The characteristics of cats place them among the most popular pets. There are multiple benefits of adopting one, as these cats are full of qualities and virtues that make them good companions. Some people even believe that there are mystical qualities of cats, although we can't be sure of this.
Are you able to list some particularities of your cat? On our site we have prepared this list with the most outstanding cat qualities. Discover them below!
What are cats like?
Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) belong to a species of felines that have been part of human life since ancient times. Over time, different breeds have been developed as a result of crossbreeding and genetic modifications, causing the appearance of varieties of fur and sizes
Although each cat develops a different personality according to its upbringing, there are some characteristics that they share. Among them, it is possible to mention their great independence, the agility they have to make great jumps and the development of the auditory and olfactory senses, in addition to vision.
Do you want to know more about what cats are like? Discover these 15 qualities of cats!
Qualities and virtues of cats
The benefits of having a cat at home go far beyond its pleasant company. Cats are animals full of virtues and qualities that can make living with them an experience. The most outstanding cat qualities and which we will discuss in detail in the following sections are:
- They are neat
- They are familiar
- They are independent
- They are clever and curious
- They are great hunters
- They're sentimental
- They are intelligent
- They are alerts
- They have excellent night vision
- They are good tightrope walkers
- They are sociable
- They are easy to care for
- They have a great sense of hearing
- They are dreamers
- They have a highly developed sense of smell
1. Cats are neat
Among the virtues of cats is that they are very neat. For the daily bath they use their own tongue, as its roughness allows them to remove dirt. This is so due to the anatomy of the tongue, which has rows of cuticles that allow it to trap any type of dirt that is between its mantle. See "Why do cats have rough tongues?" for more details.
Also, cats tend to urinate and defecate in established places, such as a litter box or the garden. If your feline begins to relieve himself in other places in the house, we recommend that you go to the vet to rule out diseases such as cystitis or stress.
two. They consider you part of their family
Many people find cats unfriendly, but this is only because they don't know their ways of showing affection. One of the peculiarities of cats is that they rub their heads and bodies against people in the household. In addition, they can give small bites, lick the hair or the face, among other behaviors. These are ways to identify your family members and show them your love, ie your cat loves you if he does all of this to you!
3. Cats are independent
The character of cats is distinguished by being independent. They like to have their own space and they hate being forced to do something they don't want to do.
This independence also allows them to enjoy the time they spend playing or exploring the house on their own. This does not mean, however, that you should leave him alone for a long time, as they require interaction to avoid behavioral problems or stress. In this way, the fact that cats are more independent animals than others does not mean that they are not affectionate or that they do not need to receive attention from us, quite the opposite! As we have seen in the previous section, one of the qualities of cats is that they are familiar, so they always need to receive some attention from us. Of course, as we say, respecting its rhythm, time and space.
4. Cats are clever and curious
Curiosity goes hand in hand with feline dexterity. A curious cat tests his ability to sneak in almost anywherehe wants. This, while fun, can be dangerous if you don't watch his movements. Find out how cats are able to fit into such small spaces in this article: "Cat Anatomy".
Despite its great agility, do not allow it to climb too high or get into very narrow holes. Some cats are successful in these activities, but others have accidents. Although agility is one of the 15 qualities of cats, as a responsible caregiver you must ensure their safety.
5. Cats are great hunters
Many people consider that one of the benefits of having a cat is its hunting character. Even in the wild they prey on many small animals and hunt for fun. Also, some domestic cats surprise their human handlers by leaving a hunted prey at their feet.
Although this hunt may seem cruel, you should never punish your cat for it, as it is a characteristic of cats that is impossible to eradicate because is part of their instinct as a speciesIf you prefer him to leave the little animals in your home alone, provide him with flashy toys that make sounds and simulate hunting.
6. Cats have feelings too
It is not advisable to humanize pets and even less to attribute feelings such as guilt or shame to them. However, both cats and dogs are capable of expressing sadness, happiness or anger, among other emotions.
For example, when faced with the death of another animal or the move of a family member, your cat may be melancholy for the first few days. In addition, he surely gets excited when he sees you arrive at the end of the day. Reactions of this kind demonstrate your ability to experience feelings.
7. Cats are smart
Among the qualities of domestic cats it is possible to add that they are intelligent animals. In addition to the behaviors they adopt instinctively, are able to learn through trial and error, leading them to avoid certain situations when they associate them with a response negative. In this sense, it is possible to educate a cat to teach him rules of coexistence, orders, etc., always using positive reinforcement.
