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Whether you love cats, or hate them, there's no denying that they are amazing animals. The Romans saw the cat as a symbol of liberty and independence and it easy to see why if you have ever owned a cat. (Not that you ever own them, really, they just deem to live with you because it suits them.) In some Roman houses cats were revered as gods of protection and were said to keep the home and family safe. Many Roman legions actually kept a cat as a lucky mascot.
The correct word for a cat's whiskers is vibrissae and its skeleton has 290 bones, 29 of which are in its tail. Cats also have three pairs of eyelids. Each eye has two ordinary ones that move vertically and a third one that sweeps from side to side. This is known as a haw and is unlikely to be seen unless a cat is tired, or unwell.. A cat's metabolism is very fast and its heart beats at a rate rate somewhere between 150 and 250 beats per minute, which is twice the rate of a human heart.
Ailurophobia is the fear of cats and Julius Caesar Emperor of Roman was known to be terrified of them. Having a cat phobia is not the same thing as just not liking cats. A sufferer probably will not know why, but they are afraid of the furry four footed creatures. Symptoms can include sweating, shaking, having difficulty breathing and even having a full blown hysterical outburst at the mere sight of a cat.
This phobia is completely outside the control of sufferers and it is actually not all that rare. Perhaps we don't hear about it in its extreme form very often because sufferers are worried about what others might say. After all, we can all understand why someone might have a phobia of snakes, or even spiders, but these fur bundles that love to be cuddled don't seem to pose a threat, unless you are ailurophobic. Ask a phobic what it is that terrifies him, or her so much and they probably won't be able to tell you.
Sir Isaac Newton who was a great cat lover, invented the cat flap. Apparently he was constantly being distracted from his scientific research work on weightier matters like the colors that light could be split into and the gravity pull of the earth, by his cat. The animal always wanted the door opened, no matter whether it was inside or out. Anyone who has lived with a cat knows that a cat always wants the door open as soon as you have closed it and sat back down in your chair. It's part of being a contrary cat. So, Sir Isaac designed the very first cat flap which was essentially a hole in the door, covered by a cloth to keep the draught out.
Cats come in many colors and sizes and range from the fierce, meat eating, lions and tigers, right down to cuddly little bundles of Burmese kitten and wide-eyed Siamese, but they all have at least three things in common. They are all hunters, they are all carnivores and they can all retract their claws, except for the cheetah.
Nice, informative article - we have a treasured feline, 'Gombah' which means 'friend' in Italian. He is definitely treated and behaves like the Godfather of the family. Cats are such interesting pets; they all have different personalities and everyone thinks theirs is the best one; and well, our is the best one. :) Thanks, Marie - A devoted Cat-Lover
[...] Re: Pedigree Bengal Kittens For Sale Absolutely gorgeous. They are like little spotted leopards. It's amazing how all cats from little domestic ones right up to leopards and cheetahs all behave the same and even look the same. Brillant creatures with some very unusual peculiarities. If you thought you knew all about cats take a look here, it's very interesting. [...]
We had a nice cat here, -adopted, -and she went NUTS and tore the place apart, pooed on the floor, hissed and swatted at us (me mostly) and repeatedly ran head-long over the table and into the balcony windows trying to escape... After two weeks we decided that she MUST be returned to the person that gave her up to us, -she said that if it didn't work out she would take the cat back. -Good riddance to that furball! :- -thestickman
Cat's are a lot like humans, they become very attached to their human companions if they are treated with love and respect. They are just like human children in so many ways, they depend on us to meet their every need-food, shelter, love, etc. Like children, their love is unconditional and all they ask of us in return is to be loved. I have seven of them. Like humans they can suffer from separation anxiety when separated from the ones they love the most. Several of mine run around the house "crying" every time I leave the house. My wife tells me that they carry on like that until they here my footsteps on the porch and then they all run for the door to welcome me home. My wife loves them too and they know that but it's me that they are the most attached to. When a cat is taken from someone they love, they don't understand why, all they know is that the person they loved and was loved by is gone from them. There have been documented cases where cats have spent months, walking hundreds of miles, to get back to ones that they really loved and felt loved by.
Stickman: I hear you. My experience with cats is like Jerry's. My friend had one cat - and then took in another and her first did just what you say your 'adopted' cat did. It was either get use to its bizarreness or alas, she had to give it up. Gave it to a nice bachelor and the cat is back to herself. Maybe your cat 'missed' another home or simply couldn't adjust to its new surroundings. Don't laugh, but cats have feelings, too. Don't give up on them, they make wonderful pets. (^._.^)
Interesting facts about cats and what we probably didn't know. Personally I'm allergic so I never could have one I think they are very interesting animals and great pets to have.
Being a member of a cat's "staff" here at home, I really appreciate this great information. I would say, being raised as a farm kid, that nearly ALL animals have unique personalities. One has to spend enough time around them to notice. Although, I can't say I ever wanted to spend enough time around the pigs to see if they had personalities or not..ha! But cows and sheep for sure have different personalities.
You get a big Purrrrfect from all the residents of Jerry's Cat House. Nicely done.