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1. Cats really do control us. A recent study at the University of Sussex in southern England found that cats use a very specific kind of urgent-sounding, high-pitched meow to irritate humans and elicit certain actions (such as feeding or petting). Because these high-pitched meows are more irritating than their normal meows, they’re much harder for us humans to ignore. Now we know they’re doing it on purpose.
2. Cats know better than the pet food manufacturers. It’s no secret that most cat foods on the market aren’t especially healthy. Many are high in fat and carbs while being low in valuable protein. A study funded by the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition found that when given the choice, cats tend to follow a diet that closely mimics what they need most. The go for lots of protein, some fat, and a very small amount of carbohydrates. Maybe next time, you should take Fluffy along when you buy your cat food.
3. Cats made us who we are today. A U.S. Geological Survey scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that individuals living in cultures with higher rates of Toxoplasma gondii infection scored higher in a variety of emotional disorders. Those changes in personality could, in theory, account for vast differences in the outcomes of different societies around the world.
4. Our housecats come from the Middle East. Carlos A. Driscoll of the National Cancer Institute spent over 6 years collecting DNA samples from domestic cats and wildcats from around the world. The wildcat DNA that was most like modern day housecats came from wildcats in Israel, Saudia Arabia, and other locations throughout the Middle East. He also noted that cats most likely domesticated themselves by wandering into human settlements for food – and that this could account for their independence as compared to other house pets.
5. Cats aren’t fond of ample facial hair. A study at several leading universities showed that while cats aren’t bothered by short beards, they were confused by incomplete beards and made downright agitated by long beards.
6. Owning a cat may be good for your heart. A study presented at the American Stroke Association’s (ASA) International Stroke Conference showed that people who had never owned a cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack over the 20-year study period. On top of that, they were also 30% more likely to die of any cardiovascular ailment, including stroke, heart failure, and chronic heart disease.
7. Cats fake it. According to Tony Buffington, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences at Ohio State University, healthy cats frequently act sick when they’re upset about a change in their environment, even if they’re 100% healthy.
References:
1. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532303,00.html
2. http://www.sciencenewsline.com/biology/2011022412000050.html
3. http://www.livescience.com/933-study-cat-parasite-affects-human-culture.html
4. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/science/29cat.html
5. http://www.improb.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html
6. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080221/owning-a-cat-good-for-the-heart
7. http://www.livescience.com/10378-healthy-cats-act-sick-upset.html
