Cats are unique creatures. Some of their habits may seem unusual to many but serve a cat well. The following are some interesting facts about cats.

⦁ Cats can be either right pawed or left pawed. Similar to humans, they show a preference to use one paw over the other. However most cats are left pawed.

⦁ A cat uses it whiskers to detect nearby movement. Just like a set of antennas. They move forward when they hunt, providing information on their prey.

⦁ An average cat has 60 vertebrae and 244 bones. Most of the cat's bones are found in their tail which gives it flexibility.

⦁ Cats have 517 muscles which allow their back and front to move in opposite directions.

⦁ A cats taste buds are found on the tip of their tongue. They only have 473 compared to humans which have 9,000.

⦁ A cats heart beats 2 to 3 times faster than a humans at 150 to 210 times per minute. A human heart beats 60 to 80 times per minute.

⦁ Cats have a course sandpaper like tongue. This texture is created by a thin covering of tiny thorn like barbs. These barbs face backwards on the tongue and help guide food to the back of their mouths as well as help them to take in water quicker.

⦁ Cat ears have 32 muscles unlike human ears with only 6. They can also turn 180 degrees. This gives them excellent hearing while hunting prey.

⦁ Kittens have 26 milk teeth which will be replaced by 30 permanent teeth when they are 12 to 18 weeks old.

⦁ A Tom Cat will mark a 3 to 5 mile stretch of track as its territory. It will then go over this stretch daily to keep it well scented.

⦁ A layer of tissue in the cat's eye reflects and magnifies light allowing a cat to see six times better than a human in less light.

⦁ Scent glands are found in a cats cheeks and paws. They pass the scent on when they rub against you while communicating.

⦁ Domestic cats are the only cats able to keep their tails vertical while walking. A wild cat will keep it tucked between their legs or horizontally.

⦁ Cats sleep 13 to 16 hours a day. This is about 70% of the time.

⦁ A normal domestic cat weighs between 8 and 12 pounds. The heaviest domestic cat on record weighed in at 46 pounds and 15.2 ounces.

⦁ Kittens are born with blue eyes but the shade normally changes after 12 weeks.

⦁ Cats cannot see right below their nose so they will usually leave tiny pieces of food behind.

⦁ A group of cats is called a clowder while a male cat is called a tom and a female is a queen.

⦁ Cats don't have sweat glands. They release sweat through their paws.

⦁ Cats whiskers serve a very important function. They grow as long as a cat's width and let them know if they can fit through small openings. If they bend, the cat knows it won't fit.

⦁ Cats usually have four toes and five pads on their back paws and five toes and seven pads on their front paws. These pads normally are the same color as a cats fur.

⦁ A cat can only retract the claws on its front paws.