12 Fascinating Facts About Female Cats😱
female cats are more than just pretty faces. Believe it or not, there are many fascinating things about female cats that are unique to their sex. Some of these might surprise you! Let’s get started with this list of 12 fascinating facts about female cats.
1. The World's Oldest Cat Was Female
The world's oldest cat, 'Cream Puff ', lived an astonishing 38 years and 3 days, setting the Guinness World Record for the oldest cat ever. Born on August 3, 1967, and living until August 6, 2005, Cream Puff resided in Austin, Texas, with her owner, Jake Perry. Interestingly, Jake's other cat, Grandpa Rexs Allen, previously held the record at 34 years. Jake claims his secret to longevity was a unique diet, which included eggs, turkey bacon, and even a small dose of red wine every two days. While these claims are fascinating, experts do not recommend giving cats coffee or wine.
2. A Litter of Kittens Can Have Multiple Fathers
Yes, you heard that right! A litter of kittens can have more than one father in a phenomenon known as superfecundation. If a female cat mates with different males during her fertile period, the eggs can be fertilized by more than one male. You can sometimes tell by the different colors or sizes of the kittens, but it’s not always easy to know without a DNA test.
3. They Tend to Be Right-Pawed
Like humans, cats can have a dominant paw, and interestingly, paw preference often differs by sex. Studies have shown that most female cats are right-pawed. In a study, 52% of female cats showed a preference for their right paw, while only 27% preferred their left.
4. They Have a Longer Life Expectancy
On average, female cats live one to two years longer than male cats. Although the exact reasons are unclear, factors such as whether the cat is indoor or outdoor and whether she’s spayed can have a bigger impact on life expectancy. Indoor cats generally live longer, and spayed cats also tend to have longer lives.
5. Spayed Females Live Longer
According to a study by Banfield Pet Hospitals, spayed females live 39% longer than unspayed females. Spaying reduces the risk of ovarian, uterine, and mammary cancers, as well as life-threatening conditions like pyometra. Spaying early can significantly lower the chances of developing breast tumors, increasing the chances of a longer, healthier life.
6. They Have Three Nicknames
Female cats go by several names. Commonly referred to as a (Molly), a female cat is called a (Queen) when pregnant or nursing. Once the nursing period ends, she goes back to being called a Molly. Additionally, the term (Dam) is used for a breeding or older female cat.
7. Tortoiseshells and Calicos Are Almost Always Female
Tortoiseshell and calico cats are nearly always female due to their genetic makeup. Since the coat color requires two X chromosomes, these patterns are predominantly found in females. On rare occasions, males can be born with an extra X chromosome, but this occurs in only one out of every 3,000 calicos.
8. They Can Get Pregnant Young
Female cats typically go into their first heat between 6 and 9 months of age, but some can start as young as 4 months. Factors such as breed play a role, with Siamese cats maturing earlier, while Persians may start later.
9. They Don’t Get Adopted as Quickly
A study found that female cats take longer to get adopted than males. On average, females stay at shelters for about 8.3 months, compared to 6.4 months for males. This may be due to the perception that male cats are more affectionate, though experts say affection levels depend more on personality than gender.
10. Females Stick Together in Colonies
In outdoor cat colonies, female cats tend to form close-knit groups to help each other raise and protect their kittens. Meanwhile, males typically roam alone to avoid competition for food and mates but may linger around the edges for mating opportunities.
11. The Most Popular Female Cat Name Is Bella
According to Nationwide Pet Insurance, the most popular female cat name in 2021 was (Bella), which means “beautiful” in Italian. Bella is a common nickname for names like Isabella and Annabella but is also popular on its own.
12. Two of the Top Three Richest Pets Are Female Cats
Two of the richest pets in the world are female cats. Grumpy Cat (Tardar Sauce) had an estimated net worth of $99 million, while Olivia Benson, Taylor Swift's cat, was valued at $97 million due to her social media presence and appearances in ads.
Which of these female cat facts surprised you the most?