Likewise, cats have learned to communicate with humans through meowing, since they use other body signals, such as the position of the tail and ears, to send messages to their peers. Find out about the body language of cats in this complete article: "Body language of cats".
8. Stay alert
A well-known characteristic of cats is how sleepy they are. They can spend up to 16 hours a day on this activity, alternating between deep sleep and naps. However, it should not be thought that they are abstracted from what is happening around them. Thanks to their whiskers, known as vibrissae, they perceive the air vibrations around them. Through this mechanism, they detect changes that occur while they sleep, such as those that occur when a person approaches.
9. Cats have night vision
One of the virtues of cats is their keen night vision. The feline eye has three types of cones, which are capable of perceiving yellow, green and blue. Although they do not see the other shades, they have a 200 degree vision, contrary to the 180 of the human being.
Furthermore, feline vision is sharper at night, which is why the iris dilates so much in the dark. Through this mechanism they let in the smallest rays of light present in the environment. Likewise, in the cat's eye there is a tissue called tapetum lucidum, which allows light to be absorbed to improve vision at night.
10. They are good tightrope walkers
It is no secret to anyone that cats have an enviable ability to maintain their balance, as they are capable of traversing high and narrow areas with the same elegance that they would use on dry land. This ability is possible thanks to your inner ear, since it is covered with small hairs that allow you to synchronize your steps and, therefore, maintain your balance.
eleven. Cats are social
In optimal conditions, with their own space and enough food, cats can live with other felines or with animals of different species without no problem. They are able to interact well with other pets, enjoying games and resting times.
In the same way, once they have overcome the initial mistrust, they can get along with people who visit the house. Of course, to get to this point it is advisable to have socialized the cat as a puppy or adult if we have already adopted it when it is a few years old. Likewise, that they are sociable does not mean that it is appropriate to introduce new animals suddenly. Cats are very susceptible to changes and, therefore, it is essential to introduce them gradually.
12. They are easy to care for
Thanks to the independence of the character of cats, they are usually easier animals to care for than others. This does not mean, however, that you should forget about providing quality food, adequate games and toys, as well as a space in the home and following a schedule of vaccinations and deworming.
In general, domestic cats, especially mongrels, are in good he alth. However, this is not a substitute for an annual veterinary visit, or an office visit when you notice a change in behavior in your feline companion.
13. They have an extraordinary sense of hearing
Cats have a more developed sense of hearing than humans. The ear of a he althy and young person is capable of capturing frequencies of up to 20 KHz, while cats perceive between 48 KHz and 85 KHz.
Does your cat suddenly lift its head and stare at nothing? You may hear a sound that you cannot hear.
14. Cats are capable of dreaming
Another peculiarity of cats is their ability to dream while they sleep. This has been proven because they experience the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase, in which there is a movement of the eyes that can be seen through the eyelids.
fifteen. They have a good sense of smell
The last of these 15 qualities of cats is their good sense of smell. Although there is not much information about their nose, it is known that they have around 200 million odor-sensitive cells, which allows them to pick up all kinds of aromas. This amount is considerable when compared to the smell of human beings, since we only have 5 million olfactory cells.
Besides these, there are other qualities of domestic cats, we detail them below.
Qualities of cats according to their color
Did you know that it is possible to attribute some qualities, virtues and characteristics to cats according to the color of their fur? That's how it is! These are the qualities of cats according to their color:
- Tricolor, calico or tortoiseshell cats are usually female, since they can have X chromosomes for the colors black and orange at the same time, while in most males this mixture is not possible.
- Two-color cats tend to be more independent.
- Orange cats, especially if they are male, are very affectionate and love the same.
- Calico males are usually sterile.
- Most black cats have a shy but affectionate personality.
- The white color of the coat is not linked to the sex of the cat, it can appear in males and females.
Mystical qualities of cats
Some people consider that there are mystical qualities of cats, virtues or characteristics that could be esoteric. Similarly, since ancient times they have been attributed some magical powers, such as the ability to protect houses, cause bad luck, detect spirits or the ability to absorb negative energies. However, none of these particularities has been proven through scientific studies that support them. For this reason, it is not possible to affirm that there are paranormal qualities of cats.
Benefits of having a cat at home
After reviewing the different qualities of cats, there are many benefits that these animals offer. Thus, when adopting a cat we will enjoy a very familiar animal, affectionate but independent, very clean, with great intelligence that allows it to learn very quickly. Of course, it is very important to keep in mind that for all this to happen and for the animal to live happily by our side, we must commit ourselves to guaranteeing that all its needs are covered and to giving it all our love.
The benefits of having a cat at home will only apply if the animal is really happy and this only depends on us.