The Wonder of Cats Read online

  The Wonder Of Cats

  With Hundreds of Fascinating Feline Facts Waiting Inside To Be Discovered

  by

  Peter Scottsdale

  Copyright © 2016 Peter Scottsdale

  Also By This Author

  How Do Cats Do That?

  Discover How Cats Do The Amazing Things They Do

  The Christmas Cat Tails:

  The Complete Trilogy

  The Cat in the Christmas Tree:

  A Magical Tail

  How to Litter Train Your Cat:

  Why Your Kitty is Going Outside the Box &

  How to Stop It

  All Available on Amazon

  Table of Contents

  A Feline Introduction

  Author’s Siamese Note

  Cats & People

  Duking It Out

  Tickle Me Whiskers

  The Great Cat Tail

  There Is a Cat Afoot

  Ears, Eyes, Nose, Mouth & a Furry Body

  A Feline’s Sixth Sense

  Cat Talk

  Cat Nap

  Myths, Superstitions and Legends of the Cat

  Feline Sayings & Proverbs

  Cats’ Stats

  For the Feline Record

  Look Out Below! Cat Falling!!

  Hey, This Is My Place & I’m The Boss Here

  Hey Baby, How ‘Bout Tonight? Meeeooow!!

  Fixed? I Ain’t Broken

  Felines & Their Greens

  What’s Up, Vet?

  Large Litter Of Facts

  Please Do Litter

  Wash, Wash, Wash

  Die Hard The Feline Hunter

  The Young, The Old & The Furry

  Those Fascinating Breeds

  Purring Through The Ages

  Tragic Cat Facts

  Thank You

  Also By This Author

  About the Author

  Sources

  A Feline Introduction

  Cats touch each of our lives. With their affection, attraction and attitude, they build us up and play with us physically as well as emotionally. Such joy comes to us simply because they are with us, and such sorrow when they are lost to us. We are so much richer with cats.

  And yet, they are a wonder. Many times they leave us wondering “What in the world is that cat doing?” or “Why is my kitty doing that?” They perplex us.

  Much of what a cat does is a total mystery. From purring to strange activities, like crawling upside down under the bed while we try to sleep, cats are a wonder. And wonderful. If we could read the feline mind, we’d have a better understanding of our cats. But we cannot. So we are not able to answer, “Why does my cat do that?” And if we knew the answers, we would lose the mystery and allure of these fabulous creatures.

  We need to wonder about our fabulous felines. It keeps us guessing, never getting bored with these fascinating animals. With the wonder, we get laughter, love, affection, playfulness, companionship and well-being.

  I wonder about my cats. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Keep Wondering,

  Peter Scottsdale

  Author’s Siamese Note

  In the following facts, you will also find comments from my Siamese, Sam. He likes to add his voice to select facts, hopefully with some humor. He’s talkative, but what do expect from a Siamese?

  Cats & People

  Man has given a great variety to the domesticated cat.

  Kittens are born domesticated if their parents were also domesticated. This arose from a genetic mutation caused by the cats’ association with humans.

  Good For Us

  Cats are important therapy for people who are elderly, sick, have special needs, or are emotionally needy.

  When someone who likes cats, pets or strokes one, his or her blood pressure and heart rate can drop low.

  A Cambridge study found that families with cats or other pets had better relationships between children and parents and happier lives than families with no pets.

  One most important feature people find with their cats is their affection toward humans. With their rubbing, purring, and tail up greetings, cats are just what people need in their busy and sometimes unfriendly city lives.

  A cat’s playfulness endears them to their owners, even when, the young especially, play with imaginary mice, birds, or whatever they see.

  When people touch, groom, and stroke their felines, their brains release pleasure inducing endorphins that help them to relax, fight illness, stay healthy, lessen psychological problems, feel better, and live happier, longer lives. Other advantages of keeping a cat, according to Dr. Gifford Jones, are a lessening of the winter blues, fewer headaches, sleeping better, and the lower possibility of catching a cold.

  Pet owners also suffer fewer common ailments, such as back problems. Pet owners exercise more, resulting in lower heart problems, if they also relax, nurture, and stroke their pet.

  Additionally, newer studies suggest that owning a pet, such as a cat, increases human longevity. Cats have been shown to have therapeutic value in nursing homes and for children and adults recovering from serious injury or illness.

  Part Of The Family

  More than 2/3 of Americans regard their pets as members of the family and 20% see them as being as important as a child.

  The world’s favorite pet for the family is the non-pedigree feline or “moggy.”

