Amazing Cat Facts for Kids

Cats aren’t just furry friends in the house and have more to them than what meets the eye. From meowing to respond to humans and being able to smell scents, there are many fun facts most people aren’t aware of about them. If you’re looking for a short guide to the best cat information for kids, you’ve come to the right place on the internet.

Fun Facts About Cats for Kids

Cats have been talked about in history and been friends with humans for generations. From being revered as deities, used in cargos, and being household pets, there’s a lot more that goes into their story. If you were ever curious about how they came to be or want to learn about their history, keep reading.

We’ve covered fun facts about these mythical creatures and by the time your kids are done, they will have a greater appreciation for their feline friends.

Cat Anatomy Facts

Here are some fun cat anatomy facts for kids:

• Male cats are left-paw dominant while females are right-pawed dominant.
• Cat eyes are considered the largest when comparing the eye to head ratios with other mammals.
• Their canine teeth have narrow spacing and this is because of the way they eat rodents.
• They have an extra internal organ that allows them to taste scents in the air, unlike humans.
• There are 230 bones inside a cat’s body while a human has only 206.
• Cat tongues have a rough texture and getting a lick on the skin feels like rubbing against sandpaper!
• They lick their coats to keep them clean and regulate body temperature.
• There are two times more neurons in the cerebral cortex region of cats than in dogs.
• Cats have a total of 18 toes, five on the front paws and four on the back.
• There are whiskers located on the backs of their legs.
• They have flexible anatomy physiologically because they’re designed to hunt small animals like mice and rats.
• The average weight of a domestic cat ranges from 3 to 4 kilos!
• They live for roughly 12 to 15 years.
• Their urine glows when you analyze samples with a black light test.
• Cat’s gait changes and they walk with extreme precision using their toes.

Cat Health Facts

Ever wondered why cats don’t like sweet foods or love eating meat?

Here are some fun cat health facts for kids:

• They can’t taste the sweetness and do not eat carbohydrates.
• Cats sleep up to 14 hours a day to conserve their energy.
• Cats are carnivorous by nature and even eat insects like grasshoppers!
• They can be prone to various diseases and important to get them vaccinated.
• They’re very susceptible to the flu and sneezing is not a normal sign which warrants a health check.
• If your cat isn’t playful or looks less cheerful, it could mean that they’re under the weather.
• Their feet must be wiped carefully during the winters when playing outdoors. This is because they’ll be exposed to extreme temperature and also to prevent frostbite.
• Cats need help with their potty training and very fragile when they’re young.
• The vision of a cat is poor when they’re born and stays like that for up to 5 weeks!
• They’re sensitive to sounds and smells even while they’re asleep.

Cat History Facts

Want to teach your kids some cat history? Here are some facts:

• Domesticated cats came from the genes of the Near Eastern Wildcat which existed over 100,000 years ago.
• Cyprus archaeological evidence showed that domesticated cats originated there 9,500 years ago.
• The cat goddess protected homes from evil spirits and illnesses. She was worshipped in ancient Egypt and was originally a lioness goddess.
• The American shorthair rumour started when Christopher Columbus landed ashore and let cats from his ship go wild.
• Cats were used to keep cargos free from disease and vermins during the 15th and 16th century on ships.

Cat Behaviour Facts

Do your kids never seem to be able to read their feline friends? Maybe they’re wondering what they’re thinking. Here are some interesting cat behaviour facts to be aware of:

• Cats learn how to hunt and explore the world around them by playing with each other.
• They don’t like it when you make direct eye contact with them and feel threatened.
• Yawning is a way to resolve any standing arguments with other animals peacefully.
• Wild cats cannot be tamed and are aggressive by nature even to kids.
• When a cat flops and lays over showing his belly, it means he/she trusts you. It doesn’t mean she wants a belly rub and this relaxed gesture is often misunderstood.
• They can use body postures for communicating with owners.
• Clicking, grunting, hissing, purring, and growling are different sounds of communication for them.
• Cats become alert when their ears look straight up.
• Dilated pupils in cats mean that they’re excited and looking forward to something.
• If a cat twitches its tail, it means that they’re in a playful mood.

Other Facts and Information About Cats for Children

If you think your kids knew all about cats, they’d be surprised to learn that there’s more. Here is a list of other interesting facts and information about cats for kids:

• Female and male cats are referred to as ‘folly’ and ‘molly.’ More than 500 million varieties of domestic cats are there in the world.
• Cats have nearsightedness but their night vision and peripheral vision are greater than that of humans.
• They were considered sacred creatures once upon a time and said to be of African descent.
• A famous cat Lomasa was mentioned in the passages of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. It was said that the cat worked with a mouse to escape together from the clutches of death in the epic.
• Puss in Boots drew inspiration from the Indian folktale stories of Panchatantra for crafting its plot.
• Rustum who was a Persian hero claimed that cats were created out of nowhere in history.
• Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, loved cats and blessed them by placing his hands on their forehead.
• The ‘Beckoning Cat’ or Maneki Neko statue in Japan stands for the Goddess of Mercy.
• Cat characters are popularly used in various manga and anime series to excuse a sense of mystery and charm.
• Crystal Palace, London hosted the world’s first cat show in 1871 CE.
• Cats have been valued companions of humans for centuries.
• Cats have been associated with paganism, witchcraft, and the dark arts in certain religious contexts.

Grooming and keeping a cat in the house isn’t easy. But once your children learn more about them, they understand better why they behave the way they do. Cats can be a good luck charm in households and keep disasters like mice and pest attacks at bay.

But besides being human’s favourite pet, they make staying home much more fun. So the next time your kids see a cat walking like a giraffe or using their whiskers to feel out their surroundings and get into small spaces, they’ll know why.

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