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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!

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

Who doesn’t love a little festive trivia? This St. Patrick’s Day, share a few fun facts with your friends and family over that pint! Who knew there were so many little factoids out there about why we wear green, or how many President’s have claimed Irish heritage?! Check out our St. Patrick’s Day trivia and enjoy!

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in Boston in 1737, not Ireland!

Since 1762, New York City has thrown the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade drawing and audience of more than 1 million every year.

Erin Go Bragh actually means “Ireland Forever”

President Truman was the first US President to attend a St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1948.

110 million people will wear green this year, with just 33.7 million Americans claiming Irish Heritage.

Over 15 million greeting cards are purchased and exchanged for St. Patrick’s day

19 US Presidents claimed Irish Heritage, even #1 George Washington!

Over 100 US Cities hold annual St. Patrick’s Day parades.

St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish, he was British!

Irish is the second most reported ancestry in the United States.

Blue was the first color associated with St. Patrick, but became green over time.

The shamrock was St. Patrick’s symbol for the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick was kidnapped as a teenager by the Irish, and became a slave to Ireland.

March 17th is the day history assumes St. Patrick died.

An estimated 7.6 million tourists visited Ireland in 2013.

The first year Chicago dyed their river green was 1962.

St. Patrick’s actual name was Maewyn Succat.

According to legend, St. Patrick drew the snakes out of Ireland.

Leprechauns are small Irish fairies that were not to be trusted, known for their mischief.

Leap Year in Ireland is known for the Irish tradition of women proposing to men, started by St. Bridget. Supposedly she proposed to St. Patrick and he said no!

For most of the 20th Century, St. Patrick’s Day was a dry, strictly religious holiday in Ireland. However, in 1970 it was converted to a national holiday and drinking resumed!

We have some great Horseradish mustard for that Corned Beef dinner!