Cat Facts 20

•  35. Teeth
• Cats have 26 baby teeth that fall out at 5-7 months to give way to 30 adult teeth. Incisors are for grooming, fangs are for hunting, and molars are for grinding food.
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• 36. No Cavities
• Domestic cats don’t have pits on their molars so sugar-eating bacteria have nowhere to thrive. Hence, they do not get cavities. However, they can develop gum disease, oral cancer, and inflammation.
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• 37. Frequency Range
• Cats can hear frequencies between 45 hertz and 64,000 hertz. In contrast, humans can only recognize frequencies between 20 hertz and 20k hertz.
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• 38. Ear Sensitivity
• Cats can move their outer ear towards sound sources to increase their sensitivity by 15-20%. They can hear sounds 4-5x farther than humans can.
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• 39. Congenital Deafness
• Due to genetic anomalies, white cats that have blue eyes are more likely to have congenital deafness. They have a gene that suppresses pigment cells. The affected tissues in the inner ear degenerate, reducing sensitivity to sounds.
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• 40. Smell
• Cats have 70 million olfactory cells inside their nose to identify odors from afar. They also have scent glands along their lips, chin, forehead, and under the tail for marking territory.
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• 41. Taste
• Cats have limited taste perception with only 470 taste buds or so on their tongues. In comparison, dogs have 1,700 and humans have 9,000.
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• 42. Cat Hair
• Cat hair is a useful shield against extreme hot and cold. The coat also protects them from thorns, stings, and insect bites.
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• 43. Temperature Regulation
• Cats can’t just rely on sweating to cool themselves down. They also pant to expel body heat. If outdoor temperature rises above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cats should cool down indoors to prevent heatstroke.
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• 44. Cat Bones
• Cats have more bones than humans. They have 230 bones while we only have 206. Interestingly, they don’t have collarbones. This helps them sneak into tight gaps.
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• 45. Fractures
• Despite their grace and flexibility, cats can still get injured due to falls, collisions, and attacks. X-ray can confirm fractures. These usually take 4-6 weeks to heal.