Cat Facts and Statistics

This page offers cat facts and statistics articles. For cat care articles, see the Cat Care page. For articles about other animals, visit the Animals page.

 

Cat Facts and Statistics Articles

Cat Statistics: How Many Cats Are There? (total number of cats in the world, numbers of cats in top cat-owning countries, cat-to-human ratios, and links to free and low-cost spay-neuter clinic directories)

How Long Cats Live (average lifespans for indoor and outdoor cats, as well as a profile of the oldest living cat in the world)

Cat Years and People Years (a year-by-year conversion of cat years to people years - contrary to popular belief, it's not 7 to 1)

Why Do Cats' Eyes Glow in the Dark? (the science behind glowing eyes)

Are Cats and Dogs Colour-Blind? (cats and dogs can actually see some colours but not others)

Can Cats See in the Dark? (the science behind feline night vision)

How Powerful Is a Cat's Hearing? (comparison of cats, dogs, mice, and humans)

Are All White Cats with Blue Eyes Deaf? (reasons for deafness in some blue-eyed cats; percentage of deaf white cats)

How Do a Cat's Senses of Smell and Taste Compare to Those of a Human? (total numbers of scent receptors and taste buds)

Cat Behaviour, Communication, and Psychology Facts (why cats purr, hiss, fight, roll on their backs to greet people, soil outside the litter box, rub against things, scratch things, play with their prey, bring home live prey, make chattering sounds at birds through a window, embark on sudden mad dashes around the house, etc.; evidence that cats feel love and other human emotions; what various cat vocalizations mean; and more)

Cat Coat Colour Linked to Temperament (studies and observations of personality differences based on cat colours)

Polls Show Large Majority Against Declawing Cats; Majority Also Favours Anti-Declaw Laws (results from 7 polls on declawing cats)

Study: Owning a Cat Cuts Heart Attack Risk by 30% (research suggests owning a cat may reduce the likelihood of death from cardiovascular disease)

Do Cat People and Dog People Have Different Personalities? (results of studies comparing personality traits and educational attainment of cat owners and dog owners)

Reasons Why Cats and Dogs are Surrendered to Shelters (most common and most stupid reasons given for abandoning pets)

Declawed Cats More Likely to be Surrendered to Shelters (studies show increased rates of behavioural problems and abandonment for declawed cats)

Why Do Cats Go Crazy for Catnip, Mint, Valerian, and Honeysuckle? (how cat-attractant plants work their magic)

What Are the Smallest Cat Breeds? (weight ranges for the 12 smallest domestic cat breeds)

What Are the Largest Cat Breeds? (list of the biggest domestic cat breeds with weight ranges)

Which Cat Breeds Are the Most Intelligent? (a ranking of the most intelligent cats by breed)

When Do Kittens' Eyes Open? (normal timeframe for eye opening; when to call the vet)

When Do Kittens' Eyes Change Colour? (age at which kittens' eyes develop adult colouration)

Why Are Kittens Born with Blue Eyes? (the science behind blue-eyed infants)

More Cat Pregnancy and Kitten Facts (answers commonly asked questions such as whether pregnant cats can go into heat, how to tell if a cat is in heat or pregnant, how young cats can get pregnant, how long a cat's pregnancy lasts, whether or not a litter of kittens can have more than one father, normal kitten developmental stages, pregnant cat and kitten care and feeding, and more)

Cat Breeds That Get Along Well with Dogs (ranking of cat breeds based on dog-friendliness)

Cat Statistics (percentage of people who own cats in the U.S., cat adoption and euthanasia statistics, percentage of owners who buy gifts for their pets, how many kittens two cats can produce over a lifetime, percentage of women who have sacrificed relationships to their cats or dogs, and more)

How Fast Can a Cat Run? (top speeds at which a domestic cat and a cheetah can run)

