6 Interesting Cat Facts

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Cats Don’t Get Cavities

Due to the pointed shape of their teeth, cats don’t get cavities like people do. But that doesn’t mean they don’t get dental disease. The Cornell University Feline Health Center found that 50 to 90 percent of cats older than four years of age suffer from dental disease. Common dental issues in cats include gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth resorption. A yearly check-up is recommended, as most cats do not show obvious symptoms of dental disease, but the consequences are serious.

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Your Cat Can See 8x Better Than You in the Dark

Cats can see very well in the dark. This is due to the fact that they have more rods, a.k.a. dark-specializing cells, as well as the reflective tapetum at the back of their eye. Together, this allows cats to see in eight times dimmer light than humans can.

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A Cat’s Dewclaws Serve a Purpose

That tiny claw on the inner wrist of your cat? Your cat needs it. Cats use dewclaws to help them grip. Though not opposable, the dewclaw functions much like the human thumb. Cats use the dewclaw to hold onto prey or grip when climbing. Dewclaws on cats are rarely problematic, but they usually need to be trimmed regularly to prevent growing inward. Like all other cat claws, they serve a purpose your cat would miss, so they should not be removed.

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Cat Whiskers Are Super Sensitive

A cat’s whiskers are as sensitive as human fingertips and are an essential part of how cats navigate their world. Cat whiskers are thicker than regular fur and rooted three times deeper. Most cats have 12 whiskers arranged in four rows on each cheek, although the number of whiskers varies by breed. This purposeful placement provides essential sensory feedback that helps your cat in everything they do.

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Egyptian Cat Love

Ancient Egyptians would shave off their eyebrows when their cats died. Herodotus wrote in 440BC that when a pet cat died in Ancient Egyptian times, the family members would shave off their eyebrows in mourning, reports Ancient History Encyclopedia.

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Cats Are Near-Sighted

Cats can’t focus on anything less than one foot in front of them. Cats are nearsighted due to their large eye size and forward eye placement. Luckily, their sensitive whiskers help them compensate. Cats can swing their whiskers forward and use them to feel in front of them.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!