Cat: 5 Things You Should Know

Question: Wild cats began living near people about 10,000 years ago, as farming spread in the Middle East. What drew cats to early farms?

Answer: Cats likely domesticated themselves by moving in to hunt the mice that farming attracted. People welcomed them because they protected precious food stores.

Question: Adult cats rarely meow at one another, using scent and body language instead. So why do pet cats meow so often at people?

Answer: Kittens meow to their mothers, but adult cats mostly keep meowing for humans. Many cats even develop special meows that their own owners learn to recognize.

Question: In photos taken at night, a cat’s eyes often glow bright green or gold. What causes a cat’s eyes to shine in the dark?

Answer: Cats have a layer called the tapetum lucidum that bounces light back through the eye. This lets them see in about one-sixth the light humans need.

Question: A cat’s whiskers are rooted deep in its face and packed with nerves. How do whiskers help a cat move through tight spaces?

Answer: Whiskers are touch sensors that detect tiny shifts in air and nearby objects. Cats use them like measuring tools to judge gaps and move around in the dark.

Question: Cats that fall from high places often twist in midair and land on their feet. What lets a falling cat turn itself right side up?

Answer: This “righting reflex” develops in kittens when they’re just a few weeks old. The inner ear tells the cat which way is up, and its flexible spine lets it rotate to match.