 3 am. And there's nothing quite like 12 lbs running full tilt up and down the metal staircase, parkouring off the couch, and discovering that the mantel is not actually attached to the wall or fireplace.
Cats often carry the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes rats to be attracted to cats. T. gondii makes its way to the rodent’s brain, and stops the natural fear response to cats. They seek them out, leading to their death and the cats' meal.
Before you go killing cats (and some do based on this) please note that humans generally get this from *two* sources: cat feces *and/or* raw meat. (Inf act, raw meat is how cats get it, as a rule.) The oocysts become transmissible around 24 hours after the fecal matter is deposited. Just waer gloves and a dust mask when cleaning a cat's litterbox, which most people (hopefully?) do anyway ---- and wash your hands to the elbows after doing so. Also, clean the cat box twice a day. T gondii can be damaging to human fetuses, hence the extra caution of no new cats during pregnancy (lest they carry it into the home) and the no-cat-litter-cleaning rule during pregnancy. Aslo, glove and dust-mask during gardening, just in general precaution, let alone against T gondii left by a stray cat's feces. Peace out from the Hygiene Police.
Cats can find their way home even if they have traveled many miles. Scientists don't know how they do it. Some believe they can sense the earth's magnetic field, others believe they use their strong senses.
Cats can develop depression (usually caused by external stressors). Some symptoms include loss of appetite, reduced energy levels, and changes in litter box usage.
Cats communicate with their whiskers. Whiskers that are still usually mean relaxed, forward usually means curious, and back usually means upset.
Cats can get acne. It is fairly common and is usually on the chin.
Apparently I’m a cat. I’m way past puberty, there’s no other explanation for my chin.
In Ancient Egypt, anyone who hurt a cat was severely punished. Ancient Egyptians worshiped cats. Anyone who injured them was often sentenced to death.
Cats have whiskers on their legs. Cats cannot see very well up close, so they use those whiskers to "see" prey under their paws.
Your cat tries to sleep/play on your desk with you because thay are trying to copy you. This is called mirroring.
A statue was built in Scotland in honor of a cat named Towser. Towser the Mouser killed 30,000 mice in her lifetime, earning her the statue.
Cats groom themselves for about 1/3 of their waking hours. That adds up to about 730 full days of their life!
More if the human immediately musses up the freshly groomed fur and they have to redo it
Lilies are EXTREMELY toxic to cats. Every part of the flower, including the water in the vase, can quickly cause kidney damage. If you think you cat may have ingested/licked any part of a lily plant, get them to the vet immediately.
Neutering your cat can increase his life expectancy by 62%. Spaying your female cat can increase her life expectancy by 39%.
Also reduces breast cancer risks if you get her done before she comes in heat
A cat in Italy has more money than most humans ever will. Tommaso the cat was left an inheritance of 10 million Euros by his late humans.
Look up Choupette, Karl Laggerfields cat, I think he left her more money than that
Your cat basically thinks you are a large, clumsy kitten. Cats' interactions with humans resemble their mother/kitten relationships.
Cats have belly buttons. They are very small and flat, and located about 2/3 of the way down their belly.
All mammals have belly buttons where the umbilical chord was attached.
Cats can become addicted to tuna. Veterinarians refer to them as "tuna junkies" because they refuse anything other than tuna. Tuna is fine in moderation, but true tuna junkies are at risk for malnutrition.
A fish heavy diet also apparently increases the risk of bladder stones and a blocked urethra ( particularly in males)
Cats can be allergic to humans. It is uncommon since humans bathe often, but symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, and rashes (just like a human with cat allergies).
I had a cat that was allergic to himself. After bathing himself, he had red eyes and sneezing fits.
Most houseplants are toxic to cats.
Keeping plants out of kitty’s reach will keep them safe!
99.9% of all calico cats (cats with 3 different fur colors) are female. Fur color is determined by the X chromosome. A male cat can be a calico in rare cases when he inherits an extra X chromosome.
A cat’s purr can have multiple meanings.
Purring can mean your cat is happy, injured, nervous, or hungry.
It is beneficial to play with your cat right before their meal times. It tricks their brain into thinking they had a successful hunt. Doing this keeps their brain stimulated.
Your cat might be mad at you right now. If your feline is staring at you from across the room... Beware.
Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk . This is why your cat probably wakes you up bright and early for their food.
There is a breed of a cat that looks like a werewolf. It is called the Lykoi and is majestic.
Feral cats and stray cats are not the same. A stray cat is a cat that was a pet at one point in his life; a feral cat is born and raised in the wild. Feral cats see humans as a large animal/predator rather than a companion. They (generally) avoid human contact.
Cats with white fur and blue eyes are often deaf. Studies show that up to 85% of white cats with both blue eyes are deaf (40% of white cats with one blue eye are deaf). The “blue eyed gene” and the “deafness gene” are closely related.
I've rescued two street kittens like that. They were both super friendly and more bold than hearing cats and both got adopted and lived nice lives with their humans.
Your cat doesn’t like the music you listen to. Scientists have created a species-specific music genre for cats to enjoy. It mimics their natural communication style.
About 80% of orange cats are male. Fur color is determined by the X chromosome. Females need the orange gene in both of their chromosomes; males only need one.
Calico cats (ones with three different colors) are all female, I've heard.
Cats can become ill due to changes in their environment/routine. Cats love routine. Something as small as changing their litter brand can cause vomiting, refusal to eat, and many other symptoms.
My cat Grace is extremely sensitive to any changes. She doesn't like it when we have company, and generally hides.
The higher the fall, the more likely a cat is to survive it. Cats are able to reach terminal velocity during a high fall, allowing them to adjust their bodies to prepare for landing.
My cat is always falling off the sofa in his sleep. Most hilarious thing ever 🤣 😂 😆 💕💕
Cats scratch for more reasons than just sharpening claws. Scratching allows them to stretch, mark their scent, and alert other cats of their presence.
(Most) cats cannot digest cow's milk. The origin of the myth is unknown; but likely started from farmers trying to attract barn cats to them with cow's milk.
Most adult mammals lose the ability to digest milk. Humans are unique in retaining it and then only among certain groups, like Northern Europeans. Lots of people in Asia are lactose intolerant.
The first (known) cat video was filmed in 1894. The video is called "Boxing Cats" from Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio. Humans have been enjoying cat videos for over 120 years.
The cheetah is the only feline that can't retract their claws. They use them as traction while running.
Much like other predators that chase their prey. Other cats primarily ambush
Decorating for the holidays? Poinsettias are toxic to cats. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and skin/eye irritation in felines.
Black cats and dogs are the least likely to be adopted. Unfortunately, they are also surrendered to shelters at a higher rate, according to the ASPCA.
Cats cannot see directly under their nose and chin, and have poor up-close vision. They make up for the blind spot by using the whiskers on their face and legs to detect even the smallest movements.
Not all cats have a response to catnip. Only about 50% of cats experience the effects of catnip (it is genetic).
Cats have a reflective layer in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. The layer is reflective like a mirror, helping cats to see in the dark and causing the "eyeshine" effect.
There are between 37 and 42 feline species. Some lesser-known species are the caracal, Pallas's cat, jaguarundi, and the fishing cat.
The furry bits inside of a cat's ear are called "ear furnishings". They help to pick up on vibrations and keep out debris.
Cats cannot move their jaw side to side like a human can.
to be fair, it is pretty useless, and they have disconnected shoulder blades so i think we're 50/50
The most popular cat name of 2020 is Oliver. Bella and Simba came in second and third place.
Kisuke: Joy\Happiness and Help\Assist. He assists us in staying happy :D
The Tesla logo is actually a cat's nose.
Cat litter was invented in 1947. It was originally used to soak up oil spills. Before 1947, sand or dirt was commonly used.
In Russia they sell pine pellets that expand into sawdust when peed on. SOOO much better than clay litter in the US. Smells better, doesn't get stuck on paws or tracked everywhere the same way and is much cheaper
Your cat probably enjoys his alone time. In the wild, cats are solitary hunters and spend most of their time solo. This trait is present in house cats.
A green cat was born in 1995. High levels of copper in nearby pipes caused discoloration.
"Further analysis of hair samples showed that the colour was due to mutated pigment cells in the hair rather than by a patina of copper as initially thought." there are also more green cats now.
Hands up if you would have come to this post, even if it was just pictures and no text.
