The cat eye, facts about cat vision

• A cat's vision is superior at night in comparison to humans, and inferior in daylight.
• Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the cat's eyelid opens.
• Unlike humans, cats do not need to blink their eyes on a regular basis to keep their eyes lubricated. Cats will, however, "squint" their eyes, usually as a form of communication.
• Cats have an elliptical pupil, which opens & closes much faster than round types as in humans.
• Cats can see in color, but are partially color blind. They have the equivalency of human red/green color blindness. (Reds appear green and greens appear red; or shades thereof.)
• Cats don't see "detail" very well. To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.
• Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see. Their night vision is amazing!
• Cats can see up to 120 feet away. Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.
• Cats eyes come in three shapes: round, slanted and almond.
• The color of a kitten's eyes will change as it grows older.
• At birth, kittens can't see or hear. Cats open their eyes after five days and begin to develop their eyesight and hearing at approximately 2 weeks. They begin to walk at 20 days.
• Kittens begin dreaming at just over one week old.

The "Crazy Cat Lady"

A label, a stereotype, that in its simplest form is used to describe a woman, usually middle-aged or older, who lives alone and keeps dozens or more pet cats. There are many variations to this concept though.

Some people put this label to any person living with even one cat! They are also seen as weird and possibly bad or evil by everyone else in their community. The neighborhood kids think she's a witch. They are considered not good with people, very eccentric and often feared! Sometimes labeling a woman as a crazy cat lady is just another way to dismiss her for deciding not to go the conventional route of marriage, kids, public activities etc.!

Of course all the above are exaggerations. Usually this term is given for people having more cats that can they take care for, many more than municipal code allows, in a small stinky and messy house, and refuse to give them away even for the sake of the safety and well being of the cats or themselves.

The comments are yours ...

Do cats always find their way back home?

Cats have amazing abilities that we still don't understand. One such ability is the way they can find their way home, no matter how far away they might be. Just how they do this is still a mystery. There is a feeling that cats can sense the earth's magnetic field and orient themselves to it. They also have a very strong homing instinct that can guide them home. There are many cases of cats travelling very long distances and reappearing home after a very long time.

Howie the Persian Cat That Crossed the Australian Outback
Madonna Heads to the Massage Parlor
Using Curiosity to Her Advantage, Cat Finds Home in 8 Days, 3 Miles
15 Incredible Journeys
The Cat Came Back: 15 Cats Who Traveled Long Distances to Return Home
The Cat Came Back! Top 10 Distances Travelled By Lost Cats To Return Home

However for the few that do make it back, there are far far more that just get lost :(

Cats and water

Here goes another myth stating that cats hate water. In fact cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy water. Also cats are natural swimmers, and in the wild, a cat will swim to cross a stream or lake. Some cats enjoy fishing and regularly dive into water to catch a tasty meal.
Actually many domestic cats also like, and even love the water, but on their own terms! So being sprayed or squirted with water isn't fun, nor is being forced into a bath.

Cat gives a cardiac massage to his injured girlfriend

Incredible, you must see this video. There are simply no words for it. But I'm warning you, you'll cry.

Working cats

Many of us would love to live a cat's life, because they sleep most of the time, we feed them, we pet them and play with them. But not all cats are as priviledged as our beloved felines. Some of them have to actually work for their living. Cats on the job include store cats, office cats, farm cats, ship cats, service cats and so on. Here are some examples of working class cats!

The shop cats
The library cats
The museum cats
The deli cats
The ... police cats
The ... station master cat
The Colombian police cats
The ship cats
The hero cats
 
So meet some of the professional cats. And if you think you cat doesn't do any of these, well think again!
 

Do cats have 7 or 9 lives?

That's simply a difference in culture. In some areas of the world, the "magical number" is seven, in others is nine. Of course in both cases the answer is no, they just have incredibly good luck and an innate ability to cheat death with their agility. They tend to be resilient in situations that most animals would not be so.
Cats can survive falls from high places with few, if any injuries. This gives the appearance that the cats return to life after sustaining a fatal accidents.

Cat superstitions

There are many superstitions around the globe that involve our beloved felines. Different countries, different communities have different superstitions.

The most common cat superstition alive in the western culture today is: if a black cat crosses your path, it is considered bad luck. Interestingly, in most other cultures, the black cat is a prized possession, and owning one is said to bring the owner good luck.

Weather related superstitions. Can cats predict the weather?

• In Western Europe it is widely believed that if a cat washes over its ears, it is a sign of rain.
• When cats rush about wildly, clawing at curtains and cushions, it means that wind is coming.
• When cats sit with their back to the fire, look out for frost or a storm.
• If a cat washes behind its ears, rain is coming.
• A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means old weather ahead.
• If cats run around wildly, then expect a wind to blow up.

Cats and ... sailing
Sailors believe that if a ship's cat mews and appears to be cross, they will face a hard voyage - but if it is bright and lively, there will be a brisk "following" wind. It used to be said that a contrary wind at sea could be raised by shutting a cat in a canister. Throwing a cat overboard resulted in an immediate storm.

Various legents and beliefs

- A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. ~Scottish superstition
- A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. ~Italian superstition
- It is bad luck to cross a stream carrying a cat. ~French superstition
- When moving to a new home, always put the cat through the window instead of the door, so that it will not leave. ~American superstition
- When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp it in the palm of your hand, and make a wish. The wish will come true. ~American superstition

- In Normandy, seeing a tortoiseshell cat foretells death by accident.
- English schoolchildren believe seeing a white cat on the way to school is sure to bring trouble. To avert bad luck, they must either spit, or turn around completely and make the sign of the cross.
- In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town.
- It is said that in the southern regions of France, if a young unmarried girl accidentally steps on a cat's tail, she will have to wait twelve months before she finds a husband.

- If a cat sneezes near the bride-to-be on the morning of the wedding, she will have a happy life.
- Never leave a cat alone with an infant. The cat will suck the breath right out of the child.
- If a cat leaves home while a person is sick and cannot be coaxed back, the person will die.
- If you wake up in the morning and see cats playing, the rest of the day will be wasted.
- To meet a cat at midnight is to meet Satan, himself.
- Never kick a cat or you will get rheumatism; never drown one or the devil will get you.
- Tortoiseshell cats were believed to be able to see into the future and could give the gift to a lucky child in the household.

Related links:

CatStuff: Folklore and Superstitions

Cat Superstitions