Facts About Cat Health & Wellness

• A cat’s average lifespan increased by a year over the span of time between 2002 and 2012, according to a study by Banfield Pet Hospital .
• According to The Huffington Post , cats typically sleep for 12 to 16 hours a day.
• Cats are crepuscular , which means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk.
• Cats are fastidious creatures about their “bathroom.” If you have more than one cat, you should have one litter box for each .
• Cats can spend up to a third of their waking hours grooming.
• Cats live longer when they stay indoors .
• Cats’  purring may be a self-soothing behavior , since they make this noise when they’re ill or distressed, as well as when they’re happy.
• Cats will refuse an unpalatable food to the point of starvation.
• Despite popular belief, many cats are actually lactose intolerant .
• Female cats have the ability to get pregnant when they are only 4 months old !
• Grapes and raisins , as well as onions, garlic, and chives , are all extremely harmful foods for cats. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure — although the reasoning behind that isn’t clear. Meanwhile, onions, garlic, and chives wreak havoc on your cat’s gastrointestinal system and can cause anemia.
• If you keep your cat active during the day , he will sleep better at night. If you’re not free-feeding your cat, you can also help her get a good night’s sleep by providing her with a substantial evening meal .
• It’s believed that catnip produces an effect similar to LSD or marijuana in cats. The effects of nepetalactone — the chemical in catnip that can makes cats crazy — wears off within 15 minutes , and won’t surface again for a few hours, even if your cat remains in sniffing distance.
• Kittens can be spayed or neutered when they are only eight weeks old. If possible, these procedures should be performed in the first 5 months of your cat’s life.
• Male cats who have been fixed need fewer calories to maintain their weight.
• Spaying and neutering can extend a cat’s life. The Banfield Pet Hospital study found that neutered males live an average of 62 percent longer than unneutered cats and spayed females live an average of 39 percent longer than unspayed cats.
• Your cat’s grooming process stimulates blood flow to his skin, regulates his body temperature and helps him relax.