Think Tank Thursday
Thank you for your interest in our Think Tank Thursday trivia page! This page is a collection of interesting trivia facts and questions that have been featured on our Facebook page. Enjoy!
MOST RECENT
August 4, 2011
Question: Why do cats have whiskers?
Answer:
Also known as “tactile hairs” or vibrissae, whiskers are the long, thick, flexible hairs on a cat’s face. These hairs are located in horizontal rows on the whisker pad, the puffy area between the top corners of your cat’s mouth and the outer edges of his nose. Whiskers, like hair and nails, do fall out and are replaced. But whiskers are different from the cat’s body hair in a few ways:
- Whiskers should never be cut or trimmed (we’ll discuss why later).
- Whiskers are two to three times thicker than the cat’s hair.
- Whiskers are rooted very deep in the cat’s face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels.
In addition to having the long tactile hairs on their cheeks, cats also have shorter ones above their eyebrows, on their chin and on the back of their front legs. Since we are most familiar with facial whiskers, let’s look at what they are good for:
- Navigation
- Mood indication
- Measuring an opening
Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. Whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest directional change in a breeze. At night, for example, this helps a cat slink its way through a room and not bump into anything. How? The air currents in the room change depending on where pieces of furniture are located. As the cat walks through the room and approaches the couch, he’ll know which direction to turn based on the change in air current around the couch.
In addition to having sensory properties, a cat’s whiskers are also a good indicator of his mood. When a cat is angry or feels defensive, the whiskers will be pulled back. Otherwise, when the cat is happy, curious or content, the whiskers will be more relaxed and pushed forward.
But the whisker’s primary use is to help a cat judge whether or not he’ll fit through an opening. A cat’s whiskers are roughly as wide as his body — sort of a natural ruler. The whisker tips are sensitive to pressure. You’ll probably see a cat stick his head in and out of an opening before he puts his body in. He’s judging the width of the opening, and is determining if he can fit into it. An interesting note: cats don’t have a true collar bone, like humans. This allows them to turn and twist their way through very narrow openings.
Taken From: How Stuff Works, A Discovery Company
Question: How many people, when signing a greeting or holiday card, also sign their pet’s name?
Answer: 70% of people sign their pet’s name on greeting and holiday cards and 58% put pets in family and holiday portraits.
June 9th, 2011
Question: There are 3 body types for cats, which body type does your cat have?
Answer: There are three body types for a cat. Cobby type is a compact body, deep chest, short legs and broad head. The eyes are large and round. Muscular type is a sturdy body and round, full-cheeked head. Foreign type is a slender body, with long legs and a long tail. The head is wedge-shaped, with tall ears and slanting eyes.
June 2nd, 2011
Question: Humans have 5,000,000 “smelling” cells. How much better than ours is a dog’s sense of smell?
Answer: Dogs naturally have a wonderful sense of smell. They have many more sensory ‘smelling’ cells than a man’s 5,000,000. A Dachshund has 125,000,000, a Fox Terrier 147,000,000 and a German Shepherd (often used as a ‘sniffer’ dog) has 220,000,000!
May 26th, 2011
Question: How old was the oldest cat ever recorded?
Answer: The oldest cat on record was Puss, a cat from England, who died in 1939 just one day after her 36th birthday.
May 12th, 2011
Question: Why do dogs love toys that squeak?
Answer: Squeaky toys are a popular gift item for dogs, even if their popularity does not always extend to dog owners. There can be no doubt, however, that most dogs like squeaky toys, especially the ones which resemble real life prey. The idea of capturing and ultimately dispatching a rubberized mouse, complete with squeaks, has an appeal all its own to most dog breeds.
One theory on why dogs like squeaky toys is the nature of the squeak. In the wild, an injured prey animal would emit similar squeaks and cries, thereby revealing its position and condition. Dogs with strong natural hunting instincts recognize the squeaks of a squeaky toy as the last cries of field mice, birds and other small prey. The noise generated by a rubber or plush variation on a prey animal can be just as satisfying to a dog.
There are also those who suggest the squeak of a squeaky toy is somewhat incidental. What dogs like about squeaky toys is what they enjoy about all dog toys. They have complete access to an interactive toy which satisfies their natural chewing habit and keeps their minds occupied. Dogs like squeaky toys because they are more interactive than other toys. A dog bites down on a rubberized bone and it immediately squeaks. This sets up a pleasant cause-and-effect relationship with that particular dog toy.
Some pet experts suggest matching the dog with the toy. Some larger breeds do not do particularly well with standard squeaky toys. They may chew and bite the toy more aggressively than smaller breeds, which in turn may dislodge the squeak mechanism completely. While this may not be the worst development for dog owners, the squeak mechanism can present a choking hazard to the dog. Smaller dog breeds with gentler play habits tend to do better with squeaky toys.
Many dogs tend to chew on their toys, especially ones which respond to their efforts, so it is generally a good idea to invest in durable rubberized dog toys rather than plush toys with squeakers. Many dogs like squeaky toys which can follow them from indoor to outdoor environments, and plush toys tend to get soiled quickly when exposed to the outside world. Rubber squeaky toys can also be cleaned and sanitized more easily, although no dog toy is completely safe from a dog’s diligent chewing efforts. Owners should replace damaged rubber squeaky toys once they have been structurally compromised.
April 28th, 2011
Question: What causes the unique color of Siamese cats?
Answer: In the Siamese cat, a lower temperature causes more dark coloration in the growing hairs. This is why newborn kittens, warm from their mother’s womb, are white all over. As they grow up in normal temperatures, the hottest areas of their body, around the stomach and back, remain pale in color, while their cooler extremities gradually become darker.
April 21st, 2011
Question: Which dog has the best eyesight?
Answer: The Greyhound’s eyesight is better than any other breed. Makes up for 60 percent of its hunting ability. Greyhounds belong to the family of dogs known as sighthounds: dogs bred to hunt by sight as opposed to the scent. The greyhound’s eyesight makes up for 60 percent of its hunting ability.
April 14th, 2011
Quite likely, this instinctive behavior goes back to the days when dogs lived in packs in the wild before dogs were domesticated as pets. Wild dogs circled the area in which they intended to bed down in order to flatten it and make it comfortable. They would flatten down tall grasses and weeds before taking a nap. If the area happened to have small rocks, stones, or debris, the dogs would push these away with their paws. Plus, during the winter in colder climates, dogs would flatten down the snow to fashion a more comfortable bed.
Additionally, circling the ground was a good method for checking the area for unwanted creatures or enemies such as snakes or unpleasant insects. The dog could attempt to kill or chase away any unwanted creatures. If the area was infested with two many of these creatures, the dogs could simply move on to another area. This instinctive behavior remains with domesticated dogs as well as wild canines today.
It might not make as much sense to us when we watch our beloved pets circling the carpet. However, we can put this behavior into the proper perspective when we think about the manner in which we fluff our pillows before getting into bed. Then, it appears as a sort of bedtime ritual and quite ordinary in fact.
March 31st, 2011
Question: How many eggs does 1 flea lay in a day?
Answer: An adult flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day!
After hatching, flea eggs develop into tiny, worm-like larvae. Larvae can remain hidden deep in carpet fibers, beneath furniture cushions and in other protected areas. The larvae feed mainly on adult flea feces (dried blood) which accumulates, along with the eggs, in pet resting and activity areas.
Before becoming adult fleas, the larvae transform into pupae within a silk-like cocoon. Pupae remain inside the cocoon for 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes longer. The cocoon is resistant to insecticides and this is why some adult fleas are seen for an extended period, even after the home and pet are treated.