Weird Facts About Cats You Probably Didn't Know

Cats are awesome. That's why they won the internet, why people love to adopt them, and why so many folks enjoy having them as their little furry babies. They also are the most popular pet to own in the world.

Since cats are so common, we tend to believe ourselves to be cat experts. We see them every day, hear stories about them, and generally, all know how to care for a cat. Most people think they know everything there is to know about cats, but we're not so sure.

After all, there are definitely some weird facts about cats you probably didn't know. Here are some good examples of things that might surprise you about the floofs you adore.

Cats can drink seawater.

Human kidneys tend to shrivel up and die if they are forced to filter through seawater — which is why people never drink ocean water as a way to survive. However, cats don't have that problem at all.

Feline kidneys are so efficient, they can drink seawater with ease and remain hydrated. So, if you are trapped on a deserted island, you might get a bit jealous of your cat.

Cats sweat through their paws, or pant in order to cool down.

This is one of the weird facts about cats you probably didn't know — even as a cat owner. Ever wonder why you find little moist paw prints on your tile during hotter days in summer? It's because your cat doesn't have sweat glands near their fur; they sweat through their paws instead.

In cases of really hot weather, cats might also start panting like dogs. This is often a sign that you should probably take them inside.

Unlike dogs, cats can't taste anything sugary.

Most animals have an attraction to sweet and sugary things — but not cats! One of the weird facts about cats you probably don't know is that they are unable to taste sugary things. According to scientists, this is due to a genetic defect that spread throughout the species.

You can tell a cat's gender by the paws they prefer.

A study showed that male cats tend to be left-handed (left-pawed?), while female cats tend to favor using their right paws. No one knows why this is the case.

Both Disney and the British government are avid employers of cats.

Cats are very talented mousers — and that's made them a boon to humanity for ages. Everyone knows that people used to keep cats as a way to keep mouse and rat populations down, but one of the weird facts about cats you probably didn't know is that this is still a fairly popular method today.

The British government actually feeds and cares for cats near government buildings knowing that the cats will keep down mouse populations. That makes them some of the most adorable public health care workers in the Queen's area!

More surprising, though, is the fact that cats are also fuzzy workers for Disney. Disneyland theme parks actually let cats live in the park because they keep the mouse and rat population down as well. We're not sure how Mickey and Minnie feel about the parks' decision, but we happen to think it adds to the park's adorableness.

Cats spend 70 percent of their lives sleeping, and over a third of their waking time cleaning themselves.

This is why owning a cat can be a lot like dating a heavily self-absorbed guy who is unemployed, but too cute to quit. That being said, cats are often cuter than people and more loyal, so we can't hate on them for being so fastidious.

Changes in routine will make cats freak out.

One of the weird facts about cats you probably didn't know (but should) is that they really can't stand routine changes. Cats are known for displaying signs of sickness whenever their routines gets changed up — and yes, it's a stress response.

Cats that are upset due to a routine change may poop outside their boxes, refuse to eat food, and also throw up. So, if you notice your cat acting funky, take a look to see if anything changed in your daily routine.

We all know cats rule the internet, and that cats are Instagram stars. That's why the #catsofInstagram hashtag is so popular, and why so many YouTube video compilations involve cats just being cats.

But, what you may not know is that this is actually not a new thing — not in the least bit. One of the earliest movies ever recorded was a video of two cats play-boxing in Thomas Edison's movie studio. It was dated back to 1894!

On any list of weird facts about cats you probably didn't know, this little tidbit may be one of the least surprising out there.

There are proper names for groups of cats, male cats, and female cats.

Many of the weird facts about cats you probably didn't know involves their proper names. A group of cats is called a "clowder" or a "glaring," while a bunch of kittens is called a "kindle."

You might have heard that a male cat is typically called a "tomcat," but do you know what a female cat is? She's called a queen, or in more common terms, a molly cat. Neutered males also have a name most people don't hear; they're called "gibs."

Cats are smarter than dogs — just not socially so.

A lot of studies have been done on the feline brain, and what they've found was that cats have brains that are 90 percent similar to a human brain. Cats have more cerebral cortex neurons than dogs, and also have been shown to have longer-term memory than canine companions, too.

More interestingly, scientists found out that cats are more capable of solving advanced puzzles than dogs are, too. However, there's a catch — they'll only solve the puzzle if they want to.

Cats are smarter than dogs, and that's now scientifically proven.

Cats make over 100 different noises, and actually manipulate their voices to get human attention.

You might already know that your cat roommate only meows to get human attention. However, some facts about cats you probably didn't know is that they can have over 100 different noises they make.

More astoundingly, cats also know how to mimic the sound of a baby crying — and actually do so when they want food or attention from their owners. Why? Because they know you'll be more likely to feel maternal towards them.

Men with cats get more ladies.

It's true! Studies have shown that male cat owners get more female attention than male dog owners do. The reason why is because women perceive them as more sensitive and caring than male dog owners or pet-free men.

Speaking as someone who's dating a male cat owner, you can also triple your cat-related attractiveness by adopting one of the cutest cat breeds out there.