This was a great post! Really enjoyed it. More of this please with a few more pictures
Cats are very smart. When mine wants me to give her food, and if I'm watching something on my computer, she sit on the keyboard, so the movie stopt and I have to get up (groaning) to go feed her...
mine turned off my camera and then put screen lock on, and i freaked out before remembering screen lock exists 😂
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My mom has an "emotional support" cat named Charlie. He's beautiful and a weirdo. He loves belly rubs but will bite your hand while you do it. God for it you stop- he'll scream at you until you start again. He likes to "flop" too, brings my mom his rubber ducky and has HIS side of the bed
Must add two more points about disease. Cats get FIV (feline aids) and FLV (feline leukaemia virus). The former is not fatal but makes them sickly, and the latter is fatal within a few months, every time, and is incurable. Most strays/ferals will have one or both, check them before adopting. If a cat has FLV you may as well put it to sleep because the disease destroys red blood cells. Effectively the cat suffocates to death.
I must respectfully disagree. FeLV may not even sicken a cat for months to years after infection; if the cat is not ill, do not kill it, please. FIV does not necessarily make a cat "sickly", either. We've had cats who were FIV-positive live well past age 10 years, and one hit 18. Source: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-leukemia-virus-disease-complex and https://www.sfspca.org/resource/fiv-information/ just off a quick google, but you can ask a qualified small animal veterinarian for more.
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Something I was told by my vet a few years ago was that the vast majority of cats have a natural immunity to a type of coronavirus that causes peritonitis. We had a cat approx 6 months who suddenly became ill and unfortunately she was one with no immunity. Said it was genetic. No cure and no treatment. I could choose to have her sent to a uni where they were doing studies and trying to find a cure. No way I was subjecting her to that. The kindest thing to do was put her to sleep. God she was only a baby. I was heartbroken.
Does anyone else have the issue of it not loading? I can see up to #30 but it won't load anymore after that. I wanted to see cats :(
There is a small link that says: "This post originally had 73 images..." if you click the 73 images you can see the rest of them Capture-62...d2-png.jpg 
To ensure that gravity is still working, of course... 😂😂😂
Load More Replies...
I know a lot about cats and their behavior but I did not know that they preferred to not have water near their food. However, I am a well-trained servant and have water in several places in the house.the one they use the least is by the food! Guess I’ll move that bowl somewhere else.
Just because this is a cat-related thread, wondering if anyone else has observed the following behaviour in their cat(s)? One of mine launches himself face first into the dry kibble box, stuffs his mouth as full as he can (think squirrel cheeks), then sprints off with his mouthful to a corner where he spits it out and proceeds to eat the individual pieces 😂. I don’t think he’s worked out that I just reduce the food I put in his bowl so as not to over-feed him. I’m curious because he’s the only cat I’ve had who does this.
My girl cat will take the crunchies one by one out of the bowl, put them on the floor and then eat them from the floor. no idea why she does that
Load More Replies...
Feline diabetes is something cat owners need to be made aware of more often. I never knew it existed until my male cat was diagnosed with it, in 2009. He had to have insulin shots daily until he passed away at age 15, back in 2019. He was healthy & happy, but for anyone unfamiliar with the disease, it causes frequent urination and excessive thirst. And if not treated it will be fatal to your kitties. Then my other 15 yr. old cat developed diabetes, too. She didn't respond to 3 types insulin we tried, and passed away six mos. after being diagnosed. Hope this helps.
have two water fountains for my two cats, but honestly it became just easier to fill up cat water bowls every day. The fountains get dirt in the crevices and I was never happy about their cleanliness. Also, I have big bowls of water outside for the birds (birds and cats happily coexist at my place) and the cats love drinking from them even though I only change them every few days. I think they feel like lions crouching at the water pools in the Savannah or something.
My young self has no idea what cats can or cannot eat. So when I'm sitting in a tree munching on fruits, she gets some too if she comes up. She always eats them too. Not sure if I was poisoning her.
Probably not, one of my cats loved eating cantaloupe, he also loved spaghetti. He tried other fruits, but liked melon best. Some cats are funny that way.
Load More Replies... Cats have poor vision up close, and must rely on both their face and wrist whiskers to catch things. The cheek whiskers momentarily point forward.
Hands up if you would have come to this post, even if it was just pictures and no text.