  We Love Our Pusses

  People like cats because they are clean and can live in small, modern apartments.

  It is the young wealthier people (yuppies & DINKY – double income no kids yet) who are more and more keeping cats for emotional reasons.

  Busy young people and those in full-time employment who own their homes keep cats.

  Older members of society tend to own cats because of their practical or material value (i.e.: for cat shows).

  Indoor cats are affectionate and mostly placid.

  Ninety-five percent of cat owners talk to their pets. Sam sez, “And they say Siamese talk too much.”

  Cats become much more attached to people when given attention for at least five minutes a day.

  After a bath, it is estimated that 25% of cat owners blow-dry their cats.

  To this day, cats are well treated and valued for their vermin control.

  In many parts of the world today, cats have returned to being beloved and popular pets.

  Cats increasing popularity had led to more appreciation and admiration of a cat’s point of view and perception of our world due to their differently evolved senses.

  A survey of pet owners in the U.S. by the Pet Food Institute found that owners keep cats for the following reasons:

  86% for companionship

  75% for convenience

  35% for their good affect on children

  30% for human health

  7% for rodent control.

  Our Pusses Love Us

  Since cats can survive on their own, they do not need to be subordinate to people. Sam sez, “We just do…sometimes.”

  Cats are opportunists and will take advantage of the food and shelter provided by humans. They are appreciative but keep the ability to survive on their own.

  Humans make life easy for house cats, and cats reward their human properly with affection and companionship.

  Cats enjoy people smells so a grown cat will sniff, nuzzle, and push her paws rhythmically (kneading) against their humans and purr as though she was nursing at her mother’s teat.

  Some experts say that cats show affection by rubbing their bodies against people, licking a face or hand, and lying with their bellies in the air, inviting affection. Other experts say cats only do this to exchange scents and mark their territory, which is a normal part of friendly aff
ection. Sam sez, “It’s both. So there.”

  Cats tend to be affectionate with their owners as well as other cats.

  Cats love to be petted but have a point where it becomes excessive and may turn on the person petting them. Later, they will apologize and look for some more attention.

  The more cats are affectionate to their owners, the more they are loved back, are clean, and have more predictable behavior.

  When cats turn their rear ends toward human faces, they are allowing you to sniff that end. This is one way cats greet each other and is a sign of submission. It’s perfectly natural. Sam sez, “If you push the cat away when he presents himself, he may be offended. No, you don’t have to sniff but do allow the cat to present himself.”

  Our Cat’s Mother: Us!

  Humans can be a cat’s mother for life.

  People allow the house cat to insist on affection, attention, security, and warmth just like a mother would.

  Humans provide fully edible, ready to eat meals like a mother, where the feline becomes affectionate at mealtime.

  People provide shelter and protection from other cats, dogs, and other animals, and cats don’t have to compete for territory in their home. These are other ways humans are their mothers.

  We talk to cats with a higher tone because cats seem to be more responsive to the higher tone as if they are reacting to their mother.

  Many cats will suckle on our clothes and skin often drooling at the same time to stimulate milk flow from her mother to some degree.

  This suckling is the result of a maternal relationship we have with our cats.

  Cats look to humans as a parental figure if they have human contact at an early age.

  Cats need social contact with people. Sam sez, “A scratch would be nice.”

  Allergies

  Cats produce slight to severe reactions to those people with cat allergies, including:

  1. Watery, itchy, irritated eyes

  2. Sneezing

  3. Sinus & nasal congestion

  4. Runny nose

  5. Allergic cough

  6. Lower school or work performance

  7. Memory problems

  8. Impaired concentration

  9. Difficulty paying attention and reasoning

  10. Heightened irritability

  Children are more often allergic to cats but can grow out of it.

  Siamese are less likely to cause allergic reactions because of their single, thinner coat.

  The Rex breeds, like the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, have soft, short, curled hair and produce reduced amounts of dander, making them less allergic to some people.

  Strange Behavior Toward Us

  Some females may flatten themselves in the lordosis or mating position after heavy stroking or petting from someone.

  Some young or even adult unneutered males will mount their owners on the arm and have an “other-worldly” fixed look in their eyes. This results from surges of male hormone production.

  The mounting of the arm (or some inanimate object) can occur after petting and stroking. Sometimes the cat will make mating noises when mounting the arm.

  Why a cat tries to get attention from their owner during a phone call is because, with no one else in the room, the cat thinks the person is talking to them. Sam sez, “I just want him to pay attention to me, not the phone.”

