15 Mind-Blowing Facts About The Science Of Cats

You may think you know your cat, but how much do you know really? One thing you know for sure is that every cat is special and every cat is unique. Help them be the best that they can be with Purina Pro Plan.

1.

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Cats are only awake for a third of the day – which means a 7-year-old cat’s only actually been awake for, like, 27 months. Jealous.

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Well, about half of a cat's time awake is spent grooming themselves. Looking that cute doesn't come easy.

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A hairball is, you guessed it, an undigested ball of hair that ends up in the cat's stomach thanks to its extreme grooming regime and are coughed out. Another name for a cat’s hairball is "bezoar", which, to be honest, makes it sound much cooler.

4.

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Cats always land on their feet because of the Labyrinthine righting reflex. Their little cute ears sense the angle and acceleration they’re falling at, and they then twist their muscles to level their body and ensure they always land in the perfect position. Show-offs.

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Cats' ears are so important they have 32 muscles to control them and can rotate them 180 degrees. Humans only have six to control theirs. Shame.

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Well, scientists don't actually know – but they do know that cats purr at exactly the same frequency as a diesel engine.

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Cats have no collarbone, which means they can fit through any gap that’s big enough for their head to squeeze through.

8.

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Well no, but the patterns on a cat’s nose are as identifiable as a human fingerprint. You know, just in case there are any wannabe feline detectives out there, or something.

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A cat’s heart beats at twice the usual rate of a human, at 140 BPM and up. Which is the same rate as dubstep. So there’s that.

10.

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Cats can make over one hundred different vocal sounds, whereas dogs can only make around ten. Yeah, take that dogs.

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We wouldn't recommend it, but they totally could if they wanted to. Cats’ kidneys are so cool, that they can actually filter out salt, allowing them to drink all of that delicious, delicious salt water. No wonder pirates loved ‘em.

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Cats can jump five times their own height. We could totally do that too; we just don’t want to.

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Cats have a sixth "finger" on the inside of their wrists that acts as an anti-skidding device. These little brakes are called a carpal pad. Skrrrrt.

14.

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Well, obviously, they've got a nose but – much like horses – they also have a special scent organ in their little mouths called a vomeronasal organ, which is why cats often open their mouths when they smell something they like; they're really savouring it.

15.

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Well, we don't know about yours exactly, but cats’ brains are pretty similar to a human brain, with scientists estimating they’re about 90% alike. Cool, right?

Every cat is exceptional, but make sure they stay happy and healthy too with the new Purina Pro Plan NutriSavour!