Facts about the animal kingdom of Cats

If you look at a cat tongue up close, you will see there are tiny little white hooks covering its surface. Although we expect the tongues of a fellow mammal to be smooth like our own, different animals adapt their body parts for different reasons. A cat's tongue feels rough to the touch. If we are cuddling...

Curiosity, hunger, stress, affection, and grooming are just a few of the reasons why a cat might lick your hands. Cats are very particular about their hygiene and use licking to keep their skin and fur clean. If you’ve ever wondered why a cat licks your hands, it’s often tied to their grooming habits, which...

Sometimes referred to as making biscuits, kneading is a peculiar behavior in cats. The feline extends out their paws and draws their digits back and forth as if they were a baker kneading bread. They do it on many different surfaces, but usually those that are soft and give some resistance. These can...

Cats are known for their cleanliness, exhibiting meticulous grooming habits in their surroundings. If your cat has taken to grooming itself on you, you may wonder about the reasons behind this behavior. While it may seem unusual, this behavior aligns with typical feline actions like rubbing against...

A cat sticking out their tongue can be a curious behavior which is often caught on video for memes. It gives the cat a strange appearance which can mimic similar human gestures. Although this can be funny to us, any behavior which is out of the ordinary for a cat must be understood in context. While most...

A cat purring on top of you is one of the most relaxing states in which we can find ourselves. The low hum of their contented purring benefits both cat and guardian, with the simple fact of spending time together encouraging their bond. The eagerness with which the cat will lay on top of their guardian...

Cats vibrating their tail are communicating with others in their environment. Different tail positions and movements in cats will have different interpretations. To understand what they mean, we need to study feline communication and body language. We also need to look at the context of the situation. Understanding...

Cats are known to love to sleep. They often sleep for hours during the day. In fact, it is not uncommon for a cat to sleep up to 16 hours a day, with some cats sleeping even more. Although this may seem excessive to some, this is completely normal behavior for cats. Even though it is normal for cats...

While there will be general consistency, most cats will have a somewhat capricious nature. Sometimes they will want to preserve their personal space and have some moments alone. Other times they will be appear desperate for company. As long as you have a good relationship with your cat and a strong bond...

If your cat is pregnant, it is a good idea to prepare for the time of birth and the birth of the kittens. A very common question is how many kittens can my cat have. Usually it is between four and six kittens, but larger or smaller litters are not uncommon. Furthermore, if we take into account that female...

We know cats are very hygienic animals. They will spend much of their day grooming themselves senseless. Although we need to help them with brushing their coat and general maintenance, too many guardians neglect their dental care. Since a domestic cat's diet is different to their wild counterparts,...

It is no secret to anyone that cats are unique and extraordinary animals. We who live with them are always amazed at all the things they can do. Cats have always aroused our curiosity and have even given rise to some myths and legends around the world. The following AnimalWised article lists some of...

Dogs and cats are much more like us than we think, to the point that they are also ticklish. This is a sensation they feel when we stroke certain areas of their body where a large number of nerve endings are concentrated. However, unlike humans and primates, our pets are not able to feel all types of tickling. Read...

You may have heard that cats' behavior changes when a woman living in the same household becomes pregnant. Some even claim that cats are able to tell if a woman is pregnant even before she knows it herself. But how can this be? There are few scientific studies on the subject, but everything we know so...

Any animal lover who walks out on the street and sees a stray cat in a bedraggled state will feel a certain amount of pity. When they come to our property, we may even feel compelled to feed them since we have the resources. AnimalWised asks should you feed stray cats? In asking the question, we are not...

Although they communicate mainly through body language, cats make all kinds of sounds that have different meanings. The meow is certainly the best known of all. If you share your home with a cat, you have probably asked yourself questions like “Why does my cat meow when it sees me?”, “Why does my cat...

