By Joan D., Public Services Assistant
Celebrated in September, Happy Cat Month hopes to educate and inform cat owners about what they can do to make their pets happy and healthy. Many people view cats as self-reliant, aloof, and less in need of medical attention than dogs. Other beliefs regarding cats that are not true include that cats always land on their feet, that black cats are bad luck, and that milk and cream are good for cats. Happy Cat Month is a good time to address these stereotypes. Cats do need to be well cared for, provided with enrichment activities, and receive preventive care.
A few fun facts about cats are that each cat has a unique nose print, cats only have a few hundred taste buds, and cats are the only mammal that can’t taste sweet flavors. Only 70-80% of cats respond to catnip, and cats can jump more than six times their height. They can rotate their ears 180 degrees, only meow to humans, and can sleep 12 to 16 hours a day. Did you know that house cats are more like tigers than not? A house cat’s genome is 95.6% tiger. Although cats share many behaviors with their jungle cousins they are not descended from the big cats but from a small African wildcat.
There are also cats with jobs such as food security guards on farms, warehouses, and ships. Other cats provide therapy and support in nursing homes, schools, and other facilities. Some cats have become social media stars for their cute antics, travel adventures, or their address, such as the chief mouser at No. 10 Downing St. or the Mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska.
Some cats might sleep all day and ignore us, but many welcome our attention and affection. They communicate with us through their meows, grumbly purrs, twitching whiskers, and their tail swishes. Cats that were socialized as kittens are especially likely to seek out our company for a cuddle or playtime. Cats can be trained to sit, shake, fetch and perform many other tricks. They have also trained us to respond to them.
If you want to learn more about cats, there are many nonfiction resources at Hamilton East Public Library for young and old, including books (eBooks, audiobooks, and physical books), databases, games, DVDs, and magazines. A small sampling is included here:
Nonfiction DVD
Adult Nonfiction
Youth Nonfiction
