Article title: « 10 things you may not know about cats »
Here are the 10 facts about cats mentioned in the article, along with a brief description of each:
1. Cats have a « third eyelid »: This is a thin membrane that closes diagonally across the eye and helps keep it moist and protected.
2. Cats have scent glands on their face and paws: They use these glands to mark their territory and communicate with other cats.
3. Cats can’t taste sweetness: They have around 800 taste buds, compared to humans who have around 9,000. However, they have more taste buds dedicated to detecting amino acids, which makes their sense of smell even more important for them.
4. Cats spend a lot of their time sleeping: On average, adult cats sleep 13-14 hours a day. Kittens and elderly cats can sleep up to 20 hours a day.
5. Cats have a unique jaw structure: Unlike humans and dogs, cats can’t move their jaws sideways. They can only move them up and down.
6. Cats have flexible bodies: They have more bones than humans do and their spines have 30 vertebrae, compared to just 24 in humans. This flexibility helps them to climb trees and hunt effectively.
7. Cats have excellent night vision: Their eyes have a layer of cells called tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back through the retina and enhances their ability to see in low light conditions.
8. Cats purr at a frequency that can promote healing: Cats purr at a frequency of 25-150 Hz, which is within the range that can promote tissue regeneration and reduce pain and inflammation.
9. Cats can be both right-handed and left-handed: Studies have shown that about half of all cats prefer to use their right paw, while the other half prefer their left.
10. Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years: The earliest evidence of cat domestication dates back to around 9,500 years ago, in the Middle East.
The answer to the question is:
There are many fascinating things to learn about cats. Some examples include their unique physical features such as their « third eyelid » and scent glands, their sleep habits, their jaw structure, and their exceptional night vision. Cats are also known for their purring, their hand dominance, and their long history of domestication.