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  • The internet loves cats, but did you know the print on a cat's nose has a unique rigid pattern just like a fingerprint?

  • Or that catnip really is like a drug for cats?

  • One of its volatile oils called Nepetalactone enters the cats' nasal tissue and acts like an artificial cat pheromone.

  • The sensory neurons are stimulated and ultimately trigger a behavioral and sexual response in the brain and body in around 80% of cats,

  • which must be nice, considering cats spend around 85% of their day doing absolutely nothing.

  • Drinking, eating, defecating and even mating only take up about 4% combined.

  • But when they are moving, they always seem to land on their feet.

  • This is because of something called the "Righting Reflex".

  • Not only do cats have very sensitive motion and gravity sensing abilities allowing them to determine which way is down, they also have an extremely flexible backbone and no collarbone.

  • By bending in the middle and using fast twitch muscle fibers, they can whip around without ever changing their net angular momentum.

  • And did you know that when a cat lifts its tail while being pet, it's really inviting you to smell its behind?

  • Cats use scent to communicate and this exposes glands and pheromones holding their signature smell, a nice alternative to a hug or a handshake.

  • They also rub up against you to spread these pheromones.

  • The glands on their face, tail and body, help them to claim you with their scent, while also leaving nearby cats signals about their identity, sexual availability and territory.

  • On the other hand, cats bury their poop in an attempt to hide its smell.

  • This evolutionary instinct is not only to avoid attracting predators but to show that they're submissive to a dominant cat in the wild.

  • In the case of your house, this is your cats way of recognizing you as dominant.

  • Also in complete darkness, cats can't actually see, though they can see much better than you and I in dim light.

  • Cats have a layer of cells behind the retina called the Tupetum Lucidum, which acts like a mirror reflecting extra light back at the retina.

  • In near darkness, this gives their eyes a second chance to pick up more light, but without any light present, they can't see anymore than we can.

  • And if you ever see a cat with three distinct colors, often called a Calico or Tortoiseshell cat, you can bet it's female.

  • The fur color gene is located on the "X" chromosome.

  • This means females can have two colors, in addition to white, because they have two "X" chromosomes.

  • The male "Y" chromosome, on the other hand, does not have any color genes.

  • As a result, males will generally only have one color along with white, though in rare genetic cases, it is possible for them to have more.

  • Interestingly, we still don't really know why cats purr.

  • In fact, cats purr both during pleasurable situations but also while they're in duress or injured.

  • While many believe it's a means to communicate passivity or pleasure,

  • one interesting theory suggests that the frequency that purrs occur at 24 - 140 Hz promotes healthy bone growth and healing.

  • Because cats have adapted to a lifestyle with frequent rest and sleep, this may be a low energy mechanism to promote muscle and bone health.

  • (You've) got a burning question you want answered? Ask it in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter.

  • And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

The internet loves cats, but did you know the print on a cat's nose has a unique rigid pattern just like a fingerprint?

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