15 interesting facts about cats: What I’ve learned owning cats (the good, the bad & the ugly!)
Cats are weird and wonderful creatures, and no animal is quite like them. From their diverse appearances and markings to their unique personality idiosyncrasies, there’s never a dull moment when you own a cat.
I’ve learned a lot about these mysterious pets over a lifetime of owning them, and now I’m imparting 15 interesting facts about cats to you.
Whether you’re looking for tips on caring for a new cat or are in the market for a pet care copywriter for your business (that’s me!), keep reading.
So, take a “paws” and dive into the fascinating world of cats with me.
Cats reflect the mood in the room
My cat Boo is far more in touch with my feelings than my cat Yoko, or maybe she just cares about my feelings more. If I am tense, anxious or upset, she reflects that. If I cry, she’s tense. She will often follow me around or brush against my legs to try to comfort me. Equally, when I am playful or messing around with them, they are joyful and energetic. I try to stay upbeat around them like I would with young children. I never, ever raise my voice to them, even when they overshoot the litter box or Yoko destroys something (which is common). I don’t want to add to their anxieties or to give them a complex about small things. It will only worsen any future situation involving that action. Be kind to your pets and maintain a happy, calm home and your pets will reflect that.
2. Cats are as fussy as you think they are
Cats are fussy - everyone knows that. It’s just something you have to adapt to as a cat owner. A cat that was crazy for a specific wet or dry food the day before, may wake up and turn his nose up at it. The best way to not waste money as a cat owner is to find the food, toys and litter that your cats tend to like more often than they don’t. My cats always prefer clumping clay litter, there’s specific brands of food they won’t turn down, and we stick to tried and tested catnip and toys.
3. Hairballs happen
Hairballs are part and parcel of cat ownership. Sometimes they are thrown up (usually at 3am on your favourite rug), and sometimes cats actually pass them and poop them out. Ever found a cat poo in the litter tray with a tail? Yep, that’s a hairball. Hairballs can be small or very large. Cats don’t generally need help passing hairballs, however a blocked hairball is a veterinary emergency, so always keep an eye on your cats and note any prominent changes in appetite or behaviour. Regular catnip consumption is a natural way to promote the movement of hairballs through the digestive tract, and there are also lots of wet and dry foods designed to do the same.
4. Cats may experience *ahem* butt problems
One thing that nobody prepared me for as a cat owner - as it’s quite rare - is the prospect of my cats having anal gland issues in their lifetime. And just my luck, when she was four, Yoko developed them. A cat’s anal glands sit on either side of their anus, and in some cats they can get impacted. This leads to a stinky behind, and issues going to the toilet. Your vet can easily express these anal glands, and once you’re shown how to, you can do it (if you’re comfortable doing so) when the need arises. Yoko only requires me to do this a couple of times a year. But be warned! Anal gland discharge absolutely stinks! Sometimes, however, anal gland impaction can point to more serious health issues, so always have your cat checked out at the vet.
5. Each cat and breed is unique
Each and every cat is its own pets fascinating, delightful and frankly weird personality. While adopting a specific breed of cat doesn’t guarantee they will act a certain way, some breeds share distinct personality traits. Yoko is a tortoiseshell, and while it isn’t an actual breed - it’s a marking - they are know to be the chattiest cats next to Siamese. Bengals are more protective and territorial, Maine Coons are know to be gentle, Persians prefer the indoors to the outdoors and Abyssinians are busy. There are currently 73 breeds of cat, each unique and wonderful in their own way.
6. Cats prefer the box over the toy inside
Every cat owner quickly realises that no matter what snazzy new toy you buy them, your cat will almost always prefer the box it came in. Save yourself the money spent on toys that won’t impress your cats and give them one of your Amazon boxes instead. They will love it. Cats adore boxes as they are fun, able to be bounded in and out of, good for their teeth (my cat Yoko chews the corners of boxes as a hobby), but boxes also provide a safe space for cats to retreat to if they are anxious or stressed.
7. Catnip is a game changer
Got an over-jazzed cat that needs calming down when they are doing zoomies around the house at 3am? Or a cat that is often on edge and naturally nervous? Catnip is a safe and natural product that cats love rolling around in and consuming. Experts aren’t entirely sure why cats love catnip so much, or why it relaxes them, but it does! I recommend the Kong Natural Catnip range, which you can just sprinkle on the floor for your cats. My cats also go mad for the fun range from Meowijuana. Spliff shaped catnip toys that they will drool over? You have to check them out! The American company is available on Amazon in most countries.
8. Cats are susceptible to heat stroke
Cats are generally more affected by the heat than the cold, and are mostly affected by the winter temperatures if you live in a country that plunges to sub-zero temperatures. Granted they have plush blankets and a heater to laze in front of, cats are very content in winter. However in summer, you may notice your cat is listless, fatigued and spends time laying under the bed or on tiles in the bathroom or kitchen. Like all of us, high temperatures affect cats, and it’s important to keep them comfortable and hydrated throughout the hotter months. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion in cats, and if they exhibit any of these, take them to the vet - pronto. Invest in some pet cooling mats to lay around the house, water fountains to promote regular hydration, fans and coolers to keep your kitty comfortable, and you’ll find that many cats, like my Boo, love licking ice cubes during summer! Replenish water regularly, as cats can tell if water is “stale”, and add some ice cubes to their bowl to keep it chilled. Keep them off hot pavement on very warm days, as their delicate paws can easily burn. Keeping your cat at a healthy weight is also important, not just for overall health, but for ensuring they are better able to regulate their body temperature in hot weather.
