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Fun Facts about Cats

Fun Facts About Cats

My entire life I have been a cat girl. It’s not that I don’t love dogs, but personally- I relate more to the independence and reserved love you get with a cat. I may be biased though, I spent 19 amazing years with my first black cat Millie- she really was my best friend. We had a lot of set routines together- my particular favorite was her tendency to sit at the top of the driveway everyday waiting for me to get off the bus. We’d then go inside and spend the evenings together. These days between my home and the farm I am blessed with three amazing rescue kittens who all remind me of Millie. In any case, I wanted to share some fun facts about cats – because they’re great.

Mitzy Muffin and Maizy Mae

-Did you know? A group of cats is called a clowder.

-It takes 20 muscles for a cat to control their EARS!

-70% of a cats life is spent sleeping

-Owning a cat can reduce your risk of having a stroke AND heart attack by 1/3!

-Cats are officially a more popular pet than dogs (88 million vs. 74)

-The largest cat recorded is 48.5 inches long- that’s pretty big!

-A purr doesn’t always mean a cat is happy, it can also be an expression of fear/nervousness.

-Cats meow because of human interaction. It is said that without humans, cats would never need to make noise.

-Yes, your cat does hear you. They’re just too important to acknowledge you right now.

-Milk generally isn’t recommended for your feline- as many are lactose intolerant.

-Where dogs have about 10 sounds, cats have more than 100!

-Humans and cats share identical sections of the brain which control emotion.

Dalby Farm’s resident queen, Ellie Mae

-Whiskers help cats determine whether or not they can get through a space.

-Felicette, or “Astronaut” was the first cat in space, she was French by the way- and survived the trip to tell the…tail!

-A cats ear can move a full 180 degrees.

-Tail, forehead, lips, chin and under their front paws: locations of cat scent glands.

-Apparently cats will lick themselves to get your scent off- jeez!

-It is said that Black cats are bad luck in the U.S. (no way!!) but they are a symbol of good luck in the UK and Australia (smart people!).

-The oldest breed of cat is the Egyptian Mau (translates into “Cat”)

-Not only do 11.5% of people call themselves “cat people”, but 11% of those people are more likely to be introverts.

-Male “cat people” supposedly have a higher success rate in the love department, they are seen as more sensitive.

-The largest litter of kittens on record was 19. That poor mom!

-This one is very sad- but only a shocking 24% of cats who enter animal shelters are adopted. Please rescue!!! They need you (and you don’t know it yet, but you need them too!)

Treat your furry friend to a catnip barn mouse or some of our all natural cat treats!

Animal Trivia! Fun Facts About Dogs

Fun Facts About Dogs

Many of you spend countless hours with your dog(s) every week- but how much do you know about dogs otherwise? We found some fun facts perfect for trivia night you can enjoy below 🙂

–Puppies have 28 teeth, adult dogs have 42.
–Does your dog chase their tail? Some dogs do that when they are nervous, or stressed. Not to worry, often times it’s just instinct, curiosity and the desire for exercise.
–Next time you play the Beatles song, “Day In the Life” – have your dog around to see if he reacts to the song. Supposedly Paul McCartney recorded high pitches only dogs can hear using an ultrasonic whistle with his own dog in mind.
–Yes, your dog really does dream! Just like humans, dogs have the same type of slow wave sleep as well as rapid eye movement. Twitchy paws and tails are the best indicator that it’s occurring.
–Dogs can see in the dark. Their eyes have a special membrane, tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see at night.
–According to this poll, 72% of dogs are able to sense when a storm is coming.
–Dogs regular temperature is higher than a humans. While we temp around 98.6F, Dogs should be between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above or below and they should be seen by a vet ASAP.
–Dogs only sweat through the pads of their feet!
–Dogs only have 1,700 tastebuds compared to a humans 9000.
–Humans hear best around 2000hz (hertz) whereas dogs hear best at 8000hz.
–Ever wonder why dogs like to kick after they go to the bathroom? They’re leaving their scent behind with their paws to mark their territory…again.
–72.9 million homes, or 62% of all Americans have a pet in their home.
–Dogs noses are wet because the thin layer of mucus helps them smell better. It catches scent, which they then lick to taste.

Stay tuned for more fun facts about different animals you may have in your home.

In the meantime, why not treat your furry friend to something special?

Frosted Chick Dog Treat

Check out our variety of pet treats in Paws and Beaks!

Safe Ways to Spoil Your Pet Over the Holidays

Safe ways to spoil your pets over the holidays
If your household is anything like ours, making sure your pets are part of the winter celebrations is a must. After all, they’re family too, right? Fortunately there are many simple and safe ways to spoil your pet over the holidays, it just requires some special focus.

Pet Stockings

Animals like to open stockings too! There are plenty of ways to go about doing something like this without breaking the bank too. Whether you have a cat, dog, bunny or even a hamster- you can fill their stockings with bedding, treats and general supplies your furry friend uses year round. Not only will you be stocking up on stuff you’d need to purchase one way or another, but both the family and your pets will get to enjoy the joy of receiving a gift!
We always give our dog a new holiday themed toy- some specialty dog bones, and a dog bed to replace the one she wears out every year. Our kitty gets cat nip (she loves our barn mouse toy), crunchy treats and even her own cat grass plant!

Holiday Sweaters

This isn’t something we do but I see folks do it all the time. If you have a smaller dog who may get cold easily, it could be really fun for you (and warm for them) to be put in a holiday sweater! It probably can go without saying but not all animals are going to feel comfortable in these. Make sure not to force them into anything if they show you any signs of resistance- the point is to treat them not harass them 🙂

Special Snacks

Your pets probably will take just about any food you’re willing to give them- but maybe this is the time of year you can opt for the more expensive treats! Assuming your pet doesn’t have any strict dietary restrictions, consider new and interesting organic/all natural options you don’t normally purchase. They will love the change in consistency and may manage to find even MORE love for you! Always make sure the treats you regularly feed them have nutritional value- that way you can worry less about splurging a little around the Holidays.

Home Cooked Meal

Now as a rule we do not endorse feeding pets ‘people food’ but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t cook them a proper meal from items you eat! Something as simple as boiled chicken or turkey, rice and some frozen veggies will make your dog go wild with excitement! Cats may enjoy some cooked ground turkey (pate style) or tuna patties. Don’t feel like setting their digestive track into a tailspin? Maybe bake them some special pet cookies instead!

There are tons of great, healthy recipes online you can search for. Get the whole family involved and make it a new tradition! This is one of many great safe ways to spoil your pet over the holidays!

Protection

You may find this boring in comparison to the rest of what is on our list here but it is easily the most important way to take care of your furry friends. Make sure to keep ribbon, tinsel and general holiday decor safe and away from possible consumption. Avoid feeding them people food like sugary treats or breads as they are not necessarily safe and definitely not ‘good’ for them.
Also be sure to inspect any and all new toys- both ones that are intended for your pets AND children. Small pieces may become choking hazards for more than one member of the family!

All in all we have just scratched the surface when it comes to finding safe ways to spoil your pets this Holiday season, but we hope you’ve got a few new ideas to run with!