This was a great post! Really enjoyed it. More of this please with a few more pictures
Cats are very smart. When mine wants me to give her food, and if I'm watching something on my computer, she sit on the keyboard, so the movie stopt and I have to get up (groaning) to go feed her...
mine turned off my camera and then put screen lock on, and i freaked out before remembering screen lock exists 😂
Load More Replies... My mom has an "emotional support" cat named Charlie. He's beautiful and a weirdo. He loves belly rubs but will bite your hand while you do it. God for it you stop- he'll scream at you until you start again. He likes to "flop" too, brings my mom his rubber ducky and has HIS side of the bed
Must add two more points about disease. Cats get FIV (feline aids) and FLV (feline leukaemia virus). The former is not fatal but makes them sickly, and the latter is fatal within a few months, every time, and is incurable. Most strays/ferals will have one or both, check them before adopting. If a cat has FLV you may as well put it to sleep because the disease destroys red blood cells. Effectively the cat suffocates to death.
I must respectfully disagree. FeLV may not even sicken a cat for months to years after infection; if the cat is not ill, do not kill it, please. FIV does not necessarily make a cat "sickly", either. We've had cats who were FIV-positive live well past age 10 years, and one hit 18. Source: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-leukemia-virus-disease-complex and https://www.sfspca.org/resource/fiv-information/ just off a quick google, but you can ask a qualified small animal veterinarian for more.
Load More Replies... Something I was told by my vet a few years ago was that the vast majority of cats have a natural immunity to a type of coronavirus that causes peritonitis. We had a cat approx 6 months who suddenly became ill and unfortunately she was one with no immunity. Said it was genetic. No cure and no treatment. I could choose to have her sent to a uni where they were doing studies and trying to find a cure. No way I was subjecting her to that. The kindest thing to do was put her to sleep. God she was only a baby. I was heartbroken.
Does anyone else have the issue of it not loading? I can see up to #30 but it won't load anymore after that. I wanted to see cats :(
There is a small link that says: "This post originally had 73 images..." if you click the 73 images you can see the rest of them Capture-62...d2-png.jpg
To ensure that gravity is still working, of course... 😂😂😂
Load More Replies... I know a lot about cats and their behavior but I did not know that they preferred to not have water near their food. However, I am a well-trained servant and have water in several places in the house.the one they use the least is by the food! Guess I’ll move that bowl somewhere else.
Just because this is a cat-related thread, wondering if anyone else has observed the following behaviour in their cat(s)? One of mine launches himself face first into the dry kibble box, stuffs his mouth as full as he can (think squirrel cheeks), then sprints off with his mouthful to a corner where he spits it out and proceeds to eat the individual pieces 😂. I don’t think he’s worked out that I just reduce the food I put in his bowl so as not to over-feed him. I’m curious because he’s the only cat I’ve had who does this.
My girl cat will take the crunchies one by one out of the bowl, put them on the floor and then eat them from the floor. no idea why she does that
Load More Replies... Feline diabetes is something cat owners need to be made aware of more often. I never knew it existed until my male cat was diagnosed with it, in 2009. He had to have insulin shots daily until he passed away at age 15, back in 2019. He was healthy & happy, but for anyone unfamiliar with the disease, it causes frequent urination and excessive thirst. And if not treated it will be fatal to your kitties. Then my other 15 yr. old cat developed diabetes, too. She didn't respond to 3 types insulin we tried, and passed away six mos. after being diagnosed. Hope this helps.
have two water fountains for my two cats, but honestly it became just easier to fill up cat water bowls every day. The fountains get dirt in the crevices and I was never happy about their cleanliness. Also, I have big bowls of water outside for the birds (birds and cats happily coexist at my place) and the cats love drinking from them even though I only change them every few days. I think they feel like lions crouching at the water pools in the Savannah or something.
My young self has no idea what cats can or cannot eat. So when I'm sitting in a tree munching on fruits, she gets some too if she comes up. She always eats them too. Not sure if I was poisoning her.
Probably not, one of my cats loved eating cantaloupe, he also loved spaghetti. He tried other fruits, but liked melon best. Some cats are funny that way.
Load More Replies... Cats have poor vision up close, and must rely on both their face and wrist whiskers to catch things. The cheek whiskers momentarily point forward.