9. Cats know more words than we give them credit for
I read once that cats only know around 20 words. Um, no! My cats know so many words it isn’t funny. I can even offer them different options for dinner, and they will choose the one they want. Every day I’m astounded by how much my cats understand, and how they respond to what I say. And even as they get older, I’m able to teach them new words. Cats can be trained, maybe not to the extent that dogs can, but they can be trained to respond to words and actions and to play fetch. However, no word gets a faster reaction in my household than “treats”. Fun fact - did you know that cats only meow to us humans and not to each other?
10. Runts are emotionally vulnerable
I had a cat growing up who suckled on my Mum’s clothes as the result of being the runt of her litter. Flash forward decades, to when I adopted Yoko. She was rejected by her mother. Mother cats often do this when they sense one of their litter is undersized and not viable. She wouldn’t let Yoko near her, so I adopted her and had to bottle feed her briefly before she moved on to a bowl with ease. She would try to suckle on Boo, who allowed it for a time despite only being one. It broke my heart. Well, Yoko is now almost eight, and has thrived. No health issues (touch wood), and she’s a relentlessly energetic (a BIG understatement!), chatty but somewhat smallish girl that I adore. However, for eight years I have had the nightly ritual of her suckling on my bed blankets while laying next to me. It’s a comfort action for runts that were rejected and that they never forget, and they rarely grow out of it. It’s sad, but it’s sweet. Yoko also feels rejection intensely, but I never reject her, so it’s okay.
11. Cats are highly territorial and loyal
It goes without saying that cats are territorial animals. It’s in their DNA. Boo can go from the most docile cat in existence, to growling at the door when someone walks past or hissing at me suddenly if I walk past her too fast for her liking. Depending on their breed, some cats are more territorial than others, but they show their loyalty to you as their owner by trying to protect you. Some visitors mine instantly love, some they don’t. Cats are great judges of character. When Yoko was tiny, Boo wouldn’t let anyone near her. She completely protected her, despite her not being her kitten and Boo never having kittens. It was just inherent in her. Similarly, she gets snappy at Yoko if she’s having time with me and Yoko tries to get involved. Ensuring your cats have ample one-on-one time with you, if you have more than one, is key to ensuring there aren’t any spats, or at least, less of them. As is having individual litter boxes for each cat, and set spaces they can retreat to to cool off. If there is a cat fight, don’t get involved. I’ve had a tetanus shot and stitches from trying to break up a neighbourhood cat fight years ago, and there’s a reason experts tell you never to intervene. Regarding integrating new cats or other animals into your household, cats usually take it in their stride after an initial period of hissing and acting testy. This is completely normal and how animals size each other up and show authority. Each cat is different. Some cats like dogs, for instance, while others don’t. All in all, they usually carve out their own spaces and learn to live together with ease.
12. Cats aren’t cheap
When I adopted Boo as a kitten, I didn’t give much thought to the next 10-15 years of expenses. I was just excited to have a little kitten to care for. Less than a year later I adopted Yoko, and those costs doubled and reality hit me, mostly in my wallet. I guess this is part of the reason people who adopted “lockdown pets” are now giving them over to shelters in droves. And it enrages me. They didn’t ask to be adopted and to come to love you, only to be given away. If it was between me eating and my cats eating, they eat. You just make do. I actually haven’t tried to add up what my cats have cost me over almost nine years. Not only because it would be jarring, but because I love them more than anything and money is no object. I have spent tens of thousands (probably) on food, cat litter, desexing, vet visits, cattery stays, toys, treats, blankets, beds, litter boxes - the list goes on. But pets are family, they are for life. It’s a non-negotiable.
13. Cats often avoid what isn’t good for them - but owners should be vigilant
Cats are highly intelligent, and they have a strange ability to be able to distinguish between what’s good for them and what’s bad for them. If they sense food is slightly off, they will generally avoid it. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be vigilant about keeping food and household items that are dangerous for cats out of their way. There’s many foods, like onions and chocolate, that can be fatal for cats, flowers that cat owners should never have in their home - like tulips and lilies - that can also be fatal if ingested, and even essentials like toothpaste have an artificial sweetener ingredient in them named Xylitol that is deadly to cats. Educating yourself on what cats can and cannot consume or be around is key to responsible pet ownership. Few things make me madder than seeing someone who knows full well that that a particular bouquet of flowers is toxic to cats proudly displaying one in their home and saying “Oh she won’t go near it!”. Cats love plants and flowers, don’t ever presume to know what they will or won’t do. It could prove to be the worst decision of your life.
14. Cats take the litter situation seriously
It may be placed far down this list, but knowing about the importance of keeping a clean and healthy cat litter box is of paramount importance. Firstly, as I explained earlier, vets recommend you have one litter box PER cat. Not one for all cats. Cats are highly sensitive to smells and cleanliness, and they don’t enjoy sharing a tray with their siblings. Secondly, it’s important to scoop out any poo or wee clumps daily, and to replenish the top layer of litter afterward. It’s why I like clumping litter. Once a week, completely empty out the tray, deep clean it and refill with fresh litter. Cats who find a litter box dirty or offputting will start going to the toilet around your house, or may develop stress cystitis, which is a mental condition where they find it difficult to go due to stressful conditions. This can lead to serious physical ailments. Clean the trays. It isn’t hard and your cats deserve it.
15. Cats are the best!
They really are! I could have written a list of hundreds of things I’ve learned about cats over a lifetime of owning them, they are just that awesome.
Do you love cats?
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Do you love cats? 〰️
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