Having a fine time getting to know the happy household feline

Cats are stealth and lovable but somewhat unpredictable. Ancient Egyptians revered cats for their companionship and ability to keep dangerous creatures such as poisonous snakes, rats and scorpions at bay. The Egyptians were among the first peoples to domesticate cats, and now thousands upon thousands of people share their homes with feline companions.

According to a world survey by the German organization Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (Society for Consumer Research), published in PetfoodIndustry.com, dogs are the most popular pet globally, owned by 33 percent of respondents. However, cats are not that far off at 23 percent. The United States, China and Russia have the highest pet cat populations. And according to a 2014 report by The Washington Post, Massachusetts, Maryland and Maine boast the highest percentages of cat-lovers in the United States.

Cats are coveted for a variety of reasons, including their regal countenance and graceful movements. Many people are surprised to learn that cats boast several characteristics that make them wonderful pets.

Those looking for vocal companions may be surprised to learn that cats can make roughly 100 different sounds, compared to the 10 sounds dogs make.

Cats only meow to human friends. In addition to purring, cats will rub up against people to show affection. This trait also serves to mark territory. Cats have scent glands around their faces, paws and tail area.

While cats are thought by many to be aloof and less feeling than dogs, science says otherwise. According to the book “What Cats Are Made Of,” by Hanoch Piven, a cat’s brain is biologically more similar to a human brain than it is to a dog’s. Both humans and cats have identical regions in their brains that are responsible for emotions.
For those worried about a pet getting lost and running away, cats may be preferential companions. That’s because cats have an ingrained ability to find their way home known as “psi-traveling.” Experts think that cats use the angle of the sun or magnetized cells in their brains to act as internal global positioning systems.

Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained. Although they’re not likely to be as motivated by praise as dogs, cats can respond to food treats — particularly something soft and smelly. However, that may take some practice as, according to Petfinder, cats are less instinctively driven to work in partnership with humans. But those tasty treats may inspire them to stay and come and even use a toilet in lieu of a litter box.
People who welcome cats into their homes can expect a companion for a long time, as cats can live up to 20 years or more.

Cats make wonderful pets. In contrast to dogs, cats have not undergone major changes since being domesticated, and their ancient characteristics still make them desirable companions to this day.