I BET YOU DIDN'T KNEW THESE 5 FACTS ABOUT CATS

1. A CAT’S MEOW IS USED TO COMMUNICATE WITH HUMANS, NOT OTHER CATS

Adult cats only meow at humans. Kittens use vocalizations to communicate with their mothers, but adult cats don’t actually meow at each other. Some scientists claim that meowing was developed to manipulate humans; many cat parents probably agree. (Cats do yowl at other cats, particularly if they are in heat.)

2. CATS HAVE MORE BONES IN THEIR BODIES THAN PEOPLE

Cats have more than 230 bones in their bodies; humans have 206. The additional bones in a cat’s spine and tail give the cat extra flexibility and the ability to pull off their trademark back arch. Cats also have the ability to fit through small spaces because of their bones -- no collar bone and a small chest cavity help make cats masters of escape. However, during the aging process, some of these bones can fuse together.

3. CATS HAVE A THIRD EYELID

The inner eyelid of a cat is called a palpebra tertia. As an inner membrane, it plays an important role in eye health by removing debris and distributing moisture. It’s also thought to have helped protect the cat’s eye from tall grass or prey in the wild. The third eyelid is actually the norm for many mammals; in humans, it has been reduced to a small bump at the inner corner of the eye.

4. CATS GROOM THEMSELVES FOR OVER A THIRD OF THE TIME THEY ARE AWAKE

Some vets estimate the amount of time cats spend on self-cleaning to be even higher. The continuous grooming has many health and evolutionary benefits. Grooming helps cats regulate temperature, stimulates blood flow, and provides protection against predators.

5. CATS ARE FAR-SIGHTED

Ever wonder why your cat doesn’t seem to see the treat right in front of her nose? Cats have excellent night vision and can see far-off objects clearly, but they can have difficultly focusing on objects right in front of them; their close-up vision is estimated to be about 20/100 on the human vision scale. Cats also have a blind spot right in front of their noses. Of course, whiskers and an excellent sense of smell balance out this weakness.