Fascinating Cat Facts You Might Not Have Known

If you are one of the 66% of American households that owns a pet, you're in good company. And while dogs maintain their popularity as, well, "top dog," cats come in as the second-most popular pet in the U.S. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 37 million U.S. households own at least one cat. You may adore your feline friends, and even if you think you know all there is to know about them, there are always additional, fascinating cat facts that might surprise you.

Even the most fanatical cat lover might be shocked by a few of these details. To compile this list of fascinating cat facts you might not have known, 24/7 Tempo has gone to professional cat associations, veterinary guides, veterinarians, and vet schools to gain insight. We've also used knowledge gained after reading sections of the "Merck Veterinary Manual" over the years.

Cats, like all animals, are captivating creatures and there's a lot more to them than you might think. The following facts are in no particular order. (For more about cats, click here to read about the most expensive cat breeds in existence.)

It's a mistaken belief that cats always land on their feet. The ability to land on their feet depends on how far they're falling. The shorter the fall, the harder it is for the cat to position itself for a feet-first landing.

Ashera cats are a mix of Asian leopards, African servals, and domestic cats. It's the most expensive cat in the world with a price tag of up to $125,000.

Humans and other animals produce taurine naturally, but a cat does not. A cat's diet requires taurine for digestion, heart health, immune system function, and vision. In nature, they get taurine through prey like mice and fish. A meat or seafood-based diet is essential for a cat's health.

It's believed the first domestic cats originated in Egypt between 1600 and 1500 BC. Scientific research shared by the Library of Congress links domesticated cats to Felis silvestris lybica, a wildcat found in North Africa and Southwest Asia.

According to The International Cat Association, 73 breeds of cats are recognized in professional competitions. However, new breeds may be added as they're developed. The Selkirk rex, aka the poodle cat, was added to the list in 2013.

Larger humans have 206 bones, but cats have an additional 24 bones. These bones are in the spine, which helps with flexibility.

When a cat walks, it moves its right feet first. The left feet follow the right.

A cat's whiskers are one of the four types of hairs found on a cat. Awn hairs are thin and provide insulation. Thick, coarse, and pointed guard hairs help with the sense of touch and provide insulation. Secondary hairs are the thinnest and highest in number, which provides the downy undercoat used for temperature regulation.

A cat's whiskers are as wide as its body. This helps them navigate the width of a space before entering.

Outdoor cats kill over 2.4 billion birds each year. Cats are tied to the extinction of 10 reptiles, 45 mammals, and 87 bird species, as of 2016 findings by the Centre for Integrative Ecology.

Most cats have 18 toes. There are five toes on the two front paws and four toes on each of the back paws. A polydactyl cat has extra toes. Author Ernest Hemingway was well-known for keeping polydactyl cats at his Key West home.

Cats have eyelids like humans, but they also have a nictitating membrane or third eyelid that protects the eyeball from scratches.

Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the pressure of fluid within the eye increases too much. Any cat can develop glaucoma, but Siamese are more susceptible.

The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London reports that gum disease affects 15.2% of cats. Obesity comes in second at 11.5%.

From 1997 to 2017, Stubbs, a Manx mix, was the honorary town mayor. Townspeople would stop by regularly to visit him.

Cornell University found that a white cat has a 22% chance of being deaf, but that increases to 40% if the cat also has one blue eye. If both eyes are blue, the odds of deafness increase to as high as 85%.

Cornell University's Dr. Pamela Perry reports cats spend as much as 50% of their waking hours grooming. They sleep an average of 15 hours per day.

Guinness World Records named Flossie, a tortoiseshell cat, as the oldest verified cat in the world. Flossie was born on December 28, 1995. It's far above the average, as Merck Veterinary Manual reports most cats live 12 to 20 years.

Spaying and neutering cats protects against deadly diseases like mammary gland cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pyometra, a severe uterine infection.

The AVMA reports that cat owners pay an average of $253 per year for exams blood tests, medications, and vaccinations. Before adopting or taking in a cat, consider the cost of pet ownership. That includes vet care, food, toys, and grooming. Are you interested in learning more household pet and cat facts? Read about pets and animals from every state.