International Cat Day: 6 things you don't know about him

In the collective imagination , the cat is a mysterious animal and what makes it so enigmatic is its tendency to carefully scrutinize those in front of it and to be wary of what it doesn't know. The cat, unlike the dog, is an almost totally independent and solitary animal, it is not always inclined to cuddles and games and often needs its own space and time . These characteristics, rather singular for a domestic animal, over time have made it the victim of unfounded superstitions linked to magic and witchcraft , an example of which is the legend of the black cat which still puts many specimens in danger today.

On the occasion of International Cat Day , which is held every year on February 17th , we want to tell you some curiosities to learn more about the habits of our feline friends and why not, dispel some myths. The month of February was chosen to celebrate cats because people born in this month are considered free and non-conformist and as we have seen these are characteristics also associated with felines.

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What all cat owners wonder is why their cat often prefers an old box instead of an expensive, high-quality scratching post. Cats use boxes as a refuge from danger or as a place from which to ambush, they love to hide inside closed and safe spaces, for this reason they love to rest inside old cardboard boxes. Furthermore, cardboard is an excellent noise insulating material and this makes it a great place to rest.

For this reason, in our vast assortment of accessories we have included scratching posts for cats made of cardboard , or made of different materials with comfortable kennels in which to rest. Choosing these accessories allows the cat to have fun without filling the house with annoying parcel boxes and pieces of cardboard.

It is commonplace to think that cats do not have a good relationship with water, this thought is reinforced by the reluctance with which most cats approach puddles of water or drink from bowls, even if full of fresh water it is clean. But do cats really hate water?

Often cats are intrigued by a tap with running water and start playing with it or even drinking it, this is because it is not entirely true that felines hate water, or in any case it is not a characteristic of all cats. Usually what they don't appreciate is stagnant water precisely because of their strong conservation instinct: the excellent sense of smell with which they are equipped can easily identify the presence of toxic substances within the water . Furthermore, it is well known that moving water tends to be cleaner than stagnant water. For this reason, dehydration is a very serious problem for cats. If your feline friend has difficulty drinking , cat fountains are probably the ideal accessory to bring even the most reluctant animals closer.

The cat's purr is an instinctive reaction that originates from childhood: the mother cat emits it while breastfeeding her kittens to reassure and relax them. The purr is often accompanied by the "kneading" gesture typical of the cat, which also in this case recalls the breastfeeding period.

This instinctive reaction , which remains in the cat even into adulthood, is considered a real communication tool . When they are caressed by their owner, when they are in the company of other cats or when they eat their favorite food, cats show a feeling of well-being and good mood through their purring. Purrs, however, do not only express positive moods , they often indicate fears, they are used to relieve pain or if the cat is in a state of stress they help him to calm down.

Cat owners will surely have noticed how much this animal likes to perch on wardrobes, climb on curtains, walk on shelves, climb on beds and sofas. It can be said that cats like to look at the world from top to bottom, why?

This behavior derives from the feline predatory instinct: in fact, cats love to keep the environment under control from possible prey and threats from predators . Jumping and climbing are hunting behaviors that all felines enjoy a lot, which is why there are so many vertical structures for cats on the market, allowing your puppy to dominate the room and also keep his group of human friends under control. For more adventurous cats, the use of structures that develop vertically allows them to satisfy their need to climb while safeguarding the home's ornaments.

When the cat licks you you will surely have noticed how rough and scratchy his tongue is . This aroused the curiosity of experts, who, examining it under the microscope, discovered that the cat's taste buds are made of keratin , which makes them have a rigid and resistant consistency, similar to that of our nails.

Furthermore, the cat's tongue is very flexible and this allows it to reach even the most difficult parts of the body. The taste buds of which it is composed are long and thread-like, similar to curved hooks and, being attached to the soft tissue of the muscle, they can rotate in all directions. This feature allows the cat to perfectly untangle knots, dirt and parasites from its fur, guaranteeing optimal coat hygiene .

6. Why do cats hide their feces?

One of the behaviors that arouse the greatest curiosity is the fact that cats, like dogs, cover their feces. How come they do it? Despite being a very clean animal, contrary to what one might think, this behavior is not linked to cleanliness, but rather to a question of safety.

Covering your feces with cat litter means hiding their smell from possible predators, not doing so would mean challenging possible dominant cats in the territory. This is also an instinctive behavior, hiding one's tracks prevents predators from chasing them into their den and possibly attacking their cubs.