Cats always land on their feet

Cats do land on their feet most of the time when they fall from a height – they have a righting reflex, where they’re able to twist around very quickly in the air when they fall and have very flexible backbones.  However, they don’t always land feet first and cats can get badly hurt when falling from windows.

They have nine lives

Most people have heard this expression although its origin is unknown. An old proverb claims: ‘A cat has nine lives.  For three, he plays; for three, he strays; and for the last three he stays.’  In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred and worshipped as divine creatures with supernatural powers.  It is thought that the myth could have originated from there.  Another possibility is probably due to cats being able to get themselves out of sticky situations.

Rub butter on a cat’s paws so he’ll come home     

Rubbing butter on cats’ paws is often given as advice after someone moves to a new house and lets their cat out for the first time.  The theory is that it removes the smell of the feline’s old environment and allows him to take in his new home when he licks off the butter.  But this is entirely untrue – the smell will remain on the rest of the cat, and it’s unlikely he’ll be taking in any new scents at all if he’s concentrating on licking off the butter.  It could potentially make your cat very stressed, as well as leaving greasy paw prints all over your new home.

Cats can see in the dark

Cats can’t see in total darkness any more than humans can, but they are much better adapted to seeing in low levels of light.  Their eyes let in far more light than ours due to their much thinner corneas, and their irises open wider than ours too.

Cats really hate water

Most domestic moggies are not big fans of water, but not all of them hate getting wet.  Scientists think most cats dislike water because their coats don’t dry very quickly, which can leave them feeling cold and uncomfortable.  The water is also likely to weigh the usually agile animal down, which means he can’t escape danger as quickly.  Another reason is that cats’ original descendants evolved in desert areas.  However, some breeds are known to enjoy water, such as the Siberian and Turkish Van, as they have water-resistant coats.

A Cats Prayer

Lead me down all the right paths,
Keep me from fleas, bees, and baths.
Let me in should it storm,
Keep me safe, fed, and warm.

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