CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Wednesday is National Cat Day, which is the purrfect day to give extra attention to your feline friends.

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National Cat Day was created by Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate, Colleen Paige, back in 2005. Since then, it has helped save the lives of more than one million cats, according to the National Day Calendar.

Studies have shown that having a cat can help lower stress, anxiety, and even depression, and having a cat in your home can also help reduce the risk of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Cats can even help fight mental illness.

• Only 20% of orange cats are female – Female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), while a male cat has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY). Color in cats is mostly related to their sex because the gene causing color is on the X chromosome.

• Cats have fewer taste buds than dogs or humans – Cats have about 473 taste buds, which is far fewer than people, as we have 9,000, or dogs, who have 1,700.

• Cats don’t get cavities – Up to 90% of cats more than four years old have dental problems. However, they don’t get the types of cavities that people do, in part because of the pointed shape of cat teeth.

• Many cats get the zoomies after using the litter box – Lots of cats will run like crazy after using the litter pan for a bowel movement.

• Cat whiskers are as sensitive as human fingertips – They are strategically located on the face to provide sensory equipment to help guide a cat through the day, aiding vision and helping the cat to navigate, much like antennae on insects.

• Cats that scratch furniture are often marking their territory – Cats have tiny scent glands on their feet, and when they scratch furniture, they leave just a little bit of their smell on it.

Pet adoption tips

• Consider your current lifestyle. Will you have time for an active kitten or will an adult cat be more to your pace?

• Make multiple visits before choosing a cat. Sometimes, the perfect cat will choose you.

• Spend one-on-one time with the cat so you have some bonding moments and her true personality comes through.

• Do other members of your fur family need to be considered? If so, be sure to introduce them to be sure their personalities mesh.

• When you bring your new family member home, have a space ready for him to decompress and adjust to his new abode. Don’t be surprised if it hides at first. This is normal cat behavior.

22News would love to see a photo of your cat! Email us at reportit@wwlp.com.

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