7 Crazy Things You Never Knew About Cats- by Joseph Young

Cat owners know a lot about their pets. They know all the odd spots where their cat likes to sleep and the safe places where they hide during thunderstorms.

But we’re willing to bet that the following seven facts are things you never knew about cats — facts even the most ardent cat lover may be surprised to read:

  1. Cats purr without taking a breath. Have you noticed that when your cat starts purring he doesn’t stop to take a breath? That’s because cats can purr while both inhaling and exhaling. They learn that trick when they’re only a week old! Young cats purr in a constant monotone, whereas older cats purr in a couple of resonant tones.
  2. Cats can’t taste sweetness. The taste buds on a cat’s tongue don’t detect sweet flavors, which is why most cats turn their nose up at pastries and cake. Given the fact that chocolate can be poisonous to cats — like with dogs — this lack of an affinity for sweets may be a good thing.
  3. Cats can’t see in the dark, but they see well in low light. Cats can’t see in absolute dark any more than humans can, but they can see much better than we can in very low light levels. This ability, which lets cats see about six times better than people at night, is due to the construction of their eyes. Cats’ eyes let in more light and have an extra “mirror” layer behind their retina that amplifies this light.
  4. Cats hear ultrasonic sounds. Cats are also able to hear things we humans cannot, including the extremely high-pitched noises rodents use to communicate. Your cat can listen in on all that ultrasonic mice “talk” and use it to track the pesky devils.
  5. 81 million American cats! Cats are America’s favorite pet, with about 32 percent of U.S. homes owning at least one cat. That beats out dogs which number about 72 million in the United States. By the way, most cats and dogs can learn to live with each other in the same home. This is especially true for pets that were introduced to each other while kittens and puppies.
  6. Cat whiskers are used for measuring. When a cat wants to know whether he can fit through a tight space, he lets his whiskers do the measuring. Whiskers also help cats find their way in the dark, since they can detect very slight wind currents that flow around pieces of furniture or through doorways. For this and humane reasons, you should never cut your cat’s whiskers.
  7. Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat door. Maybe he was so busy discovering gravity that he got tired of opening the door for his cat, but it’s true — the famous scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, designed the very first cat flap door. Pretty good for a day’s work, huh?

Featured dog- Phantom

Phantom was found wondering the streets. He is a gentle boy and loves being with people. Phantom is learning how to walk on a leash and play with toys which are both new to him. He knows sit and will spend his time by your side. He will need a secure high fenced yard as he keeps  watching for his people to come for him. He has two different colored eyes. He may have husky, lab, cattle dog in his DNA.

 

Other available dogs

Benny Bear- lab blend. Lots of energy, would make a great running partner. He is very smart and easily trained

Queta- lab/shepherd blend. Young and full of energy. Loves toys and people.

 

Featured cat- Tammy

Tammy was found as a stray. She is very friendly and loves people. She will come for attention when called. She loves sitting in the cat tree watching out the window. She doesn’t play with toys YET but shows interest in them. She is beautiful bright coloration.

 

Other available cats

Gandy- Siamese. He is very shy but will come for attention, pets and belly rubs. Special diet. He needs a quiet home

 

All animals will be spayed or neutered prior to leaving shelter and receive 1 year rabies vaccination and city license. Ages are approximate.
The City of Mesquite Animal Shelter located at 795 Hardy Way is open for adoptions from 11am until 1 pm, Monday through Saturday, Sunday 1pm -3pm. Please call 702-346-7415 during these hours to speak to the front desk. Animal Control may be reached by phone or voicemail at 702-346-5268

The animals submitted to the media may have changed so please visit our Petfinder website for a current listing and more detailed information on the animals. www.mesquiteanimalshelter.petfinder.com

Please also check our Facebook pages for lost and found animals along with pet information. https://www.facebook.com/MesquiteNVAnimalControl  and https://www.facebook.com/FRIENDSOFMESQUITENVANIMALSHELTER