Superstitions About Cats That May Surprise You

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Our mysterious feline friends have been revered, feared, loved and hated for thousands of years. Many superstitions have been created that relate to the allegedly good or bad luck that cats can bring. Below are eight superstitions that center around that aforementioned luck.

Never Chase A Black Cat

Apart from it not being a very nice thing to do, it is held that chasing a black cat will bring the pursuer bad luck.Superstition has it that a woman who once chased a black cat from her door went on to lose twenty-three relatives over a period of several years.

If You Forget To Feed A Cat

Ever forgotten to feed your cat? Apparently it means that it is going to rain on Wednesday.

If by chance you did miss kitty's feeding time you will be able to get the heads up about Wednesday's rainfall as it has been said that rain is on its way if a cat's whiskers are drooping!

Stray Cat Strutting

If you find yourself being followed by a stray cat then be pleased... this is a sign of good luck.

Make Sure You Don't Do This

Superstition holds that it is bad luck to step on a cat and also that rheumatism will develop in a leg that kicks a cat.

Stepping over a cat has also been associated with the bringing of bad luck.

Dream About Cats?

Yes, there are even superstitions about cats in dreams!

Allegedly if you find yourself dreaming about a tabby then this will bring good luck to your home, dreaming of a tortoise-shell cat means you are lucky in love and if you want to hit the jackpot financially or in business then it has been said that dreaming of a ginger cat is the way to go!

Cats On The High Seas

A superstition, among sailors, that has held for many years is that it is good luck to have a cat aboard the ship for the journey. Given the potential for rat infestations on board the old sailing vessels, it is understandable that our feline friends were seen as lucky.

Wedding Day Good Fortune

It is a sign that the marriage is to be a happy one if a cat sneezes near the bride on her wedding day.

Cats And Cold Weather

If a cat is laying down with all four of its paws tucked underneath while it is sleeping then this is said to be a sign that cold weather is approaching.

Savvy tips and interesting info for cat and dog lovers and professionals working with cats and dogs can be found on my blog here www.zoro-mypet.blogspot.com

Credit: John Deeprose

Your Cat Is More Interesting Than You Thought

Whether you are a dog-lover or a cat-lover, you must admit that cats are somewhat interesting, though you may not realize how bizarre they are. Refresh your memory on cat trivia by taking a look at these strange yet interesting facts about cats:

The Salty Cat

In case you get lost at sea, don't drink the water because the huge volume of salt content can dehydrate you. On the other hand, cats can survive by drinking sea water. They have special kidneys that can filter salt from the water and rehydrate themselves.

Threat to Endangered Species

All cats, including domesticated ones, are hunters by nature. However, cats that spend most of the time outdoors have played a part in the extinction of 33 species such as mammals, birds and reptiles. In fact, they are one of the 100 most invasive breed of animals.

Cats Have Smelly Paws

Unlike humans, cats don't have sweat glands. Their sweat is secreted through their paws, which gives off a scent as a sign of their territory. Therefore, every time they are scratching and walking, they are marking this area as their territory.

They Get a Lot of Beauty Rest

It seems great to relax most parts of the day. Those you own cats know how they spend most of the day lying around and sunbathing. You would be surprised to know that they actually spend 70% of their lives or 16 hours a day sleeping. Since they hunt, cats need lots of energy so they can pounce on mice. They store up energy by means of sleeping.

Disney's Obsession with Cats

Disneyland is home to around 200 cats. Aside from loving these cute animals, they are meant for another purpose. Each night, they let go of these cats in the park so they can catch all the little mice. These cats were first employed in the 1950s and this program has continuously grown throughout the years.

Alzheimer's Among Senior Cats

Just like humans, senior cats also experience Alzheimer's disease or dementia when they reach a certain age, like 8 years old. This shows when cats roam around your home looking dizzy and confused, making the meow sound. In case your cat is showing similar signs, cover it with an additional blanket to provide comfort.

Long, Wide Whiskers

A cat's whiskers grow as long as its width. Not only do they make cats look so adorable, they are meant for another purpose. Their long whiskers are used to check if they would be able to go through small openings. If the whiskers bend, this indicates that the cat wouldn't be able to enter.

Sky Divers by Nature

People are probably amazed on how cats land on their feet. They don't go against the laws of physics. They go down in an umbrella position to slow down their fall, as a skydiver does. They also have a keen sense of direction to tell which part is up so they can adjust their body.

Credit: Karina Popa

Cat Facts That You Should Know

Due to their independent nature, cats have the ability to entertain themselves for long hours, playing with curtain tassels and empty cartons. Yet, they still want the love and attention of humans. To know about their unusual behavior as well as how to care for them as pets and more, read about the interesting facts about cats for adults and kids.

Cats and kittens have soft fur. They are probably the most charming animals in the planet due to their innocent eyes and soft whispers. As a matter of fact, these creatures are one of the most favorite pets worldwide. Originally, cats were kept to chase rats and mice and to keep them away from homes. Certainly, history reveals several mysteries about these creatures.

Over the years, humans have shown all kinds of emotions towards cats like love, hatred, worship and persecution. However, in spite all these, cats continue to be man's best friend. According to history, the African Wildcat was the first feline to be domesticated 500 years ago. These cats were trained to keep rats from eating the huge amounts of grain, which were the produce of the Egyptians. They considered cats as the best solution to their problem and they began to bring out food for cats.

Amusing Facts about Cats

• There are above 500 million domesticated and trained cats in the whole world.
• People consider cats as among the most popular pets across the globe. In fact, more people have pet cats and kittens than dogs and puppies.
• There are 40 breeds of cats worldwide that are known to man.
• Cats have been closely associated with humans for about 10,000 years.
• They have flexible bodies and teeth designed to hunt rats, mice and smaller animals.
• To conserve energy, they sleep from 13 to 16 hours everyday, which is 70% of the time in average.
• A kitten is a young cat, a tom is a male cat and a molly or queen is a female cat. A clowder is a group of cats.
• Records show that the heaviest domestic cat weighs 46 pounds and 15. 2 ounces or 21.297 kilograms. Normally, domestic cats weigh 8 pounds and 13 ounces or 4 kilograms to 11 pounds or 5 kilograms.
• Cats have a strong sense of smell, which is fourteen times stronger than that of humans. Their vision is very powerful during nighttime since they can view light at levels which are six times less than what we need to be able to see.
• Since they cannot see directly underneath their nose, they cannot find tiny pieces of food on the floor.
• Majority of cats do not have eyelashes.
• Their pregnancy lasts from 58 to 65 days.
• Domesticated cats are fond of chasing toys and playing fights, which lets them learn not only about fighting, but hunting as well.
• To keep them clean, they make it a habit to lick their coats.
• Though all kittens are born with blue eyes, it is normal for the shade of color to change after 12 weeks.

Credit: Karina Popa