The Facts About Cats

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), 69 million American households own a pet, with cats weighing as 90 million of those pets, surpassing "mans best friend", the dog, as the pet of choice. Over $2 million dollars a year is spent on cat food. Americans , it seems love cats.
How much exactly, do they really know about cats? Test your knowledge with this little known facts about cats.

Life Span:

- The average life span of a house cat is 12 to 14 years, with some living as long as 20 years. Outdoor cats live an average of 3 to 8 years.

- The oldest recorded age of a cat is 36 years and several have been documented to live more than 20 years.

Negative Beliefs:

- During the Dark Ages, cats were killed as demonic beings. Many Christians believed that cats were a witch's "familiar". Thousands of cats were killed.

- As late as the Salem witchcraft trials, cats were burned or hung with those accused of witchcraft.

- Sailors believed a black cat would bring bad weather and would not let a black cat aboard ship.

- Many people today continue to believe that if a black cat crosses their path it will bring bad luck.

Good Luck

-Japanese sailors believed a tri-colored cat would bring good luck and ward of bad weather. They often took this cat aboard ship with them. They believed it would give them enough of an early enough warning of an approaching storm for them to return to port. They would send the cat up the mast to frighten off the devils.

- In Rome, the cat was a symbol of liberty and was regarded as the guardian spirit of a household.

- Ancient mariners believed that a cat's behavior could foretell a change in the weather. Many people today insist that cats will become very "frisky" before a storm.

- Many people in New England believed that if a stray cat came to your door it was a sign of good luck.

- In Siam, the cat was so revered that one rode in a chariot at the head of a parade celebrating the new king.