Pets are members of the family, best friends, great listeners and experts in cuteness. But, are there some things that we don’t know about our furry friends? Here are 10 facts about our faithful companions that you may not know!
1. Cats have what is called a ‘free-floating’ collarbone, meaning that their collarbone is connected to their forelimbs by muscles instead of bones. This allows cats to squeeze through just about any space wide enough to fit their head.
2. Despite what viral videos might have you think, cats aren’t specifically scared of cucumbers. Anything unknown or foreign to a cat can spook it and cause a frightened reaction, not just cucumbers.
3. While cats are known for their naps, they only sleep about two more hours a day than dogs. Horses, however, average only three hours of sleep a day, while some pythons average 22 hours a day!
4. The smartest dog breeds can comprehend about 250 words or commands, the same as the average 2-year-old! If it seems like your toddler and your dog are speaking their own language, they just might be.
5. Dalmatians aren’t born with spots! Until they develop spots about a week after birth, they have plain white coats. Technically, the spots are present after birth, but just faintly on the skin until the black hairs replace the white hairs. Dalmatians might even grow up to develop spots inside their mouths! Do you think Cruella de Vil knew this?
6. Puppies don’t wag their tails. While vets and researches believe they’re able, most puppies don’t start wagging their tail until at least three weeks old as a sign of communicating with litter-mates, other animals and humans.
7. The word ‘pet’ comes from the Northern English word “petty,” which means “small,” usually in reference to a small, whiny child in the 1500s. ‘Pet’ wasn’t considered a term of endearment until about 1850.
8. While you can’t leave money specifically to your pet in your will, you can set up measures to make sure they have a comfortable life no matter what. In a will or a living trust, you can designate a caretaker or an organization to receive your pet and the funds needed to care for them.
9. Fleas can jump up to 350 times their body length. Because of a flea’s long hind legs, they can leap about 7 inches vertically and 13 inches horizontally. They may be pesky, but that doesn’t mean they’re not powerful.
10. If properly cared for, goldfish can live a long and healthy life. In fact, the record for the largest goldfish, Goldie, measured 15 inches long, 5 inches wide and weighed over 2 lbs!
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