A Few Facts About the Fabulous Feline
By Todd Langwell
Cats are famously shrouded in mystery and intrigue. As much as cat lovers have come to know about their furry, four-footed companions, there are several little tidbits of information about our slinky friends they may be unaware of. Here are just a few of the possibly lesser-known facts about the fabulous feline.
No Nip On the Barbie
Thinking of moving to Australia to become a catnip farmer? Don�t do it. The ability to be affected by catnip is hereditary and while two-thirds of the world�s domesticated cats are susceptible to the frisky herb, the vast majority of Australian cats are not. Don�t look for trends to change anytime soon as Australia has a lengthy quarantine period making importing cats–thus, diversifying the gene pool–impractical. For the foreseeable future, it seems most Australian kitties will have to remain content getting their kicks from chasing mice, bugs and bits of string. At least Aussie cats can proudly say, while their American and European cousins may be strung-out on catnip, the cats Down Under are high on life.
Ligers and Tiglons and Bears! Oh, My!
Cat enthusiasts should know the largest of cats is the mighty liger. A cross between a male lion and a female tiger, the liger routinely grows to 700 pounds with rare examples tipping-in at 800 pounds. If you want to see one, forget going on a liger safari. Finding one of these massive beasts requires a trip to the zoo as ligers do not occur naturally in the wild for one simple reason–lions and tigers do not share habitat. On your way to the zoo, impress your friends by reminding them the hybrid result of a female lion and a male tiger is not a liger at all but a tiglon (or tigon.) If any dispute should arise from this information, just remember the old adage, �Let tiglons be tiglons.�
That Makes No Sense
Cats have excellent perception skills. Domestic felines have amazing vision and are able to see six times better than humans in low-light conditions. Cats have directional hearing and can hear more acutely and at higher frequencies than people and even dogs. The cat�s sense of smell is top-notch. Even cat fanciers are often surprised to learn how few creatures can rival the feline olfactory sense. While it is true the beloved kitty is an all-around impressive sensory creature, there is one area in which she is lacking–ability to taste. It seems cats have relatively few tastes buds which are almost entirely limited to sensing amino acids. Given the nature of many cats� diets, that may not be such a bad thing.
The Heat is On
Cat owners are occasionally alarmed to find their pet sitting or laying in, what they may consider to be, dangerous proximity to the fire. Upon feeling the animal and finding it uncomfortably warm to the touch, the concerned cat parent may ask, �Aren�t you burning up, kitty?� There is, however, no need for alarm. Cats have a higher natural body temperature than do humans and can tolerate–even enjoy–much higher environmental temperatures than their large, two-legged caretakers. With their ability to modulate the amount of blood flow to their skin, cats can maintain their normal 101.5 degree Fahrenheit body temperature even when sprawled-out over the heating vent like a feline mop.
A Tall Tale
One common misnomer about the cat�s ability to land on its feet is the animal�s tail plays a large role in righting itself. The truth is, cats with no tails are just as apt at always landing upright as their tail-equipped buddies. It seems cats, with their uncanny sense of equilibrium, actually use their hips to quickly adjust their bodies into a position where they can use their legs and the loose skin along their sides to form the classical parachute-like shape used for accidental feline decent. No doubt having a couple extra lumbar vertebrae sure comes in handy when speedy hip flexibility is the difference between a perfect touchdown and a disastrous crash landing. Ironically, many cats also use this flexibility to lounge on their backs in awkward, twisted poses which are reminiscent of someone having been thrown from a crashed airplane.
With their curious attributes and mysterious nature, it is no wonder cats continue to warm our hearts and peak our curiosity. We can only imagine what things will be discovered about our whisker-wearing friends in the future given the new information which routinely comes to light from researchers and amateur cat observers alike. Who knows? Maybe it will someday be learned cats have been trying to enlighten us to some great wisdom of the universe all along. There are at least some cat lovers who wouldn�t be at all surprised.