Detective Jake Purralta’s Cat Facts

Jake has been sharing some cat facts on our Instagram page and we thought we’d compile them here on the blog. Cats are fascinating and we hope this helps you learn more about these amazing animals. First up, some information about how your cat interprets their world!

hearing:

Cat’s ears can swivel independently forward, backward, and sideways to help pinpoint the source of a sound. They can judge the source of a sound up to 1m away with an accuracy of 8cm. 

They also have one of the broadest hearing ranges among mammals abd detect ultrasound, which helps them track their rodent prey.

Recent research indicates that cats have the ability to create a mental map of where their people are based on hearing their voices. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered why you cat seems to know exactly where you are when you open that treat cupboard, remember that their hearing is incredible!

smell:

Cats have a great sense of smell - it’s 9-16 times stronger than humans. It’s estimated that cats have around 45-200 million odor sensitive cells, but humans only have around 10 million.

So don’t be surprised when your sleeping kitty knows you’ve opened a can of tuna, even if they’re several rooms away!

sight:

Cats have a reflective layer behind their retinas called a tapetum lucidum. This layer sends light back into the eye and allows them to see in very low light. They only need about one-sixth the amount of light that humans do. However, this makes them more sensitive to light, so their pupils constrict in bright light to help protect the retina.

It’s also why their eyes tend to flash in photographs.

Whiskers:

Cat’s whiskers - also called vibrissae - aid in sensation and navigation.They have numerous nerve endings at the base of each whisker which give cats extremely detailed information about nearby air movements and objects. That’s how cats, even blind ones, can know about nearby obstacles without needing to see them.

Whiskers also help with hunting. When a cat is unable to see their prey because it’s too close to their mouth, whiskers help precisely detect the prey’s location. 

So remember, never cut your cat’s whiskers! They’re an important part of how your cat interprets their world.