ARISTOCATS are one of the most popular pets in the world and have something special that makes them different, which is why we want to share some curiosities that you surely did not know about these very special animals.
1. Cats are able to distinguish and recognize the voices of the people they live with and spend a great deal of time with; however, they do not do so with the voices of strangers. Also, unlike dogs, they do not come or respond when called (Gizmodo, University of Tokyo).
2. Cats prefer women as owners , and the reason is that cats tend to direct their attention toward a high-pitched voice because it closely resembles the sound made by female cats. When they hear a woman’s voice, they feel greater closeness and comfort (University of Vienna).
3. Cats can feel stressed without their owners noticing, even affecting their health; one of the most common causes is a poor relationship with other cats. Most visits to the veterinarian are usually due to injuries caused by fights with other felines, and these not only lead to stressful situations for them but can sometimes also result in dermatitis or cystitis (John Bradshaw is an expert in feline behavior at the University of Bristol). A study conducted at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University shows that cats’ general fascination with cardboard boxes helps them noticeably reduce this stress.
4. A cat’s purr produces vibrations in its body ranging from 25 to 150 Hz, and it has been shown that vibrations between 35 and 50 Hz help heal bones and generally contribute to strengthening the body’s bone structure. In this case, purring could be considered a kind of internal body massage. A field study on cats’ purring conducted by Current Biology demonstrated that when cats asked their owners for food, the frequency of their purr rose to as high as 520 Hz (similar to the cry of a human baby asking for food, which reaches 600 Hz).
5. The theory that dogs and cats cannot get along is false. Although researchers acknowledge that felines may initially be somewhat reluctant to share a home with a dog, in general, the two species tend to live in harmony (Sophie Hall, Journal of Veterinary Behaviour). In fact, according to a study by the University of Lincoln, dogs and cats hardly ever fight, while 57% of owners surveyed admit that their cat hisses at their dog; only 10% of felines and barely 1% of dogs have ever caused the other animal physical harm.
6. Cats' meowing is nothing more than a way to get humans' attention. Any cat owner can attest that their pet becomes quite “talkative” when it wants something. “In my experience studying felines, I have come to the conclusion that they are the ones who have their humans ‘well trained’”, explained Adi Hovav, feline behavior advisor at the ASPCA Adoption Center.
7. Most felines prefer interacting with humans to engaging in other activities, including eating. A scientific study conducted by Oregon State University showed that more than half of the animals studied preferred social interaction with humans, even though they had not been fed for hours. Even shelter cats, which are not accustomed to interacting with humans, preferred a person's company to food.
8. Cats have 250 million neurons compared with dogs' 530 million. A study by Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee (USA), found that dogs are more intelligent than cats based on the number of neurons each species has in its cerebral cortex. The study also showed that brain size does not matter: the brain of a Golden Retriever has more neurons than that of a hyena, lion, or brown bear, even though the largest predators have brains up to three times larger.
9. Cats do not perceive their owners as part of a secure environment for them. A team of behavioral veterinary experts from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Lincoln (United Kingdom) conducted a study whose conclusion determined that the relationship between humans and cats in terms of protection and security is very different from that between dogs and humans. While dogs perceive their owners as part of an environment in which they feel safe, cats, on the contrary, do not feel this protective refuge and are therefore much more independent. A cat may enjoy interacting with its owner but does not depend on them to feel safe, which is consistent with the independent and solitary nature of this species.
10. A study conducted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences reveals that cats miss their owners even though their behavior when they are home alone is normal. The results showed that the cats did not behave differently before their owners left and while they were alone. What was observed is that, when their owners returned, these pets showed a more affectionate attitude, with purring and body stretches, proportional to the amount of time their owners had been away, the study specifies.
And these are just some of the many curiosities from the world of THE ARISTOCATS. Which one did you find the most surprising? Tell us on social media!