Cats are fascinating creatures with unique abilities and skills to adapt to their ever-changing environments, setting them apart from other companion animals.
As a feline behaviorist, I have spent more than 30 years studying their behaviors and never stopped being amazed by them. They have evolved remarkably to become the agile, intelligent, and independent animals we know today.
From their incredible physical abilities (like purring superpowers) to quirky habits (like chirping), here are some of my favorite fun cat facts that might surprise you.
My favorite cat facts
1. A cat's whiskers are as sensitive as a human fingertip
A cat's whiskers, or vibrissae, are much more than just long hairs on its face. They are highly sensitive touch receptors that provide crucial information about their surroundings.
Whiskers are deeply embedded in a cat’s skin and connected to nerve endings, making them as sensitive as a human fingertip. Cutting or trimming a cat's whiskers can cause confusion and disorientation, so they should always be left intact.
Whiskers help cats measure spaces, detect air currents, and even sense nearby objects without touching them. This is why cats can easily navigate in the dark.
Often, pet parents offer food in deep or narrow circumference food bowls, which can cause whisker fatigue. This is caused by overstimulation and can be uncomfortable, causing cats to avoid the food bowl or drag food onto the floor.
To learn more, read our feature on why cats have whiskers.
2. Cats can’t taste sweetness
Can cats taste sugar? No! Unlike humans and dogs, cats lack the taste receptors to detect sweetness. This is because they are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet is strictly meat-based in order to thrive. Evolution has fine-tuned their senses to seek out protein and fat rather than sugar, which is of no nutritional value.
While they may be curious about sugary foods due to texture or smell, they do not experience the same pleasure from sweets. This is why you might see your cat sniff a piece of cake or ice cream and then walk away uninterested.
3. Purring has healing powers
We often associate a cat's purr with happiness and contentment, but purring serves a much deeper purpose. Cats also purr when in pain, stress, or even dying.
Research suggests that the frequency of a cat's purr, ranging from 25–150Hz, has therapeutic effects, promoting muscle and bone density repair and tissue regeneration.
Some studies have shown that these frequencies can aid in human healing, which may explain why having a purring cat nearby can be so soothing. It’s as if cats have a built-in self-healing mechanism, making them even more extraordinary.
4. Cats have a right or left paw preference, just like humans
Like people are left-handed or right-handed, cats also have a dominant paw. Studies suggest that male cats are more likely to be left-pawed, while female cats tend to favor their right paw.
You can test this by observing which paw your cat uses first when reaching for a toy, stepping over an object, or batting at something. This preference may be linked to how their brains are wired, just like in humans, though its exact significance is still being studied.
5. Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees
Cats have an exceptional sense of hearing, thanks to the 32 muscles in each ear (compared to a human's six). These muscles allow them to rotate their ears independently up to 180 degrees, helping them pinpoint the exact location of a sound.
This ability is essential for hunting, as cats rely on sound to detect prey even in complete darkness. Their superior hearing also means they can pick up frequencies too high for human ears, so they may react to sounds we can’t even hear.
Studies suggest they can even hear an electric current pass down to the plug as we switch on electric appliances.
6. The chirping noise cats make is linked to their hunting instincts
If you’ve ever seen your cat sitting at a window, chattering or chirping at birds, you might wonder what they are doing. This behavior is believed to be a mix of frustration and instinct.
Some researchers have a theory that cats mimic the sounds of their prey to lure them in, while others believe the chattering is an involuntary response to excitement or a way to prepare their jaw muscles for a quick kill. Either way, it’s a fascinating display of their deep-rooted hunting instincts.
7. Cats walk like camels and giraffes
When cats walk, they move both right legs first, followed by both left legs. This unusual gait is shared by only a few other animals, including camels and giraffes.
This unique movement pattern helps them stay balanced and stealthy, making their footsteps almost silent. It is just another way cats have evolved to be the perfect hunters, allowing them to sneak up on prey without making a sound.
8. The slow blink is a cat’s way of demonstrating affection and trust
A large percentage of the cats' communication is nonverbal, and they use body language to communicate. One of the most endearing signs of affection is the slow blink.
When a cat looks at you and slowly closes its eyes, it shows that it feels safe and trusts you completely. In the wild, closing their eyes is a vulnerable act, even for a moment, so it is a massive compliment if your cat does this!
You can even return the gesture by slowly blinking back at them, which is a subtle but powerful way to bond with your feline friend.
If you want to learn more, read our features on why cats blink and cat body language.
9. Some cats have thumbs
Polydactyl cats have extra toes on their paws, making them appear to have thumbs. These additional digits can make them more dexterous, sometimes leading to unusual abilities like opening doors or grasping objects more effectively than a typical cat.
While polydactylism is a harmless genetic trait, it certainly adds charm to a cat with it.
10. A cat's nose is as unique as a human fingerprint
No two cats have the same nose print. The pattern of ridges and bumps on a cat’s nose is unique, much like a human fingerprint. This means that if cats ever needed their identification, a nose print would be as distinctive as a fingerprint scan.
Scientists don’t know why they have this unique nose print, but it could be useful one day for a nose scan entry cat flap if one were to be invented!
Want to learn more about your feline friend? Discover the meaning behind weird cat behaviors and whether can cats see in the dark – or discover a dog behaviorist’s favorite fascinating dog facts
Practicing as a full clinical animal behaviorist member, Amanda's passion is cats. She helps to correct all their quirky unwanted issues, anxiety, and stresses that can manifest from time to time. Amanda has worked alongside charities for many years, helping to rehabilitate cats from surrender and euthanasia. She previously had her own cattery, fostering and rehabilitating traumatized shelter cats, enabling them to go in to have happy lives with their new owners. She loves engaging with the cat caregivers and deciphering what problems they are having, as well as using her detective skills to find out what the cats’ problems are. As a CAB, she assists with a wide range of feline behaviors but the most rewarding to her is to see a previously traumatized or anxious cat start to trust again which is life-changing for the cat.
Edited by by Megan Milstead.
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This page was last updated on March 18.
