9 Fun Facts About Cats

There are so many cool things about cats, and since it’s National Cat Lover’s Month, we figure this is a good time to share some of these fun facts with you. Which ones did you already know? Which are you surprised by?

Great Jumper
Cats love to jump, and they’re really good at it.

We’ve all seen our cats leap down from high places, hop across large spans, and spring up to surprising heights. With their strong hind legs and flexible spines, along with a good sense of balance, they’re built for this. Some cats can jump up to 8 feet high!

Unique Nose
While humans have unique fingerprints, cats have unique “nose prints.” No two cats have the same configuration of lines, ridges, and bumps on their noses. Each cat has a one-of-a-kind nose pattern. If you have two or more cats, look at their noses and notice the differences.

Fast Runners
ow fast can a house cat run? Believe it or not, cats can reach speeds up to 30 mph! For the fastest humans on the planet, maximum running speeds top off at around 27 mph. Cats are natural sprinters.

No Sweet Sense
Among our fun facts about cats, here’s one you probably didn’t know: cats can’t taste sweetness. There’s no point in trying to reward them with a sweet treat, since they’re missing a receptor needed to taste sugar.

Tiger Genes
If you’ve ever noticed strong similarities between your cat and a tiger, you’re not wrong. Cats share about 95 percent of their DNA with tigers! Millions of years ago, both species had common ancestors.

Alaska Mayor
There’s a super cool cat in Alaska with a very important job. Since 2017, Aurora the cat has served as the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, a small Alaskan village. Before her reign, a ginger cat named Stubbs held the honor.

Magnetic Navigation
You’ve heard stories of cats getting lost and then walking hundreds of miles home. How are they able to find their way back? Scientists believe they can sense the planet’s magnetic field through magnetoreception. Using this invisible force as a guide, in conjunction with smell, sight, and memory, they can navigate remarkably well.

Love to Sleep
Of all the fun facts about cats, this one probably comes as no surprise to anyone: cats love to sleep! Like other felines, cats sleep largely to conserve energy. Maybe that’s why they’re so frisky when they wake up in a playful mood. It’s not unusual for adult cats to sleep 12 to 16 hours a day.

Taste the Air
Our final fun fact is really cool. In addition to being able to smell the air, cats can taste it! Some people call this ability “smell tasting.” In addition to having a superior sense of smell, cats have what’s known as the Jacobson’s organ on the roof of their mouth. This enables them to taste scent particles in the air. Incidentally, many reptiles have this organ, too.

What other cool things about cats do you know?