"The internet is a series of tubes. And those tubes are full of cats."
- ICanHazCheezburger

August 8th is National Cat Day! In honor of our feline friends, we have assembled a fine selection of information about cats and their fascinating attributes.

The domesticated cat (felis catus) has been around for a long time. Evidence of domesticated cats has been found as long ago as 7500 B.C. Neolithic farmers were thought to have brought wildcats from the mainland to the island of Cyprus, as it had no native mammals. However, the most well-known domesticated cats were found in Egypt, where they were worshipped. Entire families would mourn the death of their cat by shaving their eyebrows. These cats were embalmed and buried in sacred repositories. Additionally, numerous cultures have treated cats as exalted souls, including Japan, Nordic myth, Jewish legends, and Muslim traditions. Researchers believe cats were first attracted to human settlements because of mice.

Over the centuries, domesticated cats have become smaller than their wild cousins. They have smaller skulls and shorter bones, with an average weight of 9 lbs. to 11 lbs. They have retractable claws, excellent balance, night vision, hearing, and smell. All these traits make them excellent hunters of small prey, including the aforementioned mice. Don’t forget the whiskers! Whiskers are actually found all over a cat’s body. They are used for sensing gaps, objects in the dark, and even air currents.

There are three distinct kinds of cats. House cats are the most social with humans and tend to stay closer to their homes. Farm cats are wider ranging, but still have a home area to which they return. Feral cats are the most averse to human contact. Any cat can become feral under the right circumstances. Feral cat colonies are often the target of “trap-neuter-release” operations to keep their populations under control.

Cats really are fascinating creatures. Here are some fast facts about cats from Care.com:

• Cats are believed to be the only mammals who don’t taste sweetness.
• Cats are nearsighted, but their peripheral vision and night vision are much better than that of humans.
• Cats’ claws all curve downward, which means that they can’t climb down trees head-first. Instead, they have to back down the trunk.
• Cats have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents on the air, which is why your cat stares at you with her mouth open from time to time.
• Cats’ rough tongues can lick a bone clean of any shred of meat.
• Male cats are more likely to be left-pawed, while female cats are more likely to be right-pawed.
• Cats are crepuscular, which means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk.
• Cats can spend up to a third of their waking hours grooming.
• Your cat’s grooming process stimulates blood flow to his skin, regulates his body temperature and helps him relax.
• Cats have up to 100 different vocalizations — dogs only have 10.
• Meowing is a behavior that cats developed exclusively to communicate with people.
• When your cat sticks his butt in your face, he is doing so as a gesture of friendship.
• Cats love to sleep in laundry baskets, because they’re basically hiding places with peep holes.
• Some cats love the smell of chlorine.
• A group of kittens is called a “kindle.”
• Cats have contributed to the extinction of 33 different species.
• Each cat’s nose print is unique, much like human fingerprints.
• The first known cat video was recorded in 1894.

As is the case with most animals, cats are also subject to various ailments as they age. Cats with arthritis have trouble jumping and using their litter boxes. Cats are also prone to various inflammatory diseases, including inflammation of the bowels. If your cat is starting to show its age, there’s relief. Elk velvet antler (EVA) is the concentrated form of elk velvet and antler. This substance is rich in compounds that help with arthritis, including glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen. Studies also show that EVA has an anti-inflammatory effect which can be beneficial for any inflammatory disorders in your cat. EVA is a safe, sustainably harvested product that can help your cat thrive.

* The statements and products referred to throughout this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. If you have a health condition or concern, consult a physician/veterinarian.

Various. (2021, July 1). Cat. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat

Kuras, A. (2021, May 19). 101 cat facts: Fun trivia about felines. Care Resources. https://www.care.com/c/stories/6045/101-amazing-cat-facts-fun-trivia-about-your-feline-friend/.

Lee, S. H., Yang, H. W., Ding, Y., Wang, Y., Jeon, Y. J., Moon, S. H., Jeon, B. T., & Sung, S. H. (2015). Anti-inflammatory effects of enzymatic hydrolysates of velvet antler in RAW 264.7 cells in vitro and zebrafish model. EXCLI journal, 14, 1122–1132. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2015-481