Eight things about cats you (possibly) never knew

Instead of my usual article on a health topic, thought I’d mix things up this week. Never hurts to learn new things! Here are eight things I find myself discussing in appointments that always get people talking.

1 – Cats do not have receptors on their tongues to detect sweet flavors. This is why treats and foods are always in the savory category.
2 – A housecat can run up to 30 miles an hour. No, probably not the tubby 18 lb housecat, but the trimmer feline. And as many of you know, this is often in the wee hours of the night, as you’re trying to sleep.
3 – The feature of cat food that is most important in determining if a cat will eat it is not taste, smell, nor color – it’s shape.Cat at window
4 – The typical housecat sleeps about 2/3 of the day (about 16 hours). It also spends 1/3 of its awake time grooming. That leaves only 5-6 hours for eating, playing, exercising, etc.
5 – Cats have sweat glands on their paw pads, and can sweat from stress or heat. A nervous cat has been known to leave sweaty paw prints!
6 – Cats just don’t scratch at posts, but have different personality preferences. Some are vertical scratchers, and others are horizontal scratchers. Give a horizontal scratcher a tall scratching post, and it might get some attention, but really won’t satisfy your kitty’s desire for flat things.
7 – While hydrogen peroxide is a common remedy to make a dog vomit, it cannot be used in cats! Ironically, even though cats frequently vomit on occasion for no apparent reason, inducing vomit when you need to requires a veterinarian (because cats cannot have anything be simple!).
8 – Urinating on vertical walls/furniture is often considered a behavioral issue, while urinating on flat floors is often the sign of a medical issue. Urinating in the litter box is, of course, ideal.


Posted in Behavior, Feline specific.

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