“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” (Terry Pratchett)

Cat owners love their feline friends just as much as dog owners adore their canine companions. Here are some interesting facts about cats that you may be unaware of. Did you know?

· Cats cannot see directly under their nose.

· There are over 500 million domestic cats in the world.

· Cats and humans have been associated for nearly 10000 years.

· Cats conserve energy by sleeping for an average of 13 to14 hours a day.

· A group of cats is called a clowder. A male cat is called a tom. A female cat is called a molly or queen while young cats are called kittens.

· The heaviest domestic cat on record is 21.297 kilograms (46 lb 15.2 oz).

· Cats have powerful night vision allowing them to see at light levels six times lower than what a human needs in order to see.

· Play fighting among kittens may be a way for them to practice and learn skills for hunting and fighting.

· Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees.

· Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four on the back ones. It’s not uncommon for cats to have extra toes. The cat with the most toes known had 32 (eight on each paw).

· Domestic cats spend about 70 percent of the day sleeping, and 15 percent of the day grooming.

· In terms of development, the first year of a cat’s life is equal to the first 15 years of a human life. After its second year, a cat is 25 in human years. And after that, each year of a cat’s life is equal to about 7 human years.

· Meows are not instinctive cat language. They developed them to communicate with humans.

· Most cats have no eyelashes.

· The hearing of the average cat is at least five times keener than that of a human adult.

Like anything on Earth, cats have their myths. Below are six of the more popular ones (with their truths):

Black cats are unlucky-Black cats have been the subject of folklore for centuries, and while in some countries they are considered unlucky, the felines are said to bring good fortune in other parts of the world. In Japan, it is thought to be good luck if a black cat crosses your path, but in much of Europe and the US the presence of a black cat is considered to mean that bad luck is on its way.

In Germany it depends which direction a black cat walks in front of you. Left to right means good times ahead, but right to left means the opposite. Some Italians believe that if a black cat jumps on the bed next to a sick person, the person will soon die. If a black cat appears on your doorstep in Scotland, tradition suggests you could be coming into money, while in China, some believe black cats to be bringers of poverty.

Cats are nocturnal-Cats are not nocturnal, but are instinctively crepuscular – which means they are most active at dawn and dusk when hunting opportunities are rife and there’s enough light for them to see well. Just because your cat is domesticated, it doesn’t mean they will ignore this genetic predisposition, even if food is readily available. But they will usually adapt to your routine.

Cats often sleep when the house is quiet and grow more active when people arrive home. They may sleep at night, but will often still wake at least a couple of times. Steps you can take to help reverse a cat’s crepuscular tendencies include giving it a warm bed, using toys to entice curiosity during the day and playing with them yourself in the evening before you go to bed.

Cats are solitary animals and like to be left alone-By their nature, cats are solitary creatures while dogs descend from wolves which live in family groups. Most wild cats live alone. However, domesticated cats can form very close bonds to people, as well as forming unlikely friendships with other animals such as dogs. Indeed, cats can come to rely on the companionship of humans.

Cats can and do share deep bonds with their human families, which is why most of us consider them family members, as opposed to just "pets." Cats do not exclude non-family members from their circle either, as witness the many that give love and comfort to patients in hospitals, and convalescent homes. Cats are loveable creatures, and their bond with us is so strong that it extends beyond death.

Cats have nine lives-Like the rest of us, cats only have one life. So where does the saying ‘cats have nine lives’ come from? Nobody really knows the origin of this myth, exactly, but there are a number of possibilities – from William Shakespeare to ancient Egypt. In the play Romeo and Juliet, the bard refers to the nine lives of cats. Meanwhile an old proverb of unknown origin claims: “A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays and for the last three he stays.”

In ancient Egypt, cats were treated as sacred animals and were worshiped as divine creatures with psychic or supernatural powers so some think the myth could have originated there as it fits in with their view of cats. It’s more than likely that the myth has developed over time due to cats’ ability to get themselves out of sticky situations with their agility and dexterity. Over time, cats have survived falls from great heights and even earthquakes, so it’s not surprising they have earned their nine lives title.

Dogs are more loving than cats-Perhaps the greatest debate of modern times is whether dogs or cats make better pets, and one argument on the side of dogs is that cats are unloving. Domestic cats are by their nature more independent than domestic dogs. In part because they weren’t bred to spend a lot of time around humans, and also because the wild ancestors of our house felines don’t live naturally in the same sort of family groups canines do.

A recent study by the University of Lincoln found that cats don’t show signs of distress when their owners leave, and aren’t particularly bothered when their owner returned to them. As anyone who’s come home from a hard day’s work to have their cat jump on to their lap for a fuss will testify cats do show affection towards their owners and many do like to be stroked and patted.

Pregnant women should avoid cats-Expectant mothers can interact with cats. It's the litter box that's a problem. Toxoplasmosis is spread through feces and litter. As long as pregnant women avoid contact with the litter box and have someone else clean the litter box area, there should be no problems. So feel free to continue mothering your cat while you're waiting for your baby.

Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects if contracted by the mother during pregnancy. It is found in soil outdoors, and also in raw or undercooked meat (the most likely source of contact.) It can also be found in cat litter boxes if the cat has been exposed. The truth is that you absolutely don't have to get rid of the cat if you are having a baby.

“If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” (Mark Twain)[i]

[i] Sources used:

· “10 Fascinating Facts about Cats” by Purina

· “12 common cat myths debunked” Blue Cross for Pets

· “Fun Cat Facts for Kids” by Science Kids

· “Setting the Facts Straight: Common Myths about Your Cat” by Christine O'Brien

· “Top 12 Myths about Cats” By Franny Syufy

This post is dedicated to my good friend, blog member, and feline lover, Betty Willer, who adores her cat. I know I tend to overdo it with my variety of dog posts, but here is a post just for you. The Kinker family loves you so much.