Interesting cat facts. Post yours!

Cats can smile.

Cats have 24 whiskers, unless, of course, you are Kao K'o Kung (Koko for short), Qwill's Siamese from the "Cat Who" books. He has 30.

Cats can see up to 120 feet away. Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.

Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson's organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.


Cats lack a true collarbone. Because of this lack, cats can generally squeeze their bodies through any space they can get their heads through.

Most cats have no eyelashes

The big difference (and problem) between cat hair and dog hair is that a cat's hair is so fine, it is easily airborne. Check your furnace filter; you'll find plenty of cat hair on it. Also, if you haven't had it checked, check the evaporator coil on your airconditioner; odds are good that if you've had a cat for a number of years, and haven't had the evaporator cleaned, that it may have collected a mat of cat hair, severely affecting its efficiency.

An elderly cat may well sleep for 18 hours a day (especially if it's being watched by a grad student).

Sounds typical for a grad student being up for 18 hours. Actually, 19 or 20 might be more typical for the grad student.

Originally Posted by bluegirl

Cats can see up to 120 feet away. Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.

Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson's organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.


Cats lack a true collarbone. Because of this lack, cats can generally squeeze their bodies through any space they can get their heads through.

Most cats have no eyelashes

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The Jacobson's organ (or vomeronasal organ), located above the soft palate, and behind the nose of a cat, actually allows a cat to "taste" whatever he is smelling. Cats often may be seen making a grimace (also called a flehmen response) when examining a scent that interests them.

DNA from cat hair has been used to solve crimes. As everyone knows, there is no way to not get cat hair on you when a cat is near you.

Originally Posted by katachtig

DNA from cat hair has been used to solve crimes. As everyone knows, there is no way to not get cat hair on you when a cat is near you.

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I saw this in one of the Law And Order episodes! If the scriptwriter is right, there are only 3 cases in the US where prosecutors successfully land a man behind jail!

blue-eyed, purely white cats are frequenty deaf

Cat urine glows under black light