Cats like to scratch almost anything.
Except for cheetahs which have only semi-retracted claws due to their walking habit, all cats, large and small, have retracted claws. In addition to hunting with their claws, they also use these claws to climb trees and get a grip so they are still sharp when storing these tools when not in use.
However, when the lion scratches the trunk, not only can they adjust their claws, but the lion can also mark its territory through the claws’ sweat glands.
The mouth of the cat family smelled very good.
Cats have a very strong sense of smell, this is due to the thousands of olfactory receptors that are placed between their little noses (in contrast to people with only 5 million olfactory receptors). In addition, they are animals with organs that can detect other smells. Called Jacobson’s organ, this organ is located at the bottom of the nasal cavity and is found in cats, as well as dogs, pigs, cows, snakes and lizards.
Jacobson’s organs allow cats to taste and smell substances. They use this organ to use an action called the Flehmen reaction to open their mouth, wrinkle the nose, and interrupt breathing. While cat lovers can easily spot it in their pets, it is easier to notice the “smelly face” of big cats.
They rub their bodies on the surface.
Cats have scent glands in all parts of their body: the front legs, the base of the tail, the sides of the face, and the area around the mouth. Once the cat rubs the surface (and you), it marks its area with pheromone.
When big cats want to warn other animals that may enter their territory, they will look for things in the environment to help dissipate their scent.
They sleep most of the time.
Some cat owners believe their pets are sleeping too much. When they search online, they get the answer that it is normal for cats to sleep 12 to 16 hours a day. But this doesn’t mean they are lazy. Since cats are predators, they need to conserve energy to hunt intensively.
Not all hunting activities can provide delicious food, which is why cats usually go through a food-rest-hunting cycle. The same goes for big cats such as tigers and lions. They can sleep in the shade for up to 20 hours. If they have valuable catches, they will not move until fully digested.
They like catnip.
The Catalan plant Nepeta, commonly referred to as catnip, affects domestic cats in the most profound way. Once pets have been fed a handful of catnip, they will lick, smell and roll (more often, they even jump around and then fall asleep).
Enjoy nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, in their genes. Although 30% to 40% of people are not interested in it, many of their family members like it. Lions and jaguars react strongly to catnip, but like domestic cats, each cat’s response can be different.
