Cats prefer drinking running water over standing water
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Most cats prefer a running faucet or cat drinking fountain over their fancy water bowl. After all, it’s in your feline’s nature to look for running water as it’s easier to see and hear, whereas standing water could be a hideaway spot for predators (like alligators) and contain dangerous bacteria. Also read our article on why your cat needs a drinking fountain for more interesting facts.
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
Most cats prefer a running faucet or cat drinking fountain over their fancy water bowl. After all, it’s in your feline’s nature to look for running water as it’s easier to see and hear, whereas standing water could be a hideaway spot for predators (like alligators) and contain dangerous bacteria. Also read our article on why your cat needs a drinking fountain for more interesting facts.
Some wild cats can’t roar
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Although most of us picture wild cats roaring intimidatingly, there are only 4 species who actually can: the lion, the tiger, the leopard, and the jaguar. No other wild feline can roar but – and this is where the fun comes in – they can purr instead! Just like domestic cats, many wild cats can purr as a sign of contentment, or to indicate they’re not a threat. In addition, felines may purr when in pain to soothe themselves or even help broken bones heal faster. If only people had this kind of natural healing mechanism!
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
Although most of us picture wild cats roaring intimidatingly, there are only 4 species who actually can: the lion, the tiger, the leopard, and the jaguar. No other wild feline can roar but – and this is where the fun comes in – they can purr instead! Just like domestic cats, many wild cats can purr as a sign of contentment, or to indicate they’re not a threat. In addition, felines may purr when in pain to soothe themselves or even help broken bones heal faster. If only people had this kind of natural healing mechanism!
Cats should drink around one glass of water a day
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A cat’s body is composed of 50-70% water, meaning they need about 50-70 ml/kg of water each day. The average 4 kg cat thus indeed needs 200-280 ml per day, which is approximately 1 cup. However, cats also get some of the moisture they need from their food or prey. Wet food is made up for 80% of moisture, while with dry food this is only 7-12%. As a result, the same cat solely eating wet food won’t need to drink as much water as they would if they only ever ate dry food.
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
A cat’s body is composed of 50-70% water, meaning they need about 50-70 ml/kg of water each day. The average 4 kg cat thus indeed needs 200-280 ml per day, which is approximately 1 cup. However, cats also get some of the moisture they need from their food or prey. Wet food is made up for 80% of moisture, while with dry food this is only 7-12%. As a result, the same cat solely eating wet food won’t need to drink as much water as they would if they only ever ate dry food.
Cats can’t climb down trees head first
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A cat’s claws are specifically designed to climb upward. Most cats will happily chase a squirrel up a tree, but once your kitty cat gets up there, they might find themselves stuck. How come? Well, a cat’s claws curve toward the back, meaning our furry felines have no problem hooking their nails into the bark of a tree while going up, but when going down, they must go butt-first to succeed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t feel natural to cats, so they’ll rather wait to get rescued – even if they’ll have to wait for a loooong time.
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
A cat’s claws are specifically designed to climb upward. Most cats will happily chase a squirrel up a tree, but once your kitty cat gets up there, they might find themselves stuck. How come? Well, a cat’s claws curve toward the back, meaning our furry felines have no problem hooking their nails into the bark of a tree while going up, but when going down, they must go butt-first to succeed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t feel natural to cats, so they’ll rather wait to get rescued – even if they’ll have to wait for a loooong time.
Cats can briefly survive on sea water
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A cat’s kidneys are much more efficient than ours in removing salt from seawater, allowing our furballs to consume and even rehydrate by drinking sea water. That said, just because cats can temporarily survive off saltwater doesn’t mean they should. Consuming too much salt can cause excessive thirst, urination problems, and even sodium ion poisoning, so always provide your feline with plenty of freshwater! But if you are ever stranded on a deserted island, your kitty would actually manage to survive for some time!
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
A cat’s kidneys are much more efficient than ours in removing salt from seawater, allowing our furballs to consume and even rehydrate by drinking sea water. That said, just because cats can temporarily survive off saltwater doesn’t mean they should. Consuming too much salt can cause excessive thirst, urination problems, and even sodium ion poisoning, so always provide your feline with plenty of freshwater! But if you are ever stranded on a deserted island, your kitty would actually manage to survive for some time!
