Pets

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they aren’t actually the most popular pet. According to the Humane Society, more people own cats than any other animal. So, even if you’re a dog person, you can use these little-known facts about cats to impress your feline-loving friends:

• #1: Cats can jump up to 5 times their own height. To put that in perspective, if humans could jump that well, the world record for the high jump would be over 32 feet!

• The next cat fact: They sleep two-thirds of the day. Luckily for their owners, most felines like to snooze in the same place. So, vacuuming that special spot when your animal’s awake will help manage pet hair and dander.

• Speaking of hair: Cats have a lot of it. About 130,000 hairs in every square inch. When a cat is frightened, all the hairs on its body stand up. But when it’s threatened or feeling aggressive, only a narrow band of hair along their spine stands on end.

• The next one is important: Cat bites are dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 40,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by cats each year. Bites and scratches can transmit bacteria that can be deadly if left untreated. So, if you’re playing with a cat and they break your skin, seek medical treatment.

• And finally: Cats have an internal GPS system. There are documented cases of cats finding their way home from hundreds of miles away. One cat even managed a thousand mile trek across the Australian Outback. Scientists believe that cats use a combination of visual memory and magnetic fields to navigate. But, owners beware. A cat tries to get back to the area it considers its territory. So, after a move, your pet’s likely to make a dash for your old house. So, keep a close eye on them until they feel like your new home is their home, too.