Cat Feeding Facts (answers to many commonly asked questions, including whether or not you should feed cats dog food, eggs, or cow's milk; what to feed a kitten; how often to feed cats and kittens; which is better, wet food or dry; how to implement a hypoallergenic diet; how to choose the best cat food; and more)

Cat History (how cats were domesticated, why black cats are associated with witchcraft, how the persecution of cats increased the black plague death toll, cat superstitions, and more)

Can You Train a Cat Not to Hunt? (includes strategies to stop cats from killing birds)

What Animals Hunt Cats? (list of animals that kill cats)

How Many Hours Do Cats Sleep Each Day? (total for cats and kittens, theories on the purpose of sleep)

Why Are Male Cats Called Toms? (historical origin of "tom cat" for unneutered males)

Why are Female Cats Called Queens? (historical origin of "queen" as a term for breeding females)

Do Cats Dream? (evidence that cats dream)

Tortoiseshell Cats Are Nearly Always Female (why almost all tortoiseshell and calico cats are female, and the unusual characteristics of rare tortoiseshell males)

Neoteny - Why Adult Cats Retain Kitten Qualities (how natural selection and human selection have kept cats youthful)

Black Cats Less Likely to Be Adopted (reasons for the low black cat adoption rate)

Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? (explanation of the feline righting reflex; likelihood of injury as a result of falls from various heights)

Why Do Cats Have Whiskers (how cats use their whiskers in hunting and navigation, causes of missing whiskers)

Are Cats Psychic? (studies of and evidence for feline psychic intuition, and scientific explanations for some seemingly supernatural abilities)

Which Are More Intelligent – Cats or Dogs? (the results of studies comparing cat and dog brain capacity, problem solving, and other abilities)

Impacts of Cats and Dogs on the Environment and Wildlife (how cats and dogs affect local bird populations, environmental impacts of pet products, carbon footprints of cats and dogs)

Declawing Information Page (declawing effects on behaviour and health, alternatives to declawing)

Ailurophobia: Fear of Cats (causes of cat phobia, cures for cat phobia)

Animal Hoarding (why some people collect large numbers of cats, dogs, or other animals)

How Smart Are Cats? (evidence of feline intelligence)

Which Foods and Plants Are Toxic to Cats? (lists of toxic foods and plants, cat-safe plants)

How Do You Train a Cat? (litter training, scratch post training, clicker training, and more)

Cat Myths Debunked (common misconceptions about cats)

Health Benefits of Cat Ownership (studies showing that cat owners suffer fewer illnesses than those without pets)

Which Make Better Pets – Cats or Dogs? (studies and statistics comparing cats and dogs on various measures, including usefulness, bonding, tractability, environmental friendliness, cost of ownership, and popularity)

What Is Pet Therapy? (the health benefits of pet ownership, how and where animals are used in therapy, list of pet therapy providers)

Careers with Dogs and Cats (list of pet-related job descriptions)

Spaying and Neutering FAQ (answers to frequently asked questions about spay/neuter surgeries for cats and dogs, including personality and behavioural effects, safety and recovery, cost, and more)

Articles on Suite101

Naturally Occurring Cat Breeds, Cross-Breeds, and Mutations

Mythical Cat Breeds, Fraudulent Cats, and Cat-Related Hoaxes

Pets Hurt by Economic Downturn

Why Some Veterinarians Continue to Declaw Cats

Halloween Cat Sacrifices – Real Danger or Urban Legend?

Why Cats are Natural Carnivores

Guide to Cat Colours, Patterns, and Markings

Guide to Cat Fur, Face, and Body Types

Cat Words: Descriptive Terms for Cats

Glossary of Cat Words

Guide to Cat Breeder Terminology

All About Kittens: Kitten Facts

White Cat Facts

Black Cat Facts

Black and White Cats: Tuxedo Cats, Cow Cats, Kitlers, and More

Tabby Cat Facts

Why Do Cats Eat Grass or Houseplants?

Why Do Many Cats Love Shoes and Socks?

 

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