  Other Feline / Human Facts

  An outdoor cat forced to always live indoors can show symptoms of frustration resulting in pacing, crying to be let out, chasing, and biting passing people.

  Cat teeth and claws are coated with unpleasant bacteria, including Pasteurella, which when injected deep into a person can cause septicaemia, needing a long treatment of antibiotics and rest.

  Cats often bring back dead or almost dead prey to their owners. This gift may be because of affection as their mother used to do for them. Or cats bring back prey because they believe their humans are unskilled hunters and need to learn to hunt or need to be fed. Or they could be saving it for later.

  “Ailurophobia” is the irrational fear of cats and can be caused by a traumatic childhood incident, like being attacked or frightened by a cat.

  Sixty percent of people said the biggest drawback to having a cat is shedding. The second biggest, at 45%, is finding someone to care for the cat while the owners are away.

  Seventy-four percent of cats sleep on their owner’s bed.

  Most experts say cats do not know their names and only respond to their names because of the tone of voice or inflections used when calling them, if they respond at all. Sam sez, “I know my name. I just couldn’t be bothered to answer.”

  Duking It Out

  Cats tend to be cautious when first meeting each other, with males most likely to show aggression.

  Cats, as solo predators, do not have a social system of dominance and fights occur.

  Catfights go down like this:

  1. The two cats check each other out with sniffing scent glands in the face.

  2. The aggressive one will smell the base of the other one’s tail and growl threateningly, and the opponent goes on the defensive.

  3. The aggressive cat is ready to attack, and the defensive one crouches low with tail and ears down. Sometimes the aggressor will stop there, as the defensive one will back off.

  4. If the opponent challenges, then a fight will go down.

  5. The opponent will adopt a defensive pose by arching his back and turning sideways to look more intimidating. The tail curls up and bristles outward.

  6. The aggressor, unafraid, moves in.

  7. The opponent crouches down, his ears flatten, and he hisses.

  8. The aggressor attacks, and the opponent defends himself claws out and kicking.

  9. Kicking, clawing, and biting continue until one slinks or runs off.

  When a cat turns and runs away from a confrontation, the victor cat will sometimes give chase and attack or may choose to leave the loser cat alone.

  Cats fight over mates and territory. Fighting is a last resort as the aggressor can many times scare off his opponent.

  Fighting among cats is rare because they do not want to have to deal with the other cats claws and fangs.

  Unneutered males are the most common fighters, fighting over territory containing females and resources.

  Bacteria found on cat’s claws and teeth can cause purulent abscesses resulting from catfights.

  Fighting toms can get different diseases from fighting with infected cats.

  When a cat is threatened or cornered, it will stand its fur on end and arch its back to appear larger and formidable to the threat.

  Tickle Me Whiskers

  Cats’ whiskers, also called mystacials, are large, stiff hairs with many sensitive nerves at the roots. Whiskers feel the closeness of objects to the face. They tell the puss when to blink if an object is close to the eyes or when danger approaches. They also aid the feline to make minor corrections in movement, thereby allowing the ears and eyes to concentrate on the hunt, and they help locate the direction of a smell on the wind.

  Whiskers are also thought to enable the cat to judge width.

  The cat’s whiskers are highly sensitive and act as radar for the feline. Whiskers are sensitive to the slightest pressure or touch. When it is too dark to see, the whiskers help guide the cat through dim conditions by sensing nearby objects.

  Cats have twelve moving whiskers on each side of their faces.

  Vibrissae, or whiskers, are found on the face, head, throat, and forearms. These whiskers are sensitive and help to guide a cat and to avoid danger.

  There are other whiskers on the cat’s face: the superciliary tufts are the whiskers that protrude above the eyes, and the genal tufts extend out the sides of the face behind the cheeks.

  However, cats don’t have whiskers under the chin called inter-ramal tufts, like other carnivores.

  Additionally, cats have whiskers on their front legs, which guide the hunter through the brush as the
eyes and ears are focused on the hunt. These whiskers tell the feline where to step.

  Whiskers bend forward when striking prey, thereby helping to find the prey and guide the bite.

  Cats with damaged whiskers seem not as able to deliver that killing blow or hunt at night as accurately as in the daytime when the eyes can compensate in the light.

  When a cat’s whiskers are cut, they can become disoriented temporarily until the other senses compensate and the whiskers grow back.

  The Great Cat Tail

  Cat’s tails come in a variety of shapes and lengths. They play an important role in balance and the “righting reflex” so the cat can land on his feet after falling.