Animal Facts
Discover interesting and fun facts about cats, dogs, and other animals. Learn fascinating information about our furry friends.
Cat Facts
Get Random FactMost cats give birth to a litter of between one and nine kittens. The largest known litter ever produced was 19 kittens, of which 15 survived.
Cats often overract to unexpected stimuli because of their extremely sensitive nervous system.
According to Hebrew legend, Noah prayed to God for help protecting all the food he stored on the ark from being eaten by rats. In reply, God made the lion sneeze, and out popped a cat.
Cats only use their meows to talk to humans, not each other. The only time they meow to communicate with other felines is when they are kittens to signal to their mother.
Julius Ceasar, Henri II, Charles XI, and Napoleon were all afraid of cats.
In ancient Egypt, when a family cat died, all family members would shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning.
The biggest wildcat today is the Siberian Tiger. It can be more than 12 feet (3.6 m) long (about the size of a small car) and weigh up to 700 pounds (317 kg).
After humans, mountain lions have the largest range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere.
Unlike humans, cats do not need to blink their eyes on a regular basis to keep their eyes lubricated.
The most traveled cat is Hamlet, who escaped from his carrier while on a flight. He hid for seven weeks behind a panel on the airplane. By the time he was discovered, he had traveled nearly 373,000 miles (600,000 km).
Cats' eyes shine in the dark because of the tapetum, a reflective layer in the eye, which acts like a mirror.
During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Pope Innocent VIII condemned cats as evil and thousands of cats were burned. Unfortunately, the widespread killing of cats led to an explosion of the rat population, which exacerbated the effects of the Black Death.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
The cat who holds the record for the longest non-fatal fall is Andy. He fell from the 16th floor of an apartment building (about 200 ft/.06 km) and survived.
Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
Dog Facts
Get Random FactWalt Disney's family dog -- named Sunnee -- was the inspiration behind "Lady and the Tramp."
The first dogs were self-domesticated wolves which, at least 12,000 years ago, became attracted to the first sites of permanent human habitation.
Rin Tin Tin was the first Hollywood dog star and he really signed his movie contracts – all 22 of them – with a paw-print.
There are over 58 million dogs in the US
The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world. France has the second highest.
Chase that tail! Dogs chase their tails for a variety of reasons: curiosity, exercise, anxiety, predatory instinct or, they might have fleas! If your dog is chasing his tail excessively, talk with your vet.
Dogs have lived with humans for over 14,000 years. Cats have lived with people for only 7,000 years.
Wow, check out those choppers! Puppies have 28 teeth and normal adult dogs have 42.
Dogs have a ligament in the neck which allows them to conserve energy while running long distances following scent trails with their nose to the ground. Many other species have a similar ligament and it is called a Paddywhack.
Perky-eared dogs hear sounds better than floppy-eared dogs.
During the Renaissance, detailed portraits of the dog as a symbol of fidelity and loyalty appeared in mythological, allegorical, and religious art throughout Europe, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Diego Velázquez, Jan van Eyck, and Albrecht Durer.
The American Kennel Club, the most influential dog club in the United States, was founded in 1884.
The normal body temperature of a dog is 100.94 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 Celsius) to 102.56 F (39.2 C) whereas human normal body temperature 98.6 F (37 C).
Rin Tin Tin was the first Hollywood dog star.
Dogs belong to a biological family called the Canidae, a member of this family is called a canid. This is the origin of the adjective "canine" which means "of or like a dog, relating to or characteristic of dogs".
General Animal Facts
Get Random FactThere are 1 million ants for every human in the world.
The male seahorse carries the eggs until they hatch instead of the female.
The penguin is the only bird that can’t fly but can swim.
Elephants only sleep for two hours each day.
One-fourth of the world`s population lives on less than $200 a year. Ninety million people survive on less than $75 a year.
Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!
Ninety percent of all species that have become extinct have been birds.
Most lipstick contains fish scales.
A blue whales heart only beats nine times per minute.
The muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint - no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.
You share your birthday with at least 9 million other people in the world.
Over 1000 birds a year die from smashing into windows!
Sailfish can leap out of the water and into the air at a speed of 50 miles (81 km) per hour.
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.