Cats progress through a number of life stages in their lifetime. As a cat guardian, learning how they change physically and behaviorally will help you to provide the right level of care at every stage of development. Remaining ignorant of these stages can mean you provide the wrong care, making natural...

Cats are almost synonymous with sleep. Although they can be very active and agile, they need to spend the majority of their dat at rest. While asleep, we may see them make noises or movements, something which can lead us to ask if cats can dream? Taking it further, if they can dream, do cats have nightmares? In...

We know that cats do not show love to their guardians in the same way humans do with each other. They cannot speak verbally with us, so they have to rely on body language and other forms of communication. When we see them rubbing their face against us, it is a clear sign of affection or perhaps a petition...

When considering adopting a cat, many people see their supposed independence as a benefit. Irresponsible guardians will think they can leave the cat alone all day and they will not care. Although it will depend on the individual, cats are much more social than their reputation suggests. Some are more...

A common phenomenon in domestic cats is sitting by a window and make a chattering sound. The exact reason for this sound is unknown, but it occurs when they see potential prey. Such prey can range in size and species. They might do it when they see a bird, a rodent or other small mammals. However, they...

When living alongside them, humans are often surprised by certain strange behaviors cats exhibit. Most of these behaviors, however peculiar they may seem to us, are completely natural and are part of their social order. They play an important role in how they interact with other animals and people....

What a cat will look like physically is, for the most part, dictated by their genetics. The genes carried by their parents will determine what is their eventual body shape, coat type and color. Although cats will look different when compared to being a kitten with being an adult cat, it doesn't mean they...

If we have a cat in the family, it is likely we love nature and have a respect for living beings. We might not think about it too much, but our cat likely feels the same. While many housecats are happy to remain indoors where it is safe, those with experience of the outside world have their curiosity...

Cats are world-champion sleepers. While it will depend on their age and health status, cats will sleep an average of 13 to 20 hours per day. The type of sleep will vary with some periods of light dozing and others of REM deep sleep. However, there are many factors which affect the quality of their sleep,...

Each cat has their own individual behaviors and idiosyncrasies. While we might think drinking water with their paw is unique to our cat, it is actually a fairly common behavior. Not all cats will do it all the time, but some will almost exclusively only drink with their paw. There are several perfectly...

You may heard it said that cats choose their humans, not the other way around. We may have spent a lot of time considering what cat might best suit our needs, perhaps the decision wasn't down to us in the end, at least not entirely. There is truth the maxim that cats choose their owners. They are intelligent...

Few reactions a cat makes receive the attention of hissing. It is a sound not quite unique to cats, but it is one we don't want to hear with any regularity. If we get scared, worried or defensive when we hear a cat hissing, it is not surprising. This is the point of the cat making this particular sound....

Cats are affectionate animals that love to relax on the sofa with their companions. They love being caressed in the back of their ears and their neck. Others love being scratched at the base of their tail, however, what does it mean when a cat lets you touch its paws? In this AnimalWised article we're going...

Water is essential to all living beings and cats are no exception. Despite this, for something so vital to their well-being, we often overlook its importance. We replenish water once a day or even leave water from the day before. Fortunately, a cat's attitude to water says a lot about their well-being...

One of the most characteristic, and unique, cat behaviors is purring. It is a defining trait of cats and can only be found in felids and some species of viverrids. As a vocalization, it is usually associated with a feeling of well-being. Not only does it imply the cat is satiated and content, but it can...

The first thing you might think about petting a cat is the physical experience. As very clean animals, cats keep their coat in premium condition. This not only benefits their hygiene, but it keeps their coat soft to the touch. Petting them simply feels great. However, there are many hidden benefits of petting...

People who share their lives with cats know they will constantly surprise us with their antics. Even if we think we know felines well, they can often do something which seems completely out of the ordinary. When cats are inclined to do so, they can really perform some cool feats. Their abilities to...

There are many unexpected events which occur when you adopt a cat. While we do everything we can to prepare for the arrival of a feline into our family, we need to expect the unexpected. For example, we need to ensure we have the means to pay veterinary bills if some threat to their health occurs. For...

Cats are independent and playful animals, but they are also very affectionate and loving. Many new cat caregivers may not know this and may even be surprised when their cat decides to curl up next to them at night. It's actually very common for cats to sleep on top of their caregivers at night for a...

Have you ever looked for your cat everywhere, only for them to emerge from the most unlikely of places? Cats love to hide in remote, dark, warm and quiet places. This is a common behavior among all felines and its origin lies in their wild ancestry. Despite having lived with humans for thousands of years,...

Cats have beautiful eyes. This is not just because of the shape of their eyes, but also due to the colors their eyes can be. The most common colors are: blue, green, yellow, hazel/brown or mixed. However, each cat will have their own shade of these colors. And then, there are other, rare colors that...

Overweight cats are prone to serious health issues such as diabetes, liver diseases, arthritis and more. This is why it's so important to make sure our cat stays within a healthy weight. In this AnimalWised article we're going to tell you how to tell if your cat is overweight, the health risks that come...

Cats are well-known for enjoying heights. With their supreme jumping ability, it would seem a shame not to use their natural skills. Cats will not only jump up to high places, but they can spend long periods sleeping there. It is a behavior of both cats in the wild and domestic cats. Although the impulse...

Cats often “meow” to communicate certain things, however we've all seen videos of cats meowing similarly to an English word. Can cats talk like humans? In this AnimalWised article we are going to elaborate on cat communication. We will share with you how a cat communicates with humans, if cats can really...

Having a companion animal in our life is known to be beneficial for people with anxiety. Petting them and reciprocating affection can be great ways to ease stress. Even just watching them sleep can be a very relaxing experience. When we see that our cat is twitching in their sleep, this relaxation may...

Many feline behaviors make sense from a human perspective. The way they wolf down their food, curl up in a cosy ball or even purr in delight all seem reasonable to us. Walking in between our legs as if to trip us up or rubbing against us doesn't seem to be quite as understandable. When we guess reasons...

Among the many myths which circulate about cats, the idea that cats are contemptuous of humans is one of the most damaging. While they are more independent and self-reliant than dogs, this does not mean cats don't have an important bond with their human companions. In extreme cases, such a view can encourage...

Cats like to explore. Their curiosity leads them to running around the house and investigating every nook and cranny. You can also see it in evidence when they stare out the window for long stretches at a time. The interior world holds much interest, but going outside can become a deep fascination for...

Cats are animals that are found in abundance in our streets. This is mainly because they have a very short gestation period, which means they can cause overpopulation in a very short period of time, but this is a discussion for another day. In this article we will try to give you some tips for shooing...

People have an innate tendency to humanize their cat’s behavior. Many affirm that cats love us when a cat sits calmly on our lap and purrs when we pet them. And if a cat bites or ignores us completely, it’s a natural assumption to believe that our cat hates us. But is this a fair analysis? Are you wondering...

We might stereotype people who watch funny cat videos as people who are easily distracted or who don't have enough taste to do something more productive, but we all know it's not true. Cat videos are for all. This is partly because there are many different types of cat videos. Some are boring and inane....

Black cats, perhaps more than any other type of cat, evoke such a response in we humans. Culturally, black cats have appeared in folk tales, art, films, internet memes and much more. This is not to say that the image of a black cat means to same to all cultures. Some see black cats as ominous figures,...

A cat’s whiskers, otherwise known as vibrissae, are incredibly interesting touch receptors. These sensory tools help cats maneuver in the dark or in threatening situations. Are you wondering, why are my cat’s whiskers so long? or whether or not cat whiskers fall out? if so, you’ve come to the right place....

Cats have a very well develop sense of smell. It is believed they have between 45 and 200 million olfactory receptors. They use these receptors to pick up on aromas of even the smallest concentration within their environment. The privileged nose of felines means they use it as an important tool to find...