By Karen Rice
Official Kids Mag
Shelters often are the first stop for
people who want to become pet
parents. The ASPCA says around
6.5 million companion animals enter
shelters each year, and 3.2 million
of them are cats. Do you have a cat?
Would a cat make a good pet for you?
Read on for some fascinating facts about
fealines.
• They don't like sweets. Unlike
dogs, cats do not have taste receptors
for sweet flavors. So sweet treats will
not tempt your cat. Some cats are not
motivated by food at all.
• They are popular. Lions may be
kings of the jungle, but domesticated
cats are kings among pets. They often
beat out dogs as the most popular pet
in North America.
• They hear everything! Cats are
very good at hearing sounds and their
eyesight is exceptional as well. Cats
have 32 ear muscles that allow for
"directional hearing." Comparatively,
humans only have six ear muscles. Cats
also can rotate their ears 180 degrees.
• They grow up fast! Developmentally,
the first year of a cat's life is equal to
the first 15 years of a human's. After its
second year, a cat is the equivalent of
25 in human years.
• They sleep a lot. Domesticated cats
can spend about 70 percent of the day
sleeping. Another 15 percent is spent
grooming.
• They don't have nine lives.
However, they have something called
a "righting reflex."
The eyes and balance
organs in the inner
ear tell cats where
they are in space
so they can land
on their feet. This
is what helps them
survive falls - some from more than 32
stories high.
• When they meow, they are trying
to talk to you! The meow sound is not
something cats produce to interact with
other cats. Rather, cats began to meow
to communicate with humans.
• Spayed and neutered cats live
longer than non-fixed cats, probably
because they do not get lost or injured
trying to mate.
• Declawing cats is illegal in at least
22 countries, but not the United States.
Cats scratch at items, so they'll need
scratching posts and other outlets for
this behavior.
• Cats will rub against people not
only to be affectionate but also to mark
out territory with scent glands around
their faces.
• Cat litters can be between one
and nine kittens, so it is important
to neuter them to prevent
overpopulation.
• Cats can
often jump
up to five
times as high as their own heights.
• Even though cats have been shown
as drinking milk, dairy can give them
an upset stomach and gas. Give them
water instead.
• Research shows that cats know
and recognize their names, but often
they do not come when called.
That's not because they
don't recognize when
they're being called. They're just
ignoring you!
Cats are fascinating pets and are
loved by people for many reasons.
Do you have a cat you love? Tell us all
about your cat and we may feature
you (and your feline friend) in a future
issue of Official Kids Mag. Email krice@
officialkidsmag.com
cats are purrrrfectly
wonderful pets
www.officialkidsMag.com • June 2021 • 47
Name: Kids and Their Pets Feature St
4 x 2"
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– June